Near Blackwell Territory
Rose was still dreaming.
Somewhere deep within her subconscious, she stood with Aurelia, their conversation continuing in that strange space between memory and dream.
But outside the dream—
something had changed.
James suddenly stood.
His expression hardened.
"Shh."
Everyone immediately fell silent.
James tilted his head, listening.
For several seconds, no one moved.
The forest had become strangely quiet.
Too quiet.
Then James's eyes widened.
"Everyone, get ready. Something's coming."
The entire camp sprang into action.
August immediately raised his hands.
Energy gathered between his palms as he used his ability to create weapons for the teammates who needed them.
One after another, weapons formed in his grasp before he tossed them to their owners.
Finally, he created his own.
He tightened his grip around it.
Ready.
Selene stood on high alert beside Irish, scanning the darkness surrounding the camp.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Ryder disappeared.
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared beside Rose.
"Rose."
Her eyes snapped open.
"AMBUSH!"
Rose shot upright.
"They're getting close!"
She quickly got to her feet.
She could feel them now.
Creatures.
Dozens.
No—
More than that.
They were approaching from nearly every direction.
Rose stepped outside the tent.
Her teammates were already moving into battle formation.
James stood near the front.
August had his weapon ready.
Selene was concentrating on the surrounding forest.
Irish remained close enough to support everyone.
Achelous stood with his weapon drawn.
And Ryder appeared directly behind Rose.
Rose raised her hands.
Fire ignited across her fingers before spreading over both palms.
Her expression hardened.
She was ready.
James and Selene immediately established a mental link between the team.
Everyone, get ready.
They're getting close to the barrier.
Selene's Third Eye opened.
Her supernatural vision spread outward.
One mile.
Two miles.
Three.
Her face suddenly changed.
There were creatures everywhere.
Benny! James called through the link. Take care of the sky. Something's flying above us.
"Got it."
A powerful gust of wind exploded beneath Benny.
He launched himself upward, soaring through the trees before landing on one of the highest branches.
Wind began swirling around his hands.
The currents compressed.
Sharpened.
Until they became invisible blades.
Benny looked toward the sky.
His eyes widened.
"Harpies."
Real harpies.
Several of them circled high above the forest, their enormous wings beating against the night sky.
One spotted him.
It released a piercing screech before folding its wings and diving directly toward him.
Benny didn't move.
He waited.
Closer.
Closer.
The harpy extended its claws.
Benny swung his hand.
A blade of compressed wind shot through the air.
SLICE!
The harpy screamed in agony as one of its wings was severed.
It spiraled downward, crashing through the trees below.
The scream echoed across the forest.
And then—
more screams answered it.
Benny slowly looked up.
The other harpies were coming.
⸻
Back on the ground, the atmosphere had become suffocating.
Everyone could feel it.
The creatures were getting closer.
Rose stepped forward with Ryder beside her.
She looked toward Irish.
"Irish, stay in formation. Support anyone who needs assistance, but don't put yourself in unnecessary danger."
Irish nodded.
"Understood, Captain."
Although Irish served as one of the team's strongest support fighters, no one underestimated her.
Her speed and close-combat abilities made her dangerous.
When necessary, she could fight almost as fiercely as Ryder—though Ryder's assassin training made him especially lethal in close combat.
Selene's Third Eye continued scanning beyond the barrier.
Then she froze.
"Captain…"
Rose turned toward her.
"What do you see?"
Selene swallowed.
"Too many."
Through her Third Eye, she could see the army moving through the forest.
Wolves.
Giants.
Lizard-men.
Goblins.
Creatures crawling through the trees.
Others moving beneath the shadows.
And then she saw something that made her blood run cold.
"Rose…"
"What?"
"The serpents."
Rose's eyes narrowed.
Selene stared into the distance.
"There are four of them."
Rose immediately understood.
They were the same type of massive serpent she had killed before.
Except this time—
there wasn't one.
There were four.
Selene continued looking through her Third Eye.
"And that's not everything. There are more creatures behind them."
Silence passed through the team's mental link.
Rose slowly looked at her teammates.
Every one of them was waiting for her command.
James.
August.
Selene.
Irish.
Ryder.
Achelous.
And Benny, already fighting above them.
Rose took a slow breath.
"You guys good?"
One by one, they answered.
"Yes."
"Ready."
"Let's do this."
Irish activated her support ability.
A wave of energy spread through the group, strengthening their bodies and sharpening their senses.
Rose felt the energy enter her.
