Nox charged at Erik with a speed fueled by rage. But Erik was ready for that.
The moment Nox lunged forward Erik fired his Boltr again. The magical shells was moving too quickly for Nox to fully evade. It struck him square in the chest.
The impact was so powerful it sending Nox stumbling backward again. His armor dented and nearly shattered from the force but he didn't fall this time. His eyes blazed with more efury as he steadied himself.
In response, Nox raised his free hand. Dark and cold energy swirling around it as he created several ice spears. With a sharp gesture of his hand he hurled them at Erik and Liam.
But Freya was quicker. She raised her and and then a shimmering magical shield materialized in front of Erik and Liam, intercepting the ice spears before they could reach their targets. The spears shattered upon impact, fragments of ice scattering across the cave chamber floor. Nox turned his gaze toward Freya, his rage intensifying as he saw her calm expression.
"You shouldn't turn your eyes in a fight," Freya said, her voice laced with a quiet confidence. A smile tugged at her lips.
Realizing his mistake too late, Nox snapped his attention back to Erik and Liam, only to find them already closing the distance between them. They both charged at him with all their might.
Nox barely managed to raise his shortsword in time to block their combined assault.
CLANG!
The clash of metal against metal echoed through the chamber as Erik and Liam pressed their attack. Nox found himself on the defensive, struggling to parry their blows while still trying to regain his balance from the earlier hit.
The power behind Erik's sword and Liam's axes feels overwhelming now. Its different from how Nox remembered it, each strike sending shockwaves through his body.
However, he was also skilled. He managed to deflect their attacks. The dark energy surrounding his sword clashed violently with the power of Erik and Liam's weapons, creating sparks of energy that lit up the chamber.
Yet, despite his rage and confidence, Nox could feel himself being pushed back, their strength and coordination were strong.
"HAAAAARGH!"
Nox roared in frustration, his voice finally returning though strained. He then started to summon his dark magic again.
Freya glanced toward the chamber's entrance with face that have expression of concern. The echoes of battle and Nox's roars reverberated through the room and she fear that these sounds might alert others here. Her eyes darted to the door, anxiety tightening in her chest.
But Mia said, "You don't have to worry about that, Miss Freya," Mia said confidently. "I've already placed a Rune barrier around the chamber. No sound will escape from here."
Freya's eyes widened in surprise, and then relief washed over her. A warm smile broke through her earlier concern.
"Mia, you're a genius!" she said. She reached out and gently stroked Mia's hair in appreciation.
Mia blushed slightly at the praise, feeling a surge of pride in her heart.
Them Freya's gaze shifted back to Nox, her expression hardening into one of cold determination. The warm light in her eyes vanished now, replaced by a cruel glint.
"You did a really good job there," she said, her voice star to becom sharper. "Now we can focus on that bastard without any distractions."
She turned to Mia again, "Isn't this the right time to join the party?"
Mia nodded. "Absolutely," she replied while her fingers flexed around the hilt of her weapon.
Erik and Liam still locked in a fierce battle with Nox. Erik's eyes narrowed as he observed the black sword in Nox's hand. The way it radiated malevolent energy made his skin crawl.
"That black sword seems dangerous. Its not just sharp," Erik muttered between the slashes.
Liam nodded grimly. "Yeah, I can see that," he replied.
The two of them knew that a single hit from that blade could be bad. They had to be careful. One wrong move could mean the end.
Suddenly, Erik made an unexpected move. He deflected Nox's shortsword, knocking it off course. He knew that it can only last for a fraction of second like before. Then, in the same fluid motion Erik reached behind him, pulling his Boltr from his back.
BANG!
The shot rang out. The magical shell struck Nox, catching him off guard and sending him staggering backward after hitting his shoulder. For a moment Nox's body faltered, but the black and red inky substance that coursed through him quickly began to heal the damage of his shattered shoulder.
Liam saw his opening so he lunged forward and he brought his axes down with all his might. The blades connected with Nox's body, the force of the strike shattering his already damaged armor into fragments.
Nox snarled in pain and frustration, his body reeling from the combined assault. Desperate to regain control, he leaped backward, creating distance between himself and his attackers. The he raised his hand and unleashed a blast of icy mist from his hands.
Erik and Liam were caught in the blast, the freezing mist encasing their feet in ice. The sudden cold seared through their bodies, making their movements sluggish and painful as they struggled to stay upright.
"Whoa whoa! Shit!" Liam cursed as he fought to maintain their balance to not fall to the ground. Erik did the same,
Nox seeing their vulnerable state, so he sensed an opportunity. His lips curled into a cruel smile as he prepared to strike. But just as he was about to launch his attack a sudden chill ran down his spine.
In his anger and desperation, Nox had made a critical mistake—he had forgotten about Freya and Mia.
The realization hit him, his mind clearing just enough to recognize the danger. He had been so consumed by his rage and pain that he had neglected the two deadly forces bedide Erik and Liam. Now, as the chill of dread settled into his bones, Nox knew had fucked up.
"Tell me what you want to do to my family again?" Then he heard Freya's voice creeping from his back.
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