"Wrath of the Blood Fort... Venomous Awakening!" finished Gorgon as her hair extended to cover every inch of the place.
Thick masses of snakes soon split into hundreds of smaller serpents, writhing throughout the throne room. Driven by a singular, instinctual purpose, they converged on their target: to devour every ribbon in sight.
Seeing Mattheos in his Alter form, Mavislin knew it was time to step back and let him take the lead. She smiled as she fully concentrated on taking down any and all distractions.
Glancing to the side, the dragoness could tell that the Viceroy was gearing up and wanting to join in the action. His eyes held the same bloodthirst as hers when she was much younger...
"You know you're not bound by my rules, right? You're free to do whatever it takes to land us a victory..." whispered a little snake, as it coiled around Zenos' arm.
"If that's the situation, grant me enhanced defenses. I have a strategy I wish to test," asked the Viceroy, bringing up his blade.
The small snake nodded, expanding in size before coiling around the blonde's torso. The Viceroy shivered as if Mavislin's touch had returned to him. Zenos smirked and sprang into action, aiming his blade at Solaris's exposed side.
Matt noticed a subtle but significant change in Zenos's movements; they were now as swift as a gust of wind. To his surprise, the Viceroy was filling in the gaps for him. Every time Matt's attack was deflected, Zenos was there, striking with precision.
Solaris struggled to keep pace with their relentless assault, with no opportunity for respite.
If this relentless pressure continued, they would soon wear down Solaris's stamina. Their enemy wasn't naive; she saw right through the trio's plan.
A sly smile crept across her lips as she watched the two males, their efforts futile against her strength. They thought they could outsmart her, but their ace was too preoccupied, tangled up in a desperate struggle against her relentless minions.
They were playing a game they had no hope of winning, and Solaris knew it.
"We're still facing a standstill... I'm open to any ideas as of now that doesn't involve me having a first-class flight to the pearly gates," called out Mattheos, after being struck back by Solaris.
The Viceroy hurled his scythe with precision, aiming straight at the enemy who stood in his path. In a flash, he dashed forward, snatching the scythe mid-air and slamming it against Solaris's staff, forcing her to brace against the sudden pressure.
Without missing a beat, he retreated, landing with a heavy thud beside Matt, who was already poised and ready for action.
"I've devised a plan, but it requires me to be the bait. Can you deliver a single, decisive blow—one potent enough to ensure death?" answered Zenos, eyes fixated on Solaris.
"Hmph... Who do you think I am?" scoffed Matt, glaring at the Viceroy.
"I'm not bluffing, bunny boy. Solaris is still a person, and you have a certain reluctance to kill them. So I'm asking you directly: Can you behead her?"
Mattheos tightened his grip on his blade, holding it firmly with both hands as he fixed his gaze on Solaris. She remained motionless, her stance unwavering, with the emblem beneath her feet glowing brightly.
He shut his eyes, centering his thoughts, searching for the perfect angle, the precise moment to sever her head from her shoulders. Every breath sharpened his focus; every heartbeat brought him closer to the strike that would end it all.
"I can. I do not see her as a soul worth saving. Just a mission for me to clear so I can get a pay raise. Plus, you should know that I don't like feisty women," smirked Matt, placing his blade on his shoulders.
Zenos could only chuckle darkly as he faced the Queen of the Sun, gripping his blade with deadly intent. He launched himself into the air, unleashing a series of swirling slashes infused with black and blue energy, each aimed directly at Solaris.
Yet, Solaris met every strike with grace, deftly twisting and turning her body to parry each attack, her staff moving like a living extension of her will.
Zenos's frustration grew, and he pushed himself harder, his speed and footwork becoming a blur of black and blue, striking like lightning in a storm. The battlefield buzzed with their clashes, each strike a powerful gust of wind.
But even the Queen of the Sun had her limits; as she spun her staff in a dazzling display of defense, it became clear that Zenos's relentless assault was beginning to wear her down.
With a swift, decisive motion, Solaris transitioned into fierce hand-to-hand combat, jamming her staff into the ground behind her. Zenos quickly recognized the shift and threw down his scythe, adopting a defensive stance.