Amukelo surged forward. His enhanced speed propelled him past Jezar, Ovun, all of whom could only watch as he closed in on Neclord with terrifying efficiency. Peles stood in a defensive position.
Peles raised his daggers, crossing them to deflect the strike, but as Amukelo's sword crashed down, the force was much bigger than he anticipated. His arms gave way instantly, the impact sending him flying backward as his own momentum spiraled out of control.
Peles crashed into Neclord, his body colliding with the panicked noble and sending them both sprawling through the open gates of the town. They skidded across the dirt, landing in an undignified heap just inside the empty streets. The two town guards on duty stared, wide-eyed and frozen in place as they took in the sheer power and rage emanating from Amukelo. They that Neclord and Peles were from Nameless Dynasty, but faced with the brutal intensity of Amukelo's advance, they didn't dare intervene.
Peles scrambled to his feet, every nerve in his body buzzing with shock. Before he could fully comprehend it, Amukelo was already upon them, closing the distance with a mad grin stretching across his face, his laughter low and unhinged.
"You won't escape anymore," Amukelo growled, his voice edged with savage delight. His eyes burned with a wild, relentless fury as he raised his sword, ready to bring it down on Neclord.
Peles's instincts kicked in, and in the last possible moment, he threw himself between Amukelo and Neclord, daggers raised in a desperate defensive stance. As Amukelo's sword crashed down, the clash created a metallic clang that resonated through the street, followed by a low rumble as the ground beneath Peles's feet cracked and buckled under the sheer force of the impact. Peles's hands went numb from the blow, the power behind it vibrating up his arms, but he managed to hold his ground. His face was pale, and his eyes wide with shock, but he had stopped the strike.
Amukelo twisted his grip and brought his sword down again. This time, he intended to finish Peles, to cleave through his defenses and end him in one final, brutal stroke. But just as his blade descended, the ground beneath him shifted. A thick wall of earth erupted from the ground between him and Peles, the rock forming a protective barrier that blocked his strike. At the same moment, a jagged path of ice shot out from behind the wall, racing along the ground and wrapping around Amukelo's arm, binding his sword in a layer of freezing frost.
With a guttural roar, Amukelo broke the ice binding his weapon, the shards shattering in all directions as he tore his arm free. His eyes blazed as he glared at the earth wall, rage burning hotter than ever as he raised his sword to strike it down.
But as he swung, he caught a glimpse beyond the crumbling wall. Ri, the archer who had been wounded by Padrin earlier, appeared out of the shadows. She grabbed Neclord and Peles with a grip of surprising strength. In one smooth motion, Ri twisted, hoisting them both onto her shoulders before leaping away with a fluidity that defied his injuries.
Amukelo's eyes narrowed, a frustrated growl escaping his throat. He hadn't expected Ri to intervene, and he hadn't anticipated this level of coordination among Neclord's allies. With a fierce look, he prepared to pursue them, his body tensing as he readied himself to leap after them.
But as he took his first step forward, the ground beneath him began to shift once again. Dark energy coiled around his feet, the earth transforming into a thick, swirling mist that oozed up his legs, binding him in place. Morth stood just beyond the ruined earth wall, his hands raised as he chanted softly under his breath, his spell weaving through the air. The mist solidified into dark tendrils, which snaked up Amukelo's body, wrapping around his arms, his legs, and finally his torso, pinning him down with an unnatural, crushing strength.
Amukelo struggled, gritting his teeth as he pulled against the restraints, his muscles straining as the dark tendrils tightened around him. His boosted strength fought against the binding spell, the tendrils creaking under the pressure, but Morth's magic held firm. The mist thickened, solidifying into blackened chains that encased Amukelo's limbs, forcing him to stay rooted to the spot.
"Damn you!" Amukelo spat, his voice muffled by the pressure of the dark energy constricting his chest.
Peles, Ri, and Neclord were already several paces away, moving swiftly toward the inner streets of the town as they put distance between themselves and Amukelo. Peles looked back briefly, catching sight of Amukelo struggling against the bindings, a flicker of relief crossing his face.
Nearby, Morth, while maintaining the spell that binded Amujelo with one hand, extended his second hand toward Peles, muttering a low incantation as he cast a brief healing spell. A soft, green glow enveloped Peles, closing his cuts, soothing bruises, and restoring his strength. Peles stood taller, his gaze flicking back toward Amukelo, wary yet fortified by the magic.
