Aren struggled to get back on his feet.
His vision was blurred. Several of his ribs were screaming in agony, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
A few meters away lay his sword.
Well… what was left of it.
Half the blade had been shattered.
"This thing…"
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
"It's a monster."
FWOOOSH!
An arrow streaked across the red sand.
CLANG!
It was deflected by the chimera's greatsword.
Vali was panting, his face drenched in sweat and blood.
"Hey, stop daydreaming. If you're looking to die, at least wait until I've used up all my arrows."
Aren offered a faint smile.
"Still standing?"
"I could ask you the same."
FWOOOSH!
Another arrow flew. Then another.
CLANG!
CLANG!
None of them managed to wound the chimera, but they were enough to keep its focus elsewhere.
"Kill the Saint."
BOOM!
The creature lunged.
Aren snatched up his broken blade and charged to meet it.
CLANG!
The chimera's greatsword met his jagged steel. His arms went numb.
"Too heavy!"
BOOOM!
The impact sent Aren flying backward.
CRACK!
He slammed into two trees. A sharp, searing pain tore through his entire body.
"My ribs…"
He gritted his teeth and, slowly, pulled himself back up.
Vali looked at him, surprised.
"Seriously..."
He loosed another arrow.
"You're a real monster, you know that?"
Aren spat blood again.
"Not as much as it is."
Vali smiled, but then his hand froze. His face went pale.
"No..."
He fumbled through his quiver, searching frantically.
"Damn it."
Aren realized the situation immediately.
"Out of arrows?"
Vali sighed and let his bow drop.
SCHLING!
A dagger appeared in his hand.
"I hate this."
He dropped into a combat stance.
"But I suppose an archer can handle close-quarters combat, too."
Aren smirked.
"I thought that was the only way you knew how to fight."
"I'm a Paladin first, an archer second."
BOOM!
The two men charged.
CLANG!
CLANG!
Their blades struck the chimera's greatsword, but they were repelled every time. Red sand swirled violently around them.
Meanwhile, Stella was at Kayla's side. She extended a trembling hand.
"Respond to me…"
A faint light flickered, then—PSSSH—it vanished.
"Again…"
She tried once more, but the ambient mana refused to answer her call.
"Why?" She gritted her teeth. "Why now?"
Kayla placed a soft hand over Stella's.
"Thank you."
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be."
BOOM!
In the distance, Aren and Vali were thrown back again. This time, it was Vali who slammed into a tree.
CRACK!
Blood sprayed from his mouth, yet he forced himself up.
"I've had worse."
"Liar," Aren replied.
They exchanged a pained smile. Then—
"Kill the Saint."
BOOM!
The chimera vanished.
"Behind you!"
Aren spun around instantly.
CLANG!
His broken blade blocked the strike, but new fissures raced down the steel.
"It's going to break!"
Vali slid to the side.
SWISH!
His dagger carved a gash into the chimera's leg. Black blood geysered out.
"Now!"
Aren leaped.
SLASH!
His blade severed the creature's right arm. But before they could react, the limb began to regrow instantly.
Both men went pale.
"This filth…" Aren hissed.
"Kill the Saint."
BOOOM!
The pressure surged, suffocating. Even Vali struggled to breathe.
"This thing… it's getting stronger," he wheezed.
Aren wiped the blood from his face.
"Then we'll just have to be stronger than it is."
"Easier said than done."
BOOM!
They were sent flying again. Vali rolled for several meters, while Aren hit the ground with a sickening thud.
But he rose again.
I can't fall. Not in front of her. Not in front of Kayla.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
The chimera appeared directly in front of him. His eyes widened.
Too fast!
There was no time. Vali was too far away; Stella was with Kayla. And Jariz…
"Damn it!"
BOOOM!
A silhouette flashed forward.
Jariz. He had left the stabilized Berm behind, and without a moment's hesitation, he stepped in front of Aren.
CRACK!!
The greatsword struck his body. Jariz's eyes flew wide, and blood erupted from his throat.
"Jariz!!"
BOOOM!
His body was launched into the trees.
"JARIZ!"
