The battlefield seemed to hold its breath as the King pressed forward, his movements smooth and calculated. His sword glowed with dark energy, each strike forcing Eryon further back. The once-unyielding strength of the vampire-wolf hybrid was faltering, his steps sluggish as blood poured from his wounds.
Eryon gritted his teeth, his claws flexing as he launched another attack. He aimed for the King’s exposed side, his movements precise despite his exhaustion. But the King sidestepped effortlessly, his laughter ringing out, cold and mocking.
“Is this all you have, boy?” he sneered, his crimson eyes glinting with malice. “I expected more from the one who calls himself my equal.”
Eryon growled, his amber eyes blazing as he lunged again. But the King’s blade was faster, slicing across his chest in a clean, brutal arc. Eryon stumbled, his breath catching as the pain lanced through him. He dropped to one knee, his claws digging into the ground as blood pooled beneath him.
“Pathetic,” the King said, his tone dripping with disdain. He raised his sword high, its dark energy crackling in the air. “Let’s end this farce.”
Lyra’s breath hitched as she saw the blade descending toward her brother. Panic surged through her, drowning out every thought except one: she couldn’t let this happen. Without hesitation, she grabbed her blade, her grip tightening as she took a step forward. Cassian’s voice called out behind her, sharp and commanding, but she didn’t hear him.
Her blade flew through the air with precision born of desperation. It struck true, slamming into the King’s arm with enough force to knock his sword off course. The dark blade sank into the ground instead of Eryon’s chest, and the King snarled, his gaze snapping to Lyra.
“You,” he growled, his voice filled with fury. His crimson eyes flared as he yanked the weapon free and turned toward her, his entire form radiating menace.
Eryon seized the moment, his claws flashing as he surged to his feet. Despite the pain coursing through him, he roared, the sound a guttural expression of his defiance. His claws tore into the King’s side, piercing through the dark armor with sheer force.
“You’ll regret underestimating me,” Eryon growled, his voice filled with pain but also unyielding determination.
The King staggered slightly, his expression twisting with a mix of anger and pain. Eryon pressed forward, his attacks relentless despite the blood dripping from his wounds.
The King retaliated, his blade moving with deadly precision, but Eryon fought with the ferocity of a cornered wolf, each strike a testament to his resolve.
Lyra stood frozen, her chest heaving as she watched the brutal clash unfold. Her weaponless hands clenched at her sides, her silver eyes locked on Eryon. She could feel Cassian at her side, his presence steady and grounding, but her focus was entirely on her brother.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her face. “Don’t stop fighting.”
The tide of the battle shifted, the King’s forces watching as their master struggled to regain control. Eryon snarled, his claws striking true again and again, his pain fueling his determination.