---- His face...


    it was hidden behind a ck, skull-like mask.


    Ithad to be him.


    That suffocating power could only belong to Umbros.


    The dark creatures around him went wild,unching themselves at us with renewed fury.


    When had he arrived? How? I didnt know.


    But as he lifted his hands, a long, shadow-wrapped spear ---- materialized between them.


    He gripped it tightly, poised to strike down.


    Tlunged at him without hesitationif I waited, Beof would die in an instant, and I knew it.


    My lycan roared in unison with me, Azarot and I fully synchronized in our assault.


    My ws were mere inches from his armorI was fast, deadly.


    And yet, in a blink, he vanished.


    My attack sliced through nothing but swirling darkness "ALDRIC, BEHIND YOU!" I threw myself to the ground without a second thought.


    Heat seared across my back, singeing the fur of my lycan form.


    "shit, hes too fast," I cursed, my focus flickering toward Beof, unconscious and too close to danger.


    suddenly, undead hands wed up from the ground, dragging him away from the battle.


    Thanks, Zarek." I barely had time to acknowledge it.


    1 didnt even know if he heard meI had bigger problems.


    My lycan twisted and dodged repeatedly, narrowly evading the spears deadly strikes The tip radiated lethal, venomous energy.


    ---- Damnit, I gritted my teeth.


    The worst part is that Im sweating, while hes just toying with me.


    He was testing me, analyzing my fighting style.


    "Grrr!" I growled as the spear pierced through my shoulder.


    Thad let my guard down for just a second.


    Just long enough to get close.


    I only needed one opportunity.


    My steel ws shot toward the weak spot I had been studyingthe gap between his mask and his neck.


    lunged forward, knowing it could cost me my arm.


    My other hand burned from the corrosive magic as I gripped the spear, keeping it from burrowing deeper into my wound.


    My lycan bared his deadly fangs, my ws just millimeters away an imminent strike.


    But every instinct in me screamed, ring like war horns.


    "DAMN IT, ALDRIC! GET BACK! HIS BACK CLAWS ARE ABOUT TO STRIKE!" Azarot surged forward, pushing our body to its absolute limits.


    We moved, but I knewwe couldnt dodge thispletely.


    "Tf you''re taking me down, bastard, Im taking you with me! This is for touching my daughter, you damn pervert!" I roared, bracing for the pain, for the des curving toward me, ready to rip into my back.


    ---- My ws finally struck, digging into his mask, cracking its hardened shell.


    And my fangs lunged for his throat, ignoring the agony of the spear wound and the deadly attack closing in on me.


    I didnt even have time to glimpse his face.


    I was going to rip him apart.


    I wasnt trying to kill himI didnt think I could with this strike.


    But I was going to take a piece of him with me.


    Then, ina sh, golden sparks zed in my lycans pupils, contracting at the sudden burst of brilliance.


    Itall happened in an instant.


    Magic threads wove around me, yanking me away from Umbros, flinging me far from his attack.