Riven stared into the Ahephai's glowing eyes, and for the first time since entering the forest, genuine terror seized him. The creature stared back, his hands trembled as he raised his spear, knowing full well he had no way to predict the monster's impossible speed. The Ahephai lowered into a predatory crouch, one crimson blade hovered inches above the field while the other rose behind its head, ready to strike. In the next instant, it exploded forward and vanished from sight, leaving only crimson arcs from its blades and orange traces from its glowing eyes.
But the wind blew through the field, and Jack stepped in front of Riven and Alette and perfectly blocked the Ahephai's double-bladed cross strike, protecting them in the process.
"Jack!" Alette screamed, panic and fear ringing through her voice.
Jack planted his feet and gripped his sword with both hands. The Ahephai struck him head-on, its crimson energy blade scraping violently against his own as the two forces collided.
Sparks flew as Jack locked blades with the Ahephai. Without taking his eyes off the creature for more than a moment, he turned his head toward Riven and Alette and roared. "Go! Help the others!"
Riven stood motionless, transfixed by the clash unfolding before him. A sharp slap from Alette snapped him back to reality. "Snap out of it!" She yelled. "Do what he says!"
"Ah uh... right!"
The sting on his cheek finally broke through the haze of fear. Riven turned and sprinted toward Bryce, who knelt nearby, clutching his amputated arm through gritted teeth. Not far away, Tatsu dragged Kani across the field while she desperately held onto her severed foot, trying to endure the pain. One by one, they gathered around Alette, battered, bleeding, and shaken, while the sounds of Jack's battle echoed through the forest behind them.
"O-Okay..." Alette muttered, her voice trembling. "Get it together... You can do this..."Taking a deep breath, she opened both palms. A soft golden light emerged from her hands, illuminating the wounded group. The radiance settled over Bryce's severed arm, and the torn flesh slowly began to mend, the bleeding gradually coming to a stop.
Jack broke the clash by driving the Ahephai backward with his sword. In the same motion, he thrust out his left arm. Lightning exploded from his fingertips and tore through the forest like a spear of pure energy. But the Ahephai had already moved. It sprang to the right and vanished into thin air, leaving only fading trails of crimson light behind. The bolt thundered past its intended target and slammed into a nearby tree, obliterating the trunk in a shower of splinters and smoke.
"Crap..."
Tatsu carefully secured bandages around Kani's severed foot. "It's alright. You're going to be-" His words died in his throat as the Ahephai abruptly materialized beside him, its crimson arm blade already sweeping toward his neck with lethal speed.
Just as the crimson blade was about to reach Tatsu's neck, an earthen wall erupted from the ground beneath the Ahephai's arm, violently knocking the strike off course and away from the group. For the briefest moment, the creature staggered, its balance broken by the sudden surge of stone. Then it steadied itself and looked ahead. Surrounding Alette, Riven's group stood towering walls of earth, joined together into a protective circle that sealed them behind a fortress of stone.
"Hey!" Jack called out sharply, forcing the Ahephai's attention away from the group. The creature turned and fixed him with a hostile glare.
Jack walked toward Aphephai, flourishing his sword, and halted. "You're seriously going to ignore me? Our battle isn't over yet."
The Ahephai pivoted toward Jack, its crimson blade humming with energy. Without a word or a sound, it started walking toward him, its eyes locked onto its chosen prey.
"Burn that thing to a crisp, Jack!" Alette yelled from behind the towering earthen walls.
"I can't use fire in a place like this. It would burn the entire forest to the ground. Besides..." Jack sighed. "I'd rather not earn the druids' wrath as well."
Across from him, the Ahephai remained silent. Its glowing orange eyes never left Jack as it dragged its crimson-energy arm blade along the field, producing a shrill metallic scrape that echoed through the woods. Slowly, it spread its arms wide and stalked forward like a predator closing in on its prey. In the next instant, it vanished.
The Ahephai burst behind Jack with impossible speed, its arm blade descending toward his back. Yet Jack reacted in time, shifting his sword behind him to catch the strike. Driving the creature away, he pivoted into a relentless chain of attacks.
However, the Ahephai evaded each blow with unnerving precision. In an instant, it countered with a sharp slash across Jack's right shoulder, an arm that was holding a sword, staggering him and disrupting his balance. Exploiting the opening, the creature lunged forward, its blade sweeping toward his waist in a lethal attempt to bisect him.
Yet Jack caught the strike with his left arm, now fully encased in clear quartz crystal. The tremendous force drove him back slightly, but the crystalline limb held firm.For the first time, the Ahephai appeared surprised.
Jack seized the opportunity. Superheated energy surged through his blade while lightning coursed along its edge, combining devastating power with explosive speed. He delivered a downward strike toward the creature's torso. Although the Ahephai instantly dashed backward, it failed to completely escape the lightning-enhanced attack, and a deep gash was torn across its chest.
The Ahephai fell to one knee, clutching the severe wound across its chest while silently observing Jack's labored breathing. As the exertion caught up to him, the energies surrounding his sword dissipated, returning the blade to its ordinary form. Yet Jack's focus was drawn elsewhere.
The N'ghftnah had broken free. With a violent burst of strength, it shattered the earthen pillars imprisoning it before leaping onto the battlefield. Landing in a low stance, the creature gradually straightened and fixed Jack with a cold, hostile stare.
Jack looked from the N'ghftnah to the Ahephai and let out a weary sigh. "You know, I was already having enough trouble with one of you." He rolled his shoulder and raised his sword."Together, you're a terrible duo."
The two eldritch soldiers prepared for battle once again. The Ahephai lowered its crimson-infused arm blade and dragged it across the ground, the weapon emitting a harsh metallic shriek as sparks scattered along the field. It then spread its arms wide in a predatory stance. Meanwhile, the N'ghftnah slowly opened its claws and dissolved from sight, slipping back into invisibility.