The alpha's roar echoed across the square, shaking the ground beneath Rai's feet. The circle of werewolves tightened, their growls forming a sinister symphony. Rai could feel the weight of this battle, but seeing Kaida standing firm with the glowing crystal in her grasp reignited his resolve.
"Hold on," Rai muttered to himself, drawing an arrow. "We can do this."
Tenzai, now armed only with the hilt of his broken sword, charged at the alpha without hesitation. He moved with surprising agility, dodging the creature's massive claws and landing precise, albeit non-lethal, strikes to its thick legs.
"Rai!" Tenzai shouted amidst the chaos. "Aim for its eyes! Blind it!"
Rai nodded, his fingers already pulling the bowstring. The world seemed to slow as he aimed, locking eyes with the alpha's burning red gaze. With a deep breath, he released the arrow.
The shot struck true, embedding itself in the alpha's left eye. The beast let out a deafening roar, thrashing wildly in pain. Seizing the moment, Tenzai leaped onto its back, plunging the broken sword hilt into the base of its neck.
Kaida, still chanting her spell, began to glow alongside the crystal. The werewolves surrounding her hesitated, their growls faltering as the light expanded.
"Just a little longer!" Kaida shouted, her voice trembling with exhaustion.
Rai continued to fire arrows, each shot aimed to distract or wound. The werewolves appeared reluctant to approach the ever-growing light, but the alpha's enraged howls spurred them forward.
From the shadows, a new figure emerged—a tall man clad in dark armor, his face obscured by a hood. He wielded a curved blade that seemed to absorb the faint light around it. His presence thickened the air with an oppressive darkness.
"The Abyss always finds a way to interfere," Kaida muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing on the figure.
The man raised his blade, pointing it directly at Kaida. "That crystal belongs to the Abyss," he said, his voice cold and sharp. "Surrender it, and I may spare your lives."
Kaida let out a bitter laugh. "Spare us? Like you spared the people of Kaelmont?"
The man tilted his head, his tone devoid of emotion. "The Abyss destroys only with purpose. But those who resist..."
He gestured to the werewolves, whose growls grew more bloodthirsty.
"We'll give you nothing!" Rai shouted, loosing an arrow at him.
With a swift motion, the man deflected the arrow with his blade, shattering it into splinters. "Then you've chosen death."
He stepped forward, his blade glowing with dark energy. Rai felt a wave of fear but forced himself to stand firm.
"Kaida!" Rai called out. "We're running out of time!"
"I know!" Kaida replied, her voice strained. "The crystal is almost ready!"
Tenzai jumped down from the alpha's back, landing beside Rai. His broken sword dripped with dark blood. "That guy isn't just a bounty hunter," he muttered. "He's definitely from the Abyss."
Rai gave a firm nod. "We need to take him down first. Can you handle the alpha?"
Tenzai smirked, despite his fatigue. "I can manage. You focus on the shadow man."
The armored figure didn't wait for them to regroup. He lunged forward, his blade carving a wide arc that forced Rai and Tenzai to separate. The dark energy from his weapon left a sizzling trail in the air, and Rai could feel its heat even from a distance.
Kaida's chanting intensified, the crystal pulsating in rhythm. The expanding light forced the lesser werewolves to retreat, their snarls fading into whimpers. Only the alpha and the armored man seemed unaffected.
The alpha, now partially blinded, charged at Tenzai with renewed fury. The young swordsman dodged its attacks with trained precision, using the hilt of his broken sword to deflect its massive claws.
Meanwhile, Rai circled the armored man, firing arrows to test his defenses. Each shot was either deflected or destroyed, the man's movements too fast to predict.
"You are no match for the Abyss," the man taunted, his blade gleaming as he advanced on Rai.
Rai narrowly avoided a strike, rolling to the side and firing another arrow. "We'll see about that," he muttered.
Suddenly, the crystal in Kaida's hands flared with blinding light. The alpha and the werewolves howled in pain, their bodies flickering and fading. Even the armored man stumbled, shielding his eyes.
"Now!" Kaida yelled. "Strike while they're weakened!"
Rai didn't hesitate. He fired a glowing arrow infused with the crystal's energy straight at the armored man. The man tried to deflect it, but the arrow's power was too great, sending him hurtling back into the fountain.
Tenzai, seizing the opportunity, delivered a final blow to the alpha, driving the broken sword hilt deep into its chest. The massive creature let out one last roar before collapsing to the ground.
The square fell silent, broken only by the heavy breathing of the three companions. The armored man vanished into the shadows, but his lingering presence hung like a dark cloud.
Kaida fell to her knees, the crystal in her hands dimming. "This isn't over," she said weakly. "The Abyss won't stop until they get this crystal."
Rai helped her to her feet, his expression resolute. "Then we'll keep fighting. No matter what it takes."
Tenzai sheathed the remains of his sword, a wry smile on his face. "Let's see if they're strong enough to take us down."
The three of them stood together in the ruined square, their bond strengthened by the battle. The fight for Kaelmont was over, but the war against the Abyss had only just begun.