Shadows of Ascension

62. Weakened hunters

Shadowbane, still locked in combat with Aiden, glanced at the approaching brothers with disdain. "You think two newly ascended D-rank hunters can make a difference?"

Aiden’s focus narrowed as Hrie and Oeifi joined the battle, their combined strength momentarily tipping the scales in their favor. The brothers moved in sync, one distracting Shadowbane while the other aimed for a strike. In that brief window, Aiden saw his chance.

“Now!” Aiden shouted as he lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air and cutting deep into Shadowbane’s side.

Shadowbane winced but didn’t falter. With a sinister smile, he unleashed a sudden wave of dark energy. The aura wave swept through the battlefield, sending both Hrie and Oeifi crashing to the ground. They were out of the fight almost as quickly as they had entered it.

“Brothers!” Erebus cried out, his voice strained with concern. He and Luca struggled to their feet, rushing to the brothers’ side.

“Are you alright?” Luca asked, helping Oeifi sit up.

“We’re… fine,” Hrie muttered, though the pain was evident on his face. “We were no match for him anyway.”

As Luca and Erebus tended to the brothers, Aiden pressed his assault on Shadowbane. The two clashed with incredible force, their blades sparking as they met. Aiden’s rage fueled his strength, but Shadowbane’s experience made him a formidable opponent.

The battlefield was a blur of flashing steel and raw power. Aiden’s strikes were relentless, each one aimed to end the fight, but Shadowbane deflected them with calculated precision. The two seemed evenly matched, trading blows with a ferocity that left the others watching in awe.

Meanwhile, Riona had been working tirelessly to heal herself. Her abilities, though powerful, couldn’t fully mend the damage Shadowbane had inflicted. Still, she managed to get to her feet, determined to continue the fight. She was weakened, but she wasn’t done yet.

Shadowbane’s attention was divided now, and Aiden took advantage, pushing him back. Riona limped forward, joining the fray. With both Aiden and Riona against him, Shadowbane was cornered.

“You’re finished, Shadowbane,” Aiden said, his voice cold and resolute. “We were equal before, but now that Riona’s joined the fight, you don’t stand a chance.”

Shadowbane’s gaze flicked between Aiden and Riona, and for a moment, his expression darkened. But then, he began to laugh—a low, menacing sound that sent chills through the air.

“You think this is over?” Shadowbane sneered. “I may have used all of my power, but I haven’t even shown you my true ability.”

Before Aiden could react, a pack of wolves materialized out of the shadows, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light. They lunged at Riona, their fangs bared and claws ready to tear her apart.

Aiden turned to help her, but the momentary distraction was all Shadowbane needed. He moved with blinding speed, his blade slashing across Aiden’s side. The pain was intense, but Aiden gritted his teeth and stood his ground.

Riona, though weakened, fought back with fierce determination. The wolves were F rank, no match for a hunter of her caliber, but in her current state, even weak foes were a challenge. She cut them down swiftly, but the effort left her gasping for breath.

As the wolves fell, the others looked on in shock. “How did these wolves get here?” Luca wondered aloud, the question hanging in the air.

Shadowbane wiped the blood from his blade, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. “You’re out of your depth,” he taunted. “This battle is far from over.”