As the final dark mana bombs hurtled towards them, Amukelo realized he had exhausted his ability to continue using his space tear slash, a technique that had drained him significantly. Each bomb, pulsing with malevolent energy, presented an immediate threat that Eliss, with her rapid spellcasting, managed to intercept partially. Amukelo's voice was urgent, almost desperate as he called out to her, "Eliss, I need support!"
Understanding flashed across Eliss's face as she watched Amukelo's energy wane. She quickly responded by conjuring a series of protective spells, weaving intricate barriers of magical energy along the paths of the incoming bombs. Her spells shimmered in the dim light, creating a network of glowing runes that intercepted the bombs. The bombs collided with her magical barriers, their momentum halted, but not yet neutralized. It was only when they finally impacted the shield that Amukelo conjured with a desperate cross of his swords that they detonated in a series of muffled explosions.
The aftermath left Amukelo standing amidst a cloud of dust and debris, his clothing singed and tattered from the force of the blasts. Parts of his attire that weren't protected by his legendary armor were burnt, leaving his skin exposed and slightly charred. A high-pitched ringing filled his ears, a testament to the proximity and intensity of the blasts.
As the dust began to settle, a massive, shadowy form loomed suddenly in front of him. It was Leviathan, taking advantage of Amukelo's momentary vulnerability. With no time to regain his composure or prepare another defensive maneuver, Amukelo could only brace himself as the monstrous claw came swinging towards him. Instinctively, he raised his swords to block the attack. The impact was colossal, sending him hurtling backward with such force that he crashed into the cavern wall, creating a deep crater with his body.
Now Leviathan, unrelenting and scornful, turned its attention towards Eliss. It stalked towards her, its massive form casting a shadow that enveloped her in darkness. "You will join your little friends on the other side," it hissed menacingly, its voice echoing off the cavern walls. Slowly, it raised its claw, the same claw that had just sent Amukelo flying, and lunged forward with terrifying speed.
Eliss, realizing she stood no chance in a direct confrontation, could only close her eyes and brace for the end. In her mind, she sent a desperate plea, a silent prayer for survival, 'Amukelo... Please... I don't want to die.' The air around her filled with the sound of slicing wind as the claw descended rapidly towards her.
At that critical moment, a powerful yell shattered the tense silence: "GET AWAY FROM HER!!!" Amukelo, enveloped in a glowing red aura, surged forward with renewed vigor. This aura, pulsating with intense energy, seemed to ignite the very air around him as he intercepted Leviathan's claw mid-strike.
With a swift motion, fueled by both desperation and the surge of power from the red aura, Amukelo swung his swords with all his might. The blades met Leviathan's claw with a force that was both shocking and awe-inspiring. There was a moment of intense resistance as the blade clashed against the hardened scales of the claw, but Amukelo's determination turned the tide. His swords cut through, severing the claw with a clean, powerful strike.
The severed limb fell to the ground with a heavy thud, its dark energy dissipating into the air. Leviathan roared in pain and fury, its eyes burning with malice and shock at the sudden turn of events. The cavern echoed with the sound of the beast's anger, a sound that seemed to shake the very foundation of the underground chamber.
Eliss, her eyes wide open now, looked on in disbelief and relief. Amukelo stood between her and Leviathan, his swords still raised, his body enveloped in the red aura that had just saved her life. The air around them crackled with residual magical energy, the moment suspended in time as they prepared for Leviathan's inevitable counterattack.
The cavern's atmosphere was thick with tension and the raw energy of unleashed power. As Leviathan jumped back and began the grotesque transformation, the air vibrated with the eerie sounds of tearing flesh and re-forming appendages. Eliss, her gaze fixed on the horrific spectacle, felt a mix of dread and resolve. The creature before them was not regenerating—it was morphing into something even more nightmarish.
The faces from its corpus began to disconnect from its body and fell like mush. Then they started to move as if alive and connecting to each other. Some of them connected back to the main body, while others connected to each other and created many mini Leviathans.
Amukelo, his body surrounded by a blazing red aura that marked the limit of his mana coat, was a blur of motion. He understood that time was against them—the longer they allowed Leviathan to complete its transformation, the less chance they had of surviving this encounter. His every move was fueled by a mixture of strategic precision and raw, desperate energy.
As Amukelo charged forward, mini Leviathans, each a sinister echo of their progenitor, sprang into action. These smaller copies were not mere distractions; they were formidable opponents in their own right, each capable of lethal damage. Their dark bodies moved with an unsettling grace, mirroring Leviathan's malice in every strike.
With a warrior's shout, Amukelo met the first of the mini Leviathans head-on. His swords danced in his hands, a whirlwind of sharp steel that cut through the dark flesh of his adversaries. However, for every creature he felled, it seemed two more arose to take its place. The air was thick with the acrid scent of dark magic and blood, the ground slippery with the ichor of slain monsters.
Meanwhile, Leviathan's main body was a site of chaotic reformation. Tentacles, thick and powerful, sprouted from its mass, each tipped with barbed ends that sought Amukelo with unerring intent. He dodged and weaved, his swords slicing through the appendages that threatened to ensnare him. But the tentacles regrew almost as fast as he could cut them down, their regeneration fueled by the dark magic that Leviathan wielded.
Eliss, her voice steady as she chanted, was a beacon of focused magical energy. The spell she prepared was complex, demanding her complete concentration and a vast reserve of mana. Her staff moved through the air, tracing sigils that glowed with a fierce, golden light. Each word of her chant wove deeper layers of power into the spell, building towards a crescendo that could turn the tide of their battle.
As Amukelo fought a relentless battle against the mini Leviathans and encroaching tentacles, Eliss's spell neared completion. The ground beneath them trembled with the force of their conflict, the air crackling with the clash of magic and steel.