Alia was momentarily distracted by the sudden and overwhelming appearance of the giant skull. Its massive, gleaming surface reflected the eerie light of the arena, and as the bones clattered to form the colossal skeleton, a chill ran down her spine. However, years of survival instinct kicked in, and she quickly refocused on the swirling Tai Chi diagram overhead. Howard was battling fiercely below, but she knew the key to their survival lay not in the brute force he was displaying, but in the pattern she had begun to discern.
She observed with sharp focus. After the giant skull had fallen and the bones formed the towering skeleton, the Tai Chi diagram had remained open for a full ten seconds before it finally sealed shut and began its slow rotation once again. This was a stark difference from the earlier rounds, where the openings had lasted only for brief, fleeting moments. Alia's mind raced as she worked through the implications of this new development.
Just as she was about to share her thoughts with Howard, the colossal skeleton lunged forward. Each step shook the ground beneath them, the skeleton's massive sword slashing through the air, creating a terrifying "bang, bang, bang" with each thunderous swing. Bones shattered and scattered across the floor, the giant skeleton's size making it slower but no less dangerous. Howard dodged with precision, his movements agile yet calculated, never straying too far from Alia's protective side.
On the other side of the battlefield, Leona and her companions were also engaged in a fierce struggle against their own set of skeleton enemies. They had defeated the second round with relative ease, but the third wave had pushed them to their limits. Now, in the latest round, they were faced with two giant skeletons—though smaller in size than the one Alia and Howard faced, they were still formidable opponents.
Talon assessed the situation quickly and spoke up, "I'll handle one on my own. You two take down the other, then join me." Without waiting for a reply, he charged toward one of the massive skeletons, his claws outstretched, as Emma and Leona immediately closed in on the second. Their teamwork was flawless, each of them moving like extensions of the other. Leona's sword danced through the air, and Emma's sheer brute strength made quick work of any smaller skeletons that got in their way.
The other two groups of fighters spread across the arena were facing similar challenges. Though they had the advantage of numbers, their skeleton opponents were still large, larger even than the ones that had been fought earlier, but not quite as imposing as those facing Leona or Alia's group. Despite the growing danger, the collective strength and cooperation of these fighters allowed them to hold their own for the moment.
Back with Alia and Howard, the fight had taken on an even grimmer tone. The giant skeleton in front of Howard was the largest in the entire arena, its swings creating deep gouges in the ground with every missed strike. Each time it swung its cleaver, it sent shockwaves of power that Howard expertly evaded, though his movements were limited due to his need to protect Alia.
"I've figured out how we can escape," Alia suddenly called out over the din of battle, her voice urgent yet calm. She had pieced together the pattern. "Every time we defeat one of these skeleton soldiers, the white area of the diagram above us opens up, and the bones fall down. After all the bones have fallen, the opening stays open for a short while before closing. That's our chance. We can use that time to escape."
Still dodging the giant skeleton's massive blade, Howard responded, "I noticed that too, but earlier we only had about two or three seconds at most. That's not enough time to get you out safely."
Alia felt a brief, inexplicable warmth spread through her chest at Howard's words—he was focused on ensuring her safety, even in the midst of such chaos. She pushed the thought aside quickly, however, as there was no time to dwell on it. "Yes, in the earlier rounds we only had a few seconds, but this time, after the giant skeleton appeared, the opening stayed open for about ten seconds. I think the stronger the skeleton, the longer the window remains open. The next round will be even stronger, and the window will be longer. We need to defeat this giant skeleton and be ready to move before the next round of bones falls."
Howard hesitated for a brief moment, his sharp mind processing Alia's observation. He trusted her instincts, as their survival had depended on them many times before. "Alright," he finally said, dodging another swing, "I'll trust you this time. Go find the right spot. I'll finish off this skeleton."
As Alia darted to a safer location, Howard shifted his stance, readying himself for the finishing blow. He had been conserving his strength, waiting for the right moment. With a sudden burst of speed, Howard leaped onto the giant skeleton's back, clambering up its spine until he reached its head. From his waist, he drew a weapon—one that seemed out of place compared to the brute strength he had been displaying earlier.
The dagger he pulled out was small, delicate even, but it shimmered with an otherworldly glow. Its golden handle was adorned with a pink gemstone, and an aura of cold, ancient power radiated from it. Alia, from her vantage point, froze in shock. That dagger—there was no mistaking it. It was hers.
Before she could process her confusion, Howard plunged the dagger deep into the giant skeleton's brow, embedding it into the gleaming gemstone that had served as the creature's focal point. With a resounding crack, the gemstone shattered, and the skeleton instantly stopped moving. Its enormous body buckled and collapsed into a heap of scattered bones, shaking the ground with its fall.
Howard stepped down from the pile of bones, his eyes scanning the battlefield until they found Alia. She had positioned herself as close as possible to the Tai Chi diagram, her wide eyes locked on him, though not in admiration or gratitude. What he saw in her expression was shock—deep, inexplicable shock.
He jogged toward her, his brow furrowed slightly. "We've got to move fast, Alia. The next round will be here soon."
Alia barely registered his words, her mind still reeling. That dagger… How could Howard have it? It was hers—a weapon she had long since lost. For a moment, she couldn't speak, couldn't move. The sight of Howard wielding her dagger had left her rattled in a way no battle could.