It was a curse completed through death.
From the very beginning, the masked figure had implanted a powerful spell into the Minotaur commander, at the cost of its own life.
Now, the Minotaur commander's form had transformed.
His shoulders and arms were far thicker than before, and along his spine, bulging veins pulsed as if alive. Dark crimson patterns were etched vividly into his skin, revealing the traces of the spell.
His eyes were bloodshot, red as if veins had burst, and his breaths were ragged, with hot, red steam billowing from his mouth.
Each step he took caved in the solid ground, sending shattered stones flying in all directions. Unrestrained power leaked ceaselessly from his entire body.
"This... this is..."
Tirrellda recoiled in horror. The aura emanating from the commander was utterly different from before. It was more dangerous, more malevolent. His very presence weighed down the surrounding air.
The Minotaur commander charged toward Daroon, axe in hand. His movements were noticeably faster than before, and each thud of his massive hooves against the ground echoed with a dull impact. Dust rose with every stride, and pebbles scattered everywhere.
The commander pursued with heavy, labored breaths, but in the deepening darkness of the forest, Daroon's shadow eventually vanished from sight.
After chasing for some time, he finally halted and exhaled sharply.
"Pepheugen... Dávīskos! (The Dawi scum... has escaped!)"
With eyes blazing in fury, the Minotaur commander glared into the depths of the forest, snorting harshly through his nostrils. He stamped the ground once, then slowly turned and trudged back toward the battlefield.
*****
Deep in the forest, where darkness had settled thickly, only Tirrellda and Hiyalkho remained. Daroon had lured the Minotaur commander farther inward and disappeared, leaving the task of confronting the remaining horde to the two of them, at least for the moment.
The battle against the swarming Minotaurs continued, and the sounds of their hooves crashing through the underbrush grew increasingly savage.
Hiyalkho's blade of ice relentlessly cut down the oncoming Minotaurs. The keen edge traced blue arcs through the night air, and those struck collapsed with frozen wounds.
But their numbers were overwhelming.
In the ceaseless onslaught, Hiyalkho's power began to show its limits.
Tiny cracks appeared in the ice-formed blade, and the once-sharp tip shattered first. The fragmented shards fell to the ground and broke apart, scattering faint ice dust into the air.
The transparent ice surface that composed Hiyalkho grew cloudy, and pieces began to flake off from the blade's edges with cracking sounds, causing Hiyalkho's form to visibly crumble.
"Hiyalkho! You can't go on like this!"
Tirrellda cried out urgently.
Through the spirit's contract, the sensations Tirrellda felt were clear. The power sustaining Hiyalkho's form was on the verge of fading.
"Yes... Tirrellda... Power must be conserved for when you are in danger."
Hiyalkho resonated weakly. The blade glowed deeply once more, and simultaneously, the ice sword's shape began to collapse. The tip shattered and dispersed first, followed by the entire blade cracking and fragmenting. The pieces fell away one by one, soon shimmering in the surrounding air.
"It's a shame not to have finished off that bull leader earlier... but it can't be helped."
Hiyalkho's will was conveyed to Tirrellda, and with that, Hiyalkho released the form.
The shattered fragments swirled in the air, rotating like a whirlwind while imbued with light, then condensed into a single blue orb.
The blue sphere hovered before Tirrellda's chest before quietly seeping into her body.
After catching her breath for a moment, Tirrellda slowly opened her eyes.
The ice sword in her hand began to envelop in a blue aura.
Blue mana flowed thinly along the blade, and soon the entire edge gleamed with clarity.
A frost-like energy rose from the tip, freezing the surrounding air.
Tirrellda steadied her breathing quietly, channeling every bit of remaining mana into her fingertips.
Gripping the sword firmly, she extended the blade straight ahead into the darkness.
Sweat beaded on her forehead, but her eyes remained fixed forward, unwavering.
There was no tremor, no hesitation.
She took a slow step forward.
Her shadow fell silently over the frozen blades of grass.
*****
The battle in Tharn Forest raged on. Fighting in the darkness was no advantage even for the Minotaurs.
Their massive bodies were encased in heavy iron armor, and in their hands, they wielded various weapons—from broad-bladed battle axes to double-edged hand axes and spear-like pointed ones.
But the forest rejected their grandeur.
The thick Minotaur armor snagged on protruding branches, and irregularly jutting tree roots tangled their steps.
Even the moonlight was blocked by the dense canopy of towering trees. The forest unfolding before the Minotaurs lost even the outlines of shadows, succumbing to complete darkness.
Concealed bushes and vines clung persistently to their feet, and the snap of dry branches underfoot disrupted their sense of direction with every step.
