"Take care of the one-star group. I'll support Craig and Kayla with the two two-star Deathstingers," E the first to recover from the surprise Alastor's group had sprung on them said.
"Go ahead. We've got this," Marcus said with a confident grin.
E flashed a quick smile back at Marcus before sprinting towards Craig and Kayla, who were locked in battle with the peak-stage Deathstingers and a battered middle-stage one.
These Deathstingers were even larger and more intimidating than the one Alastor and his team had faced earlier. Their stingers were massive and covered in what looked like silver fur, sharp and menacing like countless needles bristling on their tails.
Alastor tore his gaze from the fierce fight and focused on the group of one-star Deathstingers. With E gone, they had split into two factions: one preparing to attack Alastor's group, the other about to follow E towards the larger battle.
"Arthur, now! Use your attack, spread it wide, and try to catch as many Deathstingers as possible," Alastor commanded.
Arthur nodded, understanding clear in his eyes, and immediately began to unleash the powerful lightning attack he'd been preparing.
A ball of crackling blue energy formed in his hand, growing rapidly as he poured more power into it. In seconds, it swelled from the size of a ping pong ball to that of a soccer ball. Arthur's face flushed red with the effort, reaching the limit of his strength.
"Lightning Blast!" he roared, hurling the ball of energy towards the heart of the approaching horde.
The ball slammed into the ground and exploded in a blinding flash. Hundreds of lightning tendrils snaked outward, engulfing the Deathstingers.
Sizzling sounds filled the air as the creatures were scorched by the high-voltage electricity. Those closest to the blast were ripped apart, limbs flying, some instantly killed by the sheer power.
The attack's intensity lessened towards the edges. Some of the outermost Deathstingers were merely stunned, while others seemed completely unaffected.
"Marcus, with me!" Alastor shouted, charging into the disoriented horde, daggers drawn. He wouldn't let Arthur's sacrifice be in vain.
Marcus, though slower than Alastor, was still full of energy. He hadn't exerted himself much in the previous fight. Reaching the horde, he swung his axe with fierce power and energy.
Arthur, meanwhile, was utterly spent. He'd underestimated the energy needed for his attack and could barely stand. Still, thanks to his efforts, Alastor and Marcus had a fighting chance against the horde.
Meanwhile, Kayla's team was facing a tougher challenge. They had managed to take down the middle-stage Deathstinger with E's help, but the peak-stage Deathstinger was proving to be formidable opponents.
Their thick chitin armor deflected most attacks. Making matters worse, the spikes on their tails shot out periodically, poisoning anyone they struck. Only Molly's healing abilities were preventing serious injuries.
"E, aim for the gap in its armor, right between the plates!" Craig called out, distracting the creature with a well-aimed fireball to its back.
"Got it!" E yelled back, drawing his bow and aiming for the weak point Craig had identified.
Piu!
E's arrow whistled through the air, burying itself deep within the crack.
Boom!
The energy stored within the arrowhead detonated with a powerful blast, shattering the surrounding armor.
Screech!
The Deathstinger shrieked in pain as parts of its body were ripped away by the explosion.
"Good shot, E! But it's still standing. Keep the pressure on!" Kayla shouted.
Enraged by the attack, the Deathstinger thrashed wildly, spraying a volley of tiny poisoned spikes from its tail.
The team, anticipating this, scattered to avoid the deadly needles.
"It's gone berserk! Everyone be careful!" Kayla warned, gracefully dodging the creature's attacks and parrying blows with her twin blades.
Craig conjured another fireball in his palm and hurled it at the Deathstinger, aiming for the already injured left side where E's first arrow had struck.
The creature roared in pain as the flames engulfed it.
"E, another shot! Kayla, I'll draw its attention to the left!" Craig yelled.
Without hesitation, E nocked another arrow, his movements swift and practiced.
Kayla saw his readiness and acted. She feinted to the right, drawing the Deathstinger's attention. Then, with a burst of speed, she dashed to the left, narrowly avoiding a swipe from its razor-sharp claws.
E seized his opportunity. He aimed for a vulnerable spot on the creature's right side, a section where the armor seemed thinner, easier to penetrate.
The beast sensed the danger and tried to react, but it was a fraction of a second too late. The arrow found its mark, piercing through the weak point and exploding with a deafening roar. The Deathstinger's head exploded in a shower of gore and bone.
Its focus entirely on stopping Kayla from reaching the wound E had inflicted earlier, the creature had left its other weak point unguarded, a fatal mistake.
Thud!
The Deathstinger's body crashed to the ground, finally still. Silence descended upon the area, broken only by the team's ragged breaths. The lack of clashing steel and enraged roars indicated that Alastor and his group had also succeeded.
Molly hurried forward, bathing her weary teammates in a soft, green light. Though none of them sustained major injuries, a few of the poison spikes had found their mark. Without treatment, even these small wounds could turn deadly.
As the green glow faded, Molly stepped back, her face pale with exhaustion. She had expended a significant amount of energy purging the poison and healing their wounds.
"Let's regroup with the others and rest before we move on," Kayla said, gathering her belongings.
They soon reached the site of Alastor and Marcus' battle. Deathstinger corpses littered the ground. Alastor and his companions sat resting against a large rock, their faces grim.
"Molly, over here! My shoulder's a bit sore. Think you could give it a quick massage?" Marcus called out, only to be silenced by a swift smack to the back of the head from Arthur.
"We'll rest here for a while," Kayla announced, taking a seat next to Craig.
Molly walked over to Arthur, her hands glowing as she healed his minor injuries. They had faced an easier challenge than Kayla's group, but the exertion still took its toll. Next, she moved to Marcus, whose only injury was a sore shoulder from wielding his axe.
A quick pulse of healing light eased the pain. She glanced at Alastor, intending to check for injuries, but he seemed lost in thought, oblivious to her presence. Molly grunted in annoyance and found a spot to sit and recover her own strength.
Unaware of Molly's scrutiny, Alastor stared at the cavern ceiling, his mind troubled.
"What's on your mind?" a voice broke the silence.