Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

Chapter 14 Kill Her!

Eva grabbed Kael with surprising strength and tossed him onto her back as if he weighed nothing.

"Hold on tight!" she ordered, her voice cutting through the air as she began running toward the purple pillar of light.

Kael, still a little dazed by the speed of events, obeyed without question, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Eva's speed was astounding. Each step seemed to devour the ground beneath them, and the trees blurred around them.

"What's happening, Eva?" he shouted, trying to maintain his balance as she leaped over roots and dodged low-hanging branches.

"The Princess of the Dark Elves," Eva responded without stopping. "If she's really who the mercenaries were after, that means much bigger problems than I thought. And if Sylphie is who I think she is... we have to get there before it's too late."

Kael tightened his grip around her, his heart racing. "But... how? Sylphie is just a child! How can she be a princess?"

"You really think the title of 'princess' is just about blood?" Eva retorted, her tone full of frustration and urgency. "What matters is the power she possesses. And from what I felt coming from that pillar, her power is awakening... or being forced to awaken."

Kael felt a shiver run down his spine. He knew Sylphie was special, but he never imagined something so grand – or dangerous.

As they neared the source of the pillar of light, the air began to change. The magical pressure was almost suffocating, as if every particle around them was charged with pure mana. Even without advanced training, Kael could feel the density of the energy, and it made him uneasy.

Finally, they reached an open clearing. In the center, Sylphie stood, surrounded by a vortex of purple energy spinning around her. Her eyes, usually sweet and innocent, now glowed with an otherworldly intensity, as if another force had taken control of her.

"Sylphie!" Kael shouted, trying to dismount from Eva's back, but she held him in place with a firm hand.

"Don't move, boy!" Eva ordered, her eyes quickly scanning the scene.

Around the clearing, shadows began to emerge. They weren't normal shadows, but creatures formed by the energy of the pillar, grotesque and shapeless, but clearly hostile. They moved slowly, like predators stalking their prey.

"Protect the princess," a guttural voice echoed from somewhere, as if the forest itself were speaking.

Eva unsheathed her blade in a fluid motion. "Kael, listen carefully. You'll stay behind me, and if any of these things get too close to you, use what you've learned. Even if it's little, it will be enough to defend yourself."

Kael nodded, but his attention was still on Sylphie. "Is she alright? What's happening to her?"

Eva didn't answer immediately. She advanced, slicing through the first shadow that tried to get close to Sylphie. The creature dissolved into black mist, but others quickly emerged to take its place.

"Her mana is out of control," Eva finally said, her voice strained as she fought the shadows. "If she keeps this up, she'll consume herself completely... or attract something much worse."

Kael looked at Sylphie again, his heart tightening. He knew he had to do something, but what? He wasn't like Eva, strong and experienced. But at the same time, he couldn't just stand by while his friend was in danger.

"Eva, I'm going to try talking to her!" he shouted, running toward Sylphie before she could stop him.

"Kael, no!" Eva shouted, but it was too late.

Kael crossed the energy vortex, feeling the pressure of the mana almost crush him. Each step felt like a challenge, but he kept going. When he finally reached Sylphie, he grabbed her by the shoulders, ignoring the force that nearly knocked him down.

"Sylphie, it's me! It's Kael!" he shouted, trying to meet her gaze.

"But—"

"Don't argue! Now!"

Kael hesitated, but he knew Eva was right. He ran to Sylphie, still unstable and lost in her own energy, and pulled her into his arms.

"You'll be fine, Sylphie. I promise," he said, holding her tightly as he began to retreat from the clearing.

Faen watched them, but didn't seem concerned. "You can try to run, but that will only make the hunt more interesting."

Eva seized the distraction and attacked again, aiming for Faen's flank. The blades collided, sparks flying through the air as the two women exchanged blows in a deadly dance.

"You're not touching them," Eva growled through gritted teeth.

Faen laughed, her voice like sharp silk. "Ah, dear, you don't understand. I'm not the predator here. I am the hand of fate."

The battle between Eva and Faen intensified, every movement a burst of strength and technique. Faen, with her katana, moved like a shadow, cutting through the air with lethal precision. Eva, on the other hand, was a storm of blades and quick reflexes, blocking each strike but feeling the weight of Faen's superior abilities. The sound of their blades clashing resonated in the clearing, a deadly symphony echoing through the mana-charged air.

Eva tried to press forward, aiming for a weakness in Faen's stance, but the response was immediate. Faen used Eva's own strength against her, deflecting and pushing her back with a precise strike that almost made Eva lose her balance. Her eyes burned with frustration and determination.

"You're not stopping us," Eva shouted, dodging to avoid another deadly strike. She was starting to realize she would need more than skill to win this battle. Faen seemed to anticipate every move before it was made, as if reading Eva's mind.

Meanwhile, Kael, with Sylphie in his arms, was at the edge of the clearing, watching the chaos unfold around him. The energy around Sylphie was dense, almost tangible, and he could feel the pain and inner struggle she was facing. The power of the mana enveloped her like a storm, and he knew it would only get worse.

"Sylphie... please..." Kael whispered, holding her against his chest. The energy vibrated around them, making his own bones and skin feel like they were burning, but he didn't care. He couldn't let her be consumed by this force.

With a cry of effort, Kael forced himself to rise, even as pain shot through every muscle in his body. He felt the pressure of the mana around them, the weight of the power trying to drag them toward destruction. But he wouldn't give up. Not with Sylphie so close.

"You'll be fine, Sylphie! No matter what happens, I won't let you go!" he shouted, his words firm despite the pain. He didn't know where he was drawing so much strength from, but instinct guided him. He knew if he didn't do something now, Sylphie would be consumed by the energy.

He held her with all his might, trying to keep her as close as possible, not caring about the pain the mana was causing him. The pressure of the energy around them became almost unbearable, as if the air was being sucked from their lungs. Every breath was a struggle, but he didn't care. He had to keep Sylphie under control.

"Hold on to me, Sylphie! I won't let you go!" Kael shouted, pulling the girl with all the strength he had, trying to move her away from the mana storm that threatened to consume everything around them.

Sylphie, still lost in the energy, looked at him with cloudy eyes, her expression twisted by pain and the internal struggle. She felt as though something greater than her was pulling her essence into an abyss. But hearing Kael's words, something began to change. It was as if he were an anchor, something solid that prevented her from being consumed by the storm.

"Kael..." she whispered, her words broken but full of a faint flicker of awareness. The energy around them seemed to falter, as if hesitating between swallowing them up or receding.

Kael, feeling the shift, seized the opportunity. He pulled her closer, his determination renewed. "I'll save you, Sylphie. No matter what happens. You're my friend, and I'll protect you!" He dragged the girl with him, his steps heavy as he tried to pull her away from the heart of the magical chaos.

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