The world seemed to slow as the demon closed in on me, its monstrous form barreling toward me with terrifying speed. I could hear its ragged breaths, see the malice in its glowing red eyes. I knew the attack was coming—knew it the same way I could feel my own heartbeat hammering in my chest. But that knowledge didn’t make it any easier to face. My body screamed in exhaustion, my mind fraying at the edges, but I had no choice but to act. I had no choice but to survive.

  The demon’s claws slashed through the air, aiming for my throat, and I twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. But the follow-up was almost instantaneous—a wild, crushing punch that connected with my ribs. The impact drove the air from my lungs, and I stumbled back, gasping, pain flaring through my side like wildfire. I couldn’t—couldn’t—let it get the better of me. I couldn’t.

  I forced myself to take a step forward, my vision flickering at the edges, my mana flickering just as weakly. But then, I heard her.

  "Sam!"

  Isonorai's voice cut through the haze, a lifeline in the chaos. Without thinking, I swung the Shadow's Sword upward, my arms heavy but determined. The blade sliced through the demon’s punch with a brutal swish, the darkness of the blade carving through its flesh like butter.

  The demon screamed—a wail that shook me to the core—as I followed through with another strike, this time aiming for its neck. It fell, twitching, its blood splattering across the cobblestones in a sickening spray. 500 EXP.

  But there was no time to savor the victory. I barely had the strength to stay on my feet, let alone celebrate. My body trembled with the effort, my mana rapidly draining down to 280. I glanced over to Isonorai—she was still holding her ground, but barely. The look in her eyes told me she was pushing herself beyond her limits.

  "Fall back, Sam!" she shouted again, her voice laced with desperation. "We’re not going to win this!"

  I wanted to argue. I wanted to tell her to hold on, that we could do this, that we could still fight. But deep down, I knew she was right. We were surrounded. The village was falling, and we were the last line of defense.

  But... I can't.

  A surge of determination swelled in my chest, something primal, something born from the depths of my soul. If I gave up now, everything was lost. The village, the people—we would all be crushed. The fear, the exhaustion, the pain—they were nothing. I had one choice. One way to keep fighting.

  I drew in a sharp breath, gritting my teeth against the pain that lanced through my side. I could feel the shadows stirring around me, pulling at the edges of my consciousness. With a strained thought, I called upon my mana, drawing a bit more out than I should have. 10 to summon the blade. Another 1 per second to keep it steady.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  The world seemed to blur as I focused, the Shadow’s Sword glowing brighter, its inky blackness swirling like a storm in the center of my grip. My vision sharpened, and with it, the strength in my limbs returned, however fleetingly. The battle was far from over, but I wasn’t done yet.

  Isonorai saw the change in me, the sudden shift in my focus. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, there was a flicker of hope in her eyes.

  "Let’s end this," she said, almost in a whisper.

  I nodded sharply, not trusting my voice, and together, we surged forward. A flood of demons rushed at us from all sides, but this time, we weren’t going to back down. I brought the Shadow’s Sword down in a sweeping arc, cutting through the nearest demon's chest. The blade met its mark, and the demon crumbled into nothingness. 500 EXP. One down.

  Isonorai’s twin blades flashed as she danced through the throngs of enemies, moving like a whirlwind of steel, each strike an extension of her will. She cut down one demon after another, her body a blur of lethal efficiency. But it was clear she was slowing, her movements growing heavier, more sluggish.

  Another demon lunged at her, jaws wide, ready to tear her apart. I couldn’t let that happen.

  "Isonorai!" I shouted, throwing myself forward. My feet slipped on the slick cobblestones, but I reached her in time. The demon’s claws scraped across her shoulder, and in that instant, I swung the Shadow’s Sword with all my remaining strength.

  The blade severed the demon’s arm in a single motion, and I didn’t stop there. I spun, using the momentum to bring the sword down hard onto its skull. It crumpled to the ground, dissolving into black mist.

  500 EXP.

  I turned to Isonorai, my breath ragged, my body shaking. "Are you okay?"

  She gave me a strained smile, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. "I’ll survive. But we need to finish this, Sam."

  The air grew thick with the smell of blood and smoke, the weight of the world pressing down on me as the demons continued to pour through the square. We were outnumbered, outmatched. But I couldn’t, wouldn’t, let them win.

  I glanced over to Lareth, who was holding his own near the far side of the square. His staff crackled with energy, each spell a brilliant flash in the darkness. But he was tiring too. The line was starting to break.

  "They’re pushing through the barricades!" a villager screamed.

  Isonorai gripped my shoulder. "Sam, we need a plan. We can’t hold them much longer."

  Her words were like ice, cutting through the heat of the moment. She was right. The end was coming. But...

  "We’ll hold them back," I said, my voice low but resolute. "We’ll hold until the last second. We can’t let them take the village."

  "But—"

  "No buts!" I snapped, my tone firm. "If we fall back now, we lose everything."

  I saw the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, but she didn’t argue. Together, we faced the sea of demons charging toward us.

  "Focus, Sam," I whispered to myself, trying to drown out the rising panic in my chest. "Just stay alive."

  A demon charged, claws raised, eyes wild with fury. I sidestepped just in time, spinning around with the Shadow’s Sword and taking its head clean off. It dissolved into black mist, but even as it vanished, another demon took its place.

  I felt my mana drop again—264. I had to be careful. Each strike, each moment, drained me further. But there was no turning back.

  One more wave. One more push.

  And we’d either break or stand together.