The battlefield had gone still.
Only the whistling wind carried the scent of blood and dust as Raghul rose from the crater he had made moments ago.
His massive frame crackled with red energy. The aura around him twisted, forming a translucent veil over his skin — like molten glass capturing fury. The scar on his face stopped burning, but it glowed faintly, pulsing with every heartbeat.
Before him, Flint stood… battered, breathing hard, yet unyielding.
Even the air trembled between them.
The remaining bandits, barely twenty, froze where they stood. The last thirteen Kabolts and Ghouls, their bodies cracked and bloodied, turned toward the center of the battlefield. Even the clashing steel between Onyx and Ardan ceased for a moment.
Ardan smirked and lowered his blade slightly. "Heh… you don't get to see this form often," he muttered, glancing at the black-armored ghoul before him. "Let's enjoy this, shall we?"
Onyx's violet eyes glowed in the shadows, unblinking, his lance lowered but ready.
Across the field, Zeven locked swords with Theo. Their blades screeched against each other, sparks bursting like stars. Zeven's blood-slick grin widened.
"You'll have to get over my dead body to reach that scaled bastard, brat!"
Theo's eyes burned with defiance. "Then I'll gladly do that."
Up above, from the broken ramparts, Kairo watched everything — his breath shallow, his thoughts racing. He cursed under his breath.
"This is my fault… I should've been monitoring them. I should've known it'd escalate this far."
The Command Nexus shimmered to life before him, lines of light forming symbols.
Unique Skill Identified: [Berserk].
Effect: Immense increase in strength and endurance.
Drawback: Severe post-effect weakness after ten minutes.
"Ten minutes…" Kairo muttered, eyes widening. "He just has to last ten minutes. Flint, you just need to survive that long."
He clenched his fists, the glow of the Nexus reflecting in his eyes. "You've fought this far, I won't let you fall now."
Raghul's laughter boomed. "Come, lizard! Let's make this interesting!"
He charged, the ground cracking beneath his feet.
Flint's claws dug into the soil. His muscles tensed. He sidestepped the first swing — a heavy, air-ripping hook — then rolled under the next, his tail whipping up dust.
Raghul's axe came crashing down like thunder. Flint crossed his scaled arms to block, sliding back, claws digging deep furrows into the earth. Sparks flared as metal met hardened scales.
"Not bad," Raghul grinned, eyes wild. "You've got a spine after all!"
Flint didn't respond — couldn't. His silence was his defiance.
He countered, leaping forward with a powerful spin, his tail glowing faintly as he unleashed Tail Smash, striking Raghul square in the jaw.
The giant stumbled back a step — just a step — before laughing again.
"Good! GOOD!"
He slammed his fists together, activating Carnage Grip. Crimson veins spread across his arms, steam hissing from his skin. He lunged again, faster this time.
Flint ducked and weaved, dodging by inches. Each punch created a shockwave, sending sand flying. One caught Flint's shoulder — bone cracked, and blood splattered the ground.
Still, Flint held on. He twisted, swept his tail low, and tripped Raghul's leg, slamming his claws into the ground to pivot away from the next strike.
Kairo's voice echoed in his mind through the link.
"Stay defensive, Flint! Don't match power — evade!"
Raghul swung again, but Flint slipped past, using his tail as a springboard to gain distance. He hissed, tail flicking.
Another clash. Another exchange. The rhythm of the fight became almost musical — blow, dodge, counter, leap.
Elsewhere, Theo and Zeven's duel raged.
"You can't get past me!" Zeven growled, using Bloodline Edge, his blade glowing crimson.
Theo ducked under the slash, countering with Rattle of the Deep, his swords vibrating with low-toned energy. The shockwave shattered Zeven's guard, sending him skidding back.
Zeven wiped the blood from his mouth, smirking. "Good hit. But not good enough."
Theo's eyes darted toward Flint — toward the massive figures trading blows. "Move. Or I'll cut you down."
"Then do it," Zeven hissed, blades crossing again as they clashed in a storm of sparks.
Back at the walls, Kairo's eyes narrowed. He noticed Onyx still facing Ardan.
"Onyx," he ordered through the link, "pivot — support Flint. I'll handle the bandits."
Onyx nodded silently, shadows rippling under his feet as he blurred forward.
Ardan swung to stop him, but a towering green-scaled Kabolt intercepted his blade, shield raised.
The impact rang out like a gong.
