Immediately after Tae-geon and Do-yoon jumped into the stream, a black shadow quietly emerged from the darkness near the water's edge.
Beyond the black smoke, faint silhouettes appeared. They seemed to have exhausted a lot of their energy, slowly revealing their true forms from within the smoke.
'The feel of the blade was shallower than I thought… There's no need to take unnecessary risks.'
Arden hesitated, watching the humans who had jumped into the water to chase after Young-ho. Fighting in the water was disadvantageous in many ways.
The restriction of movement, the dulling of their senses—and most of all, their opponents were humans specialized in close combat.
'There's no need to take an unnecessary risk.'
She made her decision. Instead of following them into the water, she would finish them off from a distance.
[TWANG!]
At her gesture, the two middle-aged Dark Elves waiting behind her quietly drew their bowstrings. An aura, like a heat haze, rose from the tips of their bows, soon turning their arrowheads black.
Their targets were just two: Tae-geon and Do-yoon, who were cutting through the water toward Young-ho. But at that moment—
[PEEEEEEP!]
A sharp whistle echoed through the forest. The Dark Elves' expressions all hardened, and Arden gritted her teeth, frowning.
"Oh, for God's sake..."
She turned her head to the archers who were about to shoot their arrows.
"They're coming. Get ready to fight."
Soon after—piercing through the deep darkness, other Dark Elves appeared one after another. From behind bushes and under the shade of trees, they shot out like shadows, positioning themselves one by one along the stream.
[CLATTERING...]
At that moment—a bizarre friction sound, like wet leather dragging through mud, came from the edge of the forest across the stream. The Dark Elves' gazes all turned in that direction.
An endlessly repeated standoff. A presence that was both familiar and frightening, one they had faced countless times, and countless times had cut down.
[GRRRRRR...]
A wet, deep growl, as if scratching the throat, echoed through the forest. The tension was palpable.
The Dark Elves instinctively lowered their stances. Some drew their swords, others raised their bows.
"They're here! Get ready!"
Arden narrowed her eyes and watched the forest on the opposite side of the stream.
And—the dense bushes parted, revealing a massive figure, as large as two adult men combined. A lizard standing on two legs. Its blackish-blue scales absorbed the light. Its forked tongue trembled, and its green eyes flashed coldly.
"...A Lizardman."
One of the Dark Elves muttered with a look of disgust.
"Since the water is low... they must have expanded their hunting range."
Arden bit her lip. This stretch of the valley had been a conflict zone where Lizardmen and Dark Elves had shed blood for years.
Meanwhile—Tae-geon, who had pulled Young-ho to the water's edge, looked up at the Dark Elves lined up along the stream and said quietly.
"Don't worry about them. We're saving Young-ho first."
"Yes. Let's move him slowly."
The two men joined hands without a word. Tae-geon checked Young-ho's wounds and started moving with Do-yoon.
The Lizardmen on the opposite side of the stream seemed completely uninterested in the injured humans. Their gaze was fixed only on the Dark Elves in their black leather armor.
[GRRRRRR...]
The sound of their breathing grew harsher. And—
[CRASH!]
The ground shook. A Lizardman kicked off the ground and leaped.
[SPLASH! WHUMP. WHUMP.]
Its massive body crashed into the stream one after another, sending up columns of water. From within the spray, black silhouettes slowly approached, crossing the stream.
"No retreat! Archers, prepare to fire!"
Arden shouted in a sharp voice.
[TWANG! TWANG!]
The Dark Elf archers all pulled their bowstrings. The magical energy that rose like black smoke enveloped the arrowheads, exuding a cold murderous intent.
"Fire!"
[THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!]
The magical arrows flew in a straight line, not a parabola. The black arrows charged toward the Lizardmen like a wall of darkness that had appeared in the air.
[STAB!] [CLINK! TINK-TINK-TINK!]
Some pierced the Lizardmen's eyes and the gaps in their scales, causing them to collapse, paralyzed and blackened. But most of the arrows bounced off their thick scales like a downpour.
"As expected... their scales are too thick..."
One of the archers muttered in a flustered voice. Before he could finish his sentence—
[GRRRRRR...]
The Lizardmen, having crossed the stream, curled up their upper lips and gathered their forked tongues like straws. A sticky saliva began to pool around their mouths.
[HIIIIIIIISS!!]
Suddenly—a sharp jet of acidic liquid tore through the air.
"Dodge—!"
[PSCHHHHHH!!]
The liquid hit one of the archers squarely on the shoulder, and his scream tore through the forest.
"Gahhh!!"
His armor melted, and his flesh peeled away, steaming. A acrid smell of burning flesh spread—
[PSCH!]
"GAHHH!"
Another archer screamed and rolled on the ground.
[HIIIIIIIISS! HIIIIIIIISS!]
As if it were a signal, acidic spit flew from all directions.
"Archer formation is broken! Swordsmen, advance!"
Arden roared.
[CLATTER!]
The Dark Elf swordsmen kicked off the ground and charged.
[WHOOSH! BANG!]
One, at the front, ran with his back bent forward, and two others following behind stepped on his back one after another, leaping into the air.
[CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!]
