Bloodline of Shadow

Chapter 22: The Unyielding Guardian

The Battle in the Forest

The forest was in chaos. Trees shuddered and cracked under the weight of the battle raging within their midst. The earth trembled as powerful vampire forces collided, sending shockwaves that shook the very ground. The sounds of clashing swords, ferocious roars, and the crackling of unleashed energy filled the air. Everywhere, vampires were locked in fierce combat, each one fighting for their own cause.

In the heart of this turmoil, Xanthos was engaged in a desperate battle against three powerful vampires. Despite being stronger than any one of them, even stronger than their combined force, the challenge of fighting all three simultaneously was immense. His royal sword, forged in the ancient fires of the Tenth Family, gleamed with a fierce, unnatural light as he deflected blow after blow. But these vampires were no ordinary opponents; they were elite fighters, skilled and determined, working in perfect unison to keep Xanthos from reaching Ethan.

Xanthos knew time was running out. He had been fighting these three vampires for what felt like an eternity, but in reality, only a few minutes had passed. His muscles burned, and his breath came in heavy gasps, but he could not allow himself to slow down—not even for a moment. Ethan was out there, fighting his own battle against a dangerous enemy, and Xanthos had to reach him before it was too late.

"Out of my way!" Xanthos roared, his voice booming like thunder through the forest. He swung his sword with a mighty arc, unleashing a shockwave of raw power that sent two of the vampires flying backward. But the third vampire, a particularly fierce and cunning opponent, managed to block the attack with a barrier of dark energy, smirking as he advanced.

"You're strong, Xanthos," the vampire sneered, "but strength alone won't be enough to save your precious young master."

Xanthos's eyes blazed with fury, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. "You underestimate the bond we have," he growled. "And that will be your downfall."

A Desperate Gamble

Xanthos knew he couldn't waste any more time. The seconds were slipping away, and every moment he spent fighting these three vampires was a moment that Ethan might be falling deeper into danger. His mind raced, and he realized there was no other option—he had to use his most powerful attack, the one he had spent decades perfecting.

This attack was more than just a display of raw strength. It was a manifestation of nature's fury, drawing on the elemental forces of the earth, air, and sky. Xanthos had spent years in the deepest forests, the highest mountains, and the most desolate deserts, harnessing the power of the natural world to create an attack that could obliterate anything in its path. He called it Nature's Wrath.

But there was a reason he rarely used it. The attack required an enormous amount of energy, and it was not without its dangers. If not controlled perfectly, it could spiral out of control, consuming everything around it—including its wielder. But Xanthos had no choice. He could not allow Ethan to fall, for if he did, the entire Tenth Family would crumble, and everything they had built would be lost forever.

"Enough of this!" Xanthos bellowed, raising his sword high. The blade began to glow with a brilliant green and blue light, the very air around it vibrating with an intense hum. "You want to see true power? I'll show you!"

The three vampires paused, sensing the shift in energy. For a moment, uncertainty flickered in their eyes. They knew Xanthos was a formidable opponent, but they hadn't anticipated this level of intensity. The forest itself seemed to respond to Xanthos's call, the wind picking up and howling through the trees, and the ground beneath them trembling with anticipation.

Xanthos began to chant in a language forgotten by most—a language of ancient power, spoken only by the oldest of vampires and known to very few. As he chanted, the air around him crackled with energy, and the earth began to shake more violently. Trees bowed and cracked under the pressure, and the sky above darkened as if a storm were brewing.