But it wasn't enough to remove the feeling growing inside her chest.
The creatures continued approaching.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Until the ground itself began to tremble.
Rose stared into the darkness beyond the barrier.
Her flames burned brighter.
But slowly…
her expression darkened.
Ryder noticed immediately.
"Rose?"
She didn't answer.
Something felt wrong.
This wasn't simply an attack.
This wasn't a random group of creatures wandering through Blackwell Territory.
There were too many.
They were too organized.
And they were coming directly toward them.
Rose could feel the pressure increasing around her.
A strange heaviness pressed against her chest.
For a moment, she wondered if it was because of the creatures.
But deep inside…
she knew better.
Someone had sent them.
And whoever it was—
knew exactly where Rose and her team were.
Then—
BANG!
Everyone turned.
A goblin had reached the barrier.
It raised its weapon.
BANG!
Again.
Another goblin joined it.
Then another.
Then ten.
Then dozens.
Weapons scraped against the magical protection.
Claws dragged across it.
Fists pounded against it.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Rose watched the barrier flicker.
Nobody moved.
Not yet.
They waited.
The pounding became louder.
The creatures pressed closer.
The barrier flickered again.
Selene whispered,
"They're breaking through."
Rose's flames surged.
"Hold formation."
A crack of energy flashed across the barrier.
Then—
the first goblin forced its way through.
Rose's eyes hardened.
"NOW!"
The team exploded into action.
James struck first.
August followed.
Ryder vanished.
He reappeared behind a goblin.
One strike.
The creature dropped.
He disappeared again.
Irish raced across the battlefield, striking one creature before speeding toward another teammate.
Achelous drew his blade.
A goblin charged him.
CLANG!
Achelous blocked.
Turned.
SLICE!
The creature fell.
More came.
Then the lizard-men reached the barrier.
One raised a bow.
Selene saw it.
"ARROWS!"
The sky filled with them.
"DOWN!"
Everyone ducked.
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
Arrows ripped through the air and buried themselves into trees.
Rose rolled sideways.
An arrow struck the ground exactly where her head had been.
She looked up.
The serpents were approaching.
All four.
Rose immediately mind-linked the team.
Everyone, listen to me.
One serpent released a deafening roar.
Don't worry about the serpents.
Rose's flames surged around her.
I'll handle them.
The answer came instantly.
YES, CAPTAIN!
Rose launched herself into the air.
Fire exploded beneath her feet.
She landed on a tree branch.
Then another.
And another.
Higher.
Faster.
Her eyes searched through the battlefield.
Then—
she found the first serpent.
"There you are."
Rose dove.
The serpent spotted her.
Its massive head snapped upward.
Its mouth opened.
Fangs descended toward her.
It lunged.
Rose twisted her body at the last possible second.
The jaws snapped shut beside her.
She landed directly on its head.
A sword of fire formed in her hand.
"Got you."
STAB!
Rose drove the blade between its eyes.
The serpent screamed.
Its body twisted violently.
Rose held on.
Then she dragged the flaming sword downward.
Scales split beneath the blade.
Fire tore through flesh.
Rose slid along its massive body as the serpent thrashed through the forest.
Trees cracked around them.
Rose jumped.
Landed.
The serpent collapsed behind her.
The ground shook.
Rose didn't even look back.
"One."
She ran toward the second.
Then—
BOOM!
A massive boulder came flying directly at her.
Rose's eyes widened.
She jumped.
Her body flipped over it.
The boulder thundered beneath her and smashed through several trees behind her.
Rose landed.
Kept running.
No hesitation.
The second serpent lunged.
Its jaws opened wide enough to swallow her whole.
Rose threw herself sideways.
The fangs missed her by inches.
She spun.
Her flaming sword drove directly into the creature's jawline.
The serpent roared.
Rose ran alongside its enormous body, dragging the sword through its scales all the way toward its tail.
Fire followed behind her.
The serpent twisted violently.
Rose jumped away.
"Two."
Then—
the ground moved.
Rose stopped.
The third serpent suddenly disappeared beneath the earth.
Her expression changed.
"Damn it."
She closed her eyes.
She tried to feel the vibrations.
Left.
No.
Right.
No.
Behind—
BOOM!
Another boulder flew toward her.
Rose jumped onto a tree.
The boulder smashed into the trunk beneath her.
CRACK!
The tree began falling.
Rose jumped to another branch.
Then another.
Higher.
Another boulder tore through the trees.
Rose climbed even higher.
