The ground quaked violently beneath them, catching Zarek off guard. "What was that?" he muttered, glancing at Grey and Cynthia, their puzzled expressions mirroring his own.
Cynthia pointed toward the tunnel's end, eyes wide with realization. "Look! The tunnel stops here. That bright light... it's the exit."
They quickened their pace, only for Zarek to raise his hand suddenly, halting Grey and Cynthia. From the edge, the sight before them stole their breath.
Below, the battlefield lay in ruins, fissures snaking across the scorched earth, spreading like a web of dark veins. Flames flickered in scattered patches, casting an ominous, shifting glow over the shattered landscape. At the center of it all stood the knight—an unyielding figure of destruction—its gaze locked onto Eva. Nearby, Maria lay still, blood seeping into the ground around her lifeless form.
Grey's voice trembled, a mix of fear and awe. "Isn't that… Eva? Leader of the Arrow Guild?"
Zarek's expression hardened, his eyes blazing with fierce determination. He shifted into a running stance, the blue aura of mana igniting around him, crackling like a storm barely contained.
"What are you doing, Zarek?" Grey's voice broke, laced with worry.
"I'm going to help them," Zarek replied, his tone unwavering.
"Don't joke around!" Grey protested, his face pale and worry-etched. "That thing's beyond us. It brought one of the Six Pillars' members to their knees. We can't take it on alone."
"I'm not leaving them to die!" Zarek roared, launching himself off the ledge with a thunderous gust of wind that sent Cynthia and Grey stumbling back.
The two shielded themselves from the whirlwind, eyes closed against the debris. Zarek's dual blades flashed like molten steel as he landed between Eva and the knight.
The knight's sword swung down, aiming for Eva's vulnerable form with deadly precision. Zarek intercepted the blow, metal clashing against metal in a shower of sparks that danced across the ravaged ground.
Eva's eyes locked onto the dark silhouette before her, Zarek's presence growing clearer with each passing moment. His rugged features, illuminated by the faint glow of his mana, etched a determined expression.
"A knight raising his sword against a defenseless woman? That's rude," Zarek quipped, a sly smile spreading across his face like a challenge.
Grey appeared behind the knight, claws extended, seeking to catch it off guard. But the knight vanished, dodging the attack with an impossible burst of speed that left Grey stumbling forward.
Both Zarek and Grey widened their eyes in surprise, their breaths catching in unison.
"Don't just blast off without a plan, Zarek!" Grey warned, his voice low and urgent, laced with a hint of frustration.
Zarek chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Sorry, Wolf Boy."
"Cynthia!" Zarek called out, his voice laced with urgency as he gestured toward Maria.
"She's alive," Cynthia replied, her smile a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. "Please, help her."
With a nod, Cynthia activated her skill. "Healer's Nest!" she invoked, summoning a soothing glow that enveloped Maria's battered form.
Eva's weak voice pierced the air, her tone hesitant. "Zarek..."
Zarek's gaze snapped toward Eva, his eyes narrowing as he wondered if she truly recognized him. But as their gazes met, he saw the faintest glimmer of a younger Eva, and his eyes widened in stunned recognition.
"Eva? Is that you?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion.
Tears welled in Eva's eyes as she nodded, a fragile smile on her lips. "It's been... so long."
Grey's curious voice cut through the tender moment. "You two know each other?"
The air crackled with electricity, drawing their attention to the knight. Lightning danced around its form, casting ominous shadows.
Zarek and Grey exchanged a wary glance, their faces set with determination.
"It seems there's no escape from this one, huh?" Grey's voice trembled, equal parts fear and anticipation.
Zarek's jaw clenched, his resolve unwavering. "Appears so."
"That's without a doubt an S-Rank monster," Zarek thought, his mind racing with awe. "The presence emanating from it is even more ominous than the Elder Ogre we fought earlier."
A nervous smile spread across his face as his inner voice whispered, "If I can get its core, I can save my mother. Its core must be an S-Ranked crystal..."
Eva struggled to her feet, her eyes ablaze with determination.
Just then, the walls on either side exploded, rocks crumbling as smoke billowed out. Two figures emerged from the dust: Kai Lake and Cain Locke, followed by a group of skilled hunters.
Zarek's eyes widened as he spotted Cain. "Captain!" he exclaimed, enthusiasm etched on his face.
Cain's rugged features creased into a warm smile. "Kid, you're alive! Ha!"
Kai's gaze locked onto the knight, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Is that the boss? I've never seen a monster like this before, nor have I heard of one..."
He grinned to himself, relishing the challenge." Whatever" he said to himself in a low voice.
Kai's eyes blazed with anticipation as he summoned a gleaming spear of ice into his hand. With a fluid, battle-honed motion, he hurled the frozen projectile at the knight.
The knight countered with effortless precision, its sword slicing through the ice as if it were fragile glass. Witnessing this, Kai's face twisted into a fierce grin.
"Ho, you're a lively one!" Kai roared, his voice dripping with exhilaration. "Give me a fight that fulfills me!"
As he spoke, Kai's body radiated an aura of icy energy, his muscles flexing beneath his skin like coiled steel. With a burst of explosive speed, he launched himself toward the knight.
The ground behind him shattered from the force of his departure, sending jagged shards of stone flying. Mid-air, Kai summoned five icy spears around himself, their facets glinting like polished diamonds.
"Icy Shard!" he bellowed, unleashing his skill.
With a swift, razor-sharp gesture, Kai launched the spears at the knight. The projectiles traversed the distance in an instant, striking the knight with precision.
A dark, swirling fog arose from the impact, shrouding the battlefield in mystery. The ground trembled beneath their feet, as if the very earth itself felt the force of their clash.
However, the knight evaded the attack with inhuman agility, its movements a blur of steel and shadow. Lightning crackled around its body like a living aura.
Seizing the initiative, the knight charged toward Kai with deadly purpose. Its sword sliced through the air, aimed squarely at Kai's neck.
Kai barely blocked the attack, his arm trembling beneath the force of the blow. But the knight's counterattack sent him flying across the ground.
An icy barrier protected his neck, but it crumbled beneath the knight's onslaught. A trickle of crimson blood escaped from the scraped wound.
Kai's eyes narrowed, his determination burning brighter.