THE ONE WHO WE COULDN'T SAVE

As the group left the Sunken Crypt, the weight of their newfound responsibility lingered in their minds. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting an amber glow across the forest. Without a word, they made their way back to the city, their steps steady but weary.

By the time they reached the city gates, night had fallen. The streets were quieter now, lanterns flickering softly in the evening breeze. The group headed straight for the inn, eager to rest and recover from the trials they had just endured.

As the group stayed in the city for a while, they allowed themselves to relax and enjoy its comforts. Days passed in a blur of warm meals, lively streets, and fleeting moments of peace. For the first time in what felt like forever, they experienced calm without the weight of battle pressing on their shoulders.

A week later, their respite came to an end. With their supplies restocked and their resolve stronger than ever, they stood at the city gates, ready to embark on their next journey.

Their destination: The Desert of Ashar a vast, unforgiving expanse of scorching sands, ancient ruins, and powerful secrets hidden beneath its dunes. The air itself seemed to hum with heat as they traveled toward the desert, leaving behind the lush beauty of the Verdant Isles.

"From forests to deserts… This'll be fun," Cauis said, smirking as he adjusted his gear.

"Let's hope the sun is kinder than the crypt guardian," Alisan added with a chuckle.

And with that, they pressed on, ready to face heading to the Desert of Ashar.

As they traveled across the familiar plains, the breeze was calm, and the golden grass swayed gently beneath the midday sun. The peaceful atmosphere was short-lived, however. A shadow suddenly swept across the ground, growing larger as something descended from the sky.

With a powerful gust of wind, a figure slammed into the ground ahead of them. The creature stood tall, its skin a deep crimson, leathery wings stretching wide behind it. Its eyes glowed with a sinister light, and jagged black horns curled back from its head.

"A demon?" June's eyes narrowed, her hand already gathering frost magic. "What's a demon doing here?"

The creature let out a guttural roar, its voice echoing across the plains, before charging toward them with terrifying speed.

"Guess it doesn't want to talk," Axel said, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward. "Let's see how tough you really are."

The battle began, the demon lashing out with its claws, its strength far greater than anything they'd encountered before. The ground beneath their feet cracked as it struck, forcing the group to spread out and counter its relentless attacks.

As the battle raged on, the group fought with unwavering determination. Each member unleashed their abilities with precision June's ice magic crackled through the air, Dylan moved with agility, deflecting strikes, while Alisan conjured powerful blasts of magic. Cauis and Axel charged in, their attacks coordinated and relentless.

At first, confidence surged within them. They'd faced powerful foes before how different could this be?

But the humanoid demon was unlike anything they had encountered. It moved with brutal efficiency, its strength far surpassing their expectations. Each blow from the demon sent shockwaves through the ground, and every counterattack it delivered hit with unrelenting force.

Axel clenched his fists and leapt in again, only to be swatted aside like a ragdoll. Cauis summoned his Guardian's Embrace, blocking a devastating strike, but even the celestial shield cracked under the pressure. June barely avoided a blast of dark energy, her breath quickening as the tide of the battle turned against them.

"We're getting overwhelmed!" Alisan shouted, dodging a swing from the demon's claws.

Dylan narrowed his eyes, his mind racing for a plan. "We need to change our strategy this isn't working!"

The demon's eyes burned with a malevolent crimson light as it spread its wings wide, hovering just above the ground. Its voice slithered through the air, low and guttural, echoing with a disturbing resonance that seemed to crawl beneath their skin.

"Hand over the relic..." it hissed, each word dragging out like a threat. "And I'll let you live."

The group froze for a brief moment, the weight of its words sinking in. Dylan tightened his grip on the relic, his eyes locking with the demon's.

"Yeah, that's not happening," Axel growled, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "You want it? You'll have to take it from us."

The demon's lips curled into a sinister grin. "So be it," it snarled before flying high into the air. Dark energy swirled around its hands, growing more intense with each passing second.

The sky above seemed to darken as the charged energy crackled and pulsed ominously. With a guttural roar, the demon unleashed a massive blast of dark energy, hurtling it toward the group in a devastating arc.

"Move!" Alisan shouted, summoning a barrier of light just in time to shield part of the blast. The ground beneath them shook violently, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.

As Alisan's barrier shattered under the force of the demon's attack, the wave of dark energy crashed into the group, knocking them off their feet. A deafening explosion filled the air, and the ground beneath them cracked from the impact.

Cauis groaned as he pushed himself up, a fresh cut across his arm. Axel gritted his teeth, clutching his side, while June struggled to stand, frost magic flickering weakly around her fingertips. Alisan, visibly drained, leaned on her staff for support. Even Dylan, usually quick to recover, winced as he tried to assess the situation.

