The two exchanged attacks and parries until Linggis swiftly drew a knife from his waist. The blade flew through the air, aiming directly at the young man who was still trembling as he tried to stand. The young man's face froze, unable to react quickly enough to dodge.
"Fwhip!"
However, the woman dashed forward without hesitation. With remarkable speed, she positioned herself in front of the young man just before the knife reached its target.
"Clang!"
The knife was deflected by her holy sword, but Linggis, with his sly grin, had already capitalized on the momentum. He moved like a shadow right behind her as she dashed to save the young man. As she successfully deflected the knife, Linggis was already behind her with his cane poised, ready to stab her in one lethal motion.
The woman turned in panic, attempting to pivot, but it was too late.
["Was this his plan?"]
"Goodbye, holy hero number 9," Linggis whispered coldly.
But before his cane could reach her body, a sudden loud clang echoed. A massive sword appeared out of nowhere, perfectly blocking Linggis's attack.
"Klang!!!"
Linggis was pushed back several steps, narrowing his eyes at the newly arrived figure. Standing before him was a large man clad in heavy armor, wielding a giant sword that glowed with a strange energy.
"Sorry, but you won't touch them as long as I'm here," the man said in a deep yet firm voice.
Linggis scoffed, striking his cane against the ground. "Another hero appears. How many do I have to bury in this place?"
However, before Linggis could make another move, a loud voice rang out from the other side of the battlefield.
"Linggis, you won't escape this time!"
A blinding light emerged over the barren land, revealing another figure—a High Priest Saint. His white robe fluttered in the wind, and he held a holy staff that emitted a golden glow. With a wave of his hand, a circle of light formed in the air, launching a holy attack toward Linggis.
"Zwoosh!!!"
The blast of light struck the ground where Linggis stood, creating a massive crater. But as the dust settled, Linggis had already evaded, standing atop a large rock he conjured with a relaxed demeanor.
"You're really trying hard," he said with a slight laugh. "Light? Justice? Big swords? This is getting interesting."
Now, Linggis was surrounded by several opponents: the woman with the holy sword, the man with the giant sword, and the High Priest Saint who wielded light magic. Despite being encircled, Linggis's expression remained unchanged. He merely smirked, his eyes still gleaming with madness.
"Alright," he muttered softly. "Let's see how long you can last before I kill you one by one."
The battle intensified once more, the sounds of clashing weapons and energy explosions filling the desolate plain. Linggis began to escalate his attacks, forcing the trio to work together to survive.