The three boys charged together.
The forest around them was still burning from the earlier battle. Flames crawled across broken trees and smoke filled the air. The night sky above looked red because of the fire. In the middle of that battlefield stood Haizer, wounded but still terrifying.
Eamon was the first to reach him.
The flames wrapped around both his fists like burning gauntlets. His body still ached from countless injuries, but he ignored the pain and threw a powerful punch straight toward Haizer's face. Haizer's eyes narrowed. But, at the last moment, he tilted his head and dodged the attack.
The burning fist missed him by inches. Before Eamon could react, Haizer spun around and drove his foot into Eamon's stomach. The impact forced the air out of Eamon's lungs.
Eamon stumbled backward.
At the same time, Haizer spread his wings and launched himself upward. A burst of wind exploded beneath him.
But Damien had been waiting. The young vampire bent his knees and jumped with incredible force. The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Within seconds he reached Haizer's height. His blood sword glowed crimson in the darkness.
With a roar, Damien slashed downward.
Haizer immediately raised his own sword.
Clang!
The collision echoed through the forest. For a moment both men remained suspended in the air. Then Damien pushed harder. The vampire's strength surprised Haizer.
The Seraphim was forced downward. His feet hit the ground heavily. Before Haizer could recover, another figure appeared.
Roneth, the adventurer moved like a shadow. Both katanas flashed through the air.
One slash. Then another. Then another. His movements were smooth and precise. It was almost beautiful.
Haizer quickly brought up his sword and blocked.
Clang. Clang. Clang. Sparks exploded everywhere.
Roneth kept attacking relentlessly. His swordsmanship was on an entirely different level.
Unlike Eamon, who relied heavily on magic. Unlike Damien, who relied on vampire abilities.
Roneth relied purely on skill. Years of training. Years of battles. Years of experience. His attacks flowed like water. One strike naturally became the next.
Haizer found himself constantly defending.
Every time he tried to counterattack, another katana was already coming toward him. For the first time during the battle, the Seraphim looked slightly annoyed.
Meanwhile, Eamon had already recovered. He circled around silently. His burning fists illuminated the darkness around him. Roneth continued forcing Haizer's attention forward.
That was exactly what Eamon wanted. He rushed from behind. His fist pulled back. The flames around it grew larger. A direct hit would definitely damage Haizer. The punch came flying toward the back of the Seraphim's head.
But Haizer sensed it. At the last moment, he spread his wings again. A powerful gust of wind exploded outward. The force pushed Roneth backward. Haizer launched himself into the sky.
Eamon's punch struck only empty air.
"Damn it!"
But before Haizer could gain control in midair, another danger appeared. Damien had already climbed halfway up a nearby tree. Using a branch as support, he launched himself upward.
His body shot toward Haizer like an arrow. His blood sword aimed directly for the Seraphim's neck. Haizer's eyes widened. The coordination between the three boys was becoming troublesome for him. He quickly raised his sword.
Their weapons collided once again.
Clang!
The impact shook both fighters. At the same moment, Eamon extended one hand. Mana gathered around his fingertips.
"Arcana Flame Arrow!"
A blazing arrow formed instantly. The arrow shot upward with incredible speed. Straight toward Haizer.
The Seraphim noticed it immediately. His free hand moved. A small shield made entirely of compressed air appeared before him.
The flaming arrow struck the shield.
Boom!
Fire exploded outward. But the shield held. The attack was deflected away. The flaming arrow flew into the forest and exploded against a distant tree. Haizer smirked. Then he suddenly twisted his body in midair.
Using his wings, he performed an unnatural flip. The movement disrupted Damien's balance. The vampire's attack missed completely. His body tilted awkwardly. For a second, Damien was about to fall. But Eamon and Roneth were already moving.
Both rushed forward. Damien dropped toward the ground. The two boys caught him before he crashed. They slid several feet through the dirt before stopping.
"Nice catch," Damien muttered.
"Don't mention it," Eamon replied.
Roneth simply nodded.
All three immediately returned to fighting stances. Above them, Haizer floated in the air. His wings remained spread wide. Moonlight reflected from the feathers.
He looked almost divine. If not for the blood covering him. If not for the madness in his eyes. He stared down at the three boys below. A grin slowly appeared on his face.
"Not bad, fools."
His voice echoed through the battlefield.
"You are actually very good when you work together."
His eyes moved from Eamon to Damien to Roneth.
"But it still isn't enough."
The boys remained silent. No one wasted energy responding. They simply stared back. The battle continued.
Minutes passed.
The forest became even more devastated.
Broken trees covered the ground. The air smelled of smoke and blood. Haizer remained stronger than all three combined. Whenever he landed on the ground, the trio immediately surrounded him.
