Aric moved swiftly through the dense forest surrounding the arena, his senses on high alert. The Grand Melee had turned into a nightmare, with dark forces spreading across the grounds. The shadows of towering stone ruins loomed around him, their ancient structures casting jagged shapes against the flickering light of flames in the distance. Somewhere ahead, his friends were caught in this chaos, and he was determined to reach them.

He froze mid-step as he spotted Selene and her friend, Aisha, huddled near a crumbling tower, breathing heavily. Selene's sword was drawn, her expression hardened with a mixture of determination and shock, while Aisha clutched a dagger, her knuckles white with tension.

Aric approached cautiously, his heart twisting as he noticed the faint blood spatters on their clothing. He called to them in a low but urgent voice, "Selene!"

Selene's head jerked up, her gaze locking onto Aric's with a flicker of relief before her expression tightened. "Aric!" she whispered fiercely as he drew closer. "It's Aldric… he… he killed them." Her voice broke slightly as she gestured back toward the arena. "Layla, Celia, Maren… they're all gone."

Aric's face hardened, a dark fury igniting in his eyes. "Aldric," he muttered, the name coming out like a curse. "I knew he was capable of darkness, but this…"

Aisha's voice, trembling with the weight of what they had witnessed, cut through the silence. "We wouldn't have survived if Lady Cerys hadn't shown up. She held him off so we could escape, but… Aric, she told us to warn everyone."

Aric clenched his fists, his mind racing as he processed the gravity of the situation. He glanced around, taking in the eerie silence that had settled over the once-bustling melee grounds. The twisted symbol of the demons still hung in the sky, casting an unnatural, dim light across the forest. Every instinct urged him to find Elara and Lorian quickly, yet he hesitated. Lady Cerys could need backup, and he could already feel the weight of his duty urging him to rejoin her.

But he looked at Selene, saw the fear hidden behind her fierce resolve, and understood his choice. His loyalty was to the royal family, and keeping Selene safe had to come first. The best way he could protect her now was to lead her toward the safety bunkers, where the others were gathering.

"Where did you last see her?" Aric asked, his voice sharp but steady.

"Near the north tower, close to the heart of the arena," Selene replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she gestured further into the darkened forest. "She told us to run while she fought Aldric… I don't know how long she can hold him off."

Aric nodded, the muscles in his jaw tensing as he calculated their next move. He had to find Elara and Lorian, but leaving Selene and Aisha unguarded in this danger wasn't an option either. He took a steadying breath, his mind made up.

"Stay close to me," he instructed, his voice firm but gentle. "We're going to find the others together and then head to the bunkers. Keep your weapons ready, and if anything happens, stay low and use the trees for cover. We're not alone out here."

The girls nodded, a steely resolve settling over their expressions. They moved as a unit, navigating through the dense trees, each step bringing them closer to the ominous glow of the melee arena, where the echoes of distant screams and clashes reverberated through the forest. As they moved, Aric's senses remained sharp, his eyes scanning every shadow, his ears tuned to every faint sound.

Suddenly, a low, guttural growl rumbled through the air, sending a chill down their spines. Aric halted, holding up a hand for silence as he listened closely. The sound grew louder, punctuated by the unmistakable crunch of leaves and snapping branches nearby.

"Get down," he hissed, gesturing for Selene and Aisha to crouch behind a nearby boulder. They obeyed, pressing themselves close to the stone as they watched Aric step forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Out of the shadows emerged a hulking figure, one of Aldric's summoned demons, its eyes glowing a sickly green, and its skin marred by patches of scales and twisted markings. The creature's gaze flicked around the forest before locking onto Aric, a sadistic grin spreading across its face.

"So, another little insect has wandered into my master's domain," it sneered, its voice a guttural rasp. "Tell me, human, do you seek the same fate as those weaklings in the arena?"

Aric's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening around his sword. "You're the only one facing fate here," he shot back, his tone cold as steel. In one swift motion, he drew his blade, which flared to life with a fierce, orange glow, flames licking along the edge. The polished metal gleamed faintly in the shadowy light, casting an eerie glow around them.

The demon let out a mocking laugh, taking a step forward. "Bold words for a mortal," it hissed, raising its massive claws. "But you'll soon learn your place."

Without waiting for a response, the demon lunged at him, claws slashing through the air with deadly speed. Aric sidestepped just in time, his movements fluid and precise as he parried the creature's strike, deflecting the claws with his flaming sword. Sparks flew as the demon recoiled, only to launch at him again. Aric brought his sword down in a swift arc, flames trailing in a blazing path as he aimed for the demon's neck, but the creature ducked, its reflexes unnervingly fast.

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Behind him, Selene and Aisha watched, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe as Aric engaged the demon. His movements were sharp, honed from years of training, each swing of his blade calculated. But the demon was relentless, its abyssal energy radiating off it in waves as it pressed its advantage, forcing Aric back with every attack.

"Aric!" Aisha whispered, her voice tight with worry.

He caught her glance and gave a quick nod, his eyes briefly softening. "Stay back," he called over his shoulder, dodging another blow. "I've got this."

The demon lunged again, but this time Aric was ready. He sidestepped, bringing his blade down in a powerful slash that connected with the creature's arm. Dark, viscous blood sprayed from the wound as the demon let out a howl of rage, its face contorting with fury. Seizing the opening, Aric followed up with a quick series of strikes, each one forcing the creature back as his sword blazed with intense flames, cutting through the demon's corrupted flesh.

