The air was thick with the scent of blood, sweat, and the acrid stench of fire. The earth beneath us trembled, the battlefield scarred by the fierce battle between the cursed winged sabretooth tigers and the soldier ants. The first of the master-ranked tigers had fallen, its immense body crumpled against the jagged rocks, the echoes of its death still lingering in the air. But the second, the larger, more ferocious beast, was still standing. It was enraged, its bloodshot eyes fixated on Zainab and me, both of us covered in the battle's remnants. The cursed tiger had not forgotten the pain we had inflicted on it.
Zainab's massive serpentine form coiled around the battlefield, her multiple heads hissing in fury. Despite her venom immunity and the increase in strength it had given her, she was exhausted. Her scales glistened with the sweat of battle, but I could see cracks beginning to form across her body—a sign of the strain the battle had already put on her. She wasn't indestructible, and as powerful as she was, even Zainab had her limits.
I, too, was weary. My body ached, my spear feeling heavier with every second I held it. But I couldn't afford to show weakness, not now. Not with this beast looming before us.
The cursed winged sabretooth tiger's growls filled the air, a low rumble that vibrated through my chest. The master-ranked beast's eyes flickered with an unnatural blue fire, the cursed energy pulsing around it like a storm. Its wings twitched, the veins glowing as the wings folded, and I knew it was preparing for another strike. The fight wasn't over yet.
"Stay focused," Zainab growled, her voice a low, hissing sound as her tail whipped through the air, the tip of it slamming into the ground with enough force to send a shockwave through the battlefield. "We need to work together."
I nodded, keeping my distance for now as I took stock of the situation. The cursed tiger's massive wings were its primary strength—if we could ground it, we might stand a chance. I glanced at Zainab, her body coiled like a spring, ready to strike.
Zainab's eyes locked onto the cursed tiger. "I'll handle this one," she said, her voice laced with a mixture of determination and restraint. She wasn't going to use her full strength just yet—she was conserving her mana, her power. But I knew that wouldn't last long. The tiger was too dangerous, too powerful. It had already demonstrated its mastery over the elements.
I stepped to the side, my spear raised, ready to support her.
Without warning, the cursed tiger launched itself at Zainab, its massive form moving faster than I thought possible for a creature of its size. The air around it crackled as its wings unfurled, sending gusts of wind that whipped through the battlefield, forcing the ants into retreat. The cursed beast let out a deafening roar, its fangs flashing, its claws aimed at Zainab's vulnerable body.
Zainab reacted with lightning speed. Her tail lashed out, blocking the first strike from the tiger's claws. But the beast was relentless. It used the momentum from its strike to follow up with a blast of blue flame from its mouth. The fire roared toward Zainab, but she was ready. With a powerful movement, she slithered to the side, her massive form twisting as she evaded the flames.
But that wasn't the end. The cursed tiger's wings flapped again, creating a vortex of wind that ripped through the battlefield, tearing at the earth beneath us. Zainab hissed as she struggled to maintain her footing, her coils crashing against the ground. The wind was so powerful that even I was pushed back, my legs buckling as I struggled to stay standing.
I seized the moment. Using my elemental affinity with water, I summoned a torrent of water from the earth, the liquid swirling around me in a massive vortex. I focused, pushing the water forward in a concentrated stream aimed at the cursed tiger. The jet of water collided with the beast's side, knocking it off balance for a moment. The tiger's wings fluttered in an attempt to right itself, but the momentum of the water blast forced it down, its claws scraping the earth.
"Zainab, now!" I shouted.
Zainab's many heads snapped toward me, her eyes glowing with the same fierce energy. "Get ready," she warned.
She raised her tail high, the end of it crashing into the earth. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, and the very earth beneath the cursed tiger's feet began to shift. With a hiss of frustration, Zainab slammed her tail down again, and the earth responded. Massive spikes of stone erupted from the ground, impaling the cursed tiger's wings and legs, pinning it in place. The beast roared in pain, its wings struggling against the stone, but it couldn't break free.
