Zarek dropped into his sprinting stance, eyes fixed on the knight before him. His heart pounded, each breath loud and steady as he steeled himself for what lay ahead. Thoughts raced through his mind.
"This is it. I'm going all out. I only have one chance,this isn't like the ogre. Chances of survival… close to zero. But I have to do this." The image of his mother flickered through his mind, and he felt the weight of his purpose settle into place.
"Let's go," he murmured, the command clear.
On cue, the archers behind him released a volley, arrows flying like a swarm of bees toward the knight. Side by side, Grey and Zarek surged forward, their auras flaring as they closed the distance. The arrows cut through the air toward their target—but even in that storm of strikes, the knight moved with uncanny speed, its blade flashing as it deflected each arrow effortlessly, its movements a blur of precision.
Douglas, watching the relentless defense, clenched his jaw. Mana surged through his arm as he tightened his grip on his sword, focusing on a single, powerful strike. "Precision Slash!" he roared, channeling his energy and unleashing a slash aimed straight at the knight.
But in an instant, the knight's sword flicked upward, deflecting the attack as if it were nothing. Mana coursed through its own blade, parrying Douglas's skill with a chilling ease. His eyes widened, a flicker of dread in his gaze. "Not good... I shouldn't be surprised," his thoughts whispered, grappling with the reality of the knight's overwhelming power.
Kai's hands trembled as he gathered his mana, the raw energy condensing into a visible, chilling mist that swirled around him. Frost crept along his fingers, spreading to his arms as he concentrated, each second intensifying his aura. The air around him grew colder, wisps of ice forming at his feet. "Winter's Wrath," he murmured, his voice resonating with power, a prelude to the devastating attack that was building within him.
Behind him, the healers stood in formation, chanting in perfect unison. Their hands stretched toward Zarek and Grey, a warm yellow light emanating from their palms. The glow intensified, bathing the two fighters in radiant energy, mending wounds and invigorating their weary bodies. Strength surged back into Zarek and Grey, filling them with renewed vigor as the healing spell worked its magic
With a fierce cry, Kai thrust his hands forward, unleashing the full fury of his skill. "You better make this worth it, you losers!" he roared, hurling the freezing energy toward the knight. A wave of icy power surged forward, tearing through the battlefield with the fury of a blizzard, shards of frost and snow swirling in its wake
But the knight stood unfazed, its eyes gleaming with an eerie light. In an instant, it channeled lightning mana into its blade, the weapon pulsing with an intense blue glow, crackling with arcs of electricity. With a powerful swing, the knight released a counterattack, its blade meeting Kai's frigid assault in midair. The two forces collided with a deafening explosion, shockwaves ripping through the ground as the energy clash unleashed a blinding flash.
Yet, through the chaos, fragments of Kai's icy energy broke through the knight's defenses, streaking past its guard. The freezing blast struck the knight's sword hand, encasing it in ice that spread up its arm in jagged veins of frost. The cold bit into the metal, freezing the joints, and frost crawled upward, slowly encasing its face, the edges of its helmet gleaming with frozen crystals.
The knight's movements faltered, the frost sealing parts of its armor, slowing its strikes as ice covered its hand and face. For a fleeting moment, the unyielding warrior was vulnerable, bound by Kai's chilling power. The battlefield fell silent as the others realized Kai's attack had landed, and a critical opening lay before them.
Seizing the knight's momentary vulnerability, Zarek lunged, his blade mere inches from striking. But in an instant, the knight reacted, its other hand flashing up, lightning mana crackling as it surged through its arm. Before Zarek could adjust, the knight's iron grip smashed his head into the ground with brutal force. The impact was enough to send a web of cracks spiraling across the stone, and blood seeped from Zarek's forehead, streaking the knight's hand in dark red like spilled wine.
"Tch," Kai muttered, frustration etched on his face as he took in the scene. Around him, everyone's eyes widened, stunned by the knight's unrelenting power. Even Cain, known for his composure, let out a low groan of surprise.
Grey took his chance, leaping toward the knight's side, aiming a strike while it was distracted. But as he was mid-air, the knight swung its sword in a powerful arc, targeting Grey's neck. The blade hurtled toward him, and Grey's eyes widened in terror, the icy edge mere inches from his throat. Yet, the frost encasing the knight's arm had slowed its movements just enough, buying him a heartbeat.
Suddenly, a blade flashed, slicing clean through the frozen arm of the knight, severing it in a swift, precise cut. Grey stumbled back, narrowly escaping the fatal strike, and his gaze snapped to the source. There stood Zarek, his body bathed in the warm glow of healing magic, every wound mended as if he'd never been touched.
As the severed arm fell, the sound of shattering metal echoed through the battlefield, and the knight's icy sword plunged into the ground, frozen in place. Everyone looked on in shock, the unexpected turn filling them with a glimmer of hope.
Without wasting a moment, Zarek launched himself into a powerful roundhouse kick. His leg cut through the air with fierce precision, striking the knight with all his strength. The impact sent the armored figure stumbling back, each step reverberating through the ground.
"Eva, now!" Zarek shouted, his voice urgent
Eva was ready. Her bow was already drawn, the arrow glowing with energy. She called out her skill, her voice clear and steady. "Flarefly!"