The group continued their desperate sprint toward the city, their hearts pounding as dust trailed behind their galloping horses. Akaulo and the royal guards chasing him were now nowhere to be seen, swallowed by the vast distance. Wulf's eyes narrowed as he turned to Elric.
"Take the others and keep going," he ordered, his voice firm. "I'll deal with the ones behind us."
Elric shot him a concerned look. "Wulf, are you sure? These aren't ordinary men—"
"Just go." Wulf didn't wait for a reply. He skidded to a halt and spun around, his feet kicking up dirt. With a deep inhale, he lowered his stance, waiting for the five royal guards to close in.
They were still on horseback, their weapons glinting under the daylight. One of them, a heavily armored man with a spear, pointed at Wulf. "You should've kept running, fool. Now you die."
Wulf smirked. "Let's see about that."
