Hale felt it too, and his expression turned grim as he stepped slightly ahead, placing himself between the enemy and the remaining soldiers.

"And that’s Four of them.We are in deep trouble," he said quietly.

For a brief moment, neither of them moved, but the soldiers behind them could feel the shift, and fear spread quickly through the already shaken ranks.

One of the Beastman Mythic Knights stepped forward, and his massive frame cast a long shadow over the battlefield.

"You’ve run far enough," he said calmly, and his voice carried a cruel certainty.

Another one laughed lightly.

"And you thought you could escape."

Han exhaled slowly and adjusted his stance while his body screamed from exhaustion.

"Guess this is it," he said, and there was no panic in his voice.

Hale gave a faint smile, and although it was tired, it carried resolve.

"We should buy them some time."

Han let out a short breath that almost sounded like a laugh.

"Yeah."

The next moment, they moved together, and the clash exploded instantly as Han stepped forward and met the first Mythic Knight head-on, while their weapons collided with a deafening sound that shook the ground.

BOOOOM!

At the same time, Hale rushed toward another opponent, and his blade cut through the air as he tried to push the enemy back, and sparks flew with every strike as both sides exchanged blows rapidly.

This time, however, they did not fall instantly.

Even in their exhausted state, Han and Hale fought fiercely, and they coordinated their movements while covering each other’s openings and trying to survive against overwhelming odds.

Han blocked a heavy strike, and although the impact forced him down slightly, he twisted his body and countered with a sharp slash that forced his opponent to step back.

"Not done yet," he muttered.

Hale moved in sync, and he deflected an incoming attack while striking forward with precision, and his blade carved across one of the Beastman’s arms, drawing blood.

"Stay sharp!" Hale shouted.

The battle grew intense, and the four Mythic Knights pressed forward together, and their attacks came from multiple directions, but Han and Hale held their ground while resisting with everything they had left.

For a moment, it seemed possible.

They were holding when a figure appeared.

"Need help?"

Both Han and Hale turned slightly, and their eyes widened in surprise.

"Lucien?" Han said.

Lucien stepped forward calmly, and his expression looked serious as he raised his weapon.

"I will help you," he said.

Without wasting time, he joined the fight.

CLANG!

His strike landed cleanly, and one of the Mythic Knights was pushed back slightly, while the pressure on Han and Hale reduced instantly.

Hale let out a breath.

"Good timing," he said.

With Lucien’s support, the three of them began to push back slightly, and their coordination improved as they fought together, while the battlefield shifted just a little.

For the first time since the ambush began, they were not being completely overwhelmed.

Han felt it too, and he glanced at Lucien briefly.

"Took you long enough," he said.

Lucien did not reply, and his expression remained calm and unreadable.

The fight continued, and weapons clashed while bursts of energy shook the ground, and the three of them moved together while resisting the four opponents.

In the middle of the clash, as Han stepped forward to block another strike Lucien moved.

But not toward the enemy.

Instead, he turned around.Han did not expect it.

There was no warning, and there was no hesitation.

A blade pierced through his back.

CRACK.

Han’s body froze instantly.

He had already been exhausted, and his senses had lowered just enough for this to happen, but more than that, he had never expected betrayal from behind.

Especially not from Lucien.

The sudden shock struck deeper than the wound.

His eyes widened slowly, and his grip on his weapon loosened as blood spilled from his mouth.

"You..." he whispered weakly.

Lucien stood behind him, and his face was cold and filled with twisted anger.

The battlefield paused for a brief moment as even the surrounding soldiers felt the shift.

The blade pushed forward, tearing through Han’s chest.

"Yes, it’s me. Die, bastard. Dare to take my glory," Lucien roared, and his voice was filled with rage that had been buried for a long time.

"You deserved to be cut into a thousand pieces!"

Hale saw everything.

For a second, his mind went blank, and disbelief flashed across his face, but it was quickly replaced by fury. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"LUCIEN!" he roared.

Without hesitation, Hale turned and rushed forward, and his blade swung toward Lucien with full force as he tried to save Han.

CLANG!

One of the Beastman Mythic Knights intercepted him instantly, and the impact forced Hale back as another attack came from the side.

BOOOOM!

Hale was struck and sent sliding across the ground, and blood spilled from his side as he barely managed to stay on his feet.

"Move!" Hale shouted as he forced himself up again.

But the situation had already changed.

The Mythic Knights no longer held back, and they moved together to surround him while cutting off his path.

Hale tried to break through.

He turned and dashed away, trying to escape the encirclement while buying even a second of time, but the enemies followed immediately.

"You’re not going anywhere," one of them growled.

Hale pushed his body to its limit, and he blocked one attack while dodging another, but the gap in strength and his exhaustion were too much.

Behind him,Han tried to move.

His body trembled, and his hand twitched slightly as he tried to hold onto life, but the strength was fading quickly.

Lucien looked down at him and clicked his tongue.

"Meaningless," he said coldly.

He pulled his sword out in one clean motion, and more blood spilled as Han’s body lost support.

Then, without hesitation, Lucien swung again.

The strike cut through him completely.

Han’s body fell.

Silence lingered for just a second before the chaos resumed.Lucien turned his head toward the battlefield and shouted loudly.

"Don’t let Hale escape! Pin him down!"

"We know," one of the Beastman Mythic Knights snorted as they tightened their formation.

Hale, who was still trying to push forward, felt the pressure closing in again from all sides, and this time.