The battlefield, littered with the corpses of beasts, seemed to quiet for only a fleeting moment. Then the earth trembled once more. Trees groaned and cracked as another wave of monsters surged out of the forest. These beasts were larger, fiercer, and more coordinated than the first wave.
At the forefront were the elites—monstrous creatures that exuded palpable menace. Massive wolves with metallic fur, their glowing eyes brimming with intelligence, led packs of smaller beasts. Boars with reinforced tusks charged forward like living battering rams, their steps shaking the ground. There were even spider-like creatures, their legs sharp and glinting like polished blades, climbing over the larger beasts as they hissed and screeched.
And behind them, three towering figures emerged: the bosses. Each exuded an oppressive aura, their power radiating outward like an invisible force, making the air heavy and suffocating.
On the western front, Ayleen prepared for the onslaught. Her face was calm, but her eyes burned with determination. She stood tall, her hands crackling with arcs of lightning.
When the first wave of elites reached her, she thrust her palms forward, sending a massive bolt of lightning that tore through the pack. The air filled with the smell of ozone and burnt flesh as the beasts fell, their charred bodies collapsing in heaps.
But the reprieve was short-lived. One of the bosses—a massive lion-like creature with a mane crackling with electricity—roared and charged at her. Its speed was incredible, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.
Ayleen didn't flinch. She raised her hands, and a wall of fire erupted between her and the beast. The lion roared in defiance, leaping through the flames, but Ayleen was ready. She summoned an ice spear and hurled it with precision, striking the beast in its shoulder. The lion stumbled, roaring in pain, but quickly regained its footing.
The elites surrounding the lion pressed forward, but Ayleen moved like a tempest. Ice, fire, and lightning wove together as she launched spell after spell, cutting through the beasts with brutal efficiency. Her mana surged through her, each spell leaving destruction in its wake.
On the southern front, Orin faced his own battle. The air around him shimmered with golden light as his aura flared, his sword glowing with a sharp, radiant hue.
A pack of metallic wolves lunged at him, their fangs aiming for his throat. Orin swung his sword in a wide arc, releasing an aura blade that cleaved through them effortlessly. The ground trembled as a massive boar charged at him, its tusks aimed to impale. Orin dashed forward, sidestepping the beast at the last moment before driving his blade into its side.
The leader of this front—a towering bear-like creature covered in dark fur and glowing red eyes—let out a deafening roar. It swung its massive paw, creating a shockwave that sent debris flying toward Orin.
But Orin stood firm. He planted his feet, his aura condensing around him like a protective shield. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance and unleashed a flurry of strikes, each swing of his sword leaving deep, glowing gashes on the beast's hide.
On the northern and eastern fronts, Seven and Eight were holding their ground, but the elites and their respective bosses were pushing them to their limits.
Seven summoned walls of stone to block the advancing beasts, but the sheer number of creatures made it impossible to hold them all back. His face was pale with exertion as he launched sharp spikes of earth at the oncoming horde, impaling multiple beasts at once.
"Damn it, they just keep coming!" Seven growled, sweat dripping down his face.
On the eastern front, Eight's movements were a blur as he unleashed Wind Blades at lightning speed. The translucent blades tore through the beasts, but for every creature he killed, more seemed to take its place.
"I can't keep this up forever," Eight muttered, his breathing ragged.
The bosses on their sides—a massive serpent with metallic scales and a boar-like beast twice the size of the others—pressed forward, their sheer presence forcing Seven and Eight to stay on the defensive.
Aiden, standing near the village center, realized the situation was worsening. He turned to Eva and whispered, "Show me the power levels of the bosses."
Eva's voice echoed in his mind: Power Level: 375, 382, 398. All Peak Adept Rank.
Aiden clenched his fists. They're at the peak of Adept. This won't be easy.
He turned his gaze to the north and east, where Seven and Eight were struggling. "You two focus on the bosses!" he shouted, his voice carrying over the chaos. "I'll handle the elites!"
Without waiting for a response, Aiden rushed to the nearest group of beasts. He summoned a Fireblast in one hand and an Air Blade in the other, launching them in quick succession. The Fireblast exploded, scattering the creatures, while the Air Blade sliced through the ones that remained.
Ciara, perched on his shoulder, watched the battlefield intently. Her golden eyes scanned the chaos until they locked onto a pair of sleek leopards among the horde.
She let out a low, dangerous meow, and her eyes began to glow. The leopards' movements faltered, their own eyes glowing with the same eerie light. Without hesitation, they turned on the beasts around them, tearing into wolves and boars with feral intensity.
Aiden noticed the change and stared in shock. "Ciara… can you control them?" he murmured.
His astonishment quickly turned to determination as he continued to fight, using his magic to thin the numbers of the oncoming beasts.
As Aiden fought, one of the elites—a massive boar with jagged tusks—broke through his defenses and charged toward the villagers.
"No!" Aiden shouted, turning and sprinting after it. He pushed himself harder, flames igniting around his hands. With a desperate leap, he hurled a Fireblast at the beast, striking it in the side and sending it crashing to the ground.
Before Aiden could catch his breath, another beast—a wolf with metallic fur—lunged at him from behind. He turned just in time to see its jaws closing in.
Instinctively, Aiden drew his sword and enveloped himself in mana. His body glowed faintly as the mana strengthened his muscles and sharpened his senses. With a mighty swing, he beheaded the wolf in one clean strike.
The villagers, who had been watching in horror, stared in awe.
"Did you see that?" one whispered.
"He's… incredible," another said, their voice filled with admiration.
Rodrick and Lily exchanged stunned glances.
"That's Aiden?" Rodrick murmured.
On each front, the tide began to turn as the bosses were finally dealt with.
Ayleen faced the lightning lion, her magic blazing brightly. With a final surge of mana, she summoned a massive storm of ice and lightning, freezing the beast in place before shattering it with a lightning bolt.
Orin fought the bear-like boss with relentless fury, his aura condensing into a blade sharper than steel. With a roar of his own, he struck the beast's neck, severing its head in a single, decisive blow.
Seven and Eight, pushed to their limits, managed to overwhelm their respective bosses. Seven used massive spikes of stone to impale the serpent, while Eight summoned a devastating cyclone that tore the boar apart.
As the last beast fell, the battlefield grew silent. The villagers let out a collective sigh of relief, their bodies sagging with exhaustion.
Aiden stood among the bodies of the fallen beasts, his sword still glowing faintly with mana. He wiped sweat from his brow, a small smile forming on his lips.
But the relief was short-lived.
"Stay alert!" Ayleen's voice rang out sharply, cutting through the silence. "The battle isn't over!"
Everyone turned to her, their faces pale with confusion and fear.
"There's more coming," she said grimly. "And they're far more dangerous."
Aiden looked at Seven and Eight and saw their tense expressions. Even Ciara, usually calm, was agitated, her fur standing on end.
Orin's face was grim as he stepped forward, his aura flaring once more. "Get ready," he said, his voice low but firm. "This isn't over yet."