Eight-Dark forest

With urgency steering his actions, Ryuu rallied the group. "We need to rely on our strength and our resolve. If magic won't help us , then we must be the weapons ourselves. Grab what you can find—stones, sticks, anything— and prepare"

Ryuu gripped his sword tightly, its dragon-infused blade glowing brightly, illuminating the chaos around him. The twisted forms of the forest demons surge forward, their snarls echoing through the trees.

"Stay close to me!" Ryuu yelled, his voice cutting through the din. Miko and Hana moved closer, providing what little support they could . Jiro, filled with determination, shouted swearing words at the demons.

Ryuu's heart raced. His dragon sword, a weapon forged from the essence of a royal dragon, was their only hope. The blade was the only thing that could cut through the magical barriers that held their powers in check.

With a grim expression, Ryuu drew the dragon sword, its blade glowing faintly with ancient energy. The air around him seemed to hum with power, the sword resonating with a strength that made his hands steady despite the chaos unfolding.

The demons lunged forward, their forms shifting from smoky shadows to solid, terrifying beasts. They had clawed hands and gaping maws that dripped with venom, eyes glowing with a sickly, malevolent light. The first demon charged at Ryuu, its claws slashing through the air with unnatural speed.

Ryuu met it head-on, his movements fluid and precise as he swung the dragon sword in a wide arc. The blade sliced through the air with a thunderous crack, cleaving the demon in half. Its form dissipated in a cloud of dark mist, leaving only the smell of burning ash. He didn't have time to savor the victory, as another demon appeared behind him.

Ren, though wounded, staggered to his feet, his face pale. "Move, Ryuu!" he gasped. "More are coming!"

Hana notched an arrow in her bow, her eyes sharp and focused, trying to find an opening in the horde of demons. "I see a gap! If we can just push them back a little, we might be able to regroup!"

Jiro swinged his massive axe, cleaving through the demons with incredible strength. "Keep moving forward! We can't let them surround us!" he bellowed, his muscles straining with effort. Each swing sent a wave of energy, creating space for their group.

Masaya, watching the situation unfold, clenched his fists in frustration. His summons were trapped, and he couldn't unleash them. "We need to end this quickly! We have to protect each other!" he urged, eyeing the demons who were closing in.

Ryuu didn't need to be told twice. The demons were relentless, and they were closing in from all sides. A group of them charged toward Miko and Hana, their fangs bared and eyes glowing with hunger.

Miko, though unable to summon magic, had kept her dagger hidden beneath her robes. She twirled and dove, catching the first demon off-guard and driving her blade into its throat. It let out an unearthly screech and disintegrated into ash. Miko, using her agility, danced between the demons, striking swiftly with a series of well-placed kicks and punches. Her fighting style was more physical than magical, a trait she'd honed during her years of training in martial combat.

But the demons weren't just mindless beasts; they were cunning. They began to surround Masaya and Ren, cutting off thier escape. As a demon lunged toward him, Masaya swung a punch with force, knocking the demon back, but it didn't stop the others . One of the demons lashed out, striking Masaya on the side, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Masaya!" Ren shouted, reaching out, but Ryuu was already there, his dragon sword slicing through the air to take down the demons one by one.

Ryuu moved with incredible precision, his sword flashing in the dark like a streak of light. His focus never wavered as the sword pulsed with power, cutting through the dense magic of the forest. With every demon that fell, the forest seemed to grow darker, as if feeding off their life force.

Suddenly, one particularly large demon, its body covered in spikes and its eyes glowing like molten lava, charged at Ryuu with an immense roar. Ryuu braced himself, raising his sword in preparation. The demon was fast, faster than anything they had faced before. It swung its clawed arm, aiming to crush Ryuu.

But Ryuu was ready. With a shout, he trusted the dragon sword forward, piercing through the demon's chest. The blade burned with an intense heat as it sank deeper into the creature, its magic clashing with the sword's ancient power. The demon let out an agonizing scream before crumbling into nothingness, its essence unraveling as the sword consumed its dark energy.

Breathing heavily, Ryuu pulled the sword from the demon's remains, eyes scanning the forest. The remaining demons hesitated, unsure of whether they could defeat the warrior in front of them. With a final, unified roar, they lunged, but Ryuu was ready.

With a final, sweeping arc of his blade, the last of the demons fell. Silence returned to the forest, but the danger wasn't over. The group was battered and bruised, but alive. The forest still held its dark grip on them, and they knew they couldn't stay any longer. Ryuu, holding the sword with a weary hand, turned toward his companions and watched as Hana hurried to Ren, putting her palm against his bloody abdomen. It was to no avail as her healing abilities were still impotent.

"Let's get out of here," he said, his voice resolute.

The group, though exhausted and suffering from injuries nodded in agreement.