The clash of steel echoed through the forest as chaos erupted all around Lukas. His muscles burned, his breaths ragged as he ducked, weaved, and countered, every strike of his saber guided by the system's tactical insights. Yet, even with the system's assistance, the sheer ferocity of the Drevyn elite warriors made it clear—this battle was far from easy.
Aurelia fought alongside him, her rapier a blur of motion as she dispatched enemies with deadly efficiency. There was a precision to her movements that Lukas couldn't help but admire. Her strikes were calculated, each one purposeful and effective. Her presence on the battlefield was like that of a force of nature, cutting through the enemy ranks without hesitation.
"Focus!" Aurelia's voice cut through the noise of the battlefield, snapping Lukas back to the present as he blocked a heavy strike from a Drevyn soldier.
The system flashed an alert in his mind, highlighting the weaknesses in his opponent's stance. Lukas seized the opportunity, parrying the blow and driving his saber into the Drevyn soldier's exposed side. The man crumpled to the ground, but there was no time to celebrate the victory. More were coming.
"We need to push forward!" Aurelia shouted, her voice fierce over the din of the battle. "If we don't break their ranks now, we'll be overwhelmed."
Lukas nodded, though his body screamed in protest. The Ether inside him was running low, the well of energy he had drawn from during the battle nearly depleted. He could feel the strain, the sluggishness in his movements as fatigue crept in.
I need more power, he thought, gritting his teeth as he deflected another strike.
Zane was nearby, fighting off two Drevyn elites at once, his short swords moving in a whirlwind of defensive strikes. He was holding his ground, but barely. Sweat poured down his face, his jaw clenched in determination.
"We're getting surrounded!" Zane called out, his voice strained. "We need to move now, or we're done for!"
Lukas knew he was right. The Drevyns were closing in, their numbers pressing the Valerian forces from all sides. Even with Kalen's strategy of a surprise attack, the enemy was proving to be more resilient than anticipated. The Drevyn elites were not only highly trained but bolstered by dark magic that made them far more dangerous than regular soldiers.
Suddenly, a loud, guttural roar pierced the air, sending a wave of terror through the ranks. Lukas turned to see a massive Drevyn warrior lumbering toward them, wielding an enormous two-handed sword that crackled with dark energy. The warrior's armor was thicker than anything Lukas had seen, and his eyes glowed with a sickly green light. The system immediately pinged with an alert.
[System Alert: High-Level Threat Detected]
Drevyn Berserker – Elite. Recommended strategy: Avoid direct confrontation. Use speed and precision to strike at weak points.
Lukas cursed under his breath. The system's advice was sound, but avoiding direct confrontation wasn't exactly an option right now. The Berserker was charging straight for them, his heavy footsteps shaking the ground as he closed the distance.
"We can't fight that thing head-on!" Lukas shouted to Zane and Aurelia, who had also turned her attention to the approaching behemoth.
Aurelia's eyes narrowed, her expression hard as she assessed the situation. "We don't have a choice."
The Berserker let out another roar, raising his massive sword high above his head. Lukas could feel the pressure of the impending strike, the sheer force behind it enough to crush anything in its path.
Lukas raised his saber to block the blow, but the force of the impact sent him stumbling back. The elite pressed forward, his eyes burning with dark energy as he swung again, each strike more powerful than the last. Lukas's arms shook as he struggled to parry the blows, his strength waning.
Just as the elite's sword came down for a final strike, a streak of silver cut through the air. Aurelia's rapier flashed as she parried the blow with a graceful twist of her wrist, her movements fluid and precise. In the same motion, she spun around, delivering a series of rapid stabs that found their mark in the elite's chest.
The Drevyn elite staggered back, blood pouring from his wounds before he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Lukas let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, his heart racing. "Thanks," he said, his voice rough from the strain of battle.
Aurelia glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "Don't get used to it."
Before Lukas could respond, Aurelia had already moved on, her rapier slicing through the air as she engaged another enemy. Lukas couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration as he watched her—her skill, her focus, her unwavering determination.
But this wasn't the time to dwell on it. Lukas tightened his grip on his saber and surged forward, his mind sharp and his body ready for the next wave of enemies.
As the battle raged on, Lukas felt a growing sense of urgency. The Drevyn forces were stronger than expected, and despite the Valerian soldiers' efforts, they were being pushed back, their lines slowly crumbling under the pressure of the enemy's relentless assault.
Lukas gritted his teeth, frustration building inside him. He needed more power, more strength to turn the tide. The Ether inside him pulsed, but it wasn't enough. Not yet.
