Victorion's blade danced through the air, carving a path of destruction amidst the horde of goblins and trolls that swarmed around him. His movements were fluid and precise, each strike finding its mark with deadly accuracy. The scent of blood and sweat mingled together, filling the dank dungeon with an overwhelming intensity.
But amidst the chaos, a piercing shriek rang out, causing Victorion to spin around in alarm. He watched in shock as the demon clawed at its own eyes, writhing in agony.He watched as Favian took advantage of this momentary distraction and launched himself at the demon, his weapon slicing through its vulnerable form. For a brief moment, he had the upper hand – but the demon would not easily defeated.
In a burst of strength, it broke free from Favian's grasp , and despair took hold of the commander as he saw Favian being plunged into the darkness alongside his opponent. The knight's heart sank as he realized that they were facing a powerful foe capable of soul projection. An ability that only less than twenty individuals can use on the entire continent.Unfortunately they had no idea how many on the side of the demons could employ it, and such lack of information came back to bite them in the arse....
As fear settled over the cavern, Victorion couldn't help but marvel at the bravery of his young companion. A mere boy managing to wound a full-blooded demon was an incredible feat – one that left even the seasoned knight in awe, yet wounding was different from killing , and unless the goddess blessed the warrior with victory , death would come for everyone inside that cavern.
The count himself stood amidst the fray, his armor splattered with green blood as he searched frantically for any sign of his son. Victor could feel the pang of guilt deep within the count's eyes , as he feared that he was the one who sent his own blood to be slaughtered.Yet soon not even that would matter as death awaited all of them
------------Favian pov
As I looked around, my eyes strained to adjust to the thick veil of darkness enveloping me. It was almost suffocating, like being trapped inside a black box. I cursed myself for falling into the demon's trap, my arrogance leading me straight into his clutches. If only I had kept my distance and continued shooting my blood arrows, perhaps I could have stood a chance. But now, it seemed like an impossible uphill battle as the demon held all the cards.
Desperate for some light, I summoned a fireball in my hand. However, instead of illuminating my surroundings, the flame was immediately snuffed out by the all-consuming shadow. Panic began to rise within me as I realized I was completely blind in this dark realm.
But I couldn't give up just yet, there had to be a way to defeat this demon. With gritted teeth, I tried to calm myself down and assess the situation.
''You damn arrogant fool, it was a fucking trap and you fell in it'' Baalkaroth shouted, his urgency only causing my stress to rise.
"Shut up and help me, damn it!" I snapped back at him, ignoring his scornful tone. There had to be something he could do to aid me in this dire situation.
"Dodge!" His urgent command cut through his disdain and caught me off guard. Confused, I frantically scanned the darkness for any signs of danger. Suddenly, white-hot pain seared through my left leg and I stumbled from the impact of a deep cut that sliced into my flesh.
Cursing under my breath, I tried to understand how the demon had managed to sneak attack me in pitch blackness. Could he somehow hide his attacks in the darkness? No, that didn't make sense with everything being so completely dark. Maybe he had the ability to blind others? The possibilities raced through my mind as frustration and fear threatened to overwhelm me.
"Baalkaroth," I pleaded, "can you tap into his energy and determine his location?""Yes, I can sense him. He is currently positioned on your right side. But first, take a stone from the ground and hurl it where I direct you," Baalkaroth commanded.
Without hesitation, I reached out into the darkness moving around until I grasped with my hand a rough and small stone. I threw it to the designated spot on my right."Did that do anything ?" I asked eagerly, hoping for a breakthrough."Indeed it did. He dodged the blow even though it was harmless .... He can probably sense movement in the shadows, but he lacks the ability to decipher what is causing it. We may have found a way to defeat him.I hope you know what you have to do?"
Grimacing in pain from the wound on my leg, I conjured a small arrow and aimed it towards my designated target on the right. My hand quivered as I struggled to contain the bleeding, fully aware that time was ticking against me
"He has moved towards the right; now is your chance. Run towards him and strike when I give the signal," Baalkaroth instructed eagerly...
With Baalkaroth as my only guide in this abyss of darkness, I stumbled and weaved through the terrain, trying to keep up with his urgent commands. His voice echoed in my mind, a beacon of guidance in the black void around us. "STRIKE NOW AT YOUR RIGHT," he commanded, and I reacted swiftly, conjuring a blade from the bloodied wound on my arm and swinging it towards the right. But before I could make contact, a blinding beam of light pierced through the darkness, disorienting me and causing me to miss the attack. In that moment of confusion, I felt a sharp cut across my back followed by a forceful blow to my side, sending me sprawling to the ground.
Fucking hell...he has control over both light and darkness. How was I supposed to fight back when every attempt to strike left me stunned and vulnerable to his counters?
Just then,as I was groveling in doubt a voice cut through the oppressive darkness. "Seems like I have underestimated you. You truly gave me quite a scare. I still don't understand how you can see me," the mysterious figure taunted, assuming that I could perceive his location while in reality, I could only vaguely follow Baalkaroth's guidance in the dark.
I chose not to respond, instead focusing on shaking off the remnants of that last blow. My body flinched as I felt warm blood seeping through my torn shirt from the deep gash on my back. And unfortunately, I couldn't stop the bleeding there. The wound on my arm was even more serious and demanded immediate attention if I wanted to stay alive .
His voice filled with amusement, continued , "I must admit, you have proven me wrong. I took you for a mere fly, but it seems you are more like a... lizard." His chuckle was light and dismissive. "Perhaps I will find a use for you after your inevitable demise. How would you feel about having your skull adorned as my personal cup? You see, I did say I would let you go if you managed to land a hit on me. But alas, you resorted to using treachery, and that cannot be tolerated." He laughed again, relishing in his own power and superiority. "But fear not, dear one. Your pitiful life will serve some purpose, even if it is a small and insignificant one."
I remained silent, my mind racing with thoughts of how to fight back against this demon. Then, a small idea sparked in my mind - the only way forward.
Glimpsing at the four vials of blood in my possession, I realized they could be of use. Baalkaroth, always the skeptic in my mind, interjected with doubt. "What's your plan?" he questioned.
A sly grin spread across my face as the idea took shape. "I'll leave these vials on the ground," I explained. "You will be my eyes and ears. When the demon nears one of them, you will alert me, and I will shape them to pierce the prick. With a bit of luck, I might just get a hit on him."
Baalkaroth was not easily impressed. "That sounds like quite the longshot," he stated.
Undeterred, I countered, "Sometimes longshots are our only option in the darkness. It's worth a try."
He paused before asking, "Will you invoke me?"
To this question, I gave no answer. Even if I did invoke me , I would cut down before I could complete the ritual
My hands shook slightly as I carefully placed the small vials of blood on the ground. In this enveloping darkness, they were my only hope, my last resort. I positioned them all around , desperately hoping that they would prove effective in this desperate battle for survival. But in truth, it would all come down to pure luck - a roll of the dice to determine if I will emerge victorious or succumb to defeat in this treacherous game. Every nerve in my body was taut with tension, every muscle primed for action as I prepared to face whatever fate had in store for me.