With each controlled blast of aether, they chipped away at the illusions, forcing the Eldritch Deers to reveal themselves more fully. Athena took point, summoning a massive shard of ice above her head and hurling it with brutal precision toward the closest Eldritch Deer. The ice tore through its flank, causing it to falter, its grip over the illusions loosening as it staggered back. Sylus seized the moment, dashing forward with a powerful thrust that pierced through its chest, his blade crackling with energy as he withdrew it with a sharp twist.
But even as the Eldritch Deer fell, the final creature let out a chilling bellow, its antlers aglow as it summoned every remaining Winter Deer to charge in unison. The ground shook as the creatures surged forward, the sheer mass of bodies pressing against the trio with overwhelming force. Cyrus, Athena, and Sylus braced themselves, their muscles screaming with the strain as they fought to hold the line.
