"No..."

Adrian was at her side in an instant, his chains falling slack as he knelt beside her. The queen was still breathing, already preparing to get up.

"Are you alright?" Adrian asked, examining her.

Queen Alannah coughed, blood staining her lips. "Yeah, I'm fine," she rasped, her eyes glazing over.

"I know," Adrian replied, his expression grim. "Just wait here."

The sound of the golem's roar filled the air, shaking the city to its core. Buildings crumbled as the massive creature smashed through homes and fortifications, its glowing core pulsing ominously with dark energy.

Screams filled the air as civilians scrambled for safety, their terror echoing above the chaos of battle.

Adrian's fiery chains lashed out, obliterating a group of shadow soldiers advancing on his position. His eyes flicked to the towering golem, its hulking form advancing steadily toward the palace.

Every step left massive craters in the cobblestone streets, its path of destruction widening with each movement.

"We can't let it reach the palace," Adrian growled, his chains crackling with renewed intensity. "Hera, take the civilians underground. Get them out of here!"

Hera, perched atop Solis, nodded sharply. "Understood. I'll ensure they're safe." She turned her attention to the panicked citizens, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Everyone, follow me! To the underground shelters!"

Solis swooped low, the griffin's powerful wings stirring up debris as Hera guided the terrified people toward safety. Her golden spear gleamed as she struck down any shadow soldier that dared approach.

Adrian turned to Medea and Selene. "You two, slow the golem down. Hit it with everything you've got."

Medea's crimson eyes blazed as she ignited her black flames. "Finally, something big enough to burn."

Selene gave a sharp nod, her violet blade shimmering in the dim light. "We'll handle it."

The two charged toward the golem, their attacks relentless. Medea unleashed torrents of black fire that engulfed the creature's massive limbs, while Selene darted around its feet, her blade carving through its shadowy flesh.

Although the golem's movements slowed, the attack did not deter it from continuing its unstoppable advance.

Adrian's attention shifted to the chaos surrounding him. Shadow soldiers poured into the city through the breach, their numbers seemingly endless.

He turned to Alannah, who had pulled herself to her feet, her sword gripped tightly in her hands. Blood trickled from a gash on her forehead, and her armor was battered, but her eyes blazed with determination.

"Alannah, you need to get to safety," Adrian said firmly, stepping toward her. "I'll handle this."

Her voice was sharp and determined as she rounded on him. "Adrian, this is my kingdom! I won't cower while my people fight and die!"

Adrian hesitated, torn between his desire to protect her and his respect for her resolve. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. But stay close, and don't get yourself killed."

Alannah smirked faintly. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Together, Adrian and Alannah plunged into the fray, their movements perfectly synchronized. Adrian's fiery chains lashed out, cutting through ranks of shadow soldiers with devastating precision.

Alannah moved with lethal grace, her sword flashing as she dispatched enemies with swift, calculated strikes. Adrian knew Alannah had a rebellious side, and he had sparred with her once before but he definitely wasn't expecting her to be this good with the sword.

"They just keep coming!" Alannah shouted, her blade slicing through a soldier's chest.

Adrian gritted his teeth. "We just have to hold the line until the others can regroup."

The ground trembled as the golem roared, its massive fists slamming into the earth and sending shockwaves rippling through the city. Medea and Selene continued their assault, but the creature's sheer size and durability made it nearly unstoppable.

"This thing is tougher than I thought!" Medea called, her flames growing in intensity. "We need a new plan!"

Selene dodged a massive swing from the golem, her movements a blur of speed. "We can't keep this up forever!"

Adrian glanced toward the palace, his mind racing. "We have to stop it before it reaches the palace. If it gets through, the city's finished."

The golem turned its glowing gaze toward Adrian and Alannah, its massive form casting an oppressive shadow over them. With a guttural roar, it raised one enormous fist, the dark energy pulsing around it crackling like lightning.

"Move!" Adrian shouted, grabbing Alannah's arm and pulling her aside just as the fist came crashing down. The impact shattered the ground, sending shards of stone flying in all directions.

