Lily was falling, bracing for the worst.
She shut her eyes tight, waiting for the impact that would end her fight.
But instead of hitting the ground, she felt herself sliding smoothly.
Confused, she opened her eyes and saw a gleaming ice slide beneath her, guiding her gently to safety.
Standing at the base of the slide was Xerox, his calm expression barely hiding the effort he'd put into saving her.
"Lily, are you okay?"
he asked, his voice steady.
Lily stared at him in shock.
"Xerox?"
She looked around and realized what had happened.
He had created the slide to save her.
Her dress was torn, and her hair was a mess, but she quickly stood up, her face red with embarrassment.
"Thank you, Xerox. I thought I was done for."
Xerox nodded and tossed her a small potion.
"Drink this. Heal up. The fight's far from over."
Lily caught the potion, feeling grateful but determined not to let her guard down again.
Meanwhile, Trival was glaring at the massive Wolverine leading the attack.
His fury burned bright, but his power was no match for the beast.
"You'll pay for what you did to Lily!"
Trival roared, his voice filled with anger.
He charged forward, his spear glowing with energy.
"Imperial Spear Style: Obliterate Strike!"
he shouted as he struck.
But the Wolverine leader's magical barrier stopped the attack with ease.
The creature didn't even flinch as Trival's most powerful move barely scratched it.
Aerox joined the fight, swinging his sword with precision.
"StarShatterer Style: Star Annihilation!"
he cried, unleashing a flurry of glowing strikes.
Even together, their attacks failed to penetrate the barrier.
The Wolverine leader roared in defiance, its sheer power overwhelming the two fighters.
As Aerox and Trival began to tire, the Wolverine leader saw its chance.
With a swift slash of wind magic, it distracted them before diving in for a devastating claw strike.
The two barely managed to block with their weapons, but the force sent them flying across the battlefield.
They crashed into the dirt, gasping for air.
"Is this the strength of a Rank-4 monster?"
Aerox muttered, struggling to stand.
He had thought his recent promotion to Rank-3 made him powerful, but this fight showed him how far he still had to go.
The Wolverine leader began gathering energy for a massive attack, one that could wipe out everyone nearby.
Lily, now recovered, stepped forward.
"Soteria Blessing: Goddess Protection!"
she called out, casting a glowing shield over Aerox and Trival.
The barrier absorbed the brunt of the Wolverine's power, keeping them safe.
Xerox watched carefully from the edge of the battlefield.
The Wolverine leader was vulnerable while charging its attack, and the other Wolverines were too distracted to intervene.
This was his moment.
With a deep breath, he activated his strongest technique.
"Dual Skill: Dark Ice Embodiment,"
he whispered, his body transforming.
A black, icy aura surrounded him, laced with shadows that shimmered like obsidian.
He dashed forward, faster than the eye could follow, and appeared beneath the Wolverine leader.
"Dual Skill: Glacier Shadow Slash!"
Xerox shouted, slashing upward with all his strength.
The attack struck true, shattering the Wolverine leader's barrier and sending cracks through its scaled body.
The beast roared in pain, finally brought down to its knees.
Xerox stood firm, his icy aura fading as he prepared for whatever came next.
"The battle's not over yet,"
he muttered, his eyes locked on the wounded but still dangerous creature.
Additionally, Xerox's blade cut through the air with precision, severing the Wolverine leader's left wing in a single strike.
The beast let out a deafening roar of pain as it tumbled onto the ice-covered stairs with a heavy crash.
-BANG!
-CRACK!
The Wolverine leader writhed in agony, its growls echoing through the battlefield.
Its massive body seemed to swell with rage, and then it unleashed a shriek so loud it carried for miles.
The sound shook the air and sent a wave of dread through everyone who heard it.
Wolverines that had been fighting nearby froze in their tracks.
Some cowered, trembling with fear, while others turned and fled.
They knew their leader was stronger than any of them, and if he could be wounded, then their survival wasn't guaranteed.
Monsters cared only for survival, not loyalty or revenge.
The students on the battlefield were paralyzed at first, their faces pale with terror.
But as the dust settled, their eyes widened at the sight of the fallen Wolverine leader.
"He did it!"
someone shouted.
"Xerox cut off its wing! We can win!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd, their hope reignited.
But Xerox stood motionless.
His breaths were shallow, his body barely holding together.
He had used up every ounce of his mana.
He couldn't even lift his weapon, let alone finish the fight.
The Wolverine leader's fury burned brighter.
It planted its clawed feet firmly and let out another roar, colder and sharper than before.
The killing intent in its voice sent shivers down the spines of the students.
Some dropped to their knees, unable to move, while others clutched their weapons with trembling hands.
The Wolverine leader turned its bloodshot eyes toward Xerox.
Its massive frame cast a long shadow over him as it limped forward.
The beast's jaws opened wide, sharp teeth glinting in the pale light.
Xerox stared back, his body refusing to move.
His mind raced as he watched death approach.
"So, this is how it ends,"
he thought bitterly.
"After everything, I'm just going to be eaten?"
The Wolverine's jaws lunged closer, its breath hot and foul.
Time seemed to slow.
The cheers of the students faded into the background.
Xerox shut his eyes, bracing himself for the end.
Then, a sudden burst of light erupted from behind the Wolverine.