The siblings watched Ivan as he ran away, determination etched on their faces.
"Hey brother, have you noticed his weapons?" Leila asked.
Leonard glanced at the grenade in his hand. "Yeah... it's almost identical to the one he used."
"And it's also smell like gunpowder…Don't you think it's-"
Their conversation was abruptly cut short as the Cerus made its way to the southern exit, smashing through the gate and walls. Its eyes glowed with agitation, and its spiky spine crackled with violet electricity. The creature's enormous form seemed even more menacing as it emerged from the wreckage, its obsidian scales glinting in the dim light, and its spines sparked ominously, sending arcs of violet lightning into the air.
"We can ask him about that later. For now, we need to slow this thing down," Leonard said, resolute.
"Agreed!" With that, the brother and sister began their mission.
Leila started by summoning a small blue magic circle above the monster. She chanted, "Cryonimous Fractara!" A barrage of crystal-like shards rained down from the circle, each shard glistening with an icy hue. The shards exploded on impact, creating small but potent blasts. However, the monster seemed hardly affected.
Leonard dashed to the monster's leg and slashed with his greatsword at lightning speed. Yet, it was as if he struck an impenetrable wall, the shock of the impact recoiling through him.
He quickly retreated as the monster retaliated with its razor-sharp claws. The Cerus sent a horizontal shockwave with its slash, which Leonard barely blocked with his giant shield.
Standing back next to his sister, Leonard spoke, "Sister, hast thou any notion of how we might hinder this beast?"
"We'll see. For now, we must engage it from a distance. Direct combat is too dangerous," Leila replied.
"But, sister, fear not for me. It is my duty to protect thee at all costs," Leonard said, his voice unwavering in its knightly resolve.
Leila sighed in resignation. "Brother, should harm befall thee, as a mage, I would struggle to defend us both. Remember, thou art our shield." She said, mocking his brother's way of speaking.
"Then what shall we do?" Leonard asked.
"Offense is futile. We must focus on disorienting it from afar," Leila decided.
The Cerus growled, stretching backward before lunging forward, its claws ready to strike like a charging bull.
"Here it comes!" Leonard shouted, bracing for the attack.
Leila summoned multiple magic circles on the ground. As the monster passed over them, sharp crystal spikes shot upward, some angled to pierce the Cerus. She chanted, "Glacius Spiculum!"
The crystals, however, shattered against the beast's tough hide, barely slowing it down. Leila summoned another barrier of pointed crystals ahead of the Cerus, which crashed into them, slightly hindered.
Leonard raised his greatsword, now glowing with yellow thunder. He smashed it into the ground, creating a fissure that sent a shockwave towards the monster.
Leila cast another spell, this time creating a hovering magic circle above the Cerus. It unleashed a rapid barrage of pointed crystals, following the monster's movements. Meanwhile, Leonard slashed horizontally, sending out more shockwaves.
"Brother! Let's keep this up!. It seems the Cerus is slowing down!" Leila called out.
"Yet it is as if we prod a savage beast with mere twigs," Leonard replied, his concern evident.
Both siblings took cautious steps backward, maintaining their attacks. The relentless onslaught of orc warriors behind the Cerus added to their peril.
Leila's thoughts raced. "To think the Demon Lord could ally with a Cerus is terrifying. And to see it reach this place is beyond belief..." Sweat dripped from her forehead, her hands trembling as memories of past trauma resurfaced.
"Sister!" Leonard's voice snapped her back to the present. The Cerus halted, its spiky spine glowing brighter, emitting an intense violet light.
Both siblings' faces tightened with fear, their teeth gritted in anticipation of the monster's powerful ranged attack.
"LET'S RUN!" Leila shouted. They knew this gesture meant Cerus was preparing a devastating attack.
The spiked spines of the monster began to levitate, aiming directly at the siblings. They resembled spears made of crystalline material, crackling with electricity.
"Watch out!" Leonard shouted. The spikes propelled towards them at astonishing speed. With mere seconds to react, Leonard pushed Leila ahead, using his hands to forcefully propel her forward. He positioned his shield towards the projectiles, anchoring himself by driving his rusted greatsword into the ground. He chanted an incantation, infusing his shield with thunder magic to strengthen it. "Fulmina Praesidium!"
The impact was deafening. The projectile hit Leonard's shield with such force that the surrounding trees shook violently from the shockwave. Leonard did his best to stand his ground, but the power of the blast threw him several feet, crashing him to the ground.
"Brother!!!" Leila screamed in panic. She dashed to his side, her heart racing. "Brother!! Are-are you alright?!"
Terror gripped her as she saw her brother wounded, sharp shards from the crystal embedded all over his body. She tried to lift him, but he was too heavy. Desperation and tears clouded her vision. "No...no...."
Fear swarmed Leila, a familiar horror she had experienced ten years ago flashed before her eyes. The same scenario—holding her wounded brother while the same monster that had destroyed their home and family loomed before her. The malevolent azure eyes of the Cerus brought back every painful memory 10 years ago.
"W-why? Why must this happen again... I thought I was stronger..." Leila sobbed, feeling hopelessness consume her .However, 10 years ago, a saviour from the unknown saved them. A monster that was made out of metal, with a long tube on it that spit a blinding flash of fire. And a person on top of it. Through Leila's eyes, the fire is still vivid and the shock, she can still feel it.
But this time, will their savior come again? That monster with someone on top of it, will he come for them once again? "Please…" Tears flowed from gray Leila's stormy eyes. "Blast that monster again for us…" The mage desperate pleads.
"Lei...la," Leonard groaned, his head twitching as he slowly turned to face her.
"Leo-!" Leila cried, her voice trembling.
"Cover your ears," Leonard commanded, his voice gravelly.
Leila's eyes widened in confusion but she quickly complied. An explosion erupted beneath the monster.
BOOM! Dirt flew everywhere. Leonard had managed to pull the pin on a grenade and throw it at the monster before being thrown by the impact.
The monster was momentarily immobilized. All the crystalline shards piercing Leonard shattered simultaneously. He raised his sword, using it as support to stand once more. Forcing himself upright, he lifted his sword and shield again.
"I'm going to be a knight... I promised I would be strong enough to protect you. I promised him. And as your knight, I will stand. So, sister, let's go. He is waiting for us, and we will show him," Leonard said, determination burning in his eyes.
"Brother..." Leila whispered, and smiled. "Mhm!"
Both of them started dashing away while continuing their mission to slow the beast down. They threw every attack they could muster while dodging the monster's retaliations. Leila kept summoning multiple spells to disorient the monster. Leonard protected his sister by intercepting the ranged attacks of the Cerus with his shield.
"We're believing in him..." Leila said to herself, remembering the peculiar man they had met earlier. Her magical attacks intensified, increasing in quantity, though still barely affecting the monster. "We need to stay alive so we can ask him..."
"I'm gonna be a knight, and my sister will stay alive. Just a bit more!" Leonard encouraged himself. The siblings did their best to slow the monster down.