Panting heavily, Cruzer stood over Abas's lifeless body, his sword still crackling with residual lightning. He had done it. He had defeated Abas. Due to the drastic difference in their levels and rank, he had obtained a huge amount of experience points. But he was not in the mood to look at the system panel, as he was still in the middle of the battlefield, and the fight was far from over.
A sudden explosion jolted Cruzer from his thoughts, causing him to spin around. Tessa was struggling against a group of bandits, her staff glowing with magical energy. Her face was a mask of concentration as she unleashed spell after spell to fend them off.
"Hang on, Tessa! I'm coming!" Cruzer shouted, determination surging through him. He charged toward her, his heart pounding in his chest.
As he closed the distance, he could see Tessa weaving through the attacks of the bandits, her movements fluid and precise. She struck one of the bandits with a Celestial Ray, the beam of light piercing through his defenses and sending him sprawling to the ground.
But there were too many. Two more bandits lunged at her from opposite sides, swords drawn, ready to strike.
Cruzer's instincts kicked in. He raised his sword and called upon his newfound powers. "Aerial Cutter!" he yelled, sending a torrent of wind blades toward the incoming bandits. The blades sliced through the air, catching one of the bandits off guard and sending him crashing into the ground.
The other bandit turned his attention to Cruzer, eyes narrowing in fury. "You think you can just interfere?" he spat, rushing at Cruzer with a wild swing of his sword.
Cruzer was ready. He sidestepped the attack, his movements now sharper and more fluid thanks to his recent level up. He countered with a swift Fury Cutter, the elemental energy surging through his blade as he struck. The bandit staggered back, clutching his wound, shock written across his face.
Tessa took advantage of the distraction. "Thank you, Cruzer! Let's finish this!" She raised her staff and began to chant. "Frost Spike!" A spear of ice formed and shot toward the bandit, impaling him before he could react.
Cruzer couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. They were a formidable team, and with their combined strength, they could turn the tide of this battle.
But as they fought, more bandits surged forward, emboldened by their numbers. Cruzer felt a pang of worry as he glanced around the battlefield. The chaos was intensifying, and more foes were pouring in from the edges of the fight.
"Tessa, we need to find a way to break their morale!" Cruzer shouted, his eyes scanning for anything they could use to their advantage.
"Agreed! We can't let them regroup!" Tessa responded, her voice firm. She raised her staff high. "Let's show them our true power!"
With a fierce determination, Tessa summoned her magic, the ground rumbling beneath their feet. "Earthquake!" she cried out, and the ground trembled violently, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
The bandits stumbled, panic spreading as they struggled to keep their footing. Cruzer seized the moment. He concentrated, channeling his energy into a spell that had been waiting for the right opportunity.
"Fireball!" he shouted, launching the massive orb of fire toward the disoriented bandits. The fireball struck with incredible force, exploding upon impact and engulfing several bandits in flames. Screams filled the air as the bandits were thrown into chaos.
Cruzer could feel the momentum shifting. With their confidence shaken, the bandits hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances. Cruzer and Tessa stood side by side, their eyes blazing with determination.
"Let's push them back!" Cruzer said, and without waiting for a response, he charged forward, sword raised high.
The remaining bandits, seeing their comrades fall and the two mages standing strong, began to falter. Cruzer took advantage of their fear. He swung his sword with precision, engaging the nearest bandit. His movements were now enhanced; every strike felt more powerful, and each spell was imbued with renewed vigor.
As Cruzer fought, he noticed Tessa casting spell after spell, her confidence returning with every fallen enemy. "Celestial Ray!" she called out, sending another beam of light that cut through the bandits like a scythe through wheat.
Just as they started to gain the upper hand, a dark shadow loomed over the battlefield. Cruzer looked up to see a black barrier forming above them, its presence ominous and foreboding. The barrier descended, encasing the entire area in a dome of darkness. Panic surged through the combatants as they realized they were trapped.
"What in the world is this?" Cruzer murmured, startled as he saw the barrier completely enclose them. He couldn't help but feel an ominous sensation emanating from it.
As if answering his question, a voice soon echoed, "This is a barrier used for soul sacrifice. Offering enough souls will allow the initiator of this ritual to use the resentment to advance through to the Advanced Mystic Realm. It's a common technique used by those who follow the teachings of the Dark Lord."
Hearing the familiar voice of Kael, the leader of the Silver Hawks, the adventurers couldn't help but feel they had met their savior. Some even ran towards him, seeking protection in this crazy situation.
On the contrary, Cruzer felt something odd about the situation. How in the world did Kael know about this barrier? Dark Lord followers were only found in areas near the frontline where battles with the demon race took place, as they were the ones who willingly got corrupted by demonic energy and betrayed the human race.
Realizing this fact, Cruzer screamed toward the running adventurers to stop. Alas, he was too late. Kael drew a sword and cut those adventurers in half with a single swing.
A lucky adventurer who survived due to Cruzer's scream and stopping in time was just about to run back when he saw a young girl holding a beating heart. He looked down at his chest, saw a hole there, and fell down, dead.
Kael's face twisted into a malevolent grin. " Welcome my fellow adventurers, to the last dance of your lives."