The figures emerged from the shadows, their cloaks billowing like storm clouds. Aiden squinted, trying to make out their features, but the dim light cast eerie shapes across the forest floor. The air crackled with tension, and Aiden could feel his heart racing as he stepped back, pressing closer to Selene.

“Who are they?” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rising wind.

“Enemies,” Selene replied, her tone fierce yet composed. “They seek the bloodlines of the gods. And you, Aiden, are now on their radar.”

Aiden’s stomach dropped. “What do we do?”

Selene’s gaze hardened as she took a step forward. “We fight. Together.”

Before he could respond, the nearest figure lunged forward, shedding their cloak to reveal a woman with sharp features and eyes that glimmered like steel. Aiden instinctively raised his hands, feeling the energy pulse through him.

“Step aside, Selene,” the woman commanded, her voice cold and commanding. “The boy is mine.”

“Not today,” Selene shot back, a flash of lightning crackling above them. “You’ll have to go through me first.”

Aiden watched as Selene moved with an agility that seemed almost otherworldly, her form shifting like the wind. The two figures collided, and Aiden could see sparks flying as their powers clashed, a whirlwind of energy erupting in the clearing.

“Stay back!” Selene shouted, and Aiden felt the urge to obey. But a fire ignited within him, a need to fight and protect.

He took a deep breath, focusing on the storm inside him. Lightning surged through his veins, and he summoned it, letting the energy build until it felt like a storm ready to break.

The other cloaked figures began to encircle him, their intentions clear. They were not just here for Selene—they were after him.

“Get ready!” he yelled, feeling a mix of fear and exhilaration as he unleashed a bolt of lightning toward the nearest attacker. The crackling energy shot through the air, striking a tree and sending splinters flying.

“Good! Keep it up!” Selene encouraged, momentarily breaking her focus from the woman she was battling.

The lightning illuminated the clearing, revealing the faces of the attackers—hunters with a relentless hunger in their eyes. They were not just after power; they were after him.

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As the first figure lunged at Aiden, he dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the grasp of a man with long, dark hair and an air of menace. Aiden felt the wind shift, a warning that something was coming.

“Storm, obey me!” Aiden shouted, raising his hands as he channeled the energy. This time, he directed it at the encroaching figures, feeling the electricity surge like a wave crashing against the shore.

The bolt of lightning struck true, illuminating the forest in a blinding flash. The attacker staggered back, eyes wide in disbelief before collapsing to the ground.

Aiden felt a rush of triumph, but it was short-lived. The remaining figures regrouped, their resolve only strengthening as they faced him. Selene was locked in her own battle, and Aiden was left to fend off the remaining threats.

“Focus, Aiden! Use the storm!” Selene’s voice rang out, fierce and unwavering.

He took a step back, drawing the power of the storm deep within him. He felt the energy swell, pulsing in rhythm with the lightning flashing above. The storm was his ally, and he had to trust it.

As the next attacker charged, Aiden shifted his stance, drawing the energy to his fingertips. “No more!” he yelled, unleashing another bolt of lightning, this time aimed directly at the charging figure.

The bolt struck true, sending the attacker sprawling. Aiden felt the thrill of power coursing through him, and for a moment, he reveled in it. But then he saw the fear in the eyes of the remaining hunters, and something shifted within him. He didn’t want to be just a weapon; he wanted to be in control.

“Enough!” the woman Selene was fighting shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. “We are not here to kill. We’re here to recruit.”

Aiden’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Recruit?”

“Your power could be of great use to us,” the woman continued, her demeanor shifting from aggression to something more calculated. “Join us, Aiden. You don’t have to be a pawn of the gods.”

“Never,” Aiden spat, grounding himself. “I’ll never join you.”

Selene glanced back at him, a flicker of approval in her eyes. “Stay true to yourself, Aiden. You are more than just your power.”

Aiden felt the storm responding to his determination, energy swirling within him like a living thing. “I’ll fight for what’s right, not what you want.”

With a roar, Aiden summoned a massive bolt of lightning, channeling everything he had into it. He launched it at the woman, the energy crackling through the air as it arced towards her.

“Stop!” she shouted, but it was too late. The bolt struck her, illuminating the forest with a blinding flash. A shockwave rippled through the air, and the ground trembled beneath them.

As the dust settled, Aiden stood firm, chest heaving as he regained his breath. The attackers were momentarily stunned, but Selene’s fierce expression warned him not to celebrate just yet.

“They’ll regroup,” she said urgently. “We need to move, Aiden. They’ll come for you again, and next time, they might not hesitate.”

Aiden nodded, adrenaline still pumping through his veins. “Where do we go?”

“Back to the city,” Selene replied, her eyes scanning the treeline. “We need to regroup and plan our next move. They won’t stop until they have you.”

As they turned to leave, Aiden felt the weight of the storm above him, the clouds swirling ominously. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a much larger battle.

And as he stepped into the darkness of the forest, he realized that the storm within him was only growing stronger.