The battlefield was chaos. Dust swirled in the air, mixing with the crackle of uncontrolled spirit power. The Hyena Spirited Soldiers, moving in perfect unison, lunged at Issac with their combined takedown technique. Their speed was blistering, almost too fast for the eye to follow, and their strength multiplied as their wild spirit energy lashed outward.
Issac braced himself, but the force was overwhelming. The impact slammed into him like a storm, knocking the air from his lungs. His body ached as though crushed by a mountain, and pain flared across his chest. Their power… it's too wild… he realized, staggering back.
The soldiers' energy spun out of control, scattering like shards of lightning across the battlefield. Wild arrows of spirit shot in every direction, tearing through stone, ripping across banners, and cutting deep into the earth.
Issac's vision blurred, but he caught sight of something that froze his heart.
"Vaela!"
She stood a few paces away, frozen in fear, as glowing arrows of spirit energy rushed toward her.
His battered legs moved before his mind could think. Desperation welled up, and in that moment, the White Tiger spirit inside him roared to life. A surge of light engulfed him, pure and untamed.
A blinding silver glow wrapped around his battle suit, morphing it into something radiant and new. The dull armor shimmered into silver plating, etched with streaks of living lightning. His hair whipped as wind gathered, and sparks snapped in the air. His body felt weightless yet overflowing with strength.
Issac's eyes widened. This power… it's different.
His steps blurred. With a flash like thunder, he vanished from where he stood.
In an instant, he appeared before Vaela, catching the rain of spirit arrows with his newfound speed. The ground cracked under his stance as he unleashed a forceful wave of silver Ki, dispersing the glowing bolts into harmless sparks.
Vaela gasped, her voice trembling.
"Issac… your aura… it's beautiful."
But Issac only clenched his fists. His heart thundered not from pride but from urgency. "Stay behind me. I won't let them touch you."
Meanwhile, Prince Ravender, already engaged with the rampaging Hyena Soldiers, called upon his own Lion Spirit. Golden flames burst around him as he forced back three soldiers at once, his movements sharp and commanding. Yet even with his noble might, the onslaught didn't slow.
The spirit arrows kept firing, reckless and uncontrolled.
And then—disaster struck.
A cluster of arrows veered away from the main fight, streaking directly toward Princess Diya, who stood near the shattered columns of the old ruins. Her wide eyes froze on the glowing bolts. Ravender's chest tightened.
"No!" he shouted, pushing off with every ounce of his strength. His Lion Spirit flared, but he was too far. The arrows were faster than he could move.
Diya shut her eyes, bracing for the searing pain.
But just before the arrows struck—
CRACK!
A silver streak shot across the battlefield like lightning itself. Issac appeared in front of her, arms spread wide. The arrows pierced into him with brutal force, embedding deep into his chest, their glow burning against flesh and armor alike.
The impact drove him to his knees. His silver suit flickered. Blood seeped as his breath came ragged.
"Issac!" Diya's scream echoed across the battlefield.
His body trembled, but even in agony, his face carried a faint smile.
"I… protected you…" His voice was weak, almost fading into the roar of battle. His eyes rolled shut as darkness claimed him.
"NO! Issac!" Diya cried, dropping to her knees beside him. Her hands trembled as she clutched his bloodied armor, her tears falling freely.
Ravender's rage ignited like a wildfire. His Lion Spirit roared in fury, blasting the Hyena Soldiers back with raw golden power. His voice thundered:
"Soldiers! Retreat immediately! The prince commands it!"
The enemy faltered under his blazing aura. Ravender wasted no more time—he rushed to Diya's side, scooping Issac's limp body into his arms.
"Stay with us, Issac," Ravender muttered through clenched teeth, his usual composed tone breaking with desperation. "You're not allowed to fall here."
The royal guards, shaken yet loyal, quickly surrounded their prince. "Protect the princess! Clear the path!" Ravender barked.
Together, they stormed through the battlefield, forcing back the remnants of the Hyena Soldiers. The group moved with urgency, carrying Issac toward the castle as Diya held onto her brother's arm, refusing to let go.
The moment they arrived at the gates, Ravender shouted, "Fetch the royal doctor! At once!"
The castle halls filled with panic as servants and knights scrambled. The royal doctor, an elderly man with steady hands and grave eyes, was already waiting, summoned by the commotion. He rushed forward, immediately checking Issac's shallow breathing and the arrows lodged in his chest.
The doctor's face tightened. "His condition… is critical. Prepare the healing chamber!"
Ravender's jaw clenched, his fists trembling with rage and fear. Diya wept quietly beside her brother, her voice breaking. "Please… save him."
The doctor nodded firmly. "I will do everything I can. But whether he survives… will depend on his will to fight."
As Issac was carried deeper into the castle, his silver aura flickered faintly around him, as though even unconscious, the White Tiger spirit refused to let go.
The heavy doors shut behind them, leaving Ravender and Diya standing in the torch-lit hall, both shaken by the weight of the moment.
The battle was over for now. But the war had only just begun.
To be continued…
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