"If I can't find you…"
Her eyes scanned the battlefield.
"…I'll take the next one."
Then she spotted Achelous.
He was fighting a lizard-man.
The creature swung its sword.
Achelous blocked.
Turned.
Dodged.
His movements were precise.
Controlled.
The lizard-man attacked again.
Achelous stepped inside its guard.
SLICE!
The creature's head separated from its body.
Rose almost smiled.
His swordsmanship and martial arts flowed together beautifully.
Then her expression changed.
Something enormous rose behind him.
The fourth serpent.
Its jaws opened.
"Achelous!"
He turned.
Too late.
Rose launched herself from the branch.
Fire exploded beneath her feet.
She flew straight across the battlefield.
The serpent struck.
Rose landed directly on top of its head.
A flaming knife formed in her hand.
STAB!
She drove it into the serpent's eye.
The creature screamed.
Its massive body slammed into the trees.
Rose grabbed its scales.
"Whoa—!"
BOOM!
The serpent smashed its head against one tree.
Rose held on.
BOOM!
Another.
"Get—off—me!"
Rose drove the knife deeper.
The serpent went wild.
Then—
BOOM!
Its head slammed against another tree.
Rose lost her grip.
She flew through the air.
CRASH!
Her back slammed against a tree.
She slid down the trunk.
Hit the ground.
And stopped.
For several seconds—
Rose couldn't breathe.
Her vision blurred.
Sound became distant.
Rose!
Someone was calling her through the link.
She coughed.
Pain ripped through her chest.
She forced air into her lungs.
Once.
Twice.
Then pushed herself onto her hands and knees.
The serpent was still alive.
Rose wiped blood from the corner of her mouth.
"Come on."
She forced herself onto her feet.
Then started running.
But the ground beneath her suddenly exploded.
BOOM!
Rose's eyes widened.
The third serpent.
The one that had disappeared underground.
It burst from beneath the earth directly in front of her.
Its enormous jaws opened.
Rose tried to move.
Too late.
"ROSE!"
Irish screamed.
The jaws closed.
Rose disappeared.
The serpent swallowed her.
For one horrible second—
everything stopped.
"ROSE!"
Irish screamed her name again.
Ryder froze.
James turned toward the serpent.
Achelous lost focus for a split second and barely blocked another attack.
Irish looked toward Selene.
"SELENE! FIND HER!"
Selene's Third Eye immediately focused on the serpent.
Her supernatural vision pushed through its enormous body.
Searching.
Desperately.
"Come on…"
She searched for Rose's energy.
Her flames.
Her presence.
Anything.
Selene's face changed.
"I—I can't feel her."
Irish stared at her.
"What?"
"I can't feel Rose's presence."
"No!"
Irish shook her head.
"Look again!"
Selene pushed her Third Eye harder.
Nothing.
One second.
Nothing.
Two.
Still nothing.
Three.
Irish's face went pale.
"Rose…"
Ryder's expression became terrifyingly cold.
Then—
Selene saw something.
A flicker.
Deep inside the serpent.
Her eyes widened.
"Wait."
A tiny orange glow appeared inside the creature's throat.
Then red.
Then—
gold.
Selene screamed.
"GET BACK!"
BOOOOOOM!
Flames erupted from inside the serpent.
Its head exploded.
The blast shook the surrounding forest.
Burning flesh crashed through the trees.
Smoke filled the battlefield.
Irish stared.
Ryder didn't move.
Then—
something moved inside the smoke.
A hand appeared.
Then another.
Rose climbed out of the serpent's body.
Covered from head to toe in blood and slime.
Her clothes were soaked.
Her hair clung to her face.
Her flames were still burning around her hands.
For several seconds—
everyone simply stared.
Rose wiped blood from her mouth.
Her face twisted in disgust.
"That was disgusting."
Irish nearly collapsed from relief.
"You scared the hell out of me!"
Rose looked toward her.
For half a second, she smiled.
Then—
ROOOOOAR!
The fourth serpent reminded them that the battle was far from over.
Rose's smile disappeared.
"Right."
She ran.
The serpent with the missing eye was thrashing across the battlefield.
Rose jumped.
Her flame knife reignited.
She landed against the creature.
SLICE!
Again.
SLICE!
Again.
The serpent twisted.
Rose held on.
Then drove the flaming blade deep into its head.
The creature collapsed.
Rose jumped away as its massive body crashed into the ground.
She landed hard.
Her chest rose and fell.
Four serpents.
Down.
