The forest was thick with tension as Den, Ino, and Jed chased after the retreating Dark Army, weaving between trees and shadows.
"Give them back!" Ino shouted, as they caught up.
The dark soldiers refused, dragging the light army hostages deeper into the woods.
Without hesitation, the trio struck—Den's chains, Jed's katana, and Ino's martial prowess dismantled the guards.
One by one, the hostage-takers fell.
"Elena! You're safe now!" Ino called out, grabbing her from the enemy's grasp.
"There's more," Elena coughed. "Down that path."
Den and Jed rushed forward, following the trail until they spotted the final group of hostages.
They moved swiftly, taking down the last of the guards.
Just as they were freeing the remaining prisoners…
Den froze.
A chill ran through his spine.
A presence—overwhelming and monstrous—filled the forest.
Thud.
A shadow emerged from between the trees.
A giant man, towering over everyone, stepped out. In his hands… a massive war hammer, covered in scratches and dried blood.
And with a single swing—
CRACK!
He smashed the ground.
Multiple light soldiers died instantly—their bodies crushed, their screams vanishing into the trees.
"Hide!" Den shouted, grabbing Jed and diving behind a fallen log.
They watched in horror as the man—no, the beast—slaughtered the soldiers.
Then his head turned.
He sensed them.
Without warning, the hammer swung toward their hiding spot.
Den and Jed rolled out, just barely dodging.
Jed lunged with his katana, slashing at the man's chest.
CLANG!
The man caught the blade with his hand—and kicked Jed hard, sending him crashing into a tree.
Den launched his sharp chains, hundreds of them slicing through the air.
But the brute grabbed them mid-air… and tore them apart.
"No way…" Den whispered. "He just… destroyed my chains?"
"I am Victor!" the giant bellowed. "And no one dares challenge me!"
Den rushed to Jed's side. "We can't win this. We need to fall back—now!"
They turned to run—
But BOOM!
Victor slammed his hammer to the ground. The earth shattered, opening cracks that swallowed trees and tripped their feet.
The two boys slipped—and saw the hammer rising again.
It was going to end here.
Until—
BANG!
A sudden blast of light struck Victor's side, sending the behemoth flying—but only slightly. He steadied himself mid-air, grabbing the ground with one hand to stop the momentum.
Den and Jed turned around, stunned.
"L-Luz?!" Den gasped. "You're not supposed to be here!"
"I know," Luz said, panting. "But I couldn't let you die. No matter the consequences."
Luz stepped forward, eyes glowing, light sparking from his fingertips.
He fired a barrage of beams from both hands—
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Some hit Victor directly. Others missed, scorching trees.
Victor roared, furious. "You brat!"
He lunged and punched Luz, sending him skidding across the dirt.
Victor followed, hammer raised high—
But Luz recovered just in time.
He raised his hands. "Light Shield!"
A bright wall of energy formed just as the hammer struck—
KABOOM!!!
The shield exploded on impact, the force launching both Luz and Victor in opposite directions.
Smoke and dust filled the air.
The battlefield trembled.
And the real battle… was just beginning.