The screams echoed through the square, a cacophony of chaos and terror. I barely heard them anymore; the sound of steel clashing against flesh, the hiss of magic, and the deep, guttural growls of the demons drowned everything else out. I could feel the weight of each second slipping away, each one harder to claw back than the last.

I tightened my grip on the Shadow’s Sword, its inky black blade flickering faintly in the dim light of the fires spreading around us. I had 334 mana left, and I needed to make every bit count. My breath came out in ragged gasps, each inhale burning my throat. Focus. I told myself, stay alive, stay in control.

Ahead, three demons were forcing their way toward the heart of the square. Hulking creatures, almost seven feet tall, their skin a slick black, veins glowing faintly with a sickly red light. Their claws, already dripping with blood, flexed as they charged forward, hungry for more.

My heart pounded, but I couldn't hesitate. I darted forward, my body moving faster than my mind could process. Agility was key. I sidestepped the first demon, bringing the shadow blade down in a tight arc across its torso. The blade tore through it like it was nothing. Black blood sprayed, and the creature’s body staggered, collapsing to the ground in a grotesque heap.

500 EXP.

But there was no time to celebrate. Another demon lunged at me from the left. I spun just in time to dodge its claws, feeling the air whistle past my ear as it missed by inches. My mana drained steadily, each second counting as I fought to keep the blade solid and my movements sharp. I slashed again, this time going low, taking its legs out from under it. It howled as it hit the ground, and I brought the blade down on its head. The sickening crack of bone echoed through the square.

500 EXP.

I glanced at my mana: 321. The numbers dropped too fast, too much at stake to misstep now. My health? 317—no wounds yet, but it only took one mistake.

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Beside me, Isonorai was a blur of motion. Her twin swords flashed as she held off a demon three times her size. She moved like a force of nature, each strike precise and deadly, but even she was tiring. I could see the strain in her eyes, the flicker of doubt when another demon surged toward her.

"Sam! On your left!" she shouted, her voice barely cutting through the chaos.

I didn’t think, I reacted. My body twisted on instinct, bringing the sword up just in time to block a crushing blow from a demon that had somehow slipped through the smoke. The impact rattled through my bones, and my arms screamed in protest, but I held firm. I kicked the demon back, using the momentum to create some distance. My mind raced. How long could we keep this up? They just kept coming, wave after wave, and every second we were losing ground.

The square was turning into a battlefield of bodies, smoke, and ash. Fires burned through the once-peaceful market stalls, and the cobblestones were slick with blood—human and demon alike. I couldn’t even think about the people we were supposed to be protecting anymore. There was no time for guilt. No time for regret.

Another demon rushed at me. This one was faster, more agile. I had to push myself to keep up, my legs burning as I dodged and parried, the drain on my mana constant. I could feel myself tiring, feel the weight of the fight pressing down. The demon’s claws grazed my side, pain blossoming instantly, but I ignored it. I couldn’t afford to slow down.

With a roar, I brought the Shadow’s Sword down with everything I had. The demon crumpled, its body twitching as it hit the ground.

500 EXP.

I was up to 1500. Three down, so many more to go.

I panted, my vision starting to blur slightly from the strain. 311 health. 306. The cuts and bruises were starting to add up. I wiped the sweat and blood from my brow, trying to focus, trying to keep the panic from rising. We weren’t winning. We were barely holding on.

“They’re breaking through!” someone screamed from the other side of the square.

I glanced over, heart sinking. The demons were overwhelming the guards at the barricades. The line wouldn’t hold much longer. And if they broke through? There was nothing left to stop them from razing the entire village.

“Sam, we need to fall back!” Isonorai’s voice reached me, strained and breathless.

“No,” I growled through clenched teeth, barely able to hear my own voice over the madness. “If we fall back, we lose everything.”

“We can’t win like this!” she snapped, her eyes blazing with frustration as she blocked another attack. “We’re going to die here!”

She was right. But I couldn’t admit that. Not yet. Not when there were still lives on the line.

One more demon charged at me, roaring as it came. I braced myself, ready for the hit.