The group stood frozen as the dungeon chamber shook violently. The glowing runes on the walls brightened, and from the shadows, a figure emerged.
It was tall and clad in dark, jagged armor. In its hand was a large, glowing sword that radiated a sinister black aura. The air around the creature felt heavy, almost suffocating.
"What is that?" Sen whispered, gripping her staff tightly.
"A magic knight," Ono said, her voice steady but tense. "But… it's cursed."
The knight let out a low growl, its red eyes glowing beneath its helmet. Without warning, it charged at Tai with incredible speed.
"Get ready!" Tai shouted, drawing his sword just in time to block the knight's attack. The impact sent him skidding backward.
The battle began in chaos. Tai and Ono took the lead, trying to counter the knight's relentless attacks. Ono conjured an air shield to deflect one of its strikes, but the cursed sword cut through it like paper.
"It's too strong!" Ono yelled, dodging another swing.
Yuuki tried to trap the knight in a sealing circle, but the dark aura shattered the spell before it could take hold.
"It's resisting my magic!" she said in frustration.
Sen moved to the backline, casting healing spells as the others fought. Tai was struck by the knight's sword, a deep gash appearing on his arm. He fell to one knee, gritting his teeth in pain.
"Hold on, Tai!" Sen called out, rushing to his side. Her hands glowed with fire as she healed his wound.
The knight didn't let up. It attacked relentlessly, its cursed sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. Ono managed to land a hit with her air magic, sending the knight stumbling back for a moment, but it quickly recovered.
"This thing doesn't slow down!" Tai said, charging back into the fight.
The group fought bravely, but the knight was overwhelming. Each time they landed a hit, it seemed to shrug off the damage. Each time they blocked its attacks, the dark aura seemed to grow stronger.
Sen was working overtime, healing the team as they took turns fighting the knight. But the strain was starting to show.
"I… I can't keep up!" she admitted, her breathing labored.
The knight's sword struck Tai again, sending him crashing into the wall. Ono used her air magic to push it back, but the effort left her drained. Yuuki tried another sealing spell, but the knight broke free before it could take effect.
As the knight prepared to strike again, Sen suddenly glowed with a bright red light.
"What's happening?" she whispered.
Without thinking, she activated a self-healing spell, something she hadn't learned before. Her wounds began to close on their own, and her strength returned.
"Sen, what was that?" Ono asked, dodging another attack.
"I don't know! It just… happened!" Sen replied, her hands glowing as she cast another healing spell, this time stronger and faster than before.
With her newfound ability, Sen kept the team alive, healing them as quickly as the knight could injure them. The group rallied, their determination renewed.
"We can do this!" Tai shouted, gripping his sword tightly.
But the knight wasn't done yet. Its dark aura flared, and the room grew even colder.
The battle raged on, each side refusing to give in. The group knew they had to find a way to end it soon, but the knight's power seemed limitless.