Roneth attacked from one side. Damien from another. Eamon used fire magic to pressure him from a distance.
Again and again they forced him backward. Again and again Haizer escaped by flying.
But something was changing. Slowly. Subtly.
His movements weren't as smooth anymore. His breathing had become heavier. Sweat covered his face. The wounds on his body continued accumulating.
Most importantly... Flying was exhausting him. Every time he used his wings, more energy disappeared.
Eamon noticed it first. Then Damien. Then Roneth. The Seraphim was getting tired. Not weak. Not yet. But tired. That realization gave them hope.
Haizer landed again.
Immediately the three boys attacked. Roneth's katanas flashed. Damien's blood sword followed. Eamon launched a barrage of fireballs.
Haizer blocked. Dodged. Countered. But he was slowly being cornered. Finally, frustration appeared on his face. With a roar, he spread his wings and launched himself skyward again.
The boys prepared to follow. Then something unexpected happened. While flying above them, Haizer's gaze shifted.
His eyes landed on Korran's family. The frightened father. The two boys. Standing helplessly behind the battlefield. A cruel smile appeared on Haizer's face.
An idea. A horrible idea.
Eamon immediately noticed the expression. His eyes widened.
"No..."
Haizer suddenly changed direction. Instead of attacking the three fighters... He flew toward Korran's family. Fast. Very fast. His plan was obvious. Take hostages. Use them as shields. Kill Orzen. Threaten Korran and Felis.
Force Eamon and the others to surrender. A perfect plan for a coward. Korran saw him approaching. The little boy froze. Fear filled his face. Felis immediately moved in front of his younger brother.
Orzen pulled both boys close. The family crouched together. Helpless. Terrified.
Haizer's shadow rapidly grew larger above them.
At the same moment, Eamon, Damien, and Roneth started running.
Yet strangely...None of them panicked. None of them looked surprised. It was almost as if they had expected this exact situation. While running, Damien glanced sideways. Roneth did the same.
Both looked directly at Eamon. Damien shouted.
"Eamon! Now!"
Eamon nodded instantly.
He brought two fingers to his mouth. Then he whistled. A loud, sharp whistle echoed through the burning forest.
Haizer ignored it. His focus remained entirely on Korran's family. He descended rapidly. His sword raised. His grin widened. Victory was right before him.
Then— Something burst from the bushes. A white snowy blur.
A furry body. Sharp teeth. It was Skarn.
The direwolf exploded from hiding. For hours he had remained near Korran's family.
Hidden. Waiting. Following Eamon's secret instructions.
The moment Haizer got close... Attack. No hesitation. No fear.
Skarn leaped through the air.
Haizer barely had time to react.
The wolf's jaws closed around his right arm.
Crunch!
A horrifying sound echoed across the battlefield. Haizer screamed. The bite was devastating. Skarn's teeth sank deep into flesh and bone. The Seraphim swung his arm violently. Trying to shake him off. But Skarn refused. He held tighter. Blood sprayed everywhere.
Haizer roared in fury.
"You filthy beast!"
He punched Skarn directly in the face.
Once. Twice. Three times. The wolf whimpered. But refused to release him. Haizer punched his stomach. His ribs. His head. Again and again.
Skarn's body trembled. Blood covered his fur. Yet still he held on. The direwolf's eyes remained locked on Haizer. He would not let go. Not while his friends were in danger. Not while Korran's family needed protection.
Haizer became desperate. His sword appeared in his remaining hand. He raised it. Preparing to stab Skarn.
But before the blade could fall—Boom!
Damien arrived. Using his vampire speed, he crossed the distance almost instantly.
His foot slammed into Haizer's back. The kick carried tremendous force. Haizer was thrown forward. His balance disappeared. At that exact moment—Skarn bit down harder.
Much harder. A sickening crack echoed through the battlefield. Then another. And another. Haizer's scream shook the forest. The wolf twisted his head violently. Tearing flesh. Breaking bone. Ripping muscle apart. Finally— The entire lower half of Haizer's right arm came off.
Blood exploded everywhere. Skarn landed heavily on the ground holding the severed arm in his mouth. For a moment, complete silence filled the battlefield.
Everyone stared. Even Eamon. Even Damien.
The severed arm dropped from Skarn's mouth onto the dirt.
Thud.
The wolf collapsed beside it. His body was covered in wounds. His breathing was ragged. One eye was swollen. Blood covered his silver fur. But he had done it. He had protected the family. He had completed his mission.
Across the battlefield, Haizer staggered backward. His eyes widened with disbelief. Blood poured endlessly from the stump below his elbow. The pain finally reached him. Then he screamed. A long, furious scream filled with agony and hatred. His right arm had been completely chewed off from below the elbow.