As night fell, Mark left the hospital with a few bodyguards and got into his car. The car drove for a while, but soon came to a halt as a group of Griffin members blocked their path.

"Hey, what are you doing?" One of the bodyguards shouted, getting out of the car and confronting them.

But before he could react, they quickly knocked him down and dragged him away. The other bodyguards tried to fight back, but they were outnumbered and overpowered. Mark felt a surge of fear as he saw a masked figure approach his car door. He tried to scream, but a cloth doused in a potent sedative covered his mouth, rendering him unconscious. They swiftly carried him away, leaving behind a scene of carnage and confusion.

Meanwhile, Samuel, torn between his loyalty to the guild and his moral conscience, felt a pang of guilt and regret wash over him. Despite his reservations, the plan had unfolded, and the consequences were dire.

"I can't let this happen," Samuel muttered, his voice tinged with resolve as he stood amidst the swirling chaos. His gaze flickered with determination, a stark contrast to the uncertainty clouding his thoughts.

As the Griffin Guild operatives pressed forward, Samuel squared his shoulders, ignoring the call of duty that once bound him to this group. He attacked his guildmate with his daggers, snatching Mark away from his grasp.

"What are you doing, Samuel?" One of the Griffin Guild members barked, his voice laced with accusation as he brandished a weapon, advancing towards Samuel.

"We shouldn't do this," Samuel retorted, his tone firm, unwavering. His gaze swept across the chaos, meeting the eyes of those he once considered allies, now adversaries in this unexpected battle. "There are lines we shouldn't cross, even in the name of our cause."

A tense standoff ensued, Samuel's conviction setting him apart from the conflicted expressions of his former guildmates. His stance remained resolute, a silent declaration against the unfolding atrocity.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"We don't have time for your doubts!" Another Griffin operative sneered, raising a hand to signal the others to press on with their mission.

But Samuel held his ground, a lone bastion of conscience amidst the chaos. As the confrontation escalated, his choice became clear—he would stand against the darkness within his guild, even if it meant standing alone.

He decided to choose his moral conscience and acvated his skill to enhance his speed, holding Mark tightly and running away from his pursuers, but soon staggered as an arrow pierced his body.

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"We didn’t find anything in the library either." Leo grumbled.

"What a waste of time." Dagger agreed.

Mia opened her mouth to say something, but Mike cut her off.

"Hey, isn't that Little Boss's car?" He pointed at the black car in the alley.

They ran towards it and found the bodyguards knocked out and Mark nowhere to be seen.

"What happened here?" Mia asked, noticing the blood trail.

"Let's follow it."

They traced the blood, dodging through the dark alleys, until they stumbled upon a shocking scene—a man, bleeding and weary, holding a young boy in his arms.

"I'm glad I found you. Please protect him," Samuel said, as he handed over Mark to them.

"Little Boss!" Leo cried out, as he recognized Mark.

"Are you okay?" Dagger asked, his voice laced with worry. "What's going on?"

"Quick, run. They're coming," Samuel said, his eyes wide with terror.

"Mia, heal his wounds as fast as you can. Leo, guard Mark with your life. Dagger, Mike, get ready," Emily ordered, her voice calm but urgent.

Mia activated her healing powers on Samuel, closing his wounds as rapidly as possible while keeping her focus on the task. Leo wrapped himself around Mark, prepared to shield him from any harm.

Dagger and Mike took defensive positions, bracing themselves for the inevitable clash. With a signal from Emily, they started to retreat, moving backwards while keeping a defensive formation. They made their way through the alley, making sure they stayed away from their enemies while protecting their injured teammates.

"Stick together, keep moving," Emily instructed, leading the retreat with accuracy. The team moved with agility, using their environment to their benefit as they retreated from the looming danger.

"Stop." Emily halted them as she heard the sound of multiple footsteps. She saw a large group of Griffin members blocking their way to the hospital.

"We’re surrounded.” Dagger said.

"Mike, shoot a spell in the air." Emily commanded.

"What? But.. that would give away our location." Mike said nervously, not understanding Emily’s command.

"Just do it. Trust our vice leader." Leo said.

Mike reluctantly obeyed and fired a spell in the air. A bright burst of light exploded above them, drawing the attention of their enemies.

“Get ready.” Emily said.

The Griffin members charged at them. Emily and her team braced themselves for the fight.