There was no time to think.
The first creature struck before Ryan could finish his sentence. It moved like an arrow, a shadow detaching itself from the earth and lunging toward Edan. It had no eyes, but Ryan sensed it was targeting the weakest of the group.
"Edan, get down!"
Ryan shouted, but Edan was slow. He froze in place, his eyes wide with terror. A moment before the shadowy claws reached him, a burst of wind erupted from Edan's side, pushing the creature back.
Edan had used his element, but his hand was trembling.
"Thanks..." Edan whispered, but there was no time for words.
Another creature lunged from the right side, this time toward Valeria. But she was faster. She drew her sword and struck with force. The blade connected with the creature, but it did not cut through. The blade slid as if striking thick smoke, as if the creature was not made of solid matter.
Valeria stepped back, her face pale. "This isn't flesh... It's shadows. How do we fight a shadow?"
Ryan did not answer. He watched, analyzed. Then he noticed something strange. When Edan used the wind, the creature attacking him didn't just retreat—it frayed at the edges, as if the wind was tearing the shadow apart.
"Edan, use the wind again!" Ryan commanded.
Edan raised his hands and unleashed a powerful gust toward the nearest creature. The wind struck it like an invisible wall, tearing a gash in its right side. The creature emitted a sound Ryan had not expected—a long whisper, like a muffled scream from far away.
Edan shouted.
"The wind hurts it!The wind tears it apart!"
But Dorian was on the front line, his axe moving like lightning. Each blow landed with force on the creatures, leaving deep cracks in their forms. But he could not kill them. Every time he tore through a shadow, it reformed itself within seconds.
Dorian shouted, his breath heavy.
"This is useless!You kill one, it comes back!"
The battle was becoming a war of attrition. The creatures did not tire, but they were draining their energy quickly. Ryan knew he had to find another solution fast.
Then he noticed something.
Throughout the fight, the creatures avoided a certain corner of the forest. Light was seeping through a small gap in the canopy above, forming a small bright spot on the ground. The creatures did not approach that spot. Not even from a distance.
"There!" Ryan shouted, pointing at the patch of light.
"Why?" Valeria asked, her face drenched in sweat.
"They're afraid of the light! Look, they're avoiding it!"
Everyone glanced quickly. Ryan was right. Whenever a creature came close to the patch of light, it retreated, as if the light was burning it.
"Move!" Ryan ordered.
The team began moving toward the lit patch, fighting as they retreated. Dorian led the way, striking any creature that came near with his heavy axe. Edan used the wind to push the creatures back. Valeria guarded the flanks, her sword glinting in the dim light.
Ryan used ice. He formed an icy wall behind them, forcing the creatures to go around it, slowing their advance.
They were getting closer to the patch of light. Just a few more steps.
Then Ryan heard a scream.
Valeria had strayed slightly from the group, and two creatures had cornered her. One in front, one behind. Her sword moved fast, but there were too many, and they were closing in.
"Ryan!" Valeria screamed. One word, but it carried everything—fear, a plea for help, hesitation.
Ryan stopped for a moment.
He had two choices: help Valeria, or stay and protect Edan and Dorian. They were close to the patch of light, but not there yet. If he left them, the creatures might reach them before they reached safety.
He looked at Edan, who was staring at him with frightened eyes. He looked at Dorian, who was fighting with all his strength. Then he looked at Valeria, who was fighting alone against two creatures.
He decided in an instant.
"Keep moving forward! I'll be right back!"
Ryan sprinted toward Valeria. He formed an ice spear in his hand and hurled it at the creature behind her. The spear pierced the shadow's body, tearing it in two before it began to reform. But Ryan did not wait. He reached Valeria and grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the other creature.
"Move!"
But when he looked back, he saw what he had feared.
While he was gone, a third creature had attacked Edan.
Dorian was not close enough to protect him. Valeria was not there. And Ryan was too far away.
The creature struck Edan, driving him to the ground. Ryan heard a short cry of pain and saw blood dripping from Edan's right arm.
"Edan!"
But Dorian had already arrived. He struck the creature with his axe, driving it away from Edan. Then he grabbed Edan quickly and dragged him toward the patch of light. Ryan and Valeria followed, running at full speed.
They reached the lit patch. It was small, but it was enough. The creatures stopped a few meters away, swaying, whispering, but they did not approach.
Edan fell to his knees, clutching his wounded arm. Blood dripped between his fingers. His face was pale, his teeth clenched in pain.
"I'm... fine," he said weakly. But everyone could see the wound was deep.
Ryan knelt beside him and searched his pack. He had no bandages, no clean water. But he remembered the first aid class. He remembered Professor Mira's words: "In the field, you may not have clean water or proper bandages. You must improvise. Use what you have."
He tore a strip of cloth from his shirt and pressed it against Edan's wound. His hands were steady, though his heart was pounding fast.
"He'll be fine," Ryan said, but he wasn't sure.
Valeria stood beside them, her face pale. She looked at the wound, then at Ryan, then at the ground. She said nothing, but her eyes spoke clearly.
She knew: Edan was hurt because of her.