Just as he delivered a final blow that sent the demon staggering to its knees, another guttural growl echoed through the forest. Two more demons emerged from the shadows, their eyes fixed hungrily on the trio.

Selene and Aisha braced themselves, their weapons drawn as the new threats closed in. Aric glanced back at them, his face a mask of determination. "Stick together. We're getting out of here alive."

As the demons closed in, Aric, Selene, and Aisha fought side by side, their movements perfectly synchronized as they defended each other against the relentless onslaught. Aric's blade flashed with deadly precision, flames crackling along its length as he cut down any demon that came too close, while Selene's strikes were swift and efficient, her sword moving with an almost graceful ferocity. Aisha supported them from behind, her dagger striking out with deadly accuracy at any opening.

The battle raged on, their every move a desperate attempt to survive as the forest around them became a chaotic blur of shadows, fire, and violence. Yet, despite the odds, they held their ground, their resolve unbreakable as they fought with everything they had.

Finally, as the last demon fell, silence settled over the forest once more, the oppressive energy dissipating as their enemies lay defeated. Exhausted but determined, Aric looked at Selene and Aisha, a faint, tired smile crossing his face.

"Let's keep moving," he said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion in his eyes. "We still have to find Elara and Lorian. But first, we're heading to the bunkers. We're not safe yet."

Selene's expression flickered with worry. "Lorian and Elara… they haven't made it to the bunkers?" she asked, her voice tense. Her eyes darted to the dark forest around them, as if expecting her friends to appear any moment. "They should've been there by now."

Aric raised an eyebrow, catching her concern. "I'm sure Lorian's fine," he said, a teasing glint in his eye despite the tension in his voice. "I mean, you'd know, right? Since you've been… keeping an eye on him?"

Selene flushed, her eyes narrowing as she tried to play it off. "I'm just saying," she muttered, glancing away with a frown. "He's not reckless. Not usually. And… well, he's…" She trailed off, visibly frustrated but unable to hide a small smile.

Aisha, quick to catch on, grinned. "So, he's got the princess worried, huh? Must be a special guy."

Selene shot her a look but didn't deny it, a hint of a blush on her cheeks. "Let's just find them."

Aric chuckled, keeping his voice low. "Alright, alright. We'll find him—and Elara, too. They're probably looking for us just as hard."

Selene nodded, her resolve firming as she gripped her sword and led them deeper into the forest, her worry pushing her to quicken her steps.

As Aric, Selene, and Aisha traveled through the forest, Aric noticed a figure against a tree. As they approached, they noticed something dark and ominous: three bodies lay scattered nearby. It was Gregor, Lira, and Sylas—fallen in battle, their faces frozen in expressions of shock and pain. A sickening feeling churned in Aric's stomach as he surveyed the grim scene.

But leaning against the tree was Rhyssa, still breathing, her head tilted to one side, her eyes closed in a deep, unnatural sleep. Her right arm bore a dark, coiled mark—a serpent shimmering with faint violet light, pulsing with eerie energy.

"What happened here?" Selene whispered, horrified as she took in the fallen squad members. Her gaze shifted to Rhyssa, worry etched on her face. "Aric, can you do something?"

Aric nodded, his face grim. "This mark… it's powerful magic, a sleep spell. But I'll try something."

He knelt beside Rhyssa, examining the mark closely, his fingers brushing just above the dark serpent as he drew in a deep breath. Channeling his magic, he let a blue flame spark to life in his palm, its light intense and focused. Carefully, he guided the flame to Rhyssa's arm, the fire searing across the mark with a steady, controlled heat. Smoke rose from the burn, the violet serpent writhing as the flame consumed it. The dark energy resisted at first, twisting and tightening, but Aric's fire continued to scorch it away until, finally, the mark dissipated into a wisp of dark smoke.

Rhyssa stirred, a soft gasp escaping her lips as her eyes fluttered open. She blinked, disoriented, her gaze unfocused as she tried to process her surroundings. "Aric?" she murmured, recognition dawning in her eyes. "Where… where am I?"

"Rhyssa," Aric said gently, helping her sit up. "You're safe, but you've been through something serious. What happened here?"

Rhyssa's face twisted with the memory, her voice shaky as she glanced at her fallen squadmates. "It was a demon," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "We were trying to escape when it… it slaughtered the others like they were nothing. And Zephyr… he…" She swallowed hard, the memory still fresh and painful. "He made a deal to save me."

"A deal?" Aric's face darkened, his voice low. "What do you mean?"

Rhyssa looked down, guilt and sorrow clear in her eyes. "He… he offered himself to the demon in exchange for my life. I tried to stop him, but the demon put me under some kind of spell, made me sleep while…" Her voice caught, and she closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. "While Zephyr… sacrificed himself."

Selene's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. "Zephyr made a deal… with a demon? He'd give himself up like that?"

Rhyssa nodded, her expression anguished. "He didn't hesitate. Said he'd do anything to save me." She looked up, her gaze fierce. "But we can't let him stay in their hands. We have to do something."

Aric's face hardened as he helped Rhyssa to her feet. "We will, Rhyssa. But first, let's get you somewhere safe. You need rest, and the bunkers are nearby."

Selene's jaw clenched, her expression resolute. "Then let's go. And once we're safe, we'll plan our next move."

Together, they moved swiftly, Rhyssa leaning on Aric as they swiftly navigated through the darkened forest.