The wolf didn't rush back in.
It stayed where it was for a second, shoulders rising and falling slowly, eyes fixed on Adrien like it was measuring something.
Not just strength.
Timing.
Openings.
Adrien noticed it immediately.
"...it's thinking," Roland muttered under his breath.
"Yeah," Adrien said, adjusting his grip. "Don't give it time."
He moved first this time.
Not fast—controlled.
He stepped in just enough to force a reaction.
The wolf took the bait.
It lunged.
Adrien shifted left instead of blocking head-on, letting the claws pass just short of his chest. He brought his blade up from below, aiming for its arm—
The wolf pulled back mid-strike.
Too fast.
Cedric came in from the right immediately, blade cutting toward its ribs.
The wolf turned, blocked, and pushed him off with raw force.
Roland didn't wait.
He rushed in low, aiming for the legs again—
The wolf jumped.
Clean. Light.
It came down hard—
Adrien stepped forward instead of back.
He took the hit on his blade again, but this time he didn't just absorb it.
He angled it.
Redirected.
The wolf's weight shifted slightly off-center—
"Now."
Cedric's blade cut in again, deeper this time.
[Enemy HP: -64]
A clean hit.
The wolf reacted instantly.
Its claws came around in a wide arc.
Adrien ducked.
Roland didn't.
The hit slammed into him and threw him across the ground.
[Roland HP: -51]
He rolled hard, coughing as he tried to get back up.
Adrien's focus snapped tighter.
"Stay up," he said, not looking back.
The wolf didn't chase Roland.
It stayed on Adrien.
Still choosing.
Still prioritizing.
Nyxaris moved in from the side, fast and low, aiming for its back—
The wolf twisted mid-motion and caught it with a backhand swipe.
Nyxaris got knocked off course, sliding across the ground before recovering quickly.
Not injured badly.
But forced back.
That confirmed it.
It wasn't just strong.
It was aware.
Adrien exhaled slowly.
[Shadow Energy: 19 / 1120]
Still dropping.
Still useless for anything big.
He tightened his grip again.
"Cedric," he said.
"Yeah."
"Keep it busy. Don't commit too deep."
Cedric didn't question it.
He stepped in again, fast, controlled, blade moving in short, efficient cuts.
The wolf engaged him immediately.
Adrien didn't follow right away.
He watched.
One second.
Two.
Patterns.
The wolf favored its right side when attacking.
Its left leg adjusted slower after impact.
Small.
But there.
That was enough.
He moved.
Fast.
Cedric clashed again, blades and claws locking for a moment—
Adrien stepped in from the blind side.
Low.
Tight.
He drove his blade toward the wolf's left leg—
It noticed.
Too late.
The blade cut in.
Deeper this time.
[Enemy HP: -89]
The wolf reacted instantly, slamming its weight down and forcing Adrien back before he could follow up.
But the damage was done.
It shifted differently now.
Slight.
But slower.
Roland got back to his feet, breathing rough but steady enough.
"I'm not out yet," he said, stepping back into position.
"Then stop getting hit," Adrien replied.
Roland let out a short breath. "Working on it."
The wolf moved again.
Faster than before.
Angrier.
It rushed Adrien directly this time.
No feints.
No testing.
Adrien met it head-on.
Their weapons collided again—
The force pushed him back—
But he didn't give ground freely.
He stepped into it instead.
Closed the distance.
Reduced the impact.
The wolf's second strike came immediately—
Adrien turned his body, letting it slide past—
Cedric stepped in—
Roland followed—
Three angles.
One target.
The wolf couldn't block all of it.
Cedric's blade cut across its shoulder.
Roland's strike landed on its side.
Adrien—
He went straight in.
No hesitation.
No holding back.
He drove his blade forward again—
This time—
It went deep.
[Enemy HP: -143]
The wolf let out a low, sharp growl—
And then everything shifted.
The air around it tightened.
Its muscles tensed harder.
Its presence spiked.
Adrien's eyes narrowed slightly.
"...not done yet."
The wolf stepped back once—
Then let out a short, controlled howl.
Not loud.
Not wild.
Directed.
The beasts around them reacted instantly.
They surged again.
Harder.
More coordinated.
The pressure across the courtyard spiked all over again.
"Of course it can do that," Roland muttered.
Adrien exhaled through his nose.
"Then we end it before that matters."
[Shadow Energy: 17 / 1120]
Still low.
Still not enough.
He looked at the wolf again.
Its breathing was heavier now.
Its stance slightly uneven.
That leg—
Still slowing it down.
That was the break.
"Cedric," Adrien said quietly.
"I see it."
"Good."
They didn't need more than that.
The wolf moved again.
So did they.
Cedric went in first this time, fast and direct, forcing the wolf to respond.
Roland followed half a step behind, not overcommitting, just enough to pressure.
Adrien circled.
Wider.
Waiting.
The wolf pushed Cedric back—
Turned to deal with Roland—
That was it.
Adrien stepped in.
Fast.
Clean.
He aimed for the same spot—
The damaged leg—
The wolf tried to adjust—
Too slow.
The blade cut in again—
Deep.
[Enemy HP: -102]
Its stance broke.
Just for a second.
That was all they needed.
Cedric stepped in—
Full force this time—
His blade drove straight into its side.
Roland followed—
Cutting across its torso—
Adrien didn't stop moving.
He stepped in—
Closed the gap completely—
And drove his blade straight through its chest.
[Enemy HP: Critical]
Everything paused for a split second.
The wolf's body tensed—
Then went still.
Adrien pulled the blade out and stepped back immediately.
The body dropped.
Heavy.
Final.
Silence didn't come.
But something shifted.
The beasts nearby lost that edge.
Not gone.
But less coordinated.
Less sharp.
Adrien exhaled slowly.
[Shadow Energy: 15 / 1120]
Almost empty.
His arms felt heavier now.
His breathing rougher.
But he stayed on his feet.
Roland let out a long breath and dropped to one knee for a second.
"...okay," he said. "That one was worse."
Cedric wiped his blade once, eyes scanning the field.
"It was leading them."
"Yeah," Adrien said.
He looked toward the broken gate again.
The horde wasn't gone.
Not even close.
But it wasn't the same anymore.
Less controlled.
More scattered.
Nyxaris returned to his side, silent, steady.
Adrien rested the sword briefly against his shoulder.
"...we're not done," he said.
"No," Cedric replied.
Roland pushed himself back up.
"Didn't think we were."
Adrien looked forward again.
The fight was still going.
But now—
they had a chance to actually push back.
And somewhere beyond the outer streets—
something else was still watching.
He could feel it.
Faint.
But there.
This wasn't the end of it.
Not yet.