Athena shifted her attention to the smaller Winter Deers now rushing at them from all angles. She spun, conjuring an arc of blazing blue fire that swept outward, catching several of the deers and incinerating them in a burst of cold flame. She leapt backward, gathering aether in her hands and unleashing another wave of frost that encased the surrounding ground, creating a slippery surface that made it harder for the smaller creatures to charge in.
Cyrus, seeing a brief opening, dashed up a raised mound of soil, using it as leverage to drive himself toward the creature's core once more. His sword swung down in a gleaming arc, cutting deeply into the pulsing mass. A shockwave of energy exploded from the strike, knocking him back but leaving a tremendous wound in the creature's chest. Black ichor sprayed out, sizzling as it hit the ground, and the eldritch entity reeled, momentarily weakened.
