Ethan stepped forward, shielding Taylor with his body as the storm raged around them. The swirling shadows seemed alive, a sentient force that recognized Taylor as its center. He could feel the pull of her power—wild, untamed, and devastatingly ancient. It was not just the girl that had summoned this; it was something far older, something that had been waiting to awaken.
"Anastasia," Ethan called over the cacophony of the storm, his voice sharp and commanding. "Get her out of here. Now!"
Anastasia hesitated, her grip tightening on Taylor. "I can't leave you!"
"You must," Ethan growled, his icy aura intensifying. Frost began to creep over the ground, pushing back the encroaching shadows. "If they take her, all of this will have been for nothing."
Anastasia's resolve hardened. She scooped Taylor into her arms, the girl now eerily calm as if the storm were a part of her. Without another word, Anastasia sprinted toward the edge of the battlefield, her footsteps barely audible against the roaring winds.
Lysander, still trapped in the crystalline prison, let out a guttural laugh that echoed through the chaos. "Foolish. You think you can outrun the storm? She belongs to it now!"
Ethan didn't respond. Instead, he turned his attention back to the battlefield, his cold gaze locking onto the shadowy figures emerging from the storm. The forces of Arthur were relentless, their numbers multiplying as the storm fed on the chaos.
Liam appeared at Ethan's side, his breathing heavy, his claws stained with blood. "This is getting out of hand," he muttered, his golden eyes scanning the battlefield. "We can't hold them off forever."
"We don't need to," Ethan replied, his voice steady. "We just need to buy her time."
Liam nodded, his wolfish grin returning despite the dire situation. "Then let's make it count."
Together, they launched themselves into the fray, Ethan's frost and Liam's feral strength carving a path through the darkness. The battlefield became a blur of movement, the clash of powers creating a symphony of destruction. Ethan's ice formed barriers and spears, freezing enemies mid-attack, while Liam's brute force tore through anything in his path.
But the storm was relentless.
Anastasia ran through the forest, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she dodged falling branches and debris. Taylor remained silent in her arms, her small hands clutching Anastasia's cloak. The storm seemed to follow them, the shadows growing darker and denser with each step.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Anastasia's feet trembled, and a fissure opened ahead of her. She skidded to a stop, her eyes wide as a figure emerged from the darkness. Arthur.
The Demon King's presence was suffocating, his form towering and wreathed in dark flames. His crimson eyes burned with malice as they fixed on Anastasia and Taylor.
"Did you really think you could escape me?" Arthur's voice was a low growl, his words dripping with contempt. "The child is mine. Hand her over, and I may let you live."
Anastasia stood her ground, her body trembling but her grip on Taylor unwavering. "She will never be yours," she spat, her voice defiant.
Arthur chuckled darkly, his flames flaring. "Brave, but foolish. Do you really think you can defy me?"
As Arthur raised a hand, a surge of dark energy gathering in his palm, a blast of frost cut through the air, striking him square in the chest. He stumbled back, momentarily caught off guard.
Ethan and Liam emerged from the trees, their faces set in grim determination. Ethan's hands were glowing with icy energy, and Liam's claws glinted in the dim light.
"You'll have to go through us first," Ethan said coldly, stepping between Arthur and Anastasia.
Arthur's laughter filled the air, a sound that sent shivers down their spines. "Very well," he said, his flames intensifying. "Let the storm consume you all."
Arthur charged forward, his dark flames igniting the ground with every step, clashing against Ethan's icy winds and Liam's feral strength. The battlefield became a maelstrom of fire, ice, and shadows, each force vying for dominance. The air crackled with tension as the clash of powers sent shockwaves through the forest, uprooting ancient trees and turning the earth into a battlefield of chaos.
Ethan raised a hand, summoning a blizzard that swirled around Arthur, attempting to snuff out his flames. But Arthur was relentless, his power growing with every second. He absorbed the ice, turning it into blackened shards that rained down upon Ethan and Liam.
"You think your tricks can stop me?" Arthur roared, his voice resonating with ancient power. He extended a hand, and the ground beneath Ethan cracked, erupting into a surge of dark energy.
Ethan leaped back, narrowly avoiding the blast, but his movements were slowing. The fight had drained him, the frost in his veins struggling to keep up with Arthur's infernal might.
Liam, however, was a whirlwind of destruction. His claws tore through Arthur's summoned minions, his wolf form blending with the shadows to strike with brutal efficiency. Yet, even he couldn't hold the line forever. The sheer number of enemies was overwhelming, and Arthur's presence seemed to drain the energy from the air itself.
Meanwhile, Anastasia stood at the edge of the clearing, Taylor still cradled in her arms. She watched the battle unfold, her heart torn between the need to flee and the instinct to fight. She could feel the storm within Taylor growing, the young girl's power surging with every passing moment.
Taylor stirred, her eyes glowing faintly as the shadows around her writhed. "They can't win," she whispered, her voice unnaturally calm. "Not like this."
"Taylor, no!" Anastasia pleaded, but the girl's gaze was unyielding.
"They're fighting for me," Taylor said, her voice firm. "It's time I fight for them."
Before Anastasia could react, Taylor stepped out of her arms, her small form radiating an aura of shadow and light. The storm around them seemed to respond, the winds howling louder as the shadows thickened.
Taylor raised her hands, her fingers curling as if grasping something unseen. The battlefield trembled, and the shadows around her surged forward, forming a protective barrier around Ethan and Liam.
Arthur turned, his crimson eyes narrowing as he saw the source of the disturbance. "So, the child reveals herself," he sneered. "Do you even know the power you wield, little one?"
Taylor stepped forward, her gaze unwavering. "I know enough."
With a wave of her hand, the shadows coalesced into a massive form—a creature of pure darkness that roared with primal fury. The ground shook as it charged toward Arthur, its massive limbs crashing down with enough force to shatter the earth.
Arthur laughed, his flames rising to meet the beast. "Is that all you've got?"
But Taylor wasn't done. Her eyes glowed brighter, and the air around her grew heavy with power. She extended her hand, and the shadows wrapped around Arthur, constricting him like living chains.
"Enough," Taylor said, her voice echoing with a resonance far beyond her years. "This ends now."
Ethan and Liam watched in awe as Taylor commanded the battlefield, her small form a stark contrast to the immense power she wielded. Ethan felt a surge of both pride and fear. The child was extraordinary, but this power came at a cost.
"She's burning through her own energy," Ethan muttered, his eyes narrowing. "If she keeps this up…"
Liam growled, his golden eyes fixed on the scene. "We have to stop her."
But before they could act, Arthur let out a deafening roar, his flames erupting with renewed intensity. The chains of shadow around him shattered, and he rose, his form now towering over the battlefield.
"You dare defy me?" Arthur bellowed, his voice shaking the heavens. "I am eternal!"
Taylor staggered, her energy waning, but she refused to back down. "And I am the storm," she declared, her voice firm despite her exhaustion.
The two forces clashed, light and darkness colliding in a spectacle of raw power. The fate of the forest, and perhaps the world, hung in the balance.