The forest lord was too fast for him to keep up at his current state. A massive limb came crushing down.

He rolled, barely escaping as the impact shattered the ground he had been on.

He tried to stand but his body seemed to have lead inside. It lagged as he tried to regain his balance.

The poison surged again, harder and more painful. He could feel the small trickle from the side of his mouth.

His mouth felt disturbingly full. He spat to the side.

’Dammit, this isn’t going to work."

It came again. A sweeping strike. He ducked too late, the force clipping him and sending him skidding across the ground.

Pain exploded through his side.

’I think I broke another rib’

Its attacks were so unpredictable, unlike those of a normal wolf, which have the exact same pattern.

He forced himself up but he didn’t get far. Another strike followed right after.

He stumbled back, barely avoiding it.

Its claws cut through his chest, his already tethered robes tearing even further.

The attack continues, while he stumbled out of the way with each breath intake getting harder and harder.

’Move, move...’

He begged his legs but they refused to listen; finally, his legs gave out under him. He dropped hard on the forest floor.

The forest lord was looking over him, the leisurely expression on its face showing just how much it had been toying with him.

It was clear as day, the forest lord saw him as fallen prey with how unhurried it had become.

"So this is it..."

He couldn’t help it. His memories travelled to Lilith. Her smile, anger, care, and the times they had spent together.

Atheline finally lost hope.

’It seems they managed to hold her back... I just hope she gets the best revenge for me.... guess being an extra really comes with its disadvantages’

Atheline wished he could just get some sort of power that could defeat these monsters and get it over with but he knew it was a fool’s dream.

’I hope my family will take it well."

It opened its jaws wide. The rotten meat stuck between its teeth and mixed with corrupted aether was not the way to go.

He tried one last time, to move but his body didn’t respond.

The poison had completely caught up to him.

"Heh..."

A weak breath escaped him.

"Figures."

The jaw came down. Atheline never closed his eyes, he wanted to see his own death.

It never reached him. The space before him distorted, then she appeared between them.

His eyes narrowed, his mind still trying to adapt to the hallucination he was seeing.

The attack stopped. Her hand effortlessly raised, stopping the forest lord mid-attack.

She glanced back at him.

"You survived this long," she said but the hint of worry could not be hidden, " only to collapse here."

Her hand lowered. The forest lord stumbled back almost tripping over itself.

Atheline chuckled, almost to himself.

"You’re here..."

Lilith turned to him, pulling him into a comfortable embrace, his weakened body falling into the much-needed warmth.

"I’m sorry for being late," she mumbled against his neck.

Her hand gently ran through his bloodied hair. Atheline shook his head.

"I don’t mind, " he comforted," you’re still here."

His grip tightened around her, trying to keep himself grounded.

As relief came, so did his body give out. All the tension that had held him eventually surrendered.

[Suppressant adaptation +59]

His vision flickered, as he tried to keep himself awake.

"I think my body is failing," he mumbled.

Her grip tightened.

"Just hang in there for a moment. "

Atheline felt himself getting lower to the ground. His gaze never left her as she stood up and faced the retreating lord.

"You triggered my protection, " she muttered softly, her head tilting, " how annoying. "

The forest trembled. Some trees broke under the killing intent.

"I was going to take my time," a smile formed," I’ll start with you before hunting the other vermin."

Behind her, Atheline couldn’t move but he could see all her movements.

She stepped forward her pressure surging, surrounding the retreating forest lord.

It was forced to a stop held down by something it had never felt before.

"You.." a distorted voice came from its half-open mouth.

Lilith tilted her head slightly.

"Die for me," she muttered softly.

Magic circles materialised all around them as shadows emerged from them.

The forest lords’ gaze hardened.

He reacted instantly. Its corrupted half surged outwards, dark tendrils lashing violently but the moment they neared her, they stilled.

Its eyes widened in confusion. It had always been the lord, above all. Lilith was the first strong opponent it had encountered.

"You should have stayed hidden in this forest."

Her voice was short but the disdain couldn’t be missed.

The stable half of the forest lord moved next almost like a different entity. The forest roots tore out of the ground while trees bent, stretching to attack her.

It was using its full authority over the forest.

The forest obeyed until, it couldn’t. A dark layer of shadow spread beneath everything, suffocating the roots whole.

The forest lord recoiled as the backlash hit. The power was granted by nature and could only be used when the forest was in danger.

It stepped back, almost tripping on its feet.

"You... what are you...." it stammered.

Lilith didn’t have time for games. She raised her hand. The shadows gathered together, coiling around her fingers.

She stepped closer to him.

"You dared to touch him."

The shadows moved. The ground beneath the forest lord turned dark, the spell circle having merged.

Its massive body was dragged downwards, its half-corrupted limbs trashing violently as it tried to escape. The stable half resisted hardened, roots shooting out as it tried to anchor itself on land.

For a moment it worked, then her gaze sharpened.

"Kneel"

Shadows rose from the darkness surrounding it. They pierced through it, invading its body.

The corrupted half struggled a bit before it stilled while the normal half struggled even more and then stopped.

The air stilled as though nature itself had noticed the death of its creation. It slowly sank into the spell, disappearing.

The remaining beasts stood frozen for a second before they scattered each running without clear direction in terror.

Some fled blindly, crashing through the trees without direction.

Others collapsed midstep, their bodies unable to sustain themselves without the force that had bound them.

A few stopped moving altogether.

Lilith stood there, killing intent spewing out like a battle goddess.

She turned to him.

His body lay where he had been left, breathing shallow and uneven. The strain, poison, the forced release of power, and the stress had taken everything.

She hurried towards him and crouched beside him.

Her hand hovered for a moment, then rested lightly against him.

"You’ve pushed yourself too far," she said, her voice softer," for something like this."

Atheline chuckled but it came out as a wheeze of breath. Her fingers tightened slightly around his, grounding him.

"Idiot."

Her other hand rested on his cheek. Atheline felt the familiar warmth enter his body. For a moment, their gazes met then his body gave in.

The last bit of resistance faded, his breathing slowed further and finally, he lost consciousness completely.

Her gaze didn’t leave him.

"Let’s get you treated."

She rose slowly, lifting him with her as if he weighed nothing.

They were swallowed by the darkness... then gone.