Amukelo saw this and, gritting his teeth, let out a furious yell. "Let… me… *go!*"
With one final surge of strength, Amukelo roared, his body erupting in a burst of energy as he snapped each dark tendril holding him. The magical chains broke with a sickening crack, disintegrating into wisps of black mist around him. Free at last, he staggered forward, his gaze blazing as he set his sights on Neclord, who was still visible down the street, sprinting for his life.
But before Amukelo could advance, Ovun and Jezar appeared in his path, flanking him from either side. Morth positioned himself behind. And Peles, newly healed, took a ready stance, daggers glinting as he joined the others.
They had regrouped swiftly, forming a blockade between Amukelo and Neclord, who was desperately running toward the main gate of the Nameless Dynasty's base. Neclord's footsteps echoed as he put distance between himself and the brewing fight, glancing back occasionally with terror etched into his pale face.
Amukelo lunging forward with incredible speed, targeting Ovun. The force of Amukelo's strike made Ovun stagger, his eyes widening in shock. For the first time in his memory, Ovun had been pushed back in a contest of raw strength.
Before Ovun could react, Amukelo stepped in, closing the gap and raising his sword for another strike. But just as he did, he caught sight of Jezar's blade swinging toward his neck from the side. Instinct kicked in, and Amukelo dropped, ducking just as the blade passed over his head.
But even as he dodged, he felt a chill wrap around his legs. Ice began to creep up his calves, binding him to the ground, freezing him in place. Morth was channeling his magic again, the frost slowly expanding with each passing second, locking Amukelo's feet to the ground. His muscles tensed as he fought against the frost, his legs trapped while his upper body remained free.
Peles took advantage of the moment, darting forward with his daggers aimed at Amukelo's back. But Amukelo swung his sword backward, the arc of the blade forcing Peles to halt and retreat a few steps. Peles hissed in frustration, stepping back, but his retreat gave Ovun the opening he needed. With a roar, Ovun raised his axe high and brought it down with brutal force, aiming to crush Amukelo beneath its weight.
Amukelo raised his sword to meet the blow, steel meeting steel in a clash that sent vibrations down his arms. The impact was powerful, pushing him backward as the ice at his feet cracked under the force. He could feel the chill biting into his skin, but with a sudden burst of strength, he braced himself and shattered the remaining ice in one forceful motion, freeing his legs with a powerful push.
Just then, a hail of arrows streaked through the night air, aimed squarely at him. Amukelo tensed and with a furious cry, he broke into a sprint, his body twisting as he dodged or deflected the arrows that came dangerously close. The potion's boost enhanced his reflexes, and with each arrow that whizzed by, he moved faster, determined not to let the volley slow him down.
As he outmaneuvered the arrows, Amukelo saw Ovun once again blocking his way, his axe at the ready. But Amukelo wasn't about to let him stand in his way. He sidestepped, moving swiftly to avoid Ovun's heavy swings, slipping past the brute with surprising agility. Ovun swung his axe in a wide arc, aiming to catch him, but Amukelo ducked and rolled, coming up on the other side, past Ovun.
However, Jezar was already there. The two clashed, Amukelo's power pushing Jezar back slightly, though Jezar dug in his heels, determined to hold his ground. His strength might have been no match for Amukelo's in this moment, but his precision and timing kept Amukelo at bay, blocking each attempted advance. They exchanged several blows but Amukelo was too focused to let this slow him for long.
With a quick move, Amukelo forced Jezar's sword to the side and threw a powerful kick, aiming at Ovun, who was approaching from his right. The kick connected, causing Ovun to stagger, his massive form momentarily thrown off balance. Jezar tried to press forward, but Amukelo's swing caught him, forcing Jezar to stumble back, crashing against Ovun, who was still trying to regain his footing.
With the two off balance, Amukelo seized his chance. Peles made a desperate attempt to intercept him, lunging forward with both daggers aimed at his chest. But Amukelo sidestepped, pivoting at the last second and deflecting Peles's strike with a brutal downward slash. The force sent Peles reeling into Ovun, the two colliding as they both fought to regain control.
Amukelo burst past them, dodging a final arrow that barely grazed his shoulder, and charged forward.