The group was left bruised and battered, the demon hovering above them, a wicked grin spreading across its face. "You should have taken the offer," it taunted, circling them like a predator waiting for its prey.

As the demon charged another attack, its dark energy crackling ominously in its hands, Dylan's eyes widened in sheer desperation. His body trembled from exhaustion, but there was no time left. The demon's attack was too powerful if they didn't act now, they would be wiped out.

Without hesitation, Dylan slammed his hand into the ground, drawing upon every last bit of his mana. A massive circle of shadowy energy expanded around them, the Temporal Dusk Field erupting into existence. Time itself slowed within the dome every sound, every movement, every breath came to a near halt.

But Dylan felt the weight of the risk. He could feel his mana slipping away, draining faster than he could comprehend. He was pushing his limits, teetering on the brink of depleting his entire magical reserve. There would be no coming back if he ran out.

Inside the field, Dylan moved with agonizing speed, darting to his friends, pulling them to safety as the demon's attack hung frozen in the air. It was the only chance they had. Each step felt heavier than the last, his strength fading as his mana hit zero. But he didn't stop.

Finally, the demon's attack collided with the earth where they had just been, sending up a violent explosion of dirt and rock. The air was filled with the sound of its fury, but the group was safe thanks to Dylan's sacrifice.

With a final breath, the Temporal Dusk Field began to flicker and collapse. After bringing his friends to a safe distance, Dylan was abruptly pulled back into the center of the domain, standing alone in front of the demon. His vision blurred, his body weakened, but before he could react, the demon appeared right in front of him with terrifying speed.

Its claws glowed with dark energy as it swiped through the air, striking Dylan. There was a burst of light, and in an instant, Dylan vanished without a trace.

"No!" June screamed, reaching out in horror.

The rest of the group stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief. The demon turned its glowing red eyes toward them briefly, then faded into the shadows, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.

"Dylan..." Alisan whispered, clenching her fists.

The demon lingered for a moment, its eyes scanning the group with disappointment. With a frustrated growl, it spread its wings and shot into the sky, vanishing into the clouds, angered that it hadn't obtained the relic.

June fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Dylan… no…" she sobbed, her voice trembling.

Axel stood silent, his head hung low, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Alisan wiped at her eyes, but the tears kept coming, her usual calm façade shattered. Even Cauis, usually composed and sarcastic, couldn't hold back his grief, his shoulders shaking as he tried to steady his breathing.

The group huddled together in sorrow, the weight of the moment crashing down on them. Their friend one of their own was gone.

As the group steadied their breathing and tried to calm themselves, they pressed forward toward their main goal. But the air around them was heavy, their usual energy replaced by a somber silence. Each step felt heavier than the last Dylan's absence weighing on their hearts, leaving everyone visibly downcast.

As they arrived in a small town, the group quietly made their way to an inn. The warm light from the lanterns and the hum of conversation inside did little to lift their spirits. They found a corner table and ordered food, but the meal was a somber affair.

Without Dylan's usual wit and energy, the group felt incomplete. Each bite was tasteless, each glance at the empty seat beside them a painful reminder. Axel poked at his food in silence, while June stared at her plate, lost in thought. Even Cauis, usually the one to break the tension, stayed quiet.

"It's too quiet," June finally muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "It doesn't feel right without him."

The others nodded in agreement, the weight of their loss hanging heavily over them.

As Alisan looked around at her friends, she forced a small smile, trying to push through the heaviness that lingered in the air. "Come on, guys," she said, her voice gentle but determined. "Dylan wouldn't want us sitting here moping. He'd probably tell us we're being way too dramatic and make some ridiculous joke to lighten the mood."

Cauis let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah, something about how we should fight the next monster with just spoons, right?"

Axel smirked faintly. "And he'd somehow convince us to actually try it."

June sighed, her lips curling slightly. "Classic Dylan."

The group exchanged glances, their spirits lifting just a little. For the first time since their loss, they felt a flicker of resolve reigniting.

As June and Alisan strolled through the quiet streets of the town, their footsteps echoed softly against the cobblestone. The cool evening breeze carried the scent of fresh bread and distant spices, but neither of them paid it much mind. They walked in silence, lost in their thoughts, trying to process everything that had happened.

Meanwhile, at the training grounds on the outskirts of town, Cauis tightened his grip around his training sword, his eyes filled with determination. He turned to Axel, his tone serious, almost grim. "We need to get stronger, Axel," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "We were so hopeless in that fight. If it weren't for Dylan... we wouldn't even be alive right now."

Axel clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "You're right," he muttered. "We got lucky no, Dylan saved us. But luck won't help us next time. We need to make sure that never happens again."

Cauis gave a firm nod. "Then we train. Harder than ever before. We're not losing anyone else."

The fire in their eyes reignited as they stepped back into the training circle, ready to push themselves beyond their limits.