The forest became completely silent.
Evans stood beside Olivia and Leon.
The Shadow Wolf lowered its body and growled toward the trees behind them.
Leon raised his hand.
Blue lightning flickered between his fingers.
"Something is coming."
Olivia's golden light appeared around her hands.
"How many?"
Leon closed his eyes for a moment.
"At least ten."
Evans looked into the darkness.
Then he saw them.
Two glowing red eyes.
Then another pair.
And another.
Dozens of eyes appeared between the trees.
Olivia whispered,
"Those aren't normal animals."
The creatures stepped into the moonlight.
They looked like wolves, but their bodies were covered in black mist.
Leon frowned.
"Void Hounds."
Evans tightened his fists.
"How strong are they?"
"Strong enough to cause problems."
The creatures suddenly charged.
"Now!" Leon shouted.
Lightning exploded through the forest.
CRACK!
Two Void Hounds were thrown backward.
Olivia raised both hands.
A wall of golden light appeared.
Several creatures crashed into it.
BOOM!
Evans disappeared into the shadows.
WHOOSH!
He appeared behind one of the creatures.
"Shadow Blade!"
A dark blade formed in his hand.
He struck the ground beside the creature.
A wave of shadow knocked it away.
But another Void Hound attacked him from behind.
Evans turned too late.
THUD!
He was thrown into a tree.
"Evans!"
Olivia ran toward him.
"I'm fine!"
He stood up.
But five more creatures surrounded them.
Leon stepped forward.
"Stay behind me."
He raised both hands.
Lightning gathered around his entire body.
"Thunder Burst!"
A powerful explosion of lightning spread through the forest.
The Void Hounds were pushed back.
Leon dropped to one knee.
"That took a lot out of me."
Evans looked at him.
"You okay?"
Leon nodded.
"Just tired."
Suddenly, an arrow flew through the air.
WHOOSH!
It struck the ground directly between Evans and the Void Hounds.
Golden energy exploded from the arrow.
The creatures were thrown backward.
Everyone froze.
Another arrow flew.
Then another.
Each one struck a Void Hound with perfect accuracy.
Within seconds, the creatures disappeared into black smoke.
Evans looked upward.
"Who did that?"
A figure jumped from a tree.
She landed several meters away.
She wore a dark green cloak and carried a silver bow.
Her face was partially hidden beneath her hood.
Leon raised his hand.
"Who are you?"
The girl ignored him.
She looked directly at Evans.
"So you're the Shadow Heir."
Evans frowned.
"How do you know that?"
She looked at Olivia.
"And you're the Lumina."
Olivia stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The girl smiled.
"My name is Aria."
She lowered her bow.
"I've been watching you since you entered the forest."
Leon narrowed his eyes.
"That's not creepy at all."
Aria laughed.
"I wasn't following you because I wanted to hurt you."
"Then why?"
Aria looked toward the Shadow Wolf.
"Because I knew it would lead you here."
Evans glanced at the wolf.
"Here?"
Aria nodded.
"There's something you need to know."
She pointed toward the northern part of the forest.
"The temple you're looking for isn't abandoned."
Evans's expression changed.
"How do you know about the temple?"
Aria became serious.
"Because I've been there."
Silence.
Olivia stared at her.
"You've been inside?"
"Yes."
"And you saw the Shadow Sovereign?"
Aria shook her head.
"No."
She paused.
"I saw what was keeping him imprisoned."
Evans stepped closer.
"What?"
Aria looked toward the darkness.
"The chains."
Her voice became quieter.
"They aren't ordinary chains. They're made from the power of the Void."
Evans clenched his fists.
"Can they be broken?"
Aria looked at him.
"Yes."
Hope appeared in Evans's eyes.
"How?"
Aria's expression changed.
"With the combined power of Shadow and Light."
Olivia looked at Evans.
Evans looked back at her.
"But there's a problem."
Aria continued.
"If you break the chains, you won't just release the Shadow Sovereign."
She looked toward the sky.
"You'll also open the door to the Void."
A cold wind passed through the forest.
Leon stared at her.
"So either way, we're in trouble."
Aria nodded.
"Exactly."
Suddenly, the Shadow Wolf began growling.
It looked toward the trees.
Aria immediately reached for her bow.
"What is it?"
The wolf's fur stood on end.
Then a deep voice echoed through the forest.
"Found them."
Evans froze.
He recognized that voice.
The voice of the Shadow Hunters.
Aria pulled an arrow from her quiver.
"We need to move."
Leon looked around.
"How many?"
Aria's expression hardened.
"Too many."
The trees began shaking.
Hundreds of footsteps echoed through the forest.
The Shadow Hunters had arrived.
And this time...
they had brought an army.