A Fierce Determination
As Alex and his companions stepped forward to face Shona, the tension was palpable. The air crackled with dark energy, and the ground trembled beneath Shona's towering form. Each member of the group knew that this battle could be their last, but their resolve was unshaken.
An Attempt to Strike
Alex unsheathed his katana, the blade gleaming with a deadly light. He moved with the speed and precision of a seasoned warrior, aiming a strike directly at Shona's leg. But as his blade met Shona's skin, it shattered into pieces, unable to pierce the evil god's impenetrable hide.
The force of the rebound sent Alex sprawling backward. He would have crashed into the ground if not for Thrain's quick reflexes. A gust of wind magic caught Alex and gently set him down, but the shock of his weapon breaking left him stunned.
"What was all the training for?" Alex muttered, his voice filled with despair as he stared at the broken pieces of his katana.
Igor's Sacrifice
Before Alex could fully grasp the situation, he saw Igor, the giant of a man, charging forward with a roar. "No, Igor! Stop! You can't pierce his skin!" Alex screamed, his voice filled with panic and desperation.
Igor froze for a moment, realizing the gravity of Alex's words, but it was too late. Shona's eyes glowed with malevolence as he sneered at Igor. "Die, you damn mortal!" Shona growled.
With a swift motion, Shona slammed Igor into the ground. The impact was brutal, and as Shona's massive foot came down, the ground splintered and cracked. Blood, guts, and body parts splattered everywhere, the once mighty Igor reduced to nothing but a gruesome mess.
A Moment of Horror
Alex watched in horror, his mind unable to process the sight before him. The image of Igor's brutal death was seared into his memory, and the shock was too much to bear. His vision blurred, and the world around him began to fade. The last thing he saw before passing out was the triumphant, monstrous form of Shona standing over them.
The Aftermath
As Alex's consciousness slipped away, the battlefield fell silent for a brief moment. The weight of Igor's sacrifice hung heavily in the air, and the surviving members of the group felt a mix of rage and sorrow.
Yuki, Thrain, and Lila stood in stunned silence, their hearts heavy with grief and fear. They knew that Shona was a force unlike any they had ever faced, and the loss of Igor was a devastating blow.
Thrain clenched his fists, his eyes filled with tears of frustration and sorrow. "We have to keep fighting," he said, his voice trembling. "For Igor, and for everyone else."
Yuki nodded, her expression one of grim determination. "We can't let his death be in vain."
Lila looked at the unconscious Alex, then back at the towering figure of Shona. "We need a new plan," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. "We can't give up now."
A Dark Realization
As they gathered around Alex, trying to wake him and regroup, Shona stood above them, his dark laughter echoing through the ruins of Nothra. "Pathetic," he sneered. "You think you can stop me? You are nothing but insects beneath my feet."
The chapter ended with the group facing the grim reality of their situation. Shona was far more powerful than they had anticipated, and the loss of Igor weighed heavily on their hearts. But even in the face of such overwhelming darkness, they knew they had to find a way to fight on.
This concludes Chapter Forty-Six.