Artreus and the beast-woman continued their fierce clash, the sharp sound of steel ringing out as their blades collided again and again. "You attack us in the wrong place, child!" the beast-woman snarled, her feral eyes glinting with malice.

Artreus held his ground, his expression calm but his voice sharp as lightning. "No, I think I'm exactly where I need to be. Where's the princess?!"

The beast-woman's lips curled into a wicked grin, her elongated claws gleaming under the dim light. "You'll never find her. Do you even understand her worth? She's far beyond your reach!"

With a guttural roar, she lashed out, kicking Artreus in the chest and sending him stumbling back. Using the opening, she charged, her claws poised to tear him apart.

But Artreus smirked, his eyes sparking with power. "Big mistake," he muttered. Lightning erupted from his hands, crackling in the air before slamming into the beast-woman. She was hurled backward into a crumbling wall, the impact sending debris raining down over her still form.

Artreus stood tall, the faint hum of static dancing around him. Before he could regain his breath, an arrow whizzed through the air, grazing his shoulder. He snapped his gaze upward to see a group of bandits on the high walls, their bows and crossbows trained on him and his allies.

"Persistent fools," he muttered.

Mikael reacted instantly, hurling shadowy short blades that sailed with eerie precision. The weapons struck true, cutting through the enemy ranks above and buying them a moment of reprieve.

"Artreus! Aidan!" Samson bellowed from below. Without waiting for a reply, the hulking warrior scooped the two up effortlessly and hurled them with incredible strength toward the wall's edge.

Aidan landed first, his katana flashing as he dashed through the startled bandits, his blade cutting through flesh and armor with ease. Artreus followed close behind, his black sword a blur of death as he decapitated one foe before driving his blade into the stomach of another. The two moved in perfect tandem, their strikes swift and merciless.

On the ground, Mikael and Samson were locked in battle with the remaining bandits. Mikael leapt between enemies, his shadowy blades leaving trails of darkness as he slashed their necks with chilling precision. Meanwhile, Samson was a one-man wrecking crew, his fists a blur of sheer power.

One bandit charged, sword raised, but Samson dodged smoothly, countering with a bone-crushing punch to the stomach. Another tried to flank him, but Samson's quick reflexes sent the attacker flying with a brutal uppercut. A powerful downward punch sent another foe crashing to the ground, the earth beneath them cracking from the force.

Just as they seemed to gain the upper hand, more bandits appeared, their eyes glowing with mana. They raised their hands, summoning elemental magic. Fireballs, shards of ice, and bolts of energy flew toward Mikael and Samson.

Mikael reacted in an instant, shadows swirling around him to form a protective barrier that absorbed the oncoming attacks. "We've got a problem here," he called out, his voice steady despite the chaos.

Samson turned to Artreus and Aidan, his voice booming over the chaos. "Art! Aidan! Head to the underground basement! She might be there. Find the princess! Don't worry about us—we've got this!"

Artreus nodded firmly, his eyes blazing with determination. "Yes, Master!"

Aidan gave a quick nod of agreement, gripping his katana tightly. Without hesitation, the two sprinted through the chaos, weaving past fallen bandits and debris, their goal clear.

Back on the battlefield, Samson and Mikael focused their attention on the remaining enemies. Elemental magic rained down like a storm as the night bandits unleashed their power, their mana-infused attacks lighting up the battlefield. Samson roared as he leapt through the air, using the cover of Mikael's shadow barrier to close the distance between himself and the mana users. When he landed, the ground beneath him cracked and buckled, the shockwave sending nearby enemies stumbling.

Samson charged at the closest mana user, his sheer speed and strength catching the caster off guard. With a thunderous blow, Samson's fist connected with the enemy's neck, the sickening crunch of bone echoing in the air. Without losing momentum, he turned to another mana user, his movements fluid despite his massive frame.

Meanwhile, Mikael continued his assault, hurling his shadow-forged short swords with unerring accuracy. The blades struck their targets, disrupting the casters' focus and forcing them to retreat. Just as Mikael prepared another attack, roots suddenly burst from the ground, wrapping tightly around his foot and immobilizing him.

"What the—" Mikael growled, struggling against the enchanted roots. Before he could free himself, one of the mana users charged forward, his fists glowing with raw energy. With a triumphant sneer, the caster launched a devastating mana-infused punch aimed directly at Mikael.

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But Mikael was ready. With a sharp swing, he raised one of his short swords just in time, intercepting the blow. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, forcing Mikael back but keeping him on his feet.

The mana user sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Time to deal with you pests once and for all."

Mikael smirked, his tone sharp and mocking. "Bring it, you old F**k."

With that, the two clashed, the battlefield erupting into chaos as mana, shadows, and sheer brute force collided.

Samson's grip tightened around the neck of the mana user as he lifted him off the ground with ease. With a final, decisive motion, he twisted and snapped it, the lifeless body falling to the ground with a dull thud.