Their weight and armament became burdens in this place.
Daroon exploited this to the fullest. Emerging from behind a large tree ample enough to hide his body, he stabbed a Minotaur's leg with his halberd, toppling it, then immediately concealed himself behind another tree. As the fallen Minotaur struggled to rise, Daroon appeared from a different direction and struck its neck.
Tirrellda crouched low, hiding behind a thick tree.
She raised the ice sword in her right hand and focused mana at the tip.
In an instant, the entire blade shimmered and vibrated with blue light, and a sharp ice arrow gradually materialized at the keen edge. Swirling ice crystals converged and solidified into a sturdy ice arrow.
The arrow sliced silently through the darkness.
Beyond the underbrush, one Minotaur clutched its throat and collapsed.
Tirrellda immediately raised the sword again, forming a second arrow.
Three, four. The arrows continued to fly, piercing the enemies.
One embedded deeply into a Minotaur's shoulder.
Shortly after, a short 'crack-boom' sounded as the arrow exploded, scattering ice shards.
As Tirrellda moved behind another tree, she suddenly heard approaching footsteps.
A Minotaur that had closed in right beside her pushed through the bushes and revealed itself.
Tirrellda did not hesitate.
Turning toward the approaching Minotaur, she swung the ice sword roughly sideways, the tip slashing across its flank and digging deep.
Blood froze as it sprayed, and the massive, armored Minotaur let out a short, ragged breath before falling.
She withdrew the sword and swiftly readjusted her stance.
A thin layer of ice coated the blade, with frost flowing over its surface.
Focusing mana at the tip once more, blue light coursed along the edge, forming yet another ice arrow.
In the forest's darkness, more and more Minotaurs fell. Their corpses littered the woods. Those unable to evade Daroon's halberd, which appeared suddenly from behind trees, and those struck by Tirrellda's ice arrows flying from the shadows, increased steadily.
The Minotaur commander raged at the sight of his subordinates' bodies. They could not continue to be picked off in the dark.
"Pýrthe to dásos! Phā́na pánta kýkloi! (Burn the forest! Illuminate everything around!)"
At the commander's order, the Minotaurs began hurling torches at the trees. Dry branches ignited instantly, red flames leaping up. The fire spread from tree to tree, pushing back the forest's darkness.
"Kai án panta pýrthe to dásos... sēlō tha se labō! (Even if I have to burn the entire forest... I will catch you!)"
The commander sneered as he shouted.
As the Minotaurs continued tossing torches everywhere, the flames spread rapidly. The crackling of burning leaves filled the air, accompanied by rising smoke.
"No! This forest... they're burning the forest!"
Tirrellda's voice choked as she cried out. Before her eyes, rising flames devoured the trunks of ancient trees. Through the thick smoke, the sound of dark-red, warped bark cracking echoed. Her fingers trembled. She bit her lip and raised her hand.
"Frost of winter, swallow this fire with your cold breath!"
From Tirrellda's hand, an icy breath surged into the flames, extinguishing several layers of fire in an instant.
But there was no time for Tirrellda to catch her breath. Fire extinguished on one side reignited on another. Embers carried by the wind fell onto dry grass, sparking anew. Flames climbed thick branches swiftly, and the inner bark of a massive oak split with a sharp crack, embracing the fire.
The blaze flowed into every ravine of the forest. As one flame died, another revived. At the edge of Tirrellda's vision, the sound of a tree collapsing resounded. The sky flickered red, and smoke filled her sight completely.
The fire grew larger. The sounds of trees burning and toppling echoed from all directions. The smoke thickened, making breathing difficult. Red light from sparking flames dyed the forest crimson.
Now, the entire forest was illuminated brightly. The positions of Daroon and Tirrellda, hidden in the shadows, were fully exposed. The Minotaurs charged toward them in unison.
Daroon burst through the flames, swinging his halberd wide. But his shoulders sagged heavily. His breaths grew increasingly ragged, and sweat streamed inside his helmet. His movements had slowed compared to before.
"They keep coming endlessly..."
Daroon muttered after exhaling deeply. In his vision, the massive shadows of Minotaurs, lit by red firelight, moved without cease.
Tirrellda extended both hands, attempting to cast another spell. Her fingertips trembled. The ice sword she had held until recently had already vanished.
With the remaining mana, there wasn't even enough power to sustain the ice sword. Cold sweat trickled down Tirrellda's forehead.
"I can't... hold on any longer..."
Tirrellda gasped, stepping back a few paces.
To her, Daroon shouted briefly.
"Tirrellda! Fall back for a moment!"
She looked up.
"I have to stop the fire from spreading. The fire... I'll... try to stop it."
