The alarm bell's relentless clang echoed through Zarpha as Adrian burst into the courtyard, his fiery chains glowing faintly around his arms. The city was alive with chaos—soldiers scrambling to their posts, orders being shouted, and terrified civilians ushered into safe zones.

"Lord Adrian!"

Selene's voice called out, cutting through the din. She approached swiftly, her silver hair shimmering in the torchlight.

"What do we have?" Adrian asked, his voice steady despite the urgency in the air.

"The Shadow Court," Selene said, her tone grim. "An entire army is advancing on Zarpha. They're less than an hour away."

Adrian's chest tightened. "How many?"

"Too many," she admitted. "Their forces are vast—swordsmen, shadow archers, summoners conjuring beasts, and something... larger. We've never seen a force of this magnitude before."

Adrian turned to the soldiers assembling nearby. "Get the defenses prepared. Signal the outposts to evacuate and funnel civilians into the inner city. If we're going to hold the walls, we need everyone ready."

Selene nodded sharply before vanishing into the growing commotion.

Adrian scanned the chaotic courtyard, searching for Hera. He found her standing near the southern gate, Solis towering beside her, the golden griffin's feathers gleaming like molten gold under the moonlight.

"You're going out there, aren't you?" Hera asked as he approached, her tone laced with both disapproval and understanding.

"I need to see the scale of their forces," Adrian replied. "If we don't know what we're up against, we're fighting blind."

Hera handed him Solis's reins, her blue eyes meeting his with quiet intensity. "Be quick, and don't do anything reckless. We'll hold things here."

Adrian nodded, mounting the griffin in a single fluid motion. "I'll be back with a report. Keep the defenses tight and prepare for anything. Lilith, Medea, take charge of the eastern flank. Ava, Hestia, the west. Hera, you're with me at the southern gate."

As the goddesses dispersed, Adrian leaned forward on Solis. "Let's go."

The griffin launched into the air with a powerful leap, her wings slicing through the night. Below, Zarpha's lights grew smaller as they ascended, the city's walls stretching out like a protective ring.

Adrian's eyes narrowed as they approached the Shadow Court's forces.

The army was vast, stretching across the plains like an endless tide of black. Torches flickered within their ranks, illuminating a chaotic mix of soldiers, beasts, and summoners.

Shadowy swordsmen marched in tight formations, their blackened blades gleaming ominously. Archers clad in dark cloaks moved behind them, their bows strung and ready.

Further back, summoners chanted incantations, their hands glowing as shadowy beasts materialized from the ether.

Adrian's gaze shifted to the towering shadow hunters—hulking creatures with twisted, bestial forms and glowing red eyes. They moved with an unsettling grace, their claws carving deep furrows into the ground.

"By the gods…" Adrian muttered, his grip tightening on Solis's reins.

"They're more organized than one would have thought," Solis remarked, her voice resonating in his mind.

Adrian nodded grimly. "I would have said to weaken their forces before they get to the gate but that would ruin our element of surprise. Let's see if we can identify any key figures in their ranks."

He directed Solis to circle lower, scanning the enemy's movements. A ripple of unease passed through him as he spotted a figure near the center of the army—a tall, cloaked figure radiating an aura of malice.

"That's their leader," Adrian murmured.

Solis gave a low rumble.

As they drew closer, the figure turned its head, its featureless face seeming to stare straight at them.

A chill ran down Adrian's spine.

Solis banked away, the wind rushing through her feathers.

Adrian let out a long, slow breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

He had faced many enemies in his years, but none had made him feel this uneasy.

"We'll have to be careful," Solis said.

Adrian nodded. "I think I've seen enough."

They turned back toward Zarpha, but unfortunately, they had been spotted. A barrage of arrows arced toward them, trailing ribbons of purple flame.

"Incoming!" Solis warned, dipping to the left.

The arrows narrowly missed, and Adrian cursed. "It would seem the element of surprise is gone."

"It was only a matter of time," Solis replied. "Now, hold on."

She tucked her wings and dove, spiraling through the air.

More arrows sailed past, their flames leaving streaks of violet in the night sky.

