Weapons were drawn in an instant. The group gripped their blades tightly, determination etched on their faces. Shin felt the weight of his longsword in his hands, adrenaline surging through his veins.
This time, he wouldn't falter.
The white azure began to take shape, its form shifting erratically as the swirling energy coalesced. First, its legs solidified, then its torso, followed by its arms. Finally, its head emerged, its glowing eyes burning with unbridled rage. The creature lacked any defining features a towering mass of pure, solidified azure energy but its presence alone sent chills down their spines.
"ROAAARR!!" The monster unleashed a deafening roar, releasing a gale of icy wind. The group braced themselves, the powerful gust tearing at their clothing and forcing them to dig their heels into the frozen ground.
"Let me handle it," Jack said, his voice calm but chilling. He stepped forward, dual swords glinting in his hands. His stance shifted knees bent, arms outstretched before he whispered, "Dual Sword Style: Flashing Point."
[Personal Trait Activated: Flashy Step]
In an instant, Jack vanished. His speed was so fast it blurred him from view. In one clean motion, he reappeared behind the massive creature, his blades cutting through its midsection. The white azure split cleanly in two, its upper half crashing to the ground.
Jack turned back, grinning confidently. "How's that? Easy."
"YOU'RE AWESOME, JACK!" Shin yelled, eyes wide.
"YEAH, FAST AS HELL!" Lloyd added with a laugh.
But before their celebration could continue, the severed halves of the monster began to move. The upper body, still swirling with azure energy, reattached itself to the lower half. The monster reformed as if the damage had never occurred, its glow intensifying as if mocking their efforts.
"What the hell?!" Jack shouted.
The group leapt into action as the creature advanced. Shin swung his longsword with all his strength, aiming for its legs. His blade dug halfway in but it didn't feel right. His sword was stuck.
"It's absorbing my weapon!" Shin shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
"Don't be stupid!" Lloyd roared, hammering at the creature's body with his warhammer. Yet, no matter how much damage he inflicted, the monster's form continued to regenerate, undoing all of his attacks within seconds.
"Stop it, you idiot! It's useless!" Jack barked.
Realizing their attacks were futile, Lloyd grabbed both Shin and Jack and bolted back toward the others.
"What happened?" George yelled as the group regrouped.
"It repairs itself faster than we can destroy it," Jack replied, his tone grim.
Gorrath, observing the monster carefully, stepped forward. His crimson aura began to swirl around him, concentrating in his right arm and flowing into his bo staff. "Go. I'll handle this."
Lloyd clenched his fists, reluctant to leave Gorrath behind. "You're insane!"
"GO!" Gorrath's commanding voice left no room for argument.
He charged toward the monster, his bo staff glowing with energy. With a single leap, he slammed his weapon into the creature's head. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield, but Gorrath's eyes widened in shock.
Gorrath's bo staff shattered in his hands, the crimson aura in his arm dissipating entirely. "Tsk!" he spat, frustration written across his face. The monster roared again, its sound echoing through the icy terrain. A moment later, spikes of solid white azure erupted from its body, jagged and deadly.
Gorrath leapt onto the creature's head, using it as a springboard to push himself away. "EVERYONE, RUN!" he bellowed, his usually stoic demeanor replaced with raw urgency. Landing heavily beside the others, he steadied himself, his breathing labored.
"How was it?" Jack asked, his voice sharp with tension.
"It's not just repairing itself," Gorrath replied, his tone grim. "It's regenerating, and the white azure is getting tougher every time it does."
"So what's the plan?" Lloyd asked, his hammer still in hand as they bolted across the frozen ground.
"We're still thinking, idiot!" Jack snapped.
Shin, running alongside them, clenched his fists. "If it's an icy monster, maybe we can find a lake or some source of fire to melt it!" he suggested desperately.
Gorrath shook his head, his face serious. "No. Ice and white azure are different. This isn't just frozen water it's something else entirely."
"Still, it's worth a shot," George interjected.
"I agree," Rayden said firmly. "We don't have many options right now. Let's just keep moving and figure it out as we go."
The monster continued its relentless pursuit, firing icy spikes from its mouth. The group weaved and dodged, some diving to the side, others taking different paths to confuse the creature. But no matter what they did, the massive white azure monster stayed on their heels.
"Ah, this is so damn annoying!" Jack growled, narrowly avoiding a spike that shattered beside him.
"Lloyd, how are your wounds?" Rayden asked, glancing over as they ran.
"I'm fine for now," Lloyd replied, his voice strained but steady.
After what felt like an eternity of running, they managed to shake the monster off their trail. Gasping for air, they found themselves at a dead end. A steep, downward path lay before them, lined with jagged, spiked stones covered in the same white azure material as the monster. Below, the thick fog of white azure blanketed the view, obscuring the base of the mountain entirely.
The group exchanged glances, no words spoken, but each of them understanding what needed to be done.
"Are we really doing this?" Jack muttered, gripping his swords tightly.
Shin nodded. "We don't have a choice."
Without hesitation, they all leapt into the unknown, their forms disappearing into the fog below as the distant roar of the monster echoed behind them.
As they jumped, the group immediately lost their balance, the steep slope pulling them into a chaotic tumble. Shin and Rayden were shielded by Lloyd's massive physique as he braced himself against the sharp spikes cutting through the air. Meanwhile, Gorrath and George adapted quickly, their instincts kicking in. Mid-fall, they adjusted their movements, almost as if walking on the treacherous descent instead of tumbling uncontrollably.
"Cover your heads!" George yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Shin and Rayden instinctively obeyed, shielding Lloyd's head as the larger man continued to bear the brunt of the fall for them. Jack, who had been taking hits from the spikes, winced as he finally processed George's warning.
"Finally! Why didn't I think of that?" Jack grumbled, covering his head with an annoyed expression. The impact of the sharp traps and jagged rocks lessened, though not without leaving stinging marks on his body.
The seemingly endless descent continued, spikes and debris raining upon them as they fell deeper into the unknown. Eventually, after what felt like hours but was likely mere moments, they reached the end, landing hard on a narrow, rocky path.
Jack groaned as he sat up, rubbing his head. "Finally! My head is killing me!"
"Same!" Lloyd muttered, holding his throbbing skull.
Jack shot him an annoyed glare. "They were covering you, you idiot!"
Lloyd shrugged as he released Shin and Rayden from his protective grip. The two stumbled to their feet, bruised but unharmed, their adrenaline keeping them alert.
Everyone stood slowly, their breaths ragged, their muscles tense as they scanned their surroundings. The path stretched long and narrow, shrouded in an eerie silence that sent chills down their spines.
George clenched his fist, his voice low. "Stay ready. We don't know what's waiting for us down here."
The group nodded in silent agreement, each preparing themselves for whatever horrors lay ahead in the depths of this unforgiving trial.