The golden mana surged around Eva, swirling and expanding like a living aura, transforming her staff into a gleaming bow. Power hummed through the weapon, and as she raised it, the mana around her intensified, glowing fiercely. Her movements were calm, calculated; she nocked an arrow and drew back, eyes narrowing as she took aim at the top. Every fiber of her being concentrated on this one, singular moment. In awe, Maria's breath hitched. "No… way," she whispered, her voice laced with fear and astonishment. "Is she really… about to use that?"
Eva's voice was barely audible, a soft whisper that held immense power. "Meteor Shower."
With a final, determined breath, she released the arrow. It tore through the sky like a red comet, streaking upward with relentless speed. Higher and higher it soared until, at the peak of its ascent, it exploded, unleashing a cataclysmic rain of massive fireballs. They descended from the heavens like a fiery storm, each one blazing brighter than the last. The first fireball struck the ground with an earth-shaking impact, blasting debris and flame in all directions.
Maria scrambled for cover, hiding behind a massive boulder as she watched the hellish scene unfold. Her heart raced as each fireball plummeted, their impact so powerful that they left gaping craters in the earth. She could feel the heat from where she crouched, shielding herself from the unrelenting barrage.
Meanwhile, the knight stood amidst the devastation, his gaze fixed on the incoming firestorm. He twisted and moved, narrowly dodging each fiery projectile as it struck with explosive force. The ground around him shattered with every impact, sending waves of dirt and shattered stone into the air. Dark, dense fog rose from the scorched earth, thickening with each new strike, clouding visibility and casting shadows over the battlefield.
But he was undeterred. Lightning sparked around his feet, coiling and crackling as he channeled energy into his legs, preparing to make his move. With the fog closing in and the firestorm still raging, he was a lone figure of defiance ready to weave through the chaos, his form a blur of speed and precision amid the fiery wrath descending from above.
The dungeon's ancient stones trembled, its foundations shaken to the core by the meteorite's cataclysmic impact. Hunters throughout the labyrinthine corridors paused, their hearts racing as the ground trembled beneath their feet.
The knight, caught off-guard, stumbled into the crossfire as a blazing fireball hurtled towards it. The blast sent the knight flying, its armored form crashing against the stone floor with a deafening clang. The knight slid, its leg severely damaged, almost obliterated, as it struggled to regain footing.
Through the swirling smoke and chaos, the knight glimpsed Eva, her figure resolute and unwavering. Her bow was loaded, awaiting the perfect moment for the killing blow.
"Divine Arrow," Eva declared, her voice steady and laced with determination.
With a swift, powerful motion, Eva released the arrow. It pierced the sound barrier, unleashing unyielding force and leaving a blazing trail of ionized air in its wake. Radiating a brilliant yellow glow, the arrow's kinetic energy ravaged the ground, sending pebbles and debris flying in all directions.
Upon impact, the arrow struck the knight with cataclysmic force, shaking the earth beneath. The ground trembled, fissures spreading outward like veins. dark fog enveloped the area, shrouding the aftermath in an oppressive veil.
Eva collapsed to her knees, exhausted, her hands slamming against the ground. Maria rushed towards her, screaming "Eva-sama!"
As the dark fog swirled through the dungeon, a lightning-fast slash burst forth, aiming squarely at Maria. Eva's eyes flashed with alarm as she instinctively shoved Maria out of harm's way. With barely enough time to react, Eva raised her staff with both hands, bracing for the impact.
The slash struck Eva's staff with unyielding force, sending her flying across the stone floor. She crashed into the wall with devastating impact, the sound of shattering stone echoing through the cavernous space. A gaping hole yawned open, revealing the jagged edges of the ancient stonework. Maria scrambled to her feet, her voice trembling as she screamed, "Eva-sama!"
Eva coughed up blood, her vision blurring as she clung to consciousness. The knight stood resolute on one leg, its hollow body battered but unbroken. Maria's frustration boiled over into incandescent rage as she gazed at Eva's battered form.
"White mana enveloped her, illuminating her determined features. Her scream of fury shook the air: "aaaah!" Slamming her double-edged axe onto the ground, she unleashed her skill: "Fissure Slam!"
The earth shuddered, fissures spreading across the stone floor like a network of veins. The sound of cracking stone and shifting earth echoed through the dungeon, making the knight stumble. Seizing the opportunity, Maria leapt forward, her axe slicing through the air towards the knight's neck.
The knight blocked the blow, its sword flashing. Maria swiftly countered with an uppercut, her axe biting into the knight's defenses. Sparks flew like a swordsmith's forge as steel clashed with steel. Maria aimed for another blow, but the knight parried, its sword shimmering with defensive precision.
Suddenly, the knight's hand enveloped with sparkling lightning magic. With a swift motion, it struck Maria's gut, unleashing a burst of electrical energy. The lightning strike sent Maria flying across the air, her body arcing helplessly.
Maria's gasps for air came in ragged bursts, her lungs searing with each struggle to breathe. The knight, unfazed, unleashed a cataclysmic leap that shattered the ground beneath it. Fissures radiated outward like a spider's web, as if the very earth itself was splintering.
The knight hovered mid-air, its sword electrified with lightning magic. The air crackled with energy as the blade shimmered, bathed in an aura of blinding light. With a swift, merciless motion, the knight unleashed a lightning slash.
Maria reacted on instinct, her axe slicing through the air with devastating force as she cried out her skill: "Aerial Slash!" The blade bit into the lightning, but the electricity's sheer power overwhelmed her defense.
The lightning slash tore through Maria's axe, shattering it, and struck her shoulder with unyielding force. Blood erupted in a crimson explosion, splattering the stone floor as Maria crashed down.
Her vision blurring, Maria coughed up blood, her life force ebbing away. The wound gaped open, blood pooling around her like a dark mirror. The knight landed beside her, its gaze cold, unyielding.
"Maria..." Eva's low, weakened voice barely escaped her lips. She stumbled forward, her body ravaged by wounds, blood oozing from every crevice. Each step drained her remaining strength, until finally, her knees buckled beneath her.
As she collapsed, Eva's gaze fell upon Maria. The knight loomed, its shadow casting a dark shroud over Eva. The sword rose, poised to deliver the final blow.
Eva's mind racing, she silently pleaded, "Help me..." Zarek's face flashed before her eyes, a desperate hope.
Just as the knight's sword descended, a clash of metal echoed through the air. Eva's gaze lifted to find Zarek standing before her, his dual blades locked with the knight's sword, blocking the fatal blow.
"A knight attacking a defenseless woman? That's rude," Zarek said, a sly smile spreading across his face. His words dripped with sarcasm and confidence, echoing through the chamber.