Ardan growled. "Out of my way, beast."
Another Kabolt leapt from behind, spear stabbing toward him. Ardan deflected, twisting mid-air, his sword carving a half-circle of light.
He was surrounded — half a dozen Kabolts closing in, their movements synchronized.
"Tch," he spat. "Annoying insects."
The fight turned into chaos — Ardan's heavy swings against the precise formation of Kabolts, every clash sparking like lightning across the field.
Meanwhile, Onyx arrived beside Flint.
Flint staggered, bleeding from multiple cuts, but when Onyx landed beside him, their eyes met — understanding without words.
They both turned to Raghul.
Raghul grinned, blood dripping from his lip. "Two against one? Heh… fine by me."
Flint charged first, distracting Raghul with swift jabs and feints. Onyx moved behind, his black lance coated in dark energy. He spun, launching a shadow-coated blade that sliced Raghul's shoulder.
Raghul roared, swinging wildly, his aura flaring. The ground cracked under his strength.
Flint ducked low, tail glowing again as he slammed Raghul's ribs. Onyx lunged, thrusting his lance — it pierced through Raghul's armor, blood spraying in an arc.
Raghul laughed through the pain. "Finally… something worth bleeding for!"
He caught Onyx's lance bare-handed, pulling the ghoul forward before slamming a punch into his chest. Onyx was thrown back, crashing into a ruined wall.
Flint leapt in, claws flashing, scratching across Raghul's chest and shoulder, scales glimmering in the crimson light.
But Raghul's power didn't fade. He tackled Flint, driving him through a half-collapsed tower, dust and stone exploding outward.
Theo saw it. His eyes widened. "FLINT!"
He pushed Zeven back, rage igniting. His movements became faster, more vicious.
Zeven laughed, blocking each strike barely in time. "Looks like your friend's about to die!"
Theo screamed, swinging both swords in a furious arc. Their clash sent a wave of energy that threw Zeven back.
Blood dripped down Zeven's chin, but he laughed — tiredly, almost fondly.
Raghul stomped toward Flint's motionless body, chuckling. "And here I thought you'd last longer, lizard."
But then Flint's tail twitched. Slowly, he rose, body trembling but defiant.
Raghul's grin faded into surprise — and then respect.
"…Heh. You're still standing?"
Even Ardan froze mid-fight, glancing their way.
Raghul smiled wide, eyes softening for just a second. "Fine. Let's finish this properly."
Onyx dashed in — shadows wrapping his weapon. He drove his lance forward, piercing straight through Raghul's chest. Blood splattered the ground.
Raghul coughed, laughter mixed with blood. His vision blurred, but as he looked at Flint's wounded face, he saw something else — his father's weary smile, hands calloused from years of work.
He whispered, voice fading, "Old man… looks like I finally found a worthy fight…"
Onyx twisted the lance, driving it deeper.
Raghul roared, one final, earth-shaking sound that echoed through the battlefield.
Theo stood over Zeven, both panting. Zeven's blade dropped from his hand.
"Guess… this is it," Zeven said, chuckling weakly.
Theo's eyes softened for a second. "You fought well."
Zeven's grin widened. "… the boss… will avenge us…"
Theo thrust his sword down. Silence.
He looked up, eyes burning with fury toward Ardan.
Ardan clenched his sword, voice cracking with rage. "ZEVEN!"
The battlefield went silent once more.
Raghul, his aura fading, swung one last desperate punch — it hit nothing but air. The light left his eyes as he fell forward, collapsing like a broken mountain.
Flint stood over him, claw raised high. With one final strike, he ended it.
Dust settled.
From the walls, Kairo watched the notification flicker:
[Raghul – Unique Skill: Berserk – Terminated.]
He exhaled in relief.
Flint turned, stumbling toward Theo and Onyx. Theo rushed forward, catching him before he fell.
"You did it," Theo whispered, tears in his voice. "You actually did it."
Flint blinked slowly, exhausted — his breathing heavy, eyes dimming.
Across the battlefield, Ardan stood alone. His sword rested on his shoulder, his expression unreadable.
Both of his lieutenants — gone.
He looked up at the sky, muttering, "So it's just me now…"
Then his gaze shifted to Kairo.
And for the first time, his lips curved into a cold, determined grin.
"Fine then," he said softly. "Let's finish this raid."
The wind howled, carrying the faint echoes of all that had fallen.
The final battle was about to begin.
To be continued.....