The crowned Mycelial monster's claw sliced through the air, aiming directly for Ashley's head with terrifying speed. But just as death seemed inevitable, a massive clang echoed across the clearing.
A greatsword, large and unwieldy, intercepted the blow, its broad blade catching the monster's claw with a burst of sparks. Ashley and Brian's eyes widened in shock as the force of the collision reverberated through the ground, shaking their very cores.
Before them stood a skinny, tan-skinned commoner girl, her appearance strikingly out of place amid the chaos. Clad in shabby clothes that clung to her slender frame, she gripped the oversized greatsword tightly, her muscles straining as she recoiled from the impact. She clicked her tongue in frustration, her dishevelled hair swaying wildly around her face.
