Naisha's boots skidded against the dirt as she rushed toward the village.
Jackals surrounded the villagers. Their fangs bared as they lunged at the desperate defenders.
The villagers, armed with swords, axes, and spears, stood their ground. They swing and stab at the relentless beasts.
Gebo, Hans, and the others fought alongside the villagers, their swords cutting through the Jackals.
Naisha didn't hesitate. She leaped into the fray and helped the villager.
A jackal lunged at one of the villagers, its maw burning with inner fire.
Naisha moved swiftly. She slipped between its snapping jaws and plunged her dagger deep into its throat.
Then she twisted the blade, severing its spine before kicking the corpse aside.
The villagers rallied behind her, fighting with renewed vigor.
In a matter of minutes, the battlefield cleared.
A villager turned to Naisha, panting.
"Where is Draven?"
"Buying us more time."
Naisha asked back.
"Where are Gil and Felix?"
"I don't know if they are already here."
"We need to move. Now."
She led the villagers through the makeshift camp.
As soon as she saw Gil and Felix arriving, she immediately rushed to them.
"Did you find a safe zone?"
Felix nodded.
"Yes. It's about a ten-mile walk from here. It is small, but better there than here."
"Then we leave now."
Naisha turned to the villagers.
"Let's go. We will move immediately."
There was no hesitation.
"Where's Draven?" Gil asked.
"Still fighting. He'll follow us later."
As soon as everything settled, they moved out into the night with Gil and Felix leading them
The village behind them faded into the shadows. However, something stopped them from their tracks.
"Boom!"
A small explosion shook the ground.
Naisha's heart clenched.
The battle on Draven's side was still raging.
She gritted her teeth. 'Be safe, Draven.'
Suddenly, Gil turned back.
"Where are you going?" Naisha snapped.
Gil's jaw tightened.
"To Draven. He doesn't know where we're going after the fight."
Naisha wanted to go too. But she was the only one who could lead the villagers and protect them.
She closed her eyes for a moment, then nodded.
"Be careful."
---
Draven stood amidst a battlefield of Jackal's corpses.
His body was battered, blood trailing down his face.
He grinned despite the pain, wiping the edge of his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Damn. Babe didn't mention jackals can suicide like bombs. Good thing she's not here when it exploded."
More jackals circled him, their eyes glowing like embers.
Their bodies trembled, the heat inside them rising, ready to detonate.
Draven exhaled, steadying himself. He couldn't let them do that again.
'What is wrong with these jackals? It seems like they were not hunting for food. Why are they risking their lives?'
One lunged.
Draven moved faster.
He sidestepped at the last second, his foot pivoting as his fist drove into its gut.
A shockwave burst from the impact. The creature's body folded in half before it crashed into the ground.
Another jackal leaped at his back.
Without looking, he twisted and swung his elbow, shattering its jaw midair before grabbing its throat and slamming it into the dirt.
'I can see their movement; the only problem now is their suicidal tendencies.'
The pack howled.
They rushed him all at once.
Draven moved like a storm. His hands became a blur.
Grabbing.
Twisting.
Breaking.
He dove beneath a clawed swipe.
His knee rocketed into a jackal's ribs, sending it flying.
Another came from behind, jaws snapping for his throat.
He spun, caught its head mid-bite, and wrenched it.
Its spine cracked as he tossed the lifeless body aside.
One Jackal ignited, flames crawling up its body.
Draven reacted instantly.
He kicked a corpse into the burning beast, halting its charge before dashing forward.
Draven did not let them detonate. He punched them first, making them fly meters away from him before they explode.
He planted his foot, shifted his weight, and delivered a brutal right hook.
The force sent the jackal careening into another. Both creatures were erupting in a fiery blast.
Draven didn't stop.
Momentum was his weapon.
He lunged; every strike sent bones snapping.
Then he grabbed one jackal by the tail and swung it like a club.
He smashed it into the ground before hurling it into another.
'Almost ten days of training like that, and my agility and reflexes have improved a lot. It's different since my last fight with the Bugbear.'
Draven was not used to training in his old life. He was just strong, as far as he can remember. But he recalled pretending to be in training for a show.
'Good thing I still remember the trainings that was taught to me. It was really effective.'
More came.
Draven welcomed them.
As a jackal lunged, Draven ducked and drove his knee upward, caving in its ribs.
Another tried to flank him.
He caught its snout and twisted, breaking its neck with one fluid motion.
'The only problem is they are too many. Where are they coming from? It seemed like someone was controlling them."
One beast leaped high, flames bursting from its maw.
Draven's foot planted against a corpse, using it as a springboard.
Then he shot upward, meeting the jackal in midair.
His fist rocketed forward, smashing through its skull before he landed in a crouch, ready for the next attack.
His breath was now heavy. His knuckles burned and dripped with blood.
'This is just the hard part, when my fists touched them.'
Every time he punched the fire jackals directly, it felt as if he were pressing his fists against a hot iron.'
Draven kept trying to locate his Morphos, but it was nowhere in sight.
Perhaps it was buried beneath the corpses of the Jackals.
There was no time to search because they kept engaging him.
Still, the jackals came.
Draven grinned.
"Alright. Let's finish this."
He surged forward.
A beast pounced.
Draven spun low, sweeping its legs before crushing its head beneath his heel.
Another lashed out.
He caught its limb, twisted it, and threw it into an oncoming attacker.
He weaved through their attacks like a phantom.
Never stopping.
Never slowing.
Every movement was calculated and deadly.
One beast detonated nearby.
The shockwave shook the ground.
Draven shielded himself, rolling with the blast. Then he burst forward again.
His fist buried into a jackal's gut.
His elbow shattered another's skull.
A kick sent one flying.
And a palm strike crushed another's spine.
The last jackal stood before him, growling, flames licking its fangs.
Draven exhaled, wiping blood from his brow.
"Are you sure about this? Can't you see your companions?"
Still, the beast roared and lunged.
"I think you don't understand your situation."
Draven met it head-on.
His foot slammed into the ground, launching himself forward like a cannonball.
His fist shot out, connecting with the jackal's skull.
It's the last spark that can be seen.
The creature's body stiffened before it collapsed, lifeless.
And then there was silence.
In the distance, the man wearing the brown cape watched Draven from the shadows.
Then a shadow figure appeared behind him.
"He really defeated my Jackals," he reported. "I think he's the one who killed your boss."
"Ok. Thanks for your work, Trabos, I will call you again next time," the shadow figure commanded.
"Don't forget your payment," the hooded man said before vanishing into the darkness.