The Devil’s Foot Forest was a dark labyrinth of twisted roots and clawing branches. Every rustle of leaves carried a warning, every shadow seemed to hide a waiting blade.

  Matt rode beside Arie, eyes scanning, muscles taut. He had felt the air shift—danger approaching, inevitable.

  Arie’s hand rested lightly on the pommel of his sword. “Stay close,” he said quietly. His gaze never left the path ahead. “If anything moves wrong… I will not let it touch you.”

  Matt smirked, but there was no humor. “I don’t plan to die today. Not while you’re breathing.”

  The first strike came like a whisper and a scream all at once. Twenty soldiers, moving in near-silent formation, emerged from the shadows. Their weapons glinted. Metal, sharpened and cruel. The White Gods’ mercenaries.

  Arie’s horse whinnied. He leaned close to Matt. “Hold tight. Move when I move. Don’t think—react.”

  Matt’s hands flared with fire. A line of flame roared ahead, cutting off half of the ambushers. Two fell, screaming, scorched beyond recognition. The rest faltered, startled by the sudden inferno.

  Tavari’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding. Threads of glowing energy shot from his fingers like whips of light. He moved through the chaos with lethal precision. Soldiers screamed as threads tore through armor and flesh alike. A dozen fell before they even reached striking distance.

  Arie positioned himself between Matt and the remaining attackers. Every movement calculated. Every strike protective. He deflected a blade aimed for Matt’s side, then spun to take another attacker down with the butt of his sword.

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  Matt’s flames were deadly, but Arie’s presence gave him freedom. Every fire strike Matt sent was guided by Arie’s shielding maneuvers, the pair moving as one — predator and sentinel.

  By the time the ambush ended, twenty men had been captured alive, tied to horses under Raphael and Joseph’s quick hands. The remaining few had fled into the forest.

  Arie exhaled sharply, wiping sweat from his brow. “We need to move. Now.”

  The group mounted quickly, heading for the Leo castle using a secret path Matt had spotted. The forest seemed to swallow them whole, hiding their approach.

  When they reached the castle, the gates were guarded, but chaos worked in their favor. They slipped inside undetected.

  Inside the throne room, the King of Leo stood, eyes wide with shock. “Tavari! What madness—what insolence—”

  The king’s words faltered as Tavari stepped forward. His presence alone radiated control. Magic threads twisted around the king’s sword before he could lift it, snapping it to splinters.

  The king stumbled back, panic in his eyes. “I… I cannot allow—”

  Tavari’s gaze did not waver. “You cannot stop what is necessary.”

  The four students acted swiftly. Raphael and Joseph secured the soldiers. Matt’s flames illuminated every corner, preventing anyone from escaping. Arie circled Matt, scanning for threats and striking down anyone who dared approach.

  The operation was clean. Precise. Merciless.

  As they exited, Tavari faltered. His magic threads flickered weakly, then dropped. His body swayed. The adrenaline of battle had carried him this far, but now—pain and exhaustion overtook him. He slumped in his saddle, unconscious.

  Matt noticed immediately. “Tavari!” His fire flared instinctively, scorching the ground beneath the horse in panic. Arie caught him by the arm.

  “Hold him,” Arie ordered. “We rush to the Tower. Now.”

  Matt lowered himself, supporting Tavari’s limp form. He felt the black shadows crawling over Tavari’s body — the injury spreading in ways that made his stomach twist.

  The ride back was urgent, every second counting. The forest passed in a blur, night thick around them, but the tension between Matt and Arie never loosened. Every glance, every movement was unspoken communication: protect, survive, endure.

  By the time the Tower came into view, Matt’s grip had never been tighter, and Arie’s eyes never left him.

  The battle was won, but the cost was clear: Tavari was no longer invincible, and the war was only beginning.