The air in the throne room grew colder, tension mounting as the clash of steel reverberated off the stone walls. Karael's blade met the commander's with a resounding clang, sparks flying as their weapons locked. Each movement was calculated, deliberate, as if both sides were playing an intricate game of chess, where one misstep could spell doom.
Karael gritted his teeth, pushing against the commander's blade with all his might. The veins in his arms bulged, but the man before him didn't flinch, his crimson eyes glowing with a predatory gleam. A subtle shift in his stance, and Karael felt the pressure against him disappear—only for a blade to sweep toward his exposed side.
Dain intercepted it just in time, his rapier moving with surgical precision. The sound of the clash was sharp and crisp, like glass shattering. Dain's strikes were fast, precise, aiming for the gaps in the commander's armor. But the enemy's movements were fluid, almost inhuman, twisting and turning with unnatural speed.
"You think numbers will save you?" the commander hissed, his voice low and venomous. He parried Dain's thrust and countered with a spinning kick that caught Dain in the chest, sending him sprawling across the floor.
Elyas moved in next, silent and swift, his twin daggers flashing like shadows. He darted around the commander, striking at his blind spots, forcing him to turn and defend. Each slash of Elyas's blades came closer and closer to breaking through, but the commander's defense was impeccable, his sword moving like an extension of his body.
The fight was slow, grueling, every exchange testing the endurance of both sides. Karael and Elyas attacked in tandem, their movements complementing each other—a blend of raw power and agility. Karael's heavy strikes created openings that Elyas exploited, yet the commander adapted, deflecting their blows with minimal effort, his expression cold and unyielding.
Thane and Liora joined the fray, their combined elemental powers adding a new layer to the battle. Liora's flames roared to life, engulfing the commander in a wave of fire. The heat was intense, forcing the others to step back, yet when the flames subsided, the commander emerged unscathed, his aura shimmering like a crimson shield.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent a blast of energy toward Liora. She raised her arms to defend, her fire colliding with the crimson force, but the impact sent her stumbling. Thane rushed to her side, his icy aura cooling the air as he unleashed a barrage of frost spikes, each one aimed with precision.
The commander dodged with ease, his movements unnervingly graceful. He closed the distance between them in an instant, his blade aimed for Thane's throat. At the last moment, Karael barreled into him, their weapons clashing once more.
The sound of steel on steel echoed like thunder, the room shaking with the intensity of their duel. Karael's strength was undeniable, his blows heavy and relentless, but the commander was faster, sidestepping and countering with strikes that left shallow cuts along Karael's armor.
Dain, recovering from his earlier fall, rejoined the fight, his rapier darting in and out like a needle, targeting the weak points in the commander's defense. Together, the five warriors pressed their attack, their movements becoming more cohesive as they adapted to their opponent's tactics.
But the commander was a force of nature. Even as their strikes landed, drawing blood and denting his armor, he fought back with a ferocity that seemed unending. His blade sang through the air, each swing accompanied by a surge of crimson energy that shook the very foundations of the palace.
The battle dragged on, a brutal test of endurance and will. Sweat dripped from the warriors' brows, their breaths coming in ragged gasps, yet they refused to yield. Karael's blade finally found its mark, carving through the commander's shoulder armor and drawing a deep gash. The commander staggered, his movements faltering for the first time.
Liora seized the opportunity, her flames roaring to life once more, engulfing him in a blinding inferno. Thane followed with a wave of ice, the sudden clash of heat and cold creating a shockwave that rattled the walls. When the smoke cleared, the commander knelt on the ground, blood dripping from his wounds, his breathing labored.
Yet even in defeat, his gaze was defiant, his lips curling into a grim smile. "You think this is victory?" he rasped, his voice filled with spite.
The room fell silent as the Crimson Serpent leader stepped forward, his presence alone enough to halt the battle. His aura flared, crimson energy surging around him like a living force, suffocating and oppressive. The very air seemed to tremble under the weight of his power.
Karael raised his blade, his grip tightening. "You're next," he said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion in his eyes.
The leader chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent a shiver down their spines. "You've merely defeated a pawn. Now, let me show you what true power looks like."
His aura erupted, a torrent of crimson light that obliterated what remained of the shattered windows. The force of it knocked the warriors back, their feet skidding across the cracked floor.
Manav, watching from his throne, remained still, his expression unreadable. His cold, calculating eyes met the leader's, their gazes locking in a battle of wills.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze. The throne room, battered and broken, stood as a silent witness to the standoff between two forces that refused to yield.
Ryan, standing on the sidelines, felt the weight of the moment. He realized then that this wasn't just a clash of swords and power. This was a psychological war, a test of dominance that neither Manav nor the leader would concede.
As the leader's aura intensified, the five warriors braced themselves for the next onslaught. The room was on the brink of collapse, yet Manav did not move, his composure as unshakable as ever.
The Crimson Serpent leader raised his blade, his energy coalescing into a deadly force that promised annihilation. The five warriors, battered but unbroken, stood together, their auras flaring in defiance.