For one brief second—
Rose thought she could breathe.
She was wrong.
A roar thundered through the forest.
Then another.
And another.
Rose slowly lifted her head.
More creatures were coming.
The battle continued.
And continued.
And continued.
Everywhere Rose looked, her team was fighting.
Benny battled harpies above the trees.
Wind blades ripped through the night sky.
James was surrounded.
August was creating weapons almost as quickly as they were breaking.
Selene's Third Eye was being pushed to its limit.
Irish raced between teammates, healing and supporting them before returning to battle herself.
Achelous fought through the lizard-men.
Ryder vanished and reappeared across the battlefield, leaving bodies behind him.
But even Ryder was slowing down.
Everyone was.
They had been fighting too hard.
For too long.
And the creatures—
just kept coming.
For every one they killed, another took its place.
Then two.
Then three.
The barrier flickered violently.
Another section collapsed.
More creatures poured through.
Rose heard James through the mental link.
Captain…
His voice was strained.
We're getting overwhelmed.
Rose looked around.
He was right.
Selene's voice followed.
More coming from the east.
Rose turned.
Her stomach dropped.
Another wave was approaching.
Ryder appeared beside her.
He was breathing heavily.
Blood stained his clothes.
"We need to move."
Rose looked at him.
He wasn't telling her to surrender.
He was telling her to save the team.
Another boulder crashed nearby.
BOOM!
The impact threw Irish off balance.
Achelous caught her before she hit the ground.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
Another wave of arrows filled the sky.
"MOVE!"
Everyone scattered.
Rose rolled behind a fallen tree.
Arrows buried themselves around her.
She pushed herself back onto her feet.
Her breathing had become heavy.
Her muscles burned.
Her flames still surrounded her hands—
but even they were beginning to flicker.
She looked around at her team.
James was exhausted.
August was struggling.
Benny was still fighting above them.
Selene could barely maintain her Third Eye.
Irish was breathing hard.
Achelous had blood running down his arm.
Ryder stood beside Rose, ready to keep fighting despite his exhaustion.
Rose clenched her fists.
She hated it.
Every part of her hated it.
But retreat wasn't cowardice.
Not when staying meant losing everyone.
James shouted over the battlefield.
"CAPTAIN!"
Rose looked at him.
"Give the order!"
Rose's jaw tightened.
Another roar echoed from the darkness.
More creatures appeared between the trees.
Rose looked at her teammates one last time.
Then lowered her hands.
"Everyone—"
She stopped.
Something changed.
Selene suddenly looked upward.
Her Third Eye widened.
Rose noticed.
"Selene?"
Selene didn't answer.
She was staring toward the sky.
A strange pressure rolled through the forest.
Not from the creatures.
Not from the Blackwell Territory.
And not from Rose.
Something else.
Something—
enormous.
The creatures felt it too.
Several goblins stopped moving.
The lizard-men slowly looked upward.
The giants lowered the boulders in their hands.
Even the harpies stopped attacking.
Benny hovered above the trees.
His face changed.
"What the hell…?"
Silence rolled across the battlefield.
Then—
ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!
The roar tore across the sky.
The entire forest shook.
Birds exploded from the trees.
Creatures recoiled.
Rose slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes widened.
A massive shadow passed across the moon.
WHOOSH!
The force of enormous wings slammed into the forest.
Trees bent beneath the pressure.
Leaves exploded into the air.
Dust rolled across the battlefield.
James raised his arm to protect his face.
Irish stared upward.
Achelous took a step backward.
Even Ryder looked stunned.
Selene whispered,
"Captain…"
Rose couldn't answer.
Because she recognized that presence.
The dragon descended from the darkness.
Rose had not summoned it.
She had not called its name.
She hadn't even thought about asking for its help.
But somewhere beyond the battlefield—
it had felt her.
Not her voice.
Her pressure.
Her exhaustion.
Her anger.
Her desperation.
The overwhelming power Rose had been releasing throughout the battle had traveled through the connection between them.
And the dragon had answered.
On its own.
Its enormous wings spread across the night sky.
Its eyes locked onto the battlefield below.
Then—
onto Rose.
The dragon released another deafening roar.
ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!
The creatures that had been charging moments earlier began backing away.
Some trembled.
Others turned.
The harpies scattered through the sky.
Rose stared upward.
Blood covered her face.
Her chest rose and fell as she struggled to catch her breath.
Then she recognized the massive figure descending through the darkness.
Relief washed over her.
Backup was here.
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