The battlefield trembled as Maxine, the "Little Giant," began to take the fight more seriously. Amy and Hagon had already pushed themselves to the brink, but their relentless assault had only managed to scratch the surface of Maxine's true strength. Now, with a fierce gleam in her eyes, Maxine exuded an aura of sheer power that sent chills through the air.
Amy gasped for breath, her body trembling from exhaustion. "Hagon... this isn't good. She's not even tired!"
Hagon, equally weary but refusing to back down, gripped his warhammer tightly, sweat dripping from his brow. "I... I know. But we can't let her win. If we fall, Eryndor falls too."
Maxine sneered at them, her massive fists clenched. "You've given me a decent workout, but now it's time to end this. I'm done playing games."
Amy's legs wobbled, and her whip, which had been her lifeline in the fight, now felt heavy in her hands. She gritted her teeth, refusing to give up. "We have to keep fighting, Hagon. We can't let her win."
But even as she said the words, a sinking feeling washed over her. They were out of options, out of strength. There was no way they could win.
Then, a voice—soft, yet commanding—echoed inside their minds. It wasn't a voice they recognized, but it carried with it a strange sense of familiarity.
"Do not give up yet."
Amy gasped, spinning around in confusion. "Who—who's talking?"
Hagon's eyes widened, his head snapping from side to side as he searched for the source of the voice. "Did... did you hear that too?"
"Listen carefully," the voice continued. "You can win this fight, but only if you trust me. I will guide you both. I am no friend of Pandemonium, and I have no interest in your defeat."
Amy and Hagon exchanged hesitant glances. They were unsure whether to trust the mysterious voice, but with Maxine bearing down on them, they had little choice.
"Hagon," the voice said firmly, "You carry the Aegis, a relic of immense power. It has more potential than you realize. I will teach you how to unlock one of its abilities."
Hagon blinked in shock. "Aegis? But... I don't know how to use it beyond what it already does!"
"Trust me. Focus your mind, and call upon its power. The Aegis holds the ability to create a protective barrier, one that amplifies your strength and shields you from harm. Focus, and unleash its potential."
Hagon, still unsure but with no better option, closed his eyes and focused on the ancient relic he carried within him. He had always known the Aegis was powerful, but he had never been able to tap into its full potential. Now, with the mysterious voice guiding him, he reached deep into its energy, calling on its strength.
Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from Hagon's body, surrounding him in a shimmering, protective barrier. The Aegis had awakened, its power flowing through him like never before.
"Whoa..." Hagon gasped, feeling a surge of strength as the barrier solidified around him. His body felt lighter, his muscles no longer aching with exhaustion. "This... this is incredible!"
Amy stared in awe, but the voice spoke to her next. "Amy, your whip is powerful, but it can be stronger. I will teach you to enhance it with wind magic, allowing you to control it with precision and speed beyond what you've ever known."
Amy shook her head. "But... I'm not good at magic. I can barely control any spells!"
"You don't need to be skilled in magic to do thia," the voice reassured her. "I will guide you. Follow my instructions, and you will be able to wield the whip like never before. Now focus on the flow of wind around you, and channel it into your whip."
Taking a deep breath, Amy did as the voice instructed. She focused on the air around her, feeling the breeze against her skin. Slowly, she began to channel that energy into her whip. To her surprise, the whip responded, its length glowing with a faint, swirling wind.
"Whoa... it's working," Amy whispered in disbelief.
With renewed determination, she cracked the whip, and it moved like a blur, faster and more precise than ever before. The wind enhanced her control, allowing her to manipulate the whip's movements with pinpoint accuracy. She could now attack, defend, and even create barriers of wind to block incoming strikes.
Maxine narrowed her eyes, sensing the shift in the battle. "What is this? You were struggling just a moment ago!"
Amy smirked, the wind swirling around her. "Things change, big girl."
With newfound power, Amy and Hagon launched their counterattack. Hagon, now shielded by the Aegis, charged forward with immense strength, his warhammer swinging with devastating force. Maxine blocked his blow, but the sheer power behind it sent her skidding back.
At the same time, Amy's whip danced through the air, striking Maxine from all sides. The wind-enhanced weapon moved too fast for the giant to counter, leaving her vulnerable to Amy's relentless assault.
Maxine roared in frustration, her earlier confidence waning. "No... this can't be! I'm Maxine, the Little Giant! You're nothing compared to me!"
But Amy and Hagon fought with renewed vigor, their teamwork flawless. Blow after blow, they pushed Maxine back, their combined strength overwhelming the once-unstoppable giant.
Finally, with one last swing of his warhammer, Hagon smashed through Maxine's defenses, sending her crashing to the ground. Amy followed up with a crack of her whip, the wind magic binding Maxine's arms and legs, preventing her from standing.
Maxine groaned, unable to fight back any longer. "How... how did you...?"
Amy, panting from exhaustion, collapsed to her knees, her energy completely drained from overusing the magic. "We... we did it, Hagon..."
Hagon, equally exhausted but still standing, stumbled over to Amy, placing a protective hand on her shoulder. "Yeah... we did."
As the dust settled, the voice spoke to them one last time. "Well done. You've proven yourselves worthy. Rest now, for the battle is far from over"
Amy and Hagon looked around, still unsure of who had helped them, but grateful nonetheless.
---
Meanwhile, from her hidden vantage point, Miria observed the fight with a satisfied smile. She hadn't intervened directly, but her guidance had been enough to tip the scales in the favor of the heroes. She watched as Amy and Hagon, exhausted but victorious, regrouped with their comrades.
Her eyes, however, drifted toward another battle—Ray and Rhyuji, locked in combat with Gideon. Her focus sharpened, knowing that the outcome of that fight could change everything.
Delra might not trust her, but Miria had her own agenda. She wouldn't let Pandemonium claim the Aegis or harm the heroes—especially not Alex. With her eyes set on the final battle, Miria's mind raced with possibilities, plotting her next move in the war against Pandemonium.