As Alice steps outside, the world collapses into chaos, her once serene village transformed into a battlefield consumed by an unrelenting storm of destruction.

Massive fireballs descend from the heavens, each impact detonating with devastating force. Their explosions tear through the earth, igniting everything in their wake. Trees, once proud and full of life, stand as charred skeletons against a backdrop of searing flames.

The air reeks of ash and smoke, a suffocating testament to the inferno consuming her home.

Terrified animals dart past her, their cries mingling with the roar of the flames. Alice barely registers them, her eyes drawn to the houses she once knew, now engulfed in flames.

Families spill from their homes in panicked desperation, only to be swallowed by the unrelenting violence.

A tremor shakes the ground beneath her feet, and Alice stumbles, her knees buckling as another explosion reduces a nearby building to rubble. Her ears ring from the concussive blast, the world around her reduced to a cacophony of chaos.

She freezes, unable to tear her gaze away from the apocalyptic scene. The streets she grew up on are unrecognizable—everywhere she looks, destruction reigns. Her mind struggles to process the magnitude of what’s happening.

This isn’t real.

This can’t be real.

Then, as if the horrors weren’t enough, a horde of knights surges into the village, torches blazing in their hands. They storm the streets, sowing destruction with calculated cruelty.

Men of the village rise to defend their families, wielding farming tools as weapons, but they’re no match for the invaders. One by one, they fall, their blood staining the soil beneath them. The knights show no mercy, cutting down the defenseless without hesitation.

Alice’s breath catches as she sees a family run from their collapsing home, flames clinging to their bodies. Their anguished screams cut through the chaos, searing themselves into her memory.

Before she can move, a knight grabs her, hoisting her over his shoulder. She thrashes, but her strength is no match for his iron grip. Panic overtakes her as she’s carried farther from her home, her cries drowned by the devastation around her.

"Alice!" Her grandfather’s voice pierces the chaos, sharp and commanding.

Through the haze of smoke, Alice glimpses her grandparents fighting their way through the carnage. Her grandfather’s spear flashes with lethal precision, cutting down enemies as he calls out to her again.

"Grandma! Grandpa!" Alice screams, her voice raw with desperation.

"I’m coming!" her grandfather roars, his every movement driven by determination.

For a moment, hope flickers in her chest. He’s so close—closer with every step. But then, a shadow emerges through the flames.

The man with the crow mask moves with deadly purpose, his blade gleaming in the firelight. Before her grandfather can react, the figure slashes through his spear, the weapon splintering with a sickening crack.

"No!" Alice’s scream tears from her throat, but the masked man moves with chilling efficiency. A single, fluid strike sends her grandfather crumpling to the ground, his lifeblood pooling beneath him.

The world narrows to that single moment as her grandfather’s lifeless eyes meet hers. Time slows, the chaos around her fading into a muffled roar. Her body shakes as the reality of his death sinks in.

Tears blur her vision as she watches her grandmother rush to his side, her cries of anguish cutting through the night. The masked man turns toward her without hesitation, delivering a swift, merciless blow.

Alice’s heart shatters. "Grandma!" she shrieks, her voice raw and unrecognizable.

The knight carrying her doesn’t stop. Alice thrashes harder, screaming until her voice breaks. But it’s no use—she’s powerless, forced to watch as her world crumbles around her.

"ALICE!!!" The booming voice cuts through the chaos, and Alice's heart leaps with hope as she recognizes the commanding tone of her father, Merek.

With a mighty roar, Merek charges into the fray, his presence commanding and formidable. With each swing of his spear, he mows down knights like wheat before a scythe, his movements swift and deadly.

The sheer force of his glare is enough to send even the bravest of knights quivering in fear as he shields Annabelle from harm.

"ALICE!!" Annabelle's voice joins the fray, a desperate cry that spurs Merek onward as he unleashes the full fury of the village upon their attackers. Every strike is precise, every movement calculated as he lays waste to the enemy forces, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

With a final surge of strength, Merek hurls his spear with unerring accuracy, impaling Alice's captor and freeing her from his grasp. As she falls into his arms, safe at last, Merek's gaze hardens with determination as he stands ready to face whatever challenges may come their way.

"Papa!!! Sister!!" Alice's cry pierces through the chaos, drawing Merek's attention like a beacon in the night.

Merek's resolve strengthens as he grips his battle weapon with renewed determination, his jaw set in a firm line. Annabelle rushes to Alice's side, her own eyes brimming with tears as she enfolds her sister in a tight embrace.