Their swords struck like lightning, but the Lizardmen's scales repelled them like steel. Even thrusts aimed at the gaps in their scales failed to penetrate deeply.
That's when it happened.
[WOOOSH—!]
A Lizardman's tail swung through the air and spun in a circle.
[CRACK!!]
A single Elf, who was swinging his sword, was sent flying, his back broken, and he broke a tree clean in half with his body.
[THUD! THUMP!]
He hit the ground, rolled a few times, and then didn't move.
"Spread out to the sides! Aim for the soft armpits!"
Despite Arden's command, the swordsmen hesitated. Their massive size, tough scales, and deadly acidic spit. This was not an opponent that could be taken on with a simple charge.
"The difference in power is too great...!"
A middle-aged Dark Elf muttered, sweat beading on his forehead.
[WHOOSH! CRASH!]
At that moment, a large fireball flew from behind and exploded on a Lizardman. Its scales burst open, and its flesh turned into a mangled mess. The foul smell of burnt meat filled the air.
The swordsmen instinctively fell back. Arden's head snapped around.
"Mother...!"
There. Among the black-haired Dark Elves, stood the only Elf with golden hair. She was an Elder.
With a red flame in her hand, she briefly scanned the battlefield and then fixed her gaze on the bleeding, collapsed Young-ho.
"Arden. Who are those humans?"
"...They are intruders who trespassed into our territory."
Arden approached and whispered quietly.
"Then why are they still alive?"
The Elder narrowed her eyes and silently watched Tae-geon and Do-yoon.
"Their close combat skills... are superior to ours. That's why we haven't been able to kill them."
At Arden's words, the Elder closed her eyes in thought for a moment, then slowly opened her mouth.
"He's not dead yet. But there is no time. We must begin treatment before the bleeding stops."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Do-yoon took a step forward and shouted.
"You can really save him, right? Please, I beg you!"
The Elder pointed to the battlefield with emotionless eyes.
"There is a condition."
"..."
"Cooperate in this battle. Fight for us. Then... I will save his life."
"Can we trust your word?"
Tae-geon said, his bloodshot eyes glaring at the Elder.
The Elder did not avoid his gaze, and answered indifferently.
"Don't trust me. But... you don't have a choice right now."
A brief moment of silence. And then—
"...Fine."
Tae-geon said through gritted teeth.
"If you lie, I'll break your neck."
Tae-geon clenched his pale fists, turned around, and picked up the shield he had dropped on the ground. Do-yoon also nodded silently, picking up a spear next to him.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes! There's no time!"
As if by an unspoken agreement, the two men charged forward simultaneously.
[THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!]
They plunged into the front line where the Dark Elves were being pushed back. A Lizardman was aiming its spear at the side of a Dark Elf who was about to swing his sword, and Tae-geon took advantage of that opening.
[CLANG-CLANG!]
By tilting his shield diagonally, he deflected the spear blade, and the Lizardman's center of gravity shifted forward. Tae-geon wedged the Lizardman's arm, which was extended with the spear, into his armpit and spun around.
[CRUNCH!]
A dull sound of tearing erupted from the scaled elbow, and the monster's arm dangled limply.
"No matter how thick your hide is, you can't hide your joints."
[CRASH!]
With a single throw of the Lizardman by its dangling arm, its head was crushed. The massive body trembled as if it had been electrocuted.
'No time. What's next...'
Meanwhile, Do-yoon attached himself behind a Dark Elf who was in a standoff with a Lizardman.
[CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!]
The Lizardman was swinging a slightly curved polearm to cut the Dark Elf in half. As the Dark Elf dropped his sword and fell backward, the crouched Do-yoon came into view.
[SWIIISH!]
The moment the Dark Elf fell, Do-yoon slid forward as if sweeping the ground, passing underneath the Lizardman's side.
[THUD! THUD!]
Do-yoon hooked his spear shaft onto the joint behind the Lizardman's knee and kicked it with his foot. The opponent lost its balance and fell to one knee.
[THUMP!]
In an instant, Do-yoon grabbed its neck from behind and threw it backward. The moment the Lizardman's back hit the ground, Do-yoon's hand swept across the ground. And his hand, clutching a sword, was shoved directly into the Lizardman's mouth.
"You can't pierce the scales—but the inside is weak."
[CRACK!]
The Lizardman's teeth broke, and the sword pierced through the back of its head and into the ground.
And Do-yoon, too, was in a hurry, rushing toward the next opponent.
Arden saw this and shouted in surprise.
"What are those humans...! Their close combat skills are even greater than the Lizardmen's!"
The Elder quietly turned her head to watch the battle.
The Lizardmen, who had been pushing forward relentlessly, were now unable to advance. The small hope that Tae-geon and Do-yoon had created was slowly changing the tide of the battle.
"The flank is collapsing!"
A Dark Elf shouted, and Arden gritted her teeth.
"Maintain the front line! Their weak points are soft areas like the armpits! If you take them down by targeting their joints like the humans do, their heavy bodies won't be able to get up quickly! That's our chance!"
