The tension in the forest was thick, yet Wan's resolve felt unbreakable. With the villagers hiding in a new clearing, he tightened his grip on the Blade of the Ancient Protector. The blade felt more responsive now, resonating with his thoughts, filling him with a potent sense of power that made him believe he was ready to face Astra and the Hunters.

He called the villagers to him, sensing their fear but hoping to instill confidence. "We can't keep running," he told them firmly. "The Hunters will keep coming until every last one of us is gone. But now, we have this blade. I believe it was meant to protect us. If we strike first, if we're brave, we can end this." The villagers looked at him with a mix of hope and hesitation, and he could see the shadows of doubt in their faces. But he was ready.

In the dead of night, he led the villagers through the dense forest toward the Hunters' camp. They moved quietly, footsteps muffled by the soft earth. When the clearing came into sight, Wan could see Astra's warriors gathered, laughing around their fires, unaware of what was coming.

With a quiet signal, Wan commanded the villagers forward. They rushed in, weapons in hand, attacking with all they had. But the Hunters reacted quickly—faster and more brutally than Wan had expected. Within moments, the clash turned deadly, the Hunters' vicious strength overpowering his people one by one.

Panic surged as Wan realized how quickly they were falling. Astra's warriors moved with ruthless precision, cutting down the villagers without hesitation. Shouts filled the air, turning to screams as the Hunters easily overwhelmed them. Wan's heart sank, rage building inside him as he watched the people he had vowed to protect fall under the assault. He had led them here, thinking they could stand a chance—and now they were paying the price.

Then he saw Astra himself, cutting through the villagers like they were nothing. Wan's blood boiled, the rage blinding him to everything else. In that moment, he felt the blade pulse in his hand, responding to his fury. A dark, crimson aura began to rise around him, thickening and twisting like flames. The world dimmed around him, and he could feel the power building, raw and consuming.

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Fueled by this dark energy, he let out a roar and charged at Astra, his vision blurred with red. The aura engulfed him, enhancing his movements, his strength, everything. He felt unstoppable—until he met Astra's cold, calculating eyes.

With a single motion, Astra raised his hand and deflected Wan's attack with ease. Wan staggered back, his mind reeling. Astra hadn't even broken a sweat. The chief grinned, a glint of amusement in his gaze as he stared down at Wan's dark aura.

"Is this all the Tenebrians have left?" Astra sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "A boy with anger, swinging a blade he doesn't understand."

Before Wan could react, Astra lunged forward, his own power surging as he struck at Wan. The blow should have killed him, but the blade glowed, deflecting the attack, sending a wave of light that pushed Astra back just enough for Wan to catch his breath. Astra's eyes narrowed, intrigued. He slowly lowered his hand, gaze locked on the blade.

"You have something… special here," Astra murmured, reaching out. Wan tried to resist, but his strength was draining fast, the red aura fading as quickly as it had come. With little effort, Astra pried the blade from Wan's grip, his smile widening as he studied it.

"This power isn't meant for someone like you," Astra said coldly. "It's wasted in your hands."

He turned, lifting the blade, testing its weight as he admired the ancient weapon. The surrounding Hunters watched, their leader wielding the weapon with an air of authority. Wan could only watch, helpless, the last shreds of his strength slipping away.

Astra glanced back, eyes full of cruel satisfaction, ready to deliver the final blow. "I should thank you," he sneered. "But it's time for you to join your people in death."

He swung the blade toward where Wan had been—but found only an empty space. Wan was gone.

A flicker of surprise crossed Astra's face, but he quickly masked it, gripping the blade tighter. He scanned the clearing, but Wan was nowhere to be found.

Wan's vision was blurred, his body heavy with exhaustion as he stumbled through the dark forest. He didn't know how he had escaped, only that he had to keep moving. His failure weighed on him, the cries of the fallen villagers echoing in his mind. The shame, the rage, the helplessness twisted together inside him, driving him forward with one thought:

This isn't the end. He would return—and this time, he would be ready.