From the shadows, a deep, rumbling voice echoed across the battlefield. "Samson... It's nice to finally meet you." A towering figure stepped into the faint light—a lion demihuman with golden fur and piercing eyes that seemed to glow. His presence radiated menace and authority. "My name is Liones the Beast."

Samson turned slowly, his eyes narrowing. "A lion, huh? History has a funny way of repeating itself. Hand over the princess, and I'll consider sparing your life."

Liones smirked, baring his sharp fangs. "So, you've come for the princess. She's more than just a royal elf, isn't she? Her lineage ties back to King Arathorn himself, a direct descendant of the royal bloodline. Her power isn't just rare—it's the stuff of legends. The mana flowing through her veins could annihilate entire armies."

His expression darkened as he continued, "But there's more. That power could one day defeat the Demon King. And you think I'll just let that slip through my claws? No. That power will be mine. I will become unstoppable."

Samson's gaze remained calm, but his voice carried an edge. "There's a lot I need to know. How did you learn mana magic? How do you know where the princess would be? There must be a traitor among the elves."

Liones chuckled, his deep laugh echoing ominously. "Hahaha! Perhaps there is… but that's not something I'll share with you, Samson."

Before Samson could respond, Liones's body began to morph. His muscles swelled, his frame growing larger and more imposing as his claws extended. "Not after I've killed you," he growled.

With a deafening roar, Liones charged at Samson, his claws slashing through the air with deadly intent.

Meanwhile, in the underground passage…

Artreus and Aidan fought their way through a wave of mana users guarding the basement. The air was heavy with the crackle of magic, the faint glow of mana illuminating the otherwise dark stairwell.

"Don't let those brats near the princess!" one of the mana users shouted.

A bandit lunged at Artreus, blade raised, but Artreus met the attack head-on. His black sword gleamed as he parried the strike, then countered with a precise slash to the stomach, cutting the bandit down. Another came at him, but he spun gracefully, his blade carving through the air and into his opponent.

Aidan was equally relentless. He leapt toward a mana user, his katana flashing in the dim light. The blade found its mark, piercing the enemy's chest. Before he could pull back, another mana user launched a blast of energy at him. Aidan reacted quickly, summoning a surge of fire magic that erupted from his palm. The flames roared to life, colliding with the enemy's attack and overpowering it. The mana user screamed as the fire engulfed him.

The stairwell was littered with bodies, but Artreus and Aidan pressed on, their focus unwavering as they carved a path toward the princess.

As they reached the locked room, Artreus and Aidan pushed the heavy door open, their weapons ready. Inside, the room was dimly lit, but eerily quiet—and empty.

Artreus's voice cut through the silence. "It's empty... Where's the princess?"

The two began searching, their eyes darting across the barren space. Aidan checked the corners, while Artreus examined the walls. Still, nothing.

"She has to be here," Artreus muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. His gaze lingered on the plain stone wall at the back of the room. A memory surfaced, and his eyes lit up. "I know! It might be a magic wall, like Merlin's home! We can walk through it."

Without hesitation, Artreus charged at the wall with full conviction—and promptly smacked into it face-first. He staggered back, clutching his nose. "OW! MY NOSE!! Okay, maybe not like Merlin's…"

Aidan stared at him, deadpan. "Idiot."

Before Artreus could retort, Aidan's ears twitched, catching the faint sound of footsteps approaching fast. He turned toward the door, his katana gleaming in his hand. "I hear something coming. I'll hold them off. There's got to be a hidden switch or something. Figure it out." With that, he dashed toward the entrance, leaving Artreus to the empty room.

"Hidden switch?" Artreus muttered, looking around with growing annoyance. "How am I supposed to find that? Just press random bricks until something happens?" He leaned against the wall in frustration, his hand brushing against a loose brick. With a faint click, the sound of stone grinding against stone filled the room.

Artreus blinked in disbelief. "Oh… there it is… Really?! That was some lazy writing!" He groaned, stepping onto the platform that had appeared in the floor as it began to descend.

The room shifted around him as the platform slowly lowered into the darkness below. The air grew colder, and the faint scent of damp earth filled his nose. His eyes adjusted to the dim light as he stepped off the platform, his boots echoing softly on the stone floor.

The faint glow of enchanted runes guided his steps toward a solitary figure in the center of the chamber. As he approached, the light illuminated her: a woman with long, white hair cascading like silk down her back, pale, flawless skin, and delicately pointed ears. Her arms were bound by enchanted roots, glowing faintly with mana. She hung limply, her expression serene despite the chains.

Artreus's breath caught in his throat. It was the first time he had seen an elf, and he found himself mesmerized. Her beauty was otherworldly, almost unreal. He stepped closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "It must be her… the princess. She's… beautiful."

He reached a hand out toward her, his heart pounding in his chest. But before he could touch her, the enchanted roots around her glowed brighter, as if sensing his presence. The chamber trembled slightly, and Artreus felt a surge of mana in the air.