Moving with deadly intent, he darted past her and closed in on Solaris, his blade aimed directly at the sun-wielder's head.
"Inferno Surge!" murmured the Queen of the Sun, as she stabbed the staff in front of her.
The Viceroy raised his sword high, shifting it to the right above his head before unleashing a fierce barrage of four vertical slashes in rapid succession. The strikes tore through the air like the claws of a beast, each one aimed to tear down the enemy.
But Solaris, unfazed, countered with a spell that blazed with incandescent fury, intercepting the Viceroy's assault. The spell's force not only neutralized the slashes but also hurled Zenos backward like a ragdoll, sending him hurtling toward an imposing stone pillar.
Before impact, a swift, focused blur shot across the battlefield. A prideful but determined bunny intercepted Zenos mid-flight, catching the Viceroy in the nick of time and skidding to a stop with a determined stance.
It was a narrow save, the kind that could only come from impeccable timing and supernatural aim.
"Don't say another word," growled Zenos, yanking the rabbit's hand away and landing on the floor.
"Wasn't planning to."
The two males barely had a moment to catch their breath, let alone exchange words, before another onslaught descended upon them. A torrent of fiery ribbons twisted through the air like serpents, each one crackling with explosive energy.
The ribbons lashed out with relentless fury, forcing the Viceroy and his rescuer to scramble back. Each ribbon detonated on impact, erupting in bursts of searing light and heat that peppered the battlefield with violent explosions.
There was no room for bickering—only the urgent need to survive the relentless assault bearing down on them.
"These ribbons are honestly getting annoying..." grumbled Matt as he swung his blade about.
"That's something I could agree on... Stand away from me now, I've got just the trick!" commanded Zenos as he got into position.
The Viceroy swiftly brought his blade down from above his head, switching his grip with practiced precision as he sliced upwards. From this strike, a series of whirlwind slashes erupted, spinning upwards like a storm of blue and black streaks of light.
The force of his attack tore through the incoming ribbons, shredding them into nothingness. But as another wave of ribbons unfurled towards them, the bunny sprang into action.
With a blur of motion, he dashed through the oncoming assault, unleashing a flurry of arched slashes that cut through the ribbons with effortless speed.
The battlefield lit up in a dazzling display as both males fought side by side, each strike a testament to their skill and determination as they desperately tried to hold back the relentless cascade.
But exhaustion began to take its toll. The ribbons showed no signs of stopping, an endless torrent that seemed to mock their every effort. The ground quaked beneath their feet, trembling with the sheer force of the battle.
Above it all, Solaris watched with a triumphant smile, sensing her victory closing in. Beneath her feet, the ground pulsed with a radiant golden emblem—the same sun insignia that adorned the front of the pagoda.
Its light intensified, and in a sudden, blinding burst, eight strands of pure golden light, laced with red flames, erupted from the emblem. They arced through the air like fiery serpents, all homing in on Zenos with deadly intent, each one promising a searing end.
"I will not allow you, Annalies!" roared Gorgon, switching from Mavislin's voice.
Solaris widened her eyes upon hearing that long-forgotten name...
How dare that monster of a shamed goddess speak that wretched name?! The Queen of the Sun gritted her teeth and clenched her fists in anger, with her flames cackling and popping due to overheating.
"Taurus, Libra, Scorpio, Aquarius, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, and Gemini! Devour and fill your hearts!" yelled Mavislin and Medusa, sprouting eight of their snake girls towards the golden ribbons.
The team moved in perfect synchronization, each member flawlessly intercepting the incoming strands of golden light without disrupting Zenos' relentless assault.
Their coordinated strikes cleaved through the fiery tendrils with ease, leaving the Viceroy free to continue his battle, his movements unbroken and his attacks unyielding. Yet, despite their skill, Solaris remained untouchable.
She maneuvered with an almost casual grace, her power growing as the seconds ticked by, and with each passing moment, the sun's first light crept closer to the horizon.
As the battle raged on, the First Seat of the Covert Ops knew something had to change. Their current approach wasn't enough; Solaris was playing with them, keeping them at bay while her power swelled with the promise of dawn.
None of them had even come close to landing a blow, and with the sun about to rise, Solaris' strength would only multiply.