"How predictable... but I confess I didn't expect the bearer of the last relic to be a mage skilled enough to be able to hide for so long, and you also found the castle's catacombs," The black knight said. "I am truly impressed."
Aion always wondered why some people love the sound of their voices so much. He was lucky that he wasn't born at a time when his enemies liked to monologue. Or maybe he was unlucky since he didn't have the chance to stop their big mouths with an oversized Fireball.
"Now, please let me praise you all a little," The black knight walked towards them and stopped once he got in front of the stairs. "Unlike everyone else, you were the one who gave me the most trouble, but that ends today, and before dawn, Tenebres will return."
Oh boy… Aion wanted to facepalm; the guy truly talked like a middle-level grunt. He could tell that the guy was strong, but he was nowhere near the level of someone like Horis, the immortal. Perhaps his current strength was high considering the standards of three thousand years ago. Still, if Aion could, he would have smashed him into smithereens while he was talking. That kind of enemy was a pain in the ass to deal with, and not because he was strong.
"Shut up… you are going to die here, and then your allies will be the next ones," Ailen said while pulling the string of his bow. "You will pay for the death of everyone."
Those three behind Ervan assumed their positions. Malon went forward, and Ailen was ready to shoot an arrow. Meanwhile, Cailena took an attentive step backward. As long as she has mana, they can win, but she won't be able to use her magic if she gets hurt enough, which will prevent her from concentrating.
"Look, wizard, I don't know who you are, and I'm not that interested either, but you know what I want; you give it to me, and I'll do my best to make the Tenebres remember your name in the new world; sounds nice, doesn't it?" The black knight asked.
The black knight sighed, and then he smashed the crystal in his hands. The fragments turned into a shadow and then joined together and began to emerge… that was some kind of summoning magic that Aion had never heard of. Eventually, the shadow turned into a sphere, and from it, a giant creature emerged. The beast was five meters tall and quite muscular; it had orange fur with black stripes all over its body. It resembled a bit of a tiger, but the beast could walk on two legs, and it had claws in its hands that were as long as sword swords and looked sharper than anything.
"This kind of creature shouldn't exist…" Ervan said while clenching his teeth.
"So what?" The black knight said. "Get them…"
As the battle commenced, Malon charged forward, his sword slashing through the air with precision. The beast lunged, attempting to claw at him with razor-sharp talons. Malon deftly parried each strike, his years of training evident in his swift movements. With a mighty swing, he struck the beast's flank, or he tried. The beast blocked the attack with one of the claws.
Meanwhile, Ailen utilized his expertise in archery, firing arrows with remarkable accuracy. His shots sought weak points in the creature's defenses. One after another, his arrows found their mark, piercing the creature's tough skin. His strategic attacks created openings for his comrades to exploit. Unfortunately, focusing on speed wasn't working since the arrows weren't piercing deeply.
Ervan began to conjure some spells. Arcane symbols danced in the air as he channeled magical energy. With a flick of his wrist, several fireballs flew toward the beast, leaving scorch marks on its dark fur. Ervan's magical onslaught weakened the creature, disrupting its movements for a short while.
Amidst its pain, the monster attacked Malon violently, who barely managed to block the attacks. Still, he felt his body cracking behind the wave of relentless attacks. Cailena began to heal him, but she could only do so much.
"Buy me some time, and I will deal with this thing," Ervan declared.
Malon couldn't even reply since he was too busy blocking the attacks of the beast and being pushed down from one side to the other. The training that he did in the last few days was helping him, but it would take a while before the technique that he envisioned would become truly usable.
No one said anything, but Ailen and Cailena nodded. Cailena used Heal from a distance to help Malon while Ailen charged an arrow and then fired. The projectile exploded on the face of the beast and made it take a few steps backward, but soon it glared at him only to see Malon get in its way.
The beast's claws and slashes made Malon focus on defense completely… Despite his best efforts, he felt like the bones of his body were cracking with each hit alongside the floor below his feet. Still, Ervan soon finished his preparations and then cast one hell of a spell… several ice spears appeared around the monster, and the beast froze.
"Cold Execution…" Ervan muttered.
The air crackled with an icy chill as the spears hovered, awaiting their intended target. With a precise and calculated motion, Ervan unleashed the frozen barrage.
The spears shot forward with astonishing speed and accuracy, piercing the air with a haunting whistle. From all angles, the lethal projectiles found their mark. Some struck the beast's flank, while others pierced its massive limbs. The creature let out a deafening roar of pain and fury as the ice spears lodged themselves deep into its body.
The spears erupted from the beast's flesh, forming an ethereal tableau of frost and crimson. Each spear seemed to shimmer with an icy glow, showcasing the power contained within. The coldness of the ice numbed the beast's senses and impeded its movements, adding to its anguish.
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