[System Alert: Ether Awakening Progress – 80% Complete]
Continue combat to reach the next stage of Ether Awakening.
Lukas's frustration flared. He was close—so close to unlocking the next level of Ether Awakening. But with each passing moment, the situation grew more dire.
Zane appeared at his side, panting heavily from the exertion of battle. "We can't keep this up much longer," he said, wiping sweat from his brow. "They're pressing us from every side."
Lukas nodded, scanning the battlefield. "We need to find Kalen. He'll have a plan."
Zane pointed toward the center of the fight, where Kalen was battling several Drevyn elites at once. His movements were swift, calculated, his sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. But even Kalen, with all his skill, was being overwhelmed.
"Let's go," Lukas said, and the two of them pushed forward through the chaos, cutting down any Drevyn soldiers that stood in their way.
As they reached Kalen, the commander dispatched his final opponent with a swift strike before turning to Lukas and Zane, his face grim. "We're losing ground," Kalen said, his voice low. "The Drevyns are throwing everything they have at us."
"We need to regroup," Lukas suggested. "Fall back, strengthen our defenses."
Kalen shook his head. "There's no time. If we fall back now, we'll lose our momentum, and they'll overrun us."
Lukas's mind raced, searching for a solution. They couldn't retreat, but if they continued like this, they would be overwhelmed. There had to be a way to turn the tide.
Suddenly, a dark shape appeared at the edge of the battlefield—a hulking figure clad in twisted black armor. The Juggernaut.
The ground trembled beneath its massive feet as it marched toward them, a wickedly curved blade in its hand, crackling with dark energy. The sight of it sent a wave of fear through the Valerian soldiers, their movements faltering as they realized what they were up against.
Kalen's eyes narrowed as he drew his sword, his stance firm. "Get ready," he said, his voice steady despite the danger.
Lukas felt his heart race as he gripped his saber tighter. He had fought a Juggernaut before, but even with the system's guidance, it had nearly killed him. This one was even more fearsome, its dark magic pulsing in the air like a living thing.
But there was no turning back now.
The Juggernaut let out a roar and charged, its massive blade swinging through the air with terrifying force. Kalen darted forward, his sword flashing as he parried the first strike, but the impact sent him skidding back.
Lukas moved to flank the Juggernaut, his mind racing as the system highlighted weak points in the creature's armor. Zane was already moving, his short swords flashing as he tried to get behind the beast.
The Juggernaut swung again, its blade crashing into the ground with a deafening thud. Lukas barely dodged the attack, rolling to the side as he lashed out with his saber. The blade connected with the Juggernaut's side, but it barely made a dent in the creature's thick armor.
[System Alert: Juggernaut Analysis Complete]
Weak Points: Leg joints and neck. Speed is reduced. Focus on mobility to defeat.
Lukas gritted his teeth, dodging another blow as he relayed the information to Kalen and Zane. "We need to target the joints! It's slow, but its armor is too thick for a direct attack!"
Kalen nodded, his eyes sharp as he moved with precision, aiming for the Juggernaut's legs. His sword found purchase, slicing into the vulnerable joint at the creature's knee. The Juggernaut let out a roar of pain, its movements faltering for a moment.
Zane was quick to follow up, his short swords cutting into the other leg joint, but the Juggernaut swung its massive blade, forcing Zane to leap back to avoid being crushed.
Lukas saw his opportunity. With the Juggernaut distracted, he sprinted forward, his saber aimed for the creature's neck—the one place where its armor was weakest.
The system guided his movements, every step calculated, every breath measured. Time seemed to slow as Lukas leaped into the air, his saber flashing as he brought it down with all his strength.
The blade struck true, slicing through the Juggernaut's neck with a sickening crunch. The creature's roar was cut short as it staggered, its massive body collapsing to the ground with a thunderous crash.
Lukas landed on his feet, his chest heaving as he stared down at the fallen Juggernaut. The battlefield had grown quiet, the Drevyn forces faltering as they realized their strongest warrior had been defeated.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, the Valerian soldiers let out a collective cheer, their spirits renewed.
But Lukas barely heard them. The Ether inside him surged, stronger than ever before. His connection to it deepened, the power filling his body with a force unlike anything he had felt before.
[System Alert: Ether Awakening Level 2 Achieved]
New abilities unlocked. Ether reserves increased.
Lukas let out a slow breath, his body humming with newfound strength. He wasn't done yet.
The war was far from over.