Kael groaned as he pushed himself up from the ground, his vision blurred and his body aching from the force of the explosion.
A dust cloud hung in the air, the battlefield momentarily silent except for the distant sounds of screams in the town.
He blinked hard to clear his vision, his eyes locking onto the massive figure of the bandit leader.
The man was slowly regaining his senses, his body rising from where he had fallen. His armor was gone, shattered from the explosion, revealing a dark fragment embedded in his chest.
Neo's voice rang in his head. "Kael, he's even more dangerous now. The fragment's power has been pushed to it's limit and it's unstable."
Kael forced himself to his feet, gripping his very damaged blade tightly. "I can't let him recover."
But before he could act, the bandit leader's eyes snapped open, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "You've got guts, kid," he growled, "But you've just made your last mistake."
The leader ran forward, his massive fists glowing with fragment energy. Kael barely managed to dodge, the force of the strike sending a wave of energy rippling through the ground.
Kael countered with a quick slash to the leader's exposed stomach, but the man twisted, grabbing Kael's wrist.
"You're persistent," the leader sneered, his grip tightening. "But that won't save you."
Kael grit his teeth from the pain. He placed his free hand on the leaders forearm, trying to channel the power he had used against the Skybreakers.
He aimed to create a huge blast that would slice of the guy's arm but instead only a small blast of energy moved from his palm, crashing against the leaders skin.
The sudden burst of energy forced the man to release him, and Kael staggered back, gasping for air.
Neo's urgent voice rang in his head. "Kael, you need to think bigger. You're not going to win this by trading blows."
Kael's eyes darted around the battlefield, searching for an advantage.
His gaze landed on a crumbling stone wall not far from where they stood. If he could lure the leader there, he could use the unstable structure to his advantage.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Come on, then," he taunted the bandit leader, he tried to keep his voice steady despite how scared he was at the moment.
The leader's grin widened. "With pleasure."
Kael darted toward the wall, moving somewhat sluggishly but keeping enough speed to ensure that the leader followed. The ground shook as the man charged after him.
Kael reached the wall and turned around, raising his blade defensively. The leader didn't slow down, on his fists were one of his powerful black orbs.
At the last moment, Kael dove to the side, rolling to safety as the leader's strike connected with the wall.
An explosion much smaller than the one before struck the already weakened wall and it crumbled, with large chunks of stone collapsing onto the leader.
The dust settled, revealing the leader partially buried beneath the rubble. He roared in annoyance as he tried to free himself.
The voice in his head spoke hurriedly. "Now's your chance. Get to the guards and regroup."
Kael nodded, his heart pounding as he turned and sprinted toward the town.
The situation in the outskirts was a scene of devastation. Fires burned without any signs of stopping. Villagers and guards fought desperately against the bandits and corrupted, their makeshift defenses barely holding.
Kael spotted a different group of guards near the edge of the town, their expressions were grim as they fended off a waves of corrupted. He ran to them.
"Hold the line!" he shouted. His blade flashed as he cut down a corrupted lunging for one of the guards.
The men stared at him in shock, their disbelief quickly replaced by caution.
"Who are you?" one of them asked, his voice hoarse.
"That doesn't matter right now," Kael replied. "What's the situation?"
The guard gestured toward the town gates, where more bandits were pressing the attack. "We have been trying to hold them off, but they've got us outnumbered—and those... corrupted humans are everywhere, they don't seem to finish."
"We keep slicing them down but they keep coming." He added.
Kael's mind raced as he assessed the battlefield. The guards were outmatched, their numbers dwindling with each passing moment and so was their will to fight.
Neo's voice broke through his train of thoughts. "Kael, you need to gather them together. If you don't, they won't survive this."
Kael nodded. He turned to the guards and gave them commands.
"Listen to me. We're not going to let these bastards take this town. Get everyone you can to the gates and fortify them. Use anything you can find—carts, barrels, rocks. We hold them here."
The guards hesitated for only a moment realizing they had nothing better to do the chose to listen to this kid. They nodded, with renewed determination.
"What about you?" one of them asked.
Kael's grip tightened on his blade. "I'll buy you time. Just make sure those gates hold."
Kael moved through the battlefield impossible fast for someone with his injuries, his blade cutting through bandits and corrupted alike.
But the battle was taking its toll. His arms felt like plastic, his breaths coming in short gasps.
Neo's voice was steady in his mind, keeping him focused. "You're doing well. Just hold on a little longer."
Kael nodded, his determination unshaken.
As he fought, his mind worked furiously, piecing together a plan. He couldn't hold the line forever but he could create an opening for the guards to reach the town and contact the elite guards.
"I've got an idea," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the chaotic sounds around him.
Neo who had read his mind, encouraged the plan. "I see. Let's get to implementing it then."
Kael glanced toward the crumbling remains of a nearby building. "This is something that might even the odds."
Neo was silent for a moment before replying. "It's risky. But it might just work."
Kael took a deep breath, he steeled himself for what was to come.
The bandit leader's roar echoed through the battlefield.
Kael turned to see the massive figure emerging from the rubble, his dark fragment pulsing with energy.
His body had already started transforming to that of a corrupted. His arms had turned to something of a cannon made from crystals, metal and flesh.
His figure was even more massive and intimidating now.
The man's eyes locked onto Kael, his expression twisted with rage.
"You're dead, kid," the leader snarled.
Kael raised his blade, his resolve as strong as ever. "If that was so then I would have died a long time ago."