Adrian gritted his teeth, his hands gripping Solis's harness tightly. He summoned his fiery chains, the golden light cutting through the darkness like a beacon.

"If we can't sneak up on them, let's give them a show," he muttered.

He lashed out, his chains arcing toward the nearest group of archers. The archers scattered, their arrows flying wide.

Adrian grinned, sending another wave of fiery chains in their direction.

The next wave of arrows arced toward them, but Solis twisted gracefully, evading the projectiles with ease. Adrian lashed out with his chains, the fiery links slicing through the incoming arrows and igniting them in midair.

Solis landed hard, her talons digging into the earth. Adrian leaped from her back, his blade blazing with golden light.

The Shadow Court's forces surged toward him, like a sea of shadows and flame.

"I don't think this was a wise decision," Solis said as she reared, her claws slashing through a pair of shadowy swordsmen.

"Well, we aren't here to stay actually."

Raising his hand, Adrian summoned lightening.

The bolts crackled across the battlefield, arcing through the Shadow Court's forces and incinerating dozens of soldiers.

Still, the army continued its advance, undeterred.

"Damn," he muttered, his chains lashing out to cut down a handful of approaching foes.

Solis's talons ripped and slashed, her beak tearing at the Shadow Court's forces.

Adrian conjured a wave of fire, the flames roaring through the air and burning away the closest enemies.

But as quickly as he attacked, the Shadow Court's forces replenished their ranks, their shadows blending together in a seemingly endless tide.

"There's too many," Solis growled, her talons slashing through the darkness.

"Come on," Adrian said, leaping and landing on Solis's back. "We have to go, now!"

The griffin launched into the air, her powerful wings carrying them away from the advancing horde.

As they flew, Adrian could see the shadowy army growing closer and closer to Zarpha's walls.

"They're almost here," he muttered. But then, something caught his attention. The space they had just left, there was a shimmering, swirling mass. "Solis, did you notice that?"

"Noticed what?" the griffin replied, her voice tense.

"Just now, there was a swirl. Something seemed to have emerged from the shadows."

Solis grunted. "Let's not worry about that now, we need to get back."

Adrian nodded, focusing his thoughts on the approaching city.

Zarpha's walls were close, their stone battlements bristling with defenders. The Shadow Court's forces were nearly at the gates, the towering iron doors shuddering beneath their assault.

"We need to hurry," Solis said, her voice strained.

Adrian gritted his teeth, pushing the griffin to fly faster.

They raced toward the southern gate, the sound of battle growing louder as they approached.

"Almost there," he muttered, urging Solis on.

But as they drew closer, the air shimmered again, and this time, the shadows parted to reveal a hulking, monstrous figure.

"What is that?" Adrian breathed, his blood running cold.

The creature was huge, its dark form shrouded in mist and shadows. Its crimson eyes glowed like coals, its claws glinting like blades.

"Oh, no," Solis said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adrian's stomach dropped as he realized the creature was a Shadow Court war golem—a being made of pure darkness and destruction, and one of the most powerful weapons in the Shadow Court's arsenal.

The golem let out a bone-chilling roar, its jaws unhinging to reveal rows of razor-sharp fangs.

"Shit," Adrian muttered, his grip on Solis's harness tightening.

"We're not going to make it," Solis said, her words cutting through the din of the battle.

Adrian felt the truth in her words, but he couldn't give up.

He closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself.

He had to believe.

He had to find the strength to defeat this foe, to save his city.

With a cry, he unleashed a burst of golden light, his chains lashing out. The glowing links sliced through the air, serving as a boost that accelerated Solis to an even faster speed.

They soon get to the city and landed just in the middle of the town. Adrian turned to the group assembling behind him. The seven goddesses stood ready, each radiating a power that seemed to momentarily push back the dread creeping into the air.

"What have we got? What do they have in their arsenal?" Medea asked.

"Archers, swordsmen, summoners... everything you can think of." Adrian replied. "Including a war golem."

Medea's eyes widened. "A war golem? Damn."

"How about a stripper?" Lilith asked.

"I'm sure a stripper can do wonders," Ava added.

"Aren't they great at giving massages?" Hestia remarked.

Medea cleared her throat. "Maybe we should focus on the imminent threat?"

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