Date: February 12, 542 years since the Fall of Zanra the Dishonored.
The Hall of Atlanteans filled with the screech of steel and the dull thuds that echoed under the citadel's vaults. The battle didn't become a beautiful duel; it immediately turned into a dirty and dangerous struggle for survival. The mercenaries, guided by years of experience, acted as a single organism, seeking to exploit the Order knights' weaknesses as effectively as possible.
Kaedan had it hardest. Five Warriors surrounded him, constantly switching places, not allowing the young man to focus on a single target. Two attackers used long chains with weights, trying to entangle his massive pauldrons and restrict his movement. Kaedan felt the chains clank against his basalt defense, seeking any purchase.
"Hit his head! Where the helmet isn't!" one of the mercenaries growled, ducking under the knight's wide swing.
In that same second, the dwarf crossbowman, changing position, fired two bolts in quick succession. Kaedan barely managed to raise his left vambraced arm to cover his face. The projectiles embedded themselves in the stone defense, stuck, but the impact force was such that the young man's head was jerked back. Seizing the opportunity, two swordsmen simultaneously lunged forward, thrusting at his neck.
Kaedan struggled to regain his balance, feeling his inner power pulse, maintaining the density of his Armor. He sharply twisted his torso, and the enemies' swords merely slid helplessly across the steel plate of his cuirass. The young man understood: these mercenaries were no amateurs. They saw that Kaedan was almost completely covered in stone, and they methodically sought the only gap in his defense. The density of his inner energy was his only salvation, but maintaining such a level of protection under a hail of blows was becoming increasingly difficult.
Iskon, meanwhile, was in the epicenter of a bone storm. His opponent, a Pillar in armor of bone plates, proved to be an incredibly cunning fighter. His Spirit of Bone Growth allowed him not only to create spikes but also to alter the very surface of the floor. At one point, sharp bone needles erupted from the slabs beneath Iskon's feet, forcing him to leap to avoid the trap.
The Pillar-mercenary used his staff as a lever, delivering devastating blows that made Iskon's shield vibrate, transmitting the shock to his joints. Iskon felt the familiar pulling pain in his wrists—his Scaling Spirit demanded surgical precision, and under the constant pressure of the enemy, controlling the size changes of his weapon was becoming agonizingly difficult.
The young man tried a counterattack, lengthening his sword blade during a thrust, but the Pillar instantly grew a bone shield from his forearm, absorbing the blow. "You're talented, kid, but you lack weight," the opponent hissed. "Your energy is pure, but my Pillar rank is a wall you cannot break."
Iskon remained silent, his gaze growing even colder. He noticed that the enemy's bone armor became slightly thinner whenever he grew new spikes on his weapon. It was a risk, but Iskon was ready to take it.
In the center of the hall, Kaedan continued his battle. One of the mercenaries finally managed to hook his leg with a chain, trying to topple him. Kaedan planted his basalt greaves on the floor, using all his mass. He didn't fall, but for a moment, he was an immobile target. At that moment, a third swordsman delivered a deep cut to the area of his knee, where the stone plate met the joint. The steel pierced his skin, and the young man felt hot blood run down his leg.
"He's wounded! Finish him!" the mercenaries cheered.
Kaedan gritted his teeth. His Warrior regeneration instantly kicked in, but the pain was real. He realized that passive defense would no longer save him against such a coordinated group. Deep in his Vessel, his energy began to gather into a heavy, humming mass. The fight was dragging on, and every second of delay made the mercenaries only more dangerous.
The Orc on the throne continued to watch. He saw his men slowly wearing down the Order knights. His own power remained hidden for now, but the atmosphere in the hall was becoming increasingly suffocating.
Kaedan and Iskon exchanged quick glances. They understood that this round belonged to the mercenaries, and to turn the tide of battle in the next phase, they would have to give their all, risking the integrity of their Vessels. The battle in the Hall of Atlanteans was only entering its most critical stage, and the price of victory was rising with each heartbeat.