Just as the bone blade was about to graze the elf's skin, a blinding yellow light struck like a bolt of lightning. The force repelled the strike, forcing the Nameless King's arms upward against his will.
"Huh?!" The giant's eyebrows shot up as he realized he was losing his balance.
Suddenly, a brilliant flare of divine light filled his vision, blinding him. The Baron was channeling a surge of pure energy.
"May the Goddess of Life have mercy on you... Giant," Kotei muttered.
A searing heat struck the Nameless King's stomach, growing more agonizing by the second. His muscles began to convulse; his eyes rolled back, and saliva escaped his lips.
'I have to... I have to survive this... so I can see my family again,' Kotei thought, teeth gritted in desperation.
The giant crashed to the ground with a sound like a collapsing building. Blood splattered across the dirt.
"AAAAHHHHH!!!" A scream of indescribable agony escaped him—a pain he had never experienced before. The blast had nearly torn through his midsection. The Nameless King writhed on the ground, his entire frame trembling.
In contrast, the Baron stood panting, drenched in sweat. He looked down at his trembling hand.
'Dammit! I used far more mana than usual. And it seems the fight isn't over yet... damn it all!' Kotei cursed internally.
Slowly, the Nameless King pushed his torso up, locking eyes with the Baron with an even more intense killing intent.
'How entertaining... I can taste the blood running down my body!' the King thought, licking his lips with dark satisfaction.
He drove his bone sword into the earth to steady himself and stood up. Seeing this, a cold shiver ran down Baron Kotei's spine.
'Im-Impossible?! How can he stand so quickly after that?' The Baron's heart raced. 'Is the power of the giants truly at this level?'
Suddenly, the giant vanished.
Kotei scanned his surroundings frantically, finding no trace of his foe. Then, a massive presence appeared behind him, dragging a violent gust of wind with it. Kotei spun around, his pupils dilated in terror.
The bone sword swung with such velocity that it seemed to slice the very air in two. Kotei conjured a magical shield as fast as he could. When the weapons collided, a shockwave of energy exploded outward.
Something snapped.
The sword was pulled back, and a clenched fist took its place. The Baron watched, paralyzed by shock, as the Nameless King's punch lunged forward.
'Regina... I'm sorry!'
There was a sickening, wet crack. His body compressed under the force; his arm was crushed against his chest, and his bones shattered with a series of sharp snaps. He was sent flying through the air, leaving a trail of blood behind him.