"We can't keep dodging this thing forever!" Alannah said, her voice strained as she scrambled to her feet.

Adrian's fiery chains lashed out, wrapping around the golem's arm and holding it in place. "Then we don't dodge. We fight."

Alannah nodded, her grip tightening on her sword.

Together, they launched an all-out assault. Adrian's chains burned through the golem's shadowy flesh, while Alannah's blade struck with unrelenting force. Their attacks left glowing scars across the creature's massive body, but it showed no signs of slowing.

Meanwhile, Medea unleashed a massive wave of black flames, engulfing the golem's legs and forcing it to stagger. Selene darted in, her blade flashing as she targeted its joints, aiming to cripple its movements.

The golem roared in frustration, its massive fists swinging wildly. One strike grazed Selene, sending her tumbling across the battlefield. Medea caught her before she hit the ground, her eyes narrowing in anger.

"You okay?" Medea asked, helping Selene to her feet.

"Just a scratch," Selene replied, her tone icy. "Let's finish this."

As the golem pressed forward, Adrian and Alannah found themselves surrounded by a wave of shadow soldiers. The relentless tide closed in from all sides, their weapons gleaming with dark energy.

"We're surrounded!" Alannah shouted, her sword cutting through another soldier.

Adrian's fiery chains spun in a blazing arc, holding the enemies at bay. "We'll make it out. Just keep fighting!"

The two stood back-to-back, their movements a blur of coordinated strikes. Alannah's blade danced through the air, cutting down soldiers with precision, while Adrian's chains lashed out like fiery serpents, incinerating anything in their path.

Above them, Solis circled the battlefield, Hera atop the griffin's back. Hera's spear struck with deadly accuracy, taking out soldiers that threatened to overwhelm Adrian and Alannah.

"Hold on!" Hera called, her voice cutting through the chaos. "We're almost there!"

As the battle raged, the golem turned its glowing core toward the palace, its massive form looming over the city's heart. With a deafening roar, it raised both fists, dark energy swirling around them.

Adrian's heart sank as he realized the golem's intent. "No..."

The creature's fists began to descend, aiming directly for the palace.

"Adrian, do something!" Alannah cried, her voice filled with desperation.

With a burst of speed, Adrian sprinted toward the palace, his chains blazing with newfound intensity.

The golem's fists grew closer, the darkness around them swirling like a maelstrom. The ground shook as its massive form drew nearer, its destructive intent clear.

Adrian leapt into the air, his chains wrapping around the golem's wrists. He pulled, his muscles straining as he tried to hold the creature back.

But the golem's strength was too great.

Inch by inch, the fists drew closer, the darkness around them consuming everything in its path.

The other goddesses came to aid Adrian; Hestia and Medea used their blue and black fires respectively to form a whip and wrap round the golem, trying to pull it back. Ava used her shields to block its path and slow its advance. Lilith was using her magic whip again, the purple light wrapping round one leg, and trying to pull it back, while Abyss and Selene were trying to destroy the arms with their blades.

Still, the golem's strength was too much.

The palace was mere seconds away from being destroyed.

Adrian knew he couldn't stop it, but he had to try.

"No... NO!"

A blinding flash of light exploded from Adrian, his power unleashing in a violent eruption. The impact shook the battlefield, shattering buildings and toppling statues.

The golem roared in pain, its core crackling as it was pushed back. Adrian's chains burned hotter, the fiery coils wrapping tighter around the creature's wrists.

The battle raged on as the goddesses fought valiantly, but the odds were against them. The golem's immense strength was too much for the weakened defenders.

Just when it seemed the golem would prevail, a brilliant blast of light struck its core, shattering it. The golem's body collapsed, its hulking form crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.

Then what followed was silence.

"Is it over?" Hestia asked in a tired, bored voice.

Medea let out a breath, her crimson eyes blazing. "It looks like it."

"Well, this is over... those, however..." Ava said, looking up.

Adrian's gaze followed Ava's. The Shadow Court army was pressing forward, having the upper hand over the soldiers of Zarpha.

"We're just getting started."

"What are your orders, Adrian?" Eris asked, her emerald daggers glinting.

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