Merek follows suit, wrapping his daughters in a protective cocoon of his arms, holding them close as if shielding them from the horrors of the world.

"Are you alright, Alice?" Merek's voice is gentle, his touch soothing as he strokes her hair in a comforting gesture.

Alice's tears flow freely as she struggles to find the words to convey the devastating news. "M-mother… She’s gone, daddy… They took her from us… As well as my grandparents… " Her voice trembles with anguish, sending shockwaves rippling through Merek's heart as her words sink in.

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His eyes widen in disbelief, his breath catching in his throat as a whirlwind of emotions crashes over him. Grief, rage, and disbelief swirl within him, threatening to overwhelm his senses. For a moment, he stands frozen, unable to grapple with the devasteing revelation in an almost denial consciousness.

Annabelle's voice quavers with sorrow as tears blur her vision. "No… That can’t be… Not them…" Her words are choked with despair, her heart breaking with the weight of their shared tragedy.

"My Alina…" Merek's voice is a quiet, somber whisper, heavy with the weight of grief as he calls out his wife's name one last time. The devastation and heartbreak are palpable in his words, a reflection of the profound loss he feels deep within his soul. But even as sorrow threatens to consume him, Merek knows that now is not the time for grief.

With a heavy heart, he takes hold of his emotions, swallowing back the pain and tears that threaten to overwhelm him. The warzone surrounding them demands his attention, and Merek knows that he must prioritize the safety of his children above all else.

Drawing upon his inner strength, Merek steels himself for the challenges ahead. Though his heart may be shattered, he refuses to let his grief paralyze him. In this moment, they need him more than ever, and he will not allow his own sorrows to overshadow his duty as their protector. With a firm resolve, he squares his shoulders, ready to lead his family through the darkness that lies ahead.

"We have to go," Merek declares firmly, his voice carrying a sense of urgency that brooks no argument. In an instant, his demeanor shifts from that of a defeated man to that of an intimidating warrior, his eyes ablaze with unyielding determination.

Feeling the weight of his words, Alice and Annabelle nod in silent agreement, taking hold of their father's large hand. His grip is firm and reassuring, a beacon of strength amidst the chaos surrounding them.

With a quick glance around, Merek assesses their surroundings, his mind already calculating the safest path to lead his daughters to safety. Spotting an area of the forest that has yet to be consumed by flames, he wastes no time in setting a course toward it.

"To the forest, now!" Merek commands, his voice cutting through the chaos with authority. He quickened his pace, his weapon at the ready as he led his daughters through the turmoil. With every step, he is guided by a single, unwavering goal: to ensure the safety of his family at any cost.

Turning their gazes away from the horrors unfolding around them, the sisters fix their eyes on the path ahead. Hand in hand, they run together, their hearts pounding with a mixture of fear and determination.

Meanwhile, Merek moves with swift and decisive action, his weapon flashing in the firelight as he fends off any knights who dare to challenge him. With each blow, he demonstrates his skill and strength, ensuring that his daughters remain protected as they flee to safety.

"C'mon! Keep on running! Don't let up!!" Merek's voice booms, a thunderous command cutting through the chaos. His gaze sharpens as he detects the enemy closing in, their numbers swelling with every passing moment.

With the grace and ferocity of a snow wolf, Merek springs into action, his movements fluid and precise. Each strike of his mighty spear is like a lightning bolt, carving through the ranks of knights with effortless ease. His adversaries falter in the face of his unwavering wrath, their resolve crumbling before his unstoppable onslaught.

As the village's fiercest warrior, Merek's battle cry reverberates through the air, a chilling reminder of his unmatched prowess.

With every swing of his weapon, he creates a path of safety for his daughters to follow, shielding them from harm with his indomitable strength. Amidst the chaos of battle, Merek stands like a towering guardian, unwavering in his duty to protect those he holds dear.

"Hurry, Alice! Keep up!" Annabelle's urgent plea pierces through the chaos, her eyes wide with a mix of desperation and determination as she tugs at her little sister's arm.

Alice struggles to match her sister's pace, her legs burning with exertion as she pushes herself to the brink. But the weight of what she's seen weighs heavily on her shoulders, the memory of her mother's death and the destruction of their home village haunting her every step.

With each stride, despair and exhaustion threaten to overwhelm her, sapping her strength and leaving her feeling as though she can barely go on.