The cursed tiger's eyes flashed with fury as it began to use its elemental abilities. I could feel the surge of cursed energy around it as it focused. A burst of dark energy shot out from its mouth, a concentrated beam of destructive force that aimed directly at Zainab. The air around the beam shimmered with heat, the energy crackling with raw power.
Zainab barely had time to react. She shifted, using her earth manipulation to form a barrier of stone around her. The beam of cursed energy hit the barrier, causing a massive explosion that shook the battlefield. I could hear Zainab hiss in pain, the force of the blast rattling her bones as cracks began to form across her scales.
"Zainab!" I called, my voice filled with concern, mostly for my own safety, without her I would die.
"I'm fine," she replied through gritted teeth. Her voice was strained, but her resolve remained unbroken. She pushed forward, her massive body working through the pain. She used her earth manipulation again, the ground beneath the tiger shifting, pushing it further into the earth, locking it in place. But the cursed beast wasn't done yet. It gathered more cursed energy, its eyes glowing brighter, and with a deafening roar, it flapped its wings, causing another shockwave of wind that sent Zainab stumbling backward.
I used the distraction to close the distance, my spear raised high. I had to strike before the tiger could regain its strength. I moved swiftly, my spear gleaming as I thrust it toward the beast's exposed side. But before I could make contact, the cursed tiger's claws swiped in my direction. The speed and power of its strike were too much for me to evade.
I barely managed to raise my spear in time, using it to block the attack. The force of the impact sent me flying backward, my body slamming into the ground. Pain shot through me as I struggled to regain my composure, my vision swimming.
But Zainab wasn't giving up. With a snarl, she lunged forward, her massive body coiling around the cursed tiger's neck. Her fangs sunk deep into the beast's flesh, and with a violent twist, she slammed her tail into its ribs, the force enough to crack several of them.
The cursed tiger roared in agony, but it wasn't defeated yet. It released another burst of cursed energy, a wave of destruction that knocked Zainab back. Her scales cracked under the force, and she let out a pained hiss, her body shaking from the strain.
But she didn't stop. She pressed on, her earth manipulation shaping the ground beneath her into a massive spike that pierced through the cursed tiger's side. The tiger's roar echoed through the battlefield, its strength faltering as the stone spike drove deeper.
Zainab's movements were precise now, her earth and water abilities working in harmony to wear down the beast. She didn't waste energy with flashy strikes or unnecessary movements. Every action was calculated, her massive body moving with deadly precision.
I stood at the edge of the battlefield, my body battered but still functional. I could see the cracks in Zainab's scales, her energy dwindling as the battle wore on. The cursed tiger was weakening too, but it still had enough power to be a threat.
I took a deep breath, gathering my remaining strength. I knew I had one last chance to finish this. With a mental command, I called upon the water manipulation I had mastered. A massive wave of water shot up from the earth, swirling around me as I focused all my mana into the attack. I could feel the exhaustion gnawing at me, but I pushed through it. There was no choice but to fight.
I sent the wave crashing toward the cursed tiger, the water surging with the force of a storm. The beast struggled, its wings trying to flap, but it was pinned beneath the weight of the water, the stone spikes still embedded in its body.
Zainab, her body covered in cracks and scars, slithered forward, her tail wrapped around the cursed tiger's neck, her jaws opening wide. With a final, devastating bite, she crushed the tiger's throat, snapping its neck in a single, powerful motion.
The battlefield fell silent.
We had won, but at a great cost.
Zainab's body trembled, her massive form curling into a resting position as she let out a slow breath. Her scales were cracked and bleeding, her energy nearly depleted. I collapsed beside her, my legs no longer able to support my weight. The battle had taken everything from us, but we had survived.
The cursed tiger lay lifeless, its body still twitching with residual cursed energy, but it was over.
For now.
She huffed, her voice soft. "It wasn't easy."
"We'll rest now," I said, looking out over the battlefield. "Then we move on."
The war was far from over, but we had won this battle. For now, that was enough.