"He's fast," Hera muttered, her hand tightening around her spear.

"Then we'll just have to be faster," Adrian replied, his chains whipping toward the barrier. The flames flickered and pulsed as they struck repeatedly, cracks forming in the dark shield.

The commander roared in frustration, his shield shattering under Adrian's relentless assault. Hera darted in, her spear a blur as she targeted his exposed leg. The golden weapon pierced through his armor, eliciting a pained growl.

The commander staggered, his movements momentarily sluggish. But his fury only grew.

"Aichmés!" (Spikes)

A barrage of shadowy spikes erupted from the ground, one of them catching Adrian in the side. He grunted in pain, stumbling as blood seeped from the wound.

"Adrian!" Hera called, her spear deflecting another spike as she rushed to his side.

"I'm fine," Adrian said through gritted teeth, though his hand pressed against the injury.

The commander loomed over them, his blade raised for a finishing blow. Hera ran towards him almost immediately but it seemed the commander was expecting her.

"Elaio!" (Oil)

As soon as he said it, oil appeared on the floor. Hera, unprepared for it, slipped as the liquid made her lose her footing.

The commander returned his attention to Adrian. Before the blade could fall, a new voice cut through the chaos.

"Get away from him!"

Adrian's eyes widened as Queen Alannah charged onto the battlefield, her sword gleaming as she struck at the commander's side. The blow forced him back, though it barely left a scratch on his armor.

"Alannah, what are you doing here?" Adrian shouted, his voice a mix of anger and concern.

"This is my kingdom," she snapped, her eyes blazing with determination. "I won't stand by while my people fight and die."

"Then stay behind me!" Adrian growled, his chains igniting once more.

The commander chuckled darkly, his blade shifting in his hand. "How touching. Let's see how long your queen lasts."

"Vomba!" (Bomb)

A shadow-infused bomb materialized in the commander's hand. He hurled it toward the ground, the explosion rocking the battlefield.

Adrian threw himself over Alannah, shielding her from the blast as debris rained down around them. When the dust settled, Alannah was unconscious, her body limp in Adrian's arms.

The commander stood several feet away, his figure obscured by shadows. "You've fought well, Champion. But this isn't over."

With that, he retreated into the darkness, his form vanishing as the battlefield fell silent.

Adrian cradled Alannah, his fiery chains flickering weakly as exhaustion set in. Blood dripped from his side, and his vision blurred.

Hera knelt beside him, her expression grim. "We need to get her to safety."

Adrian nodded, his jaw tight with fury. "He'll pay for this," he vowed, his voice low and deadly.

Adrian knelt among the rubble, breathing heavily as he held Alannah's limp body in his arms. Blood trickled from the wound in his side, but he ignored the pain shooting from there and the warm feel mof his blood trickling down from the wound.

His focus was solely on her pale face. Her armor was dented, and a dark bruise had begun to form on her forehead.

"Adrian," Hera said softly, her spear resting against her shoulder as she knelt beside him. "We need to move. The battlefield isn't safe."

Before he could respond, a golden light bathed the area. Ava descended gracefully, her staff glowing as she landed beside them.

"I've got this," Ava said, her voice calm but firm.

She knelt by Adrian, placing a hand on his shoulder and another on Alannah's chest. Her staff hummed with radiant energy as golden light spread across their bodies.

Adrian winced as the healing magic coursed through him. The sensation was sharp, like the sting of saltwater on an open wound, but the pain in his side began to subside. His breathing steadied, and the strength returned to his limbs.

"Hold still," Ava muttered, her focus on Alannah. The queen's breathing evened out, and her eyes fluttered open moments later.

Alannah groaned, her gaze blurry at first. "Adrian?" she murmured, her voice weak.

"I'm here," he said, his tone softer than usual. "But you need to rest. You've done enough."

She tried to push herself up, but Adrian gently held her down. "Don't argue. You'll only slow us down like this. I need you alive."

Before Alannah could protest, Adrian gestured to a nearby soldier who had been holding the line. "You," he called out, his voice sharp. "Take the queen to safety. Make sure she gets to the medical tents."

The soldier nodded, quickly stepping forward to help Alannah stand. She wavered but allowed herself to be led away, glancing over her shoulder at Adrian.

"Don't die," she said simply, her voice laced with both worry and determination.

"I don't plan on it," Adrian replied, his fiery chains igniting once more.

As the queen disappeared into the safety of the rear lines, Adrian turned to Ava and Hera. "What's our current situation? How are we holding up?"

Ava stood, leaning on her staff. "It's a mixed bag," she admitted. "We're doing significant damage to their forces, but they just keep coming. Their numbers are overwhelming."

Hera nodded, her golden spear gleaming in the dim light. "We've stabilized most of the key points, but the troops are exhausted. If this continues much longer, the Shadow Court could overrun us through sheer attrition."

Adrian's jaw tightened. "Then we don't give them the chance. We push harder. Focus on taking out their summoners and commanders. Without leadership, their forces will crumble."

"Speaking of commanders," Ava said, her gaze drifting to the distant battlefield. "Where's that bastard who nearly killed you?"

Adrian's eyes darkened. "He retreated. But he'll be back. It's gonna take more than that to kill me."

The sound of clashing weapons drew their attention to a nearby skirmish. Adrian's sharp eyes picked out Selene amidst the chaos, her movements faster and more fluid than anyone around her.

"She's gone into the zone again," Hera murmured, her tone both awed and concerned.

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