Her steps falter, becoming weaker and slower with each passing moment, as if her body is pleading for respite from the relentless onslaught of tragedy. Alice fights against the overwhelming urge to give up, her spirit wavering as she struggles to find the strength to keep moving forward.

"Come on, girls!" Merek's urgent command echoes through the village as they near the safety of the woods.

Before they could reach the sanctuary of the trees, a chilling sound tore through the air—a metallic shriek that echoed with ominous finality. Merek froze, instincts honed from years of hunting blaring a primal warning. His heart thundered in his chest as he instinctively shielded Alice and Annabelle behind him.

Then it struck.

An invisible force slammed into him like a battering ram, the sheer power sending his body hurtling backward. He hit the ground with bone-jarring force, the earth cracking beneath him. His daughters were thrown from his arms, their small forms tumbling through the air before landing amidst the tall grass.

Through the haze of pain, Merek forced himself upright, teeth gritted against the agony radiating through his body. His hands clenched around his spear, its familiar weight grounding him as he prepared for the danger that loomed unseen.

“Well done,” a gravelly voice mocked, thick with menace. “You’re the first wolvesmen to withstand my strike.”

From the shadows emerged a towering figure encased in jagged black armor, its edges dripping blood that hissed upon contact with the earth. The man—if he could be called that—radiated an oppressive aura, each step exuding a palpable malice.

“If strength rules your clan, then you must be its chief,” he declared, brandishing a massive sword that gleamed with unholy light. “I am Leonardo. Remember my name as this will be your final resting place.”

Merek growled low, a guttural sound that reverberated with the raw power of his clan. His daughters whimpered behind him, their fear palpable, but his resolve only hardened. Gripping his spear, he slammed it into the ground, shattering the earth beneath him.

“Stand down,” he roared, his voice a thunderous command. “Or I will make you wish for death!”

Leonardo’s laughter rang out like a death knell. “Try, chief.”

Merek charged, spear raised high, channeling every ounce of his strength into the strike. The ground trembled under his feet as he closed the distance, his weapon descending like a bolt of divine fury.

The collision shook the air, a shockwave rippling outward and tearing through the surrounding terrain. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

But when the dust cleared, Leonardo stood unscathed, his blade effortlessly deflecting Merek’s blow. “Disappointing,” he muttered, his voice devoid of emotion.

Merek stumbled back, his arms trembling as pain seared through his body. His daughters cried out, their voices piercing through the fog of exhaustion that clouded his mind.

“Run!” he commanded, his voice hoarse but firm. “Into the forest. Don’t look back.”

Alice and Annabelle hesitated, but the fire in their father’s eyes left no room for argument. They turned, their small hands clutching each other as they fled.

Merek planted his feet, the spear trembling in his grip as he drew a ragged breath. “For my family... my people...” he whispered, closing his eyes. The air around him grew heavy, shimmering with energy as ancient words rolled off his tongue.

“I call upon the blood of my ancestors. Grant me strength... the fury of the wolf clan!”

A spectral wolf materialized behind him, its glowing form radiating primal energy. With a feral roar, Merek surged forward, his spear blazing with light.

“Alpha Slash!”

The spectral wolf howled, charging alongside its master as the spear collided with Leonardo’s armor in an explosion of light and force.

As the chaos begins to settle, Merek emerges from the engulfing destruction. With his daughters clutched tightly in each hand and his spear secured on his back, he sprints towards the safety of the forest, his every movement fueled by a fierce desire to protect his loved ones from the dangers of war.

Meanwhile, Leonardo rises from the dust, his formidable presence undiminished despite the wounds he bears. He clutches at the burning sensation in his chest, his gaze drawn to the blood seeping through the cracks in his armor, evidence of Merek's powerful strike.

Yet, instead of anger or frustration, Leonardo feels a sense of satisfaction wash over him, a testament to the intensity of their battle.

"He was able to wound me and escape with his daughters," Leonardo muses to himself, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips as he reflects on their clash. Turning his attention to his sword, stained with fresh blood, he can't help but feel a sense of pride in the exchange they shared.

"But still," he murmurs ominously, his eyes narrowing as he peers in the direction Merek fled. "I believe I had the upper hand in our encounter." With a scoff, he issues a command to his men, a horde of cavalry riders ready to pursue their quarry into the depths of the forest.

"After them," Leonardo declares, his voice carrying the weight of determination and resolve as he sets his sights on capturing his elusive prey.

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