Black blood splattered, and screams and shouts mingled in the chaotic battle. Do-yoon and Tae-geon were quickly taking down opponents from different directions, but the Lizardmen were numerous, and their size and strength were still a threat.
[THUMP, THUMP!]
A Lizardman charged at Do-yoon from behind. At that moment, Tae-geon used his foot to kick a spear shaft on the ground.
[CLATTER—!]
The spear shaft caught between the Lizardman's legs, causing it to trip and fall forward. As the Lizardman lay on its back, the Dark Elf soldiers swarmed it like a hive of bees.
"Now!"
"Aim for the head!"
Before the Lizardman could even scream, spears and swords were plunged into it.
"We can't keep this up..."
Just as Tae-geon said this, breathing heavily, a horde of Lizardmen charged again. And—
[ROOOOAR! CRASH!!]
From the other side of the forest, trees the height of a man's waist broke one after another, and a monstrous roar echoed. A moment later, a gigantic shadow appeared.
"No, that's not good! Why is a monster like that here!"
A Dark Elf soldier said, his voice filled with terror.
Its body was twice as large as the other Lizardmen. A horn sprouted from its head, and its tail was like a thick log of muscle. It was a rare evolved species, a Lizard Warrior.
"Reorganize the formation! If the center line collapses, it's over!"
Arden screamed. Tae-geon saw the Lizard Warrior's form and, gritting his teeth, turned to Do-yoon.
"Damn it... Do-yoon! Cover my back! I'll take the front!"
And he gripped his shield again. To save Young-ho, he had to take the lead as soon as possible.
[CRASH! CRASH! THUMP! CRACK!]
With every step the Lizard Warrior took, the battlefield trembled. Every time its tail swung, Dark Elf soldiers were sent flying into the air like cannonballs.
"Fall back!"
[WHOOSH! CRASH!]
The Elder launched a fireball. But even in the explosion, the monster's scales were only singed, and it showed no signs of being deterred.
The Lizard Warrior's head snapped around. Its fiery eyes pierced the Elder. And—
It raised its spear. The massive arm slowly went up, and its entire body bent back like a taut bowstring.
[ZZZING! SWIIISH!]
The Elder's pupils widened as she screamed.
"SHIELD! SHIELD!"
[CRACK!]
A transparent shield shattered like glass.
At that moment—as the Lizard Warrior aimed its gaze at the Elder, Tae-geon, sensing the danger, leaped forward with his shield.
[CRUNCH!]
The spear blade struck Tae-geon's shield, and the twisted shield, as if it were being torn apart, channeled the impact along its sloping surface.
[THUMP!]
From the immense recoil, Tae-geon and the Elder were sent flying backward. The tips of Tae-geon's hands trembled slightly.
[COUGH.]
Tae-geon was the first to get up. Staggering to his feet, he glared at the Elder.
"Don't do anything useless and wait. We have a promise to keep."
He stood in front of the Elder again. But his shield was ripped long, and his left arm hung limp as if it were broken.
'Damn it... I'm already short on time, and now it's getting complicated.'
"Hyung! Are you okay?!"
Do-yoon ran over, checked Tae-geon's injuries, and gritted his teeth.
"Hyung... let's just take Young-ho and this old lady and leave. We still have a chance—"
At his words, the Elder turned her head and scoffed.
"If this place falls, even if you drag me away, there's no chance of survival. Stop doing meaningless things."
[GRRRRR...]
The Lizard Warrior slowly raised its head. Its green eyes were now fixed on Tae-geon.
With a torn and blood-soaked shield in hand, Tae-geon met its gaze squarely.
The Lizard Warrior let out a monstrous cry.
[KUOOOOOOOOH!!]
Its two massive legs kicked off the ground and leaped. Its fist, slicing through the sky, came down straight towards Tae-geon.
Tae-geon raised his remaining arm to block. But—
[WHUMP!!]
The impact traveled directly up his arm, crushing his shoulder.
"Gahhh...!"
His right arm also hung limp, and his knees buckled, making one leg give out.
[WOOOSH.]
The Lizard Warrior's tail whipped around like a lash.
[CRASH!!]
Tae-geon's body was sent flying into the air like a puppet with its strings cut.
"Tae-geon hyung!!"
Do-yoon screamed and tried to run, but two Lizardmen blocked his path.
[COUGH, COUGH...]
Tae-geon lay on the ground, spitting up blood. The strength was draining from his entire body.
[THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.]
The sound of massive footsteps. The Lizard Warrior stood in front of Tae-geon. It slowly raised its foot, as if to crush his head.
"No!"
With Do-yoon's desperate scream, the Lizard Warrior's foot came down.
That was the moment.
[CRACK! CRASH!]
Someone kicked off the forest and flew, tearing through the sky like lightning and descending.
[BAM! CRUNCH!!]
The Lizard Warrior's face was distorted.
[THUD!!]
The Lizard Warrior, having been hit squarely by something, had its neck broken and fell backward.
'Who...?'
With the ground-shaking impact, the blood-soaked Tae-geon slowly raised his head. In his blurry vision, he saw someone standing in front of him. The man's back radiated a piercing murderous intent and a red heat haze.
Do-yoon's voice cracked.
"Min-chan hyung..."