"Get in formation!" Roland bellows, his voice a thunderclap cutting through the chaotic symphony of snarls and screeches. He braces for the inevitable impact as the first wave of monkeys crashes into him like a living tide. His massive sword arcs through the air, cleaving fur and flesh in a brutal display of strength.

Scanning the battlefield, I weigh my options, but there's no time to strategize. They're everywhere. Too many to count, too many to evade. There's no other choice but to dive into the fray. Tightening my grip on the hilt of my blade, I charge toward the horde flanking Roland's right. The steel hums through the air as I swing, cutting down clusters of the beasts.

For now, I hold off using Blood Rush. These creatures are weak—annoying but manageable. Each slash of my sword sends fountains of blood spraying, their shrieks blending into a grotesque cacophony. Yet as the seconds stretch into minutes, more of them swarm, an unending tide pressing us from all sides. Roland grits his teeth, struggling to keep his massive blade moving through the tangled mess of corpses piling at his feet.

"Not good," I mutter, my voice drowned in the chaos. Activating Blood Rush at two mana per second, I dart to Roland's side. My muscles surge with borrowed strength as my blade dances in blinding arcs. Each swing cuts through flesh and bone, the blood rain slicking the ground beneath us. But even with my amplified speed, the horde doesn't abate. It's a living flood, an endless wave of snarling death.

Then I see it—a flicker of motion behind us. Too late, I realize a small group has broken off from the main assault and is circling around. Before I can react, flashes of fire light up the battlefield. The rogue monkeys crumple to the ground, charred and smoldering. Twisting my neck, I catch sight of Max.

In each hand, he wields a flaming whip, their blazing lengths carving through the night. The fiery ropes lash out in graceful arcs, coiling around the beasts and searing through flesh. Max's movements are almost balletic, his fiery weapons an extension of his will as he dances through the chaos.

"Nice new trick," I grunt, nodding his way before turning back to the horde. My sword becomes an extension of my arm as I hack and slash, doing my best to cover Roland's back. With every passing second, I feel the drain on my stamina. Fifty down already. Damn it.

Roland's voice cuts through the madness. "Get Lira to the center!"

Looking over my shoulder, I spot Lira and Lucius defending our rear. Lira's hands glow with healing energy as she focuses on patching up Lucius's injuries whenever possible, her presence a lifeline amidst the carnage. Lucius is a shadow, darting between enemies with dagger precision, dispatching threats before they can reach her. Meanwhile, Gale's bow sings as he looses arrow after arrow, each shot finding its mark. Max, ever the pyromancer, continues to unleash fiery devastation.

Despite our efforts, the horde begins to overwhelm us. My heart pounds as paranoia creeps in. Where is the alpha? My unease sharpens into dread as the world suddenly darkens.

A black line shoots from Roland's position, stretching far into the trees. Instinct takes over. "Roland, down!" I roar, lunging at him. My shoulder slams into his massive frame, and we tumble to the ground just as a massive stone hurtles past us. It lands with a sickening thud, splattering unfortunate monkeys in a gruesome spray of gore.

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For a split second, the wave-like movement of the horde stills and my eyes dart to the treeline, but the alpha remains hidden. Behind me, Max squints, his mana-vision trying to track the beast's movements. Gale looses an arrow, its tip splitting into three projectiles as it vanishes into the shadows. No luck.

If someone gets hit by that rock, it will end them. Gulping down my fear, I help Roland to his feet. "Stay alert," I mutter, gripping my blade tighter. Blood Rush surges again as I plunge into the horde. My body moves faster, more precise. Each swing of my sword carves a perfect arc, the knowledge from Bladed Weapon Mastery seeping into my muscles.

I carve out a small sphere of death, a meter-wide zone where nothing survives. Blood sprays in all directions as I churn through the bodies like a blender. Yet I can't maintain this forever. My mana dwindles with each passing second. Noticing it dip below ninety, I cut off Blood Rush, feeling my body slow.

The shift is palpable. More of the beasts break through my defenses, landing shallow cuts and bites. I grit my teeth, letting them come. For every five points of damage they deal, I take one of them down in return. My health drops steadily, the pain biting deeper with each wound. Blood soaks my clothes, dripping into the dirt beneath my feet.

"Enough," I hiss through gritted teeth. Activating Bloody Bandage, I feel the blood around me stir. It lifts from the ground in glistening streams, swirling toward my wounds. The sensation is both eerie and invigorating as the magic knits my flesh back together. The pain subsides, replaced by a grim satisfaction.

Grinning wickedly, I raise my sword again. "Come on, then!"

Time becomes a blur. My arms ache from swinging, my vision narrowing to the immediate threats. Then, the world darkens again. This time, two black lines stretch into the trees—one from me, the other from Roland.

"Roland! Dodge!" I yell, leaping aside just as four baseball-sized stones crash into the ground where I'd been standing. A quick glance confirms Roland also managed to avoid the deadly projectiles.

"Take this, you bastard!" Gale shouts. I turn to see him nocking a glowing arrow, its energy radiating with an intense red hue. A reticle of shimmering light appears over his right eye with a larger rotating one appearing in front of his bow, guiding his aim.

The arrow flies true, vanishing into the trees. Moments later, a guttural growl echoes from the shadows. Max steps forward, his palms glowing with heat as he unleashes a torrent of flame toward the alpha's hiding spot. The fire illuminates the forest, revealing the hulking creature perched on a branch.

The alpha screams, its charred fur smoking as it leaps to another tree. Sensing the threat, the horde shifts focus, slowly swarming toward Gale and Max.

"Damn it," I mutter, cutting down another wave of attackers. I can't help them now. Glancing at my status, my stamina is dangerously low, each swing of my sword draining more energy. If the alpha drags this battle on longer, we're done for.

A sudden movement catches my eye. Gale's position shifts as he continues firing arrows, his expression calm despite the chaos. Then, my heart drops. A thick black line extends from his body, pointing directly at the treeline. Not close enough to intercept I scream at the top of my lungs.

"Dodge, Gale!"

He hears me, but it's too late. A massive stone smashes into his left foot, shattering bone in a spray of blood. Gale crumples, his bow clattering to the ground.

Time seems to freeze.

Then, Max roars, his fury manifesting in a massive fireball. The sphere of crimson and orange light grows to a meter in diameter before he hurls it with both hands. The explosion lights up the forest, trees splintering and crashing as the alpha shrieks in pain.

The beast stumbles, its movements slowed by its injuries. Max doesn't let up, launching volley after volley of fireballs.

Seizing the moment, I sprint toward Gale. Hoisting him onto my shoulder, I glance at his face twisted in agony. Unable to stomach the damage to his leg, I don't dare look down, only ahead. Dragging him toward Lira, I pray Roland can hold the line.