Aren sprinted, followed by Vali and a frantic Stella. Jariz lay broken, covered in blood, his breathing shallow—dangerously shallow.
Aren fell to his knees.
"You idiot…"
"Why?"
Jariz offered a weak smile, coughing up blood as he looked at Aren.
"Idiot…"
"You promised we'd make it out of this forest alive," Aren choked out.
Jariz's breath hitched, growing thinner by the second.
"So…" he whispered, smiling faintly. "Don't go making me a liar."
His eyes drifted shut.
"Jariz?"
No answer.
"JARIZ!"
Stella frantically checked his pulse, then let out a shaky breath of relief.
"He's alive. But he's severely wounded."
Vali looked away, his jaw tight.
"What a fool."
Aren remained silent. He slowly stood up, his eyes burning with a glacial, murderous rage. He picked up his broken blade and fixed his gaze on the chimera.
I will kill you. Even if it costs me my life.
Before him, the chimera slowly raised its greatsword.
"Kill the Saint."
BOOOM!
And it charged once more.
BOOOM!
The chimera lunged once more.
Aren scrambled to meet it.
CLANG!
His broken blade slammed against the creature's greatsword. A violent surge of agony ripped through his arms.
I'm going to lose my grip!
Vali appeared from the side.
SWISH!
His dagger sliced into the chimera's arm.
"Don't lose focus!"
The severed limb regenerated instantly.
"Damn it…"
Vali retreated, his breathing ragged. Blood streamed down his left arm, yet he forced himself back into a defensive stance.
"Can you still fight?" Aren gasped.
"I'm tougher than I look."
BOOM!
The chimera vanished, then reappeared directly in front of Vali.
Too fast!
CLANG!
Vali raised his dagger to block.
CRACK!
The blade shattered.
BOOOM!
The follow-up strike slammed into his shoulder.
"ARGH!"
Vali's body rolled across the ground. His vision blurred, but he forced himself up again. Aren stared in disbelief. This man… why does he keep going?
Vali offered a grim smile.
"If I fall… who's going to protect the Saint?"
He dropped into a new stance. His legs were shaking, his body covered in lacerations, but his eyes remained unflinching.
Meanwhile, Kayla knelt on the ground. Her sacred mana was regenerating, but it was agonizingly slow. She extended her consciousness toward the chimera—observing, listening, feeling.
Suddenly, her sightless eyes snapped open.
"Aren! Vali!"
They both turned.
"The core! It's in the right side of its chest!"
The two men froze.
"Are you sure?" Aren shouted.
"Yes! I can feel it! Destroy it!"
BOOM!
The chimera lunged for Aren.
CLANG!
He barely managed to block with his broken blade. Suddenly, Vali surged forward.
BAM!
He collided with the creature intentionally.
"Go! I'll hold it!"
"Vali, no!"
BOOOM!
The greatsword pierced straight through Vali's stomach.
Time seemed to freeze. Blood sprayed into the air, but Vali only smiled, his hands locked onto the creature's arm.
"I've got you…"
The chimera tried to pull its blade free, but Vali refused to let go.
"Now! Aren!"
Aren's eyes went wide.
"You madman!"
BOOOM!
He charged. All the pain in his body vanished; there was nothing left in the world but Vali's voice.
"NOW!!"
SLASH!
His broken blade plunged into the right side of the creature's chest.
CRACK!
Something shattered inside. The chimera froze.
Vali collapsed to his knees as the greatsword was pulled from his gut, his body hitting the floor with a hollow thud.
"Vali!"
Aren backed away, panting. The chimera's body began to tremble.
CRACK! CRACK!
Fissures raced across its form—and then, silence. The red sand continued to swirl, but the creature's regeneration had finally stopped.
Aren smiled. "We did it…"
Kayla let out a sigh of relief. Stella slumped, her shoulders sagging. Even Berm, still unconscious, seemed to breathe more easily.
But the chimera didn't fall.
Its body shuddered, and a pitch-black aura began to leak from its wounds.
BZZZZZZ...
Aren's brow furrowed. That sensation—he had felt it before. Somewhere. But where?
Then, his heart stopped.
The border… the two brothers…
That same sensation. That same darkness. That same all-consuming hatred.
