The two charged at each other with blinding speed—Solaris on the attack, and Zenos on the defense.
Solaris launched a powerful kick toward Zenos's face, but he blocked it with ease. Without missing a beat, she shifted to kick with her other leg, striking him with enough force to shatter his left eye.
As Zenos staggered, Solaris seized the opportunity, only for him to retaliate by grabbing her ankle and hurling her across the field.
Undeterred, Solaris twisted mid-air, landing deftly and propelling herself back toward her opponent. With a smirk, she snatched up her staff and aimed a deadly thrust at Zenos's heart.
Though her aim was slightly off, the staff still plunged deep into his abdomen, driving him back with a pained gasp. The Viceroy fell limp, with Medusa fearing the worst.
"Hah! Seems that the almighty Viceroy of the Northern Cartel has finally fallen... So much for that boastful infamy..." taunted Solaris as she prepared to take her staff out of the blonde.
To Solaris's surprise, Zenos merely chuckled, wiping the blood from his lips before spitting it onto the ground beside him. His eyes gleamed with a twisted amusement, unfazed by the damage he had taken.
Suddenly, a pained yelp echoed from Virgo, the small snake that had been shielding him. In a flash of light, the serpent materialized around Zenos's torso, writhing in shock and agony.
The creature's protective efforts had pushed it to its limits, and yet Zenos stood firm, a cruel smile curling at the corners of his mouth as if daring Solaris to try again.
"It's fine, I've suffered worse before..." murmured the Viceroy, silently hoping that the snake would disappear.
Solaris's eyes flicked to the snake coiled around Zenos's torso, and she instinctively reached out with one hand, intent on capturing it. But Zenos was quicker, his reflexes razor-sharp. He seized her wrist in a brutal grip, twisting it with enough force to crack bone.
A sickening snap echoed through the air, and Solaris let out a piercing shriek, her regal composure shattered by the searing pain.
The Queen of the Sun, who had always been in control, was now caught in Zenos's ruthless grasp, her own power momentarily slipping through her fingers.
"Apologies, but I cannot permit you to harm her. It appears you've fixated on the wrong target," said the Viceroy as he forced the staff further into his wound.
Solaris recoiled in horror, her gaze fixed on Zenos's unsettling grin. How could anyone look so delighted while bleeding from a stab wound?
Worse still, why wasn't he affected by her staff—the same weapon that had once banished the Sun from her old realm? The thought sent a chill down her spine. Who the hell was this blonde, and what sort of monster was she truly up against?
The Queen of the Sun gritted her teeth, frustration and fear swirling within her. Solaris tightened her grip on her staff with both hands, forcing it deeper into Zenos's side. He convulsed, blood spewing from his mouth, yet the twisted smile never left his face.
Medusa's voice echoed in Mavislin's mind, screaming for her to act, to do something, anything to stop this madness. But the First Seat stood stoic, her focus unwavering as she manipulated the snakes to continue the assault on the ribbons.
"If we don't place our trust in them now, then we're getting out of this with wings and halo. Focus and stop letting your emotions drive you. I have full confidence that the Viceroy can pull through," ordered Mavislin, refusing to look at the Viceroy.
The First Seat, usually a paragon of composure and cold efficiency, found herself hesitating for the first time.
She bit her lip, her voice steady but her heart wavering as she issued commands, silently praying that she wasn't wrong to place her trust in Zenos's resilience. Despite her unwavering exterior, the cracks were beginning to show, her faith hanging on a knife's edge.
Medusa, sensing the weight of the moment, managed only a brief nod before channeling her power, summoning a swarm of serpents to combat the onslaught of explosive minions. Each snake moved with purpose, striking with lethal precision, but the battle was far from over.
Meanwhile, Mattheos steeled himself, swallowing every doubt and fear as he merged with his Guardian. The fusion was seamless, an intricate dance of spirit and resolve.
With every beat of his heart, he felt his Guardian's power coursing through his veins, sharpening his focus and fortifying his will.
The battlefield had become a crucible, testing the limits of their strength and resolve, and Mattheos knew that hesitation could mean the difference between victory and defeat. And he needs the victory or else he'd be next on the menu for tomorrow's breakfast.
"My madness will..."