With those words, Tirrellda turned through the tree debris, facing the direction where the flames were spreading.
Just then, through the burning trees, the Minotaur commander emerged. His red eyes gleamed even more vividly in the firelight. With his massive double-bladed axe resting on his shoulder, he advanced slowly toward Daroon.
"Nyn télos soi didōmi... (Now, I will end you...)"
The commander's deep, rough voice reverberated through the burning forest.
Daroon gripped his halberd firmly with both hands and faced the commander. Beneath his helmet, sharp eyes flashed. Though exhausted, his stance remained unshaken.
Against the backdrop of the blazing forest, the two confronted each other. Surrounding Minotaurs formed a circle around them, and the flames continued to roar. Red firelight reflected off the warriors' weapons, glinting sharply.
Wind blew, causing the flames to surge higher. Ash and smoke intertwined, swirling through the gaps in the fire.
The Minotaur commander raised his massive double-bladed axe overhead and charged at Daroon. His hooves pounded the burning ground, kicking up soil that swirled with red flames.
The axe blade cleaved the air, descending toward Daroon's head.
Daroon blocked with his halberd overhead. The clash of metal on metal echoed through the burning forest.
Daroon's arms were pushed downward by the impact. The commander's strength was several times greater than before. Daroon clenched his jaw until his teeth ground, then pushed the halberd upward.
"Huuuum!"
Then, Daroon stepped back, pulling the halberd sideways. Simultaneously, the Minotaur commander swung the opposite blade toward Daroon's side.
Daroon arched his body backward. The axe edge grazed his armor front. A sharp metallic scrape sounded. A long gash marred the armor's surface.
The commander gripped the axe with both hands again and struck vertically downward. Daroon lifted his halberd diagonally to block.
The axe blade lodged between the halberd's axe head and spear tip, sparking briefly.
With weapons locked, the two stood in deadlock.
The Minotaur commander's forearms bulged tautly, black veins protruding.
Daroon's toes slid across the soil as if slipping.
He forced his buckling knee to straighten, enduring the pressure that threatened to bend his elbows backward.
The massive axe bore down on Daroon's halberd, its hot, rough breath assaulting his face.
"Urgh..."
Daroon exhaled shortly, holding firm. Sweat streamed inside his helmet.
The force from the Minotaur commander pressing down on Daroon's halberd grew stronger.
"Huu... huu... huu..."
The hot breaths Daroon expelled met the cold air, forming white steam that rose.
"Krrrraaaaa!"
A low, prolonged growl rumbled from deep in the Minotaur commander's throat, weighing down the air.
Daroon summoned more strength to push the halberd upward. The commander's axe slightly higher. Seizing the moment, Daroon swiftly withdrew the halberd and thrust toward the commander's chest.
The spear tip collided with the commander's iron armor. Sparks flew, scratching the plate, but it didn't penetrate. The commander exploited the opening, swinging his axe toward Daroon's shoulder.
Daroon twisted his body sideways to evade. The axe edge grazed his shoulder armor. Metal fragments broke off.
The two eyed each other, briefly creating distance in their standoff. The commander's red eyes shone more vividly in the firelight. Hot breath escaped his nostrils.
"Tō̱ neō̱ kyríō mou, dṓron dosō tēn kephalēn tou Dávī. (To my new master, I will offer the head of the Dawi.)"
The commander spoke in a low, rough voice. A greenish aura mingled in his tone, clouding the air.
The Minotaur commander lifted his massive double-bladed axe with one hand, raising it overhead.
"Tēthane! Dávī! (Die! Dawi!)"
The Minotaur commander bellowed as he brought the axe down toward Daroon's head. The blade sliced through the air, plummeting.
Daroon thrust the halberd's spear tip toward the commander's jaw. It aimed just below the throat.
The axe blade was moments from reaching Daroon's head.
At that instant, the halberd's tip was nearly touching the Minotaur commander's neck.
It was then.
"Hrrrruuuuuuuuuuum..."
From deep in the forest, a profound, resonant sound echoed. It rose as if from beneath the earth, low and heavy. It overwhelmed all battlefield noises, vibrating the air.
At the immense rumbling, every Minotaur in the forest froze.
The commander's axe halted just above Daroon's head. Daroon's spear tip stopped just short of the commander's jaw.
The advancing Minotaurs all ceased movement, turning toward the direction of the sound. Fear flickered in their eyes.
"Hrrrrrrrrruuuuuuuuuuum..."
The sound shook the entire forest once more. Even the burning trees trembled with the vibration.
The commander's red eyes turned toward the source of the sound.
With everything frozen, they listened to the massive resonance echoing from the forest's depths.