He didn't have time to process it.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The black aura detonated. The earth cracked, and trees were uprooted by the sheer force of the shockwave.
Stella went pale; Kayla trembled. Even Aren stumbled back.
In the center of the dark tempest, the chimera's eyes opened. For the first time since the fight began, its voice wasn't hollow—it was filled with rage.
"Kill..."
"Kill..."
"Kill the Saint."
Aren felt his blood run cold. Something told him that the true fight… was only just beginning.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The black aura detonated. The ground beneath Aren's feet fractured, and the shockwave was so immense that even he was forced back. Stella collapsed to her knees, and Kayla clutched her crucifix tightly to her chest.
This thing…
Even without its regeneration, the pressure it emitted had become far more terrifying.
In the center of the dark tempest, the chimera stood motionless. Its body was a tapestry of deep fissures, and black blood pooled at its feet. Yet, it stood.
"Kill..."
"Kill..."
"Kill the Saint."
BOOM!
It vanished. Aren't eyes widened. Too fast!
BOOOOM!
He managed to raise his broken blade just in time.
CLANG!!
His arms groaned under the strain before his body was violently hurled backward.
CRACK!
Two more ribs snapped.
"GAH!"
Aren rolled several meters, his broken blade skittering from his numb fingers. This time, he didn't rise. His vision was clouded, and his body simply refused to obey his commands.
Get up… he pleaded with himself. Rise… Rise!
But his muscles remained unresponsive.
BOOM!
The chimera turned toward Vali. The Paladin was on his knees, clutching his skewered stomach, having already lost a catastrophic amount of blood. Even so, he tried to stand.
"No…" he wheezed, spitting out blood. "Not… while I still draw breath…"
BOOM!
The greatsword descended. Vali raised his arm to block.
CRACK!
His left arm shattered, and the force of the blow slammed him against a tree. This time, he didn't get back up.
"Vali!" Aren screamed, but his voice was a frail rasp.
Stella trembled, paralyzed by terror. She wanted to run, to help, but her legs felt like lead. I'm scared… I'm so scared…
Kayla reached out and placed her hand over Stella's.
"Stella," she said, her voice soft and serene. "Thank you."
Stella shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "No… I haven't done anything. I've been useless."
Kayla smiled. "You were with me. That is enough."
She stood up.
"Kayla!" Stella grabbed her robes. "What are you doing?"
Kayla kept that same gentle smile. "I think… this is the end."
"No! Stop it!"
But Kayla only shook her head. "Since the day I was born, everyone told me I was the Saint. That I existed only to save others."
She looked toward Aren. Even in her blindness, she knew. She could feel his presence, his ragged breathing. Her brother was there. Her big brother—the one who had always shielded her.
Her lips trembled. "I'm sorry… Big Brother."
She stepped forward. Red sand swirled around her like a funeral shroud. The chimera fixed its gaze upon her.
"Kill the Saint."
BOOM!
It materialized in front of Kayla.
Stella shrieked. "KAYLAAAA!!"
Aren tried to rise. His limbs shook violently, refusing to move. No… not her. Not Kayla. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird.
Move! he roared internally. Move! MOVE!!
Nothing.
Kayla smiled softly. "It's okay. Everything will be fine."
The chimera raised its greatsword.
Stella threw herself in front of Kayla, her entire body shaking, her legs buckling. Yet, she didn't retreat.
"I'm… I'm scared," she sobbed, tears blurring her vision. She gritted her teeth. "But I'm her friend! And I won't let you kill her!"
"Kill the Saint."
BOOM!
The blade descended. Stella closed her eyes. Kayla did the same.
And Aren… for the first time in years, something inside his heart truly shattered.
No… not again. I can't lose anyone else…
At that very instant, somewhere very far away, a pair of eyes slowly opened.
"That presence…" a voice echoed.
"Interesting," another voice replied.
And just as the chimera's greatsword was about to claim Stella—
A cold, commanding voice cut through the air.
"You have caused enough damage."
BOOOOOOOOM!!!!!
The entire world seemed to shudder. And the chimera's greatsword… stopped dead in its tracks.