The Phantom Captain showed none of the haste of its subordinates. It stood imposing, its greatsword planted in the ground, the light in the eye slits of its helm carefully observing Yanaki's party. The invisible pressure it radiated was much heavier.
As Sylva stepped forward, preparing for another duel, the captain's voice rang out, clear and authoritative.
"Challenger, step forward. But know this, a captain never fights alone. Your comrades may support you, but they are forbidden from attacking me directly. Those are the rules of a commander's duel. Show me your coordination."
Yanaki was stunned. This wasn't a 1-on-1 duel. This was a test of party tactics. This phantom didn't just want to see strength; it wanted to see the ability to command.
Sylva moved into position, and the duel began.
Immediately, Yanaki noticed the difference. The Phantom Captain wasn't agile, but each swing of its greatsword carried an overwhelming force.
CRASH!
Sylva raised its shield to block. Even though it had been enhanced, the [Tree God's Shield] was still pushed back, and a new crack appeared. The damage Sylva received was significantly greater. Its passive regeneration couldn't keep up.
After a few probing swings, the captain roared and used a skill. Its greatsword drew a wide arc, and a crescent-shaped wave of sword energy flew out. [Waning Moon Slash]!
"Sylva, fall back!" Yanaki yelled in her mind.
Her Protector reacted instantly, taking a step back, but the arc was too wide. It was still caught by a part of the attack, and its HP dropped by a considerable chunk. If this continued, Sylva wouldn't last long.
Yanaki knew she couldn't just stand by and watch. "Elara, sing!"
The melody of the [Serene Lullaby] rang out once more. It couldn't put a disciplined level 19 spirit to sleep, but the deep sorrow in the song still had an effect. The captain's attacks seemed to slow down slightly, the decisiveness in each swing somewhat diminished.
That small interference was all Yanaki needed. She became a true commander. Her eyes analyzed every movement, every rhythm of the Phantom Captain.
"He's going for a vertical chop! Sylva, block and counter with vines!"
Sylva obeyed without question. It raised its shield, enduring the devastating blow, and as soon as the captain finished its swing, roots erupted from the ground, binding the phantom's feet. [Root Prison]!
Rooted for a moment, the captain lost its attack rhythm. This was Sylva's chance to recover a little. The battle gradually became a performance of coordination. Yanaki commanded, Elara debuffed, and Sylva executed perfectly. They couldn't deal much damage, but they were effectively wearing down their opponent's energy.
Being held at bay by an opponent of a lower level, the Phantom Captain seemed to have lost its patience. It roared, planting its greatsword firmly into the ground. A massive amount of energy began to gather.
"He's using his ultimate skill!" Elara warned. "It's an area-of-effect attack! We can't dodge it!"
"Elara, sing with all the sorrow of Erathos!" Yanaki made a bold decision. "Sylva, don't defend yourself! Use [Tree God's Shield] to cover Elara!"
Elara understood. She poured all of her emotions into the song. The melody was no longer a lullaby; it became a dirge, a lament for an entire fallen kingdom. That tangible sorrow collided head-on with the captain's erupting sword aura.
At the same time, the Phantom Captain unleashed its attack. [Aura Burst]!
An explosion of energy spread across the training ground. But it had been significantly weakened by Elara's dirge. Sylva, shielding Elara, took the brunt of the remaining explosion. It was thrown far back, its body covered in scratches, but they both remained standing.
After unleashing its ultimate skill, the captain fell into a momentary state of exhaustion.
"Now!" Yanaki yelled.
Sylva didn't miss the opportunity. It charged forward like an arrow, using its own shield to ram straight into the Phantom Captain. Defenseless, the phantom was knocked sprawling to the ground.
The duel was over.
The Phantom Captain slowly got to its feet. The anger was gone, replaced by astonishment and a hint of admiration.
"Impressive... coordination," it said, its voice echoing. "You don't just have a strong warrior; you are an army. I concede defeat wholeheartedly."
With that, the captain's spirit gave them one last nod, then dissolved into light, serene and fulfilled.
[You have completed a Commander's Duel.]
[You have received 450 EXP.]
[You have obtained item: [Captain's Pauldron Fragment (Material - D-Rank)].]
The path to the next area was open. Yanaki's party, though tired, had won a glorious victory. They had proven that coordination and tactics could overcome a gap in levels.
They walked through the large door, entering what seemed to be the citadel's armory. Hundreds of spectral sets of armor and weapons were on display, and other phantoms were drifting between them. The trials of the Ancient Citadel were far from over.