LEGENDS OF ELDORIA

CHAPTER 21

Kai's chest heaved with labored breaths as he knelt on one knee, blood trickling down his side and staining the ground beneath him. His vision blurred from exhaustion, but he kept his gaze locked on the approaching figure of the man, whose twisted grin only seemed to widen as he closed in.

"Finally giving up, huh?" the man taunted, his sword raised to deliver the final blow. "I knew you'd break."

But just as the man swung his blade, a fiery explosion erupted between them, forcing him to leap back in surprise. The fireball scorched the ground where the man had stood, leaving a smoldering crater.

Kai frowned, turning his head to see where the attack had come from.

Emerging from the shadows, Zariel, Elara, Azim, and Darian stepped forward, their eyes blazing with determination. Zariel was at the front, his hand still raised, wisps of flame licking at his fingertips. Behind him, Elara's face was set in a determined expression, her healing aura already flickering around her hands. Azim and Darian flanked them, ready for battle, their own powers simmering just beneath the surface.

The two men who had been attacking Kai exchanged amused glances. One of them smirked, eyeing Zariel with curiosity. "Well, well. Look who's come to join the party."

The other man chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowing. "Zariel Cinderscourge. This should be interesting."

Zariel stepped forward confidently, placing himself between the men and Kai. His voice was calm, yet his resolve was unshakable. "You've had your fun with him. Now, it's our turn. I'll defend my comrades—all of them."

Kai looked up at Zariel, his expression unreadable. He wasn't used to being the one who needed protection, but Zariel's words held a weight of sincerity that made Kai pause. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

"Rest, Kai," Zariel said over his shoulder without taking his eyes off the enemy. "We'll take care of this. You've done enough."

Elara knelt beside Kai, her hands glowing softly as she began to heal his wounds. Her touch was gentle but firm, her brows furrowed in concentration. "You're reckless, you know that?" she muttered, her voice a mixture of frustration and concern. "But we've got your back now. Don't push yourself any further."

Kai grunted in response, feeling the warmth of Elara's healing magic seep into his torn muscles and bruised bones. He didn't like feeling this weak, but Elara's presence was somehow calming. He allowed her to tend to his wounds, though his gaze remained fixed on Zariel and the others as they stood ready to face the two men.

Azim cracked his knuckles, his sand and air manipulation swirling around him in a barely contained storm. "I've been waiting for a chance to test myself against real enemies. Let's see if you can handle more than one of us."

Darian, his eyes gleaming with energy, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're about to learn that messing with Class A was your first mistake."

The two men, far from being intimidated, simply laughed. "More like our entertainment is just getting started," one of them said, his voice dripping with malice.

Zariel's expression hardened as he raised his arms, flames igniting at his command. "We'll see about that."

As the battle prepared to resume, Kai watched from the sidelines, still recovering but alert. He wasn't used to relying on others, but seeing Zariel, Elara, Azim, and Darian step in filled him with a strange sense of... trust. They were his comrades, and for the first time, he allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to carry everything alone.