The armoured figure steadied itself quickly, its movements unshaken despite Finn's efforts. Its weapon of light burned brighter, as though angered by his resistance. The air around it shimmered, and Finn felt an oppressive force bearing down on him—a reminder that this entity was not to be trifled with.
"Shift, stay close," Finn muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. The familiar pulsed in acknowledgment, shifting its form into something more defensive—a circular shield that hovered near Finn, ready to intercept.
The figure advanced again, its steps deliberate, each one causing the ground to tremble faintly. Finn knew he couldn't rely on brute force. His attacks had to be strategic, precise and supported by Shift's versatility.
When the figure raised its glowing weapon for another strike, Finn was ready. He lunged to the side, narrowly avoiding the devastating arc of energy. At the same time, he commanded Shift to transform into a tripwire. The familiar stretched itself taut across the figure's path, blending seamlessly with the dim lighting of the chamber.
The armoured figure didn't notice the trap in time. As it stepped forward, its foot caught on Shift's ethereal form, causing it to stumble. The slight misstep was all Finn needed.
With a sharp gesture, he activated his elemental magic, sending a wave of frost cascading toward the figure. The freezing mist enveloped the entity, frost forming on its armour and slowing its movements. Finn pressed his advantage, dashing forward with his knife aimed at the vulnerable joints of the figure's armour.
The blade struck true, scraping against the glowing metal and finding a gap near the figure's shoulder. The impact released a pulse of energy, forcing the figure back a step. Its weapon flickered, and for the first time, Finn thought he saw a crack in its unyielding facade.
But the figure retaliated quickly. It raised its free hand, sending a concussive blast of force outward. Finn was thrown backward, his body skidding across the stone floor. Shift reacted instantly, transforming into a soft cushion-like shape that absorbed the brunt of Finn's landing.
"Thanks," Finn muttered as he scrambled to his feet, coughing from the impact. The figure was already recovering, the frost melting off its armour as it turned its glowing weapon toward him once more.
Shift, sensing Finn's intent, morphed again—this time into a jagged spear. Finn grabbed the weapon without hesitation, channelling his magic into its form. The spear crackled with electricity, its edges glowing with Finn's energy.
"Let's see how you handle this," Finn said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
He hurled the spear with all his strength, the lightning-infused weapon arcing toward the figure like a streak of light. The figure raised its weapon to block, but the spear exploded on impact, sending sparks and shards of energy cascading across the room.
The force of the blast staggered the figure again, and Finn didn't waste the opportunity. Using [Elemental Mastery], he pulled the ground beneath the figure, causing it to lurch downward into a shallow pit. The sudden drop disrupted its balance, and Finn advanced, his knife glowing with fiery energy.
Shift reformed into a set of chains, wrapping tightly around the figure's weapon arm, restricting its movements. Finn slashed with his knife, aiming for the cracks in the armour he had exposed earlier. Each strike landed with precision, and the glow of the figure's weapon began to dim.
The armoured figure let out a soundless roar, an explosion of light emanating from its body. The force broke Shift's chains and sent Finn reeling back, but he stood his ground, his determination unwavering.
"You're strong," Finn muttered, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "But I've fought through worse."
Shift hovered beside him, its form flickering with readiness. Together, they prepared for the next round, their bond stronger than ever.
This fight wasn't over yet.
The armoured figure rose from the shallow pit Finn had created, its weapon burning brighter than ever. The ground beneath its feet seemed to ripple with the intensity of its power, and Finn could feel the heat from across the chamber. This wasn't just a fight-it was a crucible, and the entity was pushing him to his limits.
"Shift, keep moving," Finn ordered, his voice edged with desperation. He could barely keep up with the figure's relentless assault, and every step brought him closer to exhaustion. Shift pulsed in acknowledgment, darting around Finn in a protective arc, ready to intercept the next strike
The figure lunged forward, its weapon slicing through the air like a comet, Finn raised a barrier, but the light-wrought blade shattered it effortlessly, forcing him to dive to the side. As he rolled to his feet, the figure followed up with another strike, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat.
Finn tried to counter with a blast of wind, but the figure anticipated the move. Its free hand shot forward, releasing a wave of force that collided with Finn mid-cast. The impact sent him sprawling, his knife skidding out of reach.
Before he could recover, the figure was upon him. Its glowing weapon arced downward, and Finn barely managed to roll aside, the blade carving deep into the stone where he had been lying. He scrambled backward, his mind racing for a way out.
"Shift, weapon!" Finn shouted, and the familiar transformed into a long, curved sword that landed in his outstretched hand. He swung it in a wide arc, forcing the figure to step back momentarily
But the reprieve was short-lived. The figure retaliated with a blindingly fast strike, its blade cutting through the air with unrelenting precision. Finn parried desperately, but the force of the blows pushed him further and further back.
Then it happened.
The figure feinted left and swung right, its glowing weapon catching Finn off-guard. The blade of light sliced cleanly through his left arm, severing it just above the elbow. Time seemed to slow as Finn's scream echoed through the chamber, blood spraying in an arc! as he fell to his knees
"Finn!" Shift's telepathic cry reverberated through his mind, its form flickering with panic. It shifted into a bandage-like form, wrapping around the stump to staunch the bleeding as Finn clutched the wound, his vision blurring from the pain
The figure didn't pause. It raised its weapon for the final blow, prepared to end the fight.
But Finn's pain ignited something within him-an unyielding resolve, a defiance that burned hotter than any magic he'd ever wielded.
"Shift... final stand," he rasped
Shift pulsed with understanding transforming into a massive war hammer. Finn grabbed it with his remaining hand, channelling every ounce of his elemental energy into the weapon. Fire, lightning, and ice coalesced around the hammer's head creating a swirling storm of destruction.
The figure brought its weapon down but Finn met it head-on. He swung the hammer with all his strength, the collision of their weapons creating a deafening explosion that shook the chamber. The force of the impact sent both combatants flying, but Finn refused to let go
As he landed hard on the ground, he used his [Elemental Mastery] to pull the debris toward the figure, burying it under a cascade of stone. The armoured entity struggled to rise, but Finn was already moving. With a guttural roar, he closed the distance, the war hammer glowing with raw power.
"This ends now!" Finn bellowed bringing the hammer down with a final, earth-shattering strike
The hammer connected with the figure's chest, and the combined force of Finn's magic and Shift's transformation shattered the glowing armour. The figure let out a soundless wail, its form disintegrating into light that scattered like fireflies
Silence fell over the chamber
Finn dropped to his knees, the hammer clattering to the ground as Shift returned to its default form. The familiar wrapped around him like a comforting embrace, its presence steadying him as he fought to stay conscious.
"You did it," Shift's voice whispered in his mind, filled with a mixture of relief and admiration.
Finn's breathing was ragged, his vision dim. He stared at the blood-soaked stump where his arm used to be, the pain a constant reminder of the cost of his victory
"I did it.."' he muttered, a weak smile tugging at his lips. Then darkness claimed him, and he collapsed to the ground.
______________
If your liking the story so far then you should join the discord.
https://discord.gg/CKNJJdK484