Queen Shadowfang, mother off shadowfangs that can breed thousands of them. She was larger than the rest, towering over the group with a body covered in thick, shadowy fur that seemed to ripple like smoke. Her head, elongated and sleek, had no eyes—just empty, smooth hollows where eyeballs should have been. The absence of sight did nothing to diminish her terrifying presence. The sockets, its covered with blood.
"Don't be fooled by her eyes. She can't see, but her senses are far sharper than mine," Mihon warned, his voice tense as his gaze remained fixed on the Queen Shadowfang.
Aeron, narrowing his eyes at Mihon, couldn't shake the suspicion. "You seem to know a lot about them."
Mihon hesitated for a second, then replied, "It's barely speculation."
"We need to get out of here—now!" Mihon's urgency cut through the heavy air.
"But there are cadets back there, unconscious! We can't just leave them," Aeron snapped, frustration simmering in his voice.
Mihon's expression tightened. "We can't save everyone."
"I can hold them off long enough for you to escape," Kael offered, his voice steady. "But I won't last much longer."
"As he said, we have to move," Mihon urged, desperation creeping into his tone.
Suddenly, the Queen Shadowfang let out a bone-chilling screech, and all the shadowfangs surged toward them.
Mihon quickly tossed a bottle of antibiotics in a specific direction. "Run this way!" he shouted. The sharp scent diverted the shadowfangs, clearing a temporary path for them.
They bolted, but it wasn't long before the shadowfangs picked up their trail and gave chase.
"I'll hold them off!" Kael declared, coming to a sudden halt.
"We're not leaving you behind!" Aeron protested.
Kael's face hardened. "Not everyone has to die here."
"Mihon! Get up high!" Aeron ordered, his voice rising above the chaos.
"We won't make it if we fight here!" Mihon argued, doubt flickering across his face.
"Just do as I say!" Aeron barked, his tone leaving no room for discussion.
Without another word, Mihon darted up a tree like a shadow, his movements swift and nimble.
"How many of them are coming?" Aeron asked, his breath heavy.
"Almost all of them, I'd guess," Mihon called down, unable to count them in the madness.
"Kael, Miley, head over there and hide. When I give the signal, grab as many cadets as you can and get them to safety," Aeron instructed, his voice calm despite the storm brewing around them.
"What's your plan?" Kael asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
"You'll see," Aeron replied with a determined glint in his eye.
Kael and Miley ducked into a nearby bush, disappearing from sight.
Aeron took a deep breath, bracing himself. "This might be my final fight," he muttered under his breath. Suddenly, a vision flashed before him—the Shadowy Figure of the Assassin appeared, taunting him with a cold, echoing voice: "It won't be your last battle."
A smirk tugged at Aeron's lips. "Even you want me to live... and find you."
As the shadowfangs closed in, Aeron reopened the cut on his arm from the previous battle. Blood trickled down, and with renewed vigor, he bolted into the forest, the creatures hot on his heels.
"That idiot," Mihon muttered under his breath. "You two go help those cadets. I'm going after Aeron."
Mihon sprang from branch to branch, pursuing Aeron with quiet fury.
Aeron ran until he reached the edge of a towering cliff. The shadowfangs followed blindly, not realizing the danger.
Without hesitation, Aeron leapt off the cliff. The shadowfangs followed him in a deadly cascade. For a moment, Aeron believed he would fall to his death along with them, but his hand found a rope just in time. He clung to it desperately while the creatures plummeted to their deaths.
Climbing back up, Aeron was met by an angry Mihon, his eyes blazing with frustration. "What were you thinking?!"
But before Mihon could scold him, Aeron's instincts flared to life. The Queen Shadowfang hadn't followed the others. She struck from behind, her claws aiming for a fatal blow.
Aeron's power activated just in time. He shoved Mihon out of the way, blocking the Queen's claw with his knife. The force of the impact pushed the creature to the cliff's edge. Desperate, the Queen clung to the rocky ledge, but Aeron kicked her off, sending her plummeting into the abyss.
"Now we're even," Mihon said, his voice catching his breath.
"Who's even counting?" Aeron retorted, a smirk pulling at his lips.
They both stood there, panting, trying to steady their breaths.
"I don't think she's dead yet," Mihon said, his eyes narrowing at the cliff's edge.
"Let's make sure," Aeron replied, gripping his knife.
But before they could move, Aeron's head suddenly throbbed with pain. He clutched his skull, letting out a pained scream.
"Are you alright?!" Mihon asked, panic flickering in his voice.
"Yeah... I'm fine," Aeron replied, his breath ragged, but the pain still coursing through him.
"Don't push yourself," Mihon warned, worry etched in his expression.
"Don't worry. I can handle it," Aeron insisted, though his voice was weak.
"Let me help you," Mihon offered, draping Aeron's arm over his shoulder.
As they descended the cliff, they were greeted by an unexpected sight—Ruth stood over the Queen's corpse, bloodied but victorious.
"I didn't know soldiers could be this tough," Aeron taunted, smirking at Ruth.
Ruth, covered in fresh scars from the battle, merely turned his face away, irritated by Aeron's jabs.
"I found the way out of the forest," Mihon announced, his tone lighter. "The training ground."
"How'd you figure that out?" Aeron asked, surprised.
"I have super senses," Mihon replied with a grin, trying to lift the mood. "Everyone's already there. Let's move."
Ruth extended a hand, "Let me help you too."
Aeron glanced at Ruth's injured form and scoffed, "Look at yourself. You're as banged up as I am."
"I'm strong enough to handle it," Ruth shot back, his voice gruff but steady.
As they made their way through the forest, the first rays of dawn began to break through the canopy, casting a soft glow on the path ahead.
At the forest's edge, Emma rushed towards Aeron, relief washing over her face. "I'm glad you're safe," she said softly, her eyes filled with unspoken emotions. She glanced at Ruth, "And you too, Ruth."
Before they could exchange more words, Lieutenant Zei appeared. "Congratulations on passing the final test."
Aeron blinked, confused. "What test?"
Zei looked around, nodding to the twenty survivors. "Woo This is the first time all twenty cadets have survived the final test."