++++Author's Message++++
sorry guys for not publishing a new chapter yesterday because I have a game in my sports yesterday so as an apology I will release few chapters today.
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The ground quaked beneath Edred's feet as he squared off against Abellon. The shattered portal behind them still crackled with residual energy, but the shadowy army was no more. The once-ominous forest, now silent, seemed to hold its breath, as if the very trees were waiting for the outcome of this battle.
Abellon's eyes gleamed with malevolence as he regarded Edred. "You may have destroyed my minions," he said, his voice low and cold, "but you've done nothing but prolong your suffering."
Edred tightened his grip on his sword, the golden aura of his Legendary Warrior skill flickering around him. Every muscle in his body screamed from exhaustion, but his mind was sharp and unrelenting. This was it—there was no turning back now. He thought briefly of Rohanna, once their enemy and now slain by Abellon's cruelty. Her betrayal still stung, but her death had been brutal and undeserved.
"You're going to pay for everything," Edred said, his voice steady though his heart pounded. Abellon's cruelty had pushed him past his limits.
Abellon raised his obsidian blade, its edge shimmering with dark energy. His movements were fluid and calculated, as if he were toying with Edred rather than preparing for a serious fight. They circled each other, the tension between them palpable.
"Let's end this," Edred muttered.
Abellon's smirk widened, his eyes narrowing into slits. "Oh, we will."
And with that, they clashed.
The sound of metal clashing with metal echoed through the clearing as their swords met. Edred's golden aura surged, but Abellon matched each strike with a precision and ease that sent chills down Edred's spine. The obsidian blade, sharp and merciless, was more than just a weapon—it seemed to pulse with a darkness all its own.
"You've improved," Abellon said mockingly as he parried a heavy strike. "But it's still not enough."
Edred pressed on, forcing himself into a relentless offensive. His strikes were rapid, aiming for any weakness in Abellon's defenses. But each time he thought he found an opening, Abellon would deflect with almost unnatural grace, his blade weaving through the air like a shadow.
Abellon's counters were swift, calculated, and brutal. He slashed at Edred's side, narrowly missing but grazing his armor, leaving a trail of dark energy that crackled and stung against his skin. Edred's heart raced—Abellon wasn't just playing; he was biding his time, wearing Edred down.
"You're faltering already," Abellon jeered. "Pathetic. Did you really think you could challenge me?"
Edred said nothing, gritting his teeth as he pushed through his fatigue. His mind flashed back to Rohanna's final moments, her scream of agony as Abellon tore her life away without a second thought. She had betrayed them, yes, but no one deserved that fate. Abellon's cruelty, his complete disregard for life, burned like a fire in Edred's chest.
Abellon swung low, and Edred barely dodged, rolling to his feet as pain shot through his ribs. The golden aura around him flickered and dimmed for a moment. He couldn't afford to lose focus, not now.
"You're running out of time, Edred," Abellon said with a cruel smile. "It's only a matter of time before you break."
Edred knew he couldn't keep fighting like this. Abellon's strength and speed were overwhelming, and he was already drained from the previous battle. He needed something more, something to give him an edge. But what?
His mind raced, grasping at any idea that might work. Then it hit him—he had been relying on his Legendary Warrior skill, but there were others. He still had the Assassin, Mage, and Berserker powers within him. It was dangerous to combine them all at once—his body might not be able to handle it—but there was no other choice.
He closed his eyes for a split second, centering himself. Then, with a roar, Edred unleashed everything.
The golden aura around him flared back to life, but this time, it was laced with black streaks from The Assassin, red bursts from The Berserker, and blue arcs of energy from The Mage. The combined power surged through his veins, igniting every muscle with newfound strength and speed.
Abellon's eyes narrowed in surprise, and for the first time since the battle began, his mocking grin faltered.
"What are you—?" Abellon's question was cut short as Edred shot forward with incredible speed, his sword a blur of light and shadow.
Their blades collided, but this time, Edred's strength matched Abellon's. His strikes were faster, sharper, and more unpredictable as he wove between techniques. The raw power of The Berserker amplified his attacks, while The Assassin gave him the precision to find gaps in Abellon's defenses. Blue energy from The Mage skill crackled around his blade, adding a layer of unpredictability to each strike.
Abellon grunted as Edred's sword grazed his chest, drawing a thin line of blood. He staggered back, eyes wide with shock.
"How…?" Abellon hissed, touching the wound as dark energy bubbled beneath his fingertips.
Edred didn't respond. He pressed the attack, each strike more vicious than the last. Abellon was on the defensive now, his moves more erratic as Edred's newfound strength overwhelmed him. The golden aura around Edred burned brighter, and he felt the power surging within him, pushing him beyond his limits.
But Abellon wasn't done yet.
"You think you've won?" Abellon snarled as he took a step back, his breath labored. "I've barely begun."
Before Edred could react, Abellon raised his sword, and the air around them seemed to darken. A chilling wind swept through the clearing as the ground beneath their feet began to crack and tremble. Edred staggered, his aura flickering as an overwhelming sense of dread filled the air.
Dark energy swirled around Abellon, his eyes glowing with a sinister red light. His wounds began to close, and the obsidian blade in his hand pulsed with life, radiating an aura of malevolent power.
"You've fought well," Abellon said, his voice echoing with dark resonance. "But you've only seen a fraction of my true power."
The ground split open beneath them, and from the darkness, a massive form began to rise. It was a towering figure made of shadow, its eyes glowing with the same red light as Abellon's. The creature let out a roar that shook the heavens, its enormous claws tearing through the air as it loomed over Edred.
Edred's heart raced as he stared up at the monster. It was unlike anything he had ever faced. His combined skills had given him the power to stand against Abellon, but this… this was something far more terrifying.
Abellon's laugh echoed through the clearing as the monstrous shadow advanced. "This is the end, Edred."
Just as the monstrous creature lunged at Edred, claws raised to strike, a blinding beam of light shot through the air, hitting the creature's arm and forcing it back. The creature roared in pain, staggering as the light cut through its dark form.
"Not yet!" came Jericho's voice from behind Edred.
Edred turned, his heart lifting as he saw his friends—Jericho, Vnz, and Lianne—standing at the edge of the battlefield, their weapons drawn and their faces grim with determination.
"Thought you could use some help," Jericho said, raising his staff as a second blast of light shot toward the creature.
Vnz stepped forward, his sword already glowing with energy. "We're not letting you face this alone, Edred."
Lianne nodded, her bow drawn as she unleashed a volley of arrows, each one glowing with magic as they found their mark in the creature's dark flesh.
Abellon's eyes narrowed as he watched them join the fight. "More fools for the slaughter, then," he growled.
Edred felt a surge of hope as his friends stood by his side. They had fought together through impossible odds before, and they would do it again.
"Let's end this," Edred said, raising his sword high as his aura flared back to life.
With his friends by his side, he knew they had a chance.
The final battle was just beginning.