Chapter 504: Chaotic Battlefield
"Hold the line!" the commander bellowed. His voice straining to rise above the din of battle. His sword flashed and cutting down a beast that had leaped over the barricade. Blood sprayed as the creature fell, but another took its place almost instantly.
The soldiers fought valiantly and killing the hide of the monstrous creatures. But for every beast that fell two more seemed to take its place. The stench of blood and sweat filled the night air as the battle raged.
A massive, wolf-like beast lunged at a young soldier with its maw wide open. The soldier barely had time to raise his shield before the creature slammed into him and driving him to the ground. He struggled beneath the weight of the beast. The beast then snapped at him, its fangs inches from his throat.
With a desperate cry the soldier thrust his sword upward. The blade piercing the beast\'s chest. The creature let out a pained roar before collapsing on top of him and dead.
The soldier pushed the carcass off him, gasping for breath as he staggered to his feet, only to be confronted by another beast already bearing down on him.
Nearby, another soldier was locked in a struggle with a beast twice his size. The creature\'s claws raked across his armor and leaving deep gouges in the metal.
He gritted his teeth then swinging his axe in a wide arc, the blade biting into the beast\'s shoulder. The creature howled in pain but it only seemed to enrage it further. It lashed out with a massive paw, sending the soldier sprawling to the ground.
"Fall back to the second line!" the commander ordered realizing that the barricade was about to be overrun.
The soldiers began a fighting retreat. Their shields raised as they parried the onslaught of the beasts. But the creatures were relentless, pressing forward with savage fury and eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
Adrius who still hovered in the sky fixed his gaze on the chaos below. The horde of beasts had finally breached the soldiers\' barricade and the battlefield erupted into a frenzy of blood and steel. Adrius could see the fear in their eyes as they struggled to hold the line against the overwhelming tide.
But his attention was torn away by a more immediate threat. The giant beast had not relented. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto him now. Adrius\'s heart pounded in his chest as the beast opened its massive maw and another ball of dark energy began to form.
Adrius tightened his grip on his staff. He had to find a way to help the soldiers below before it was too late. But the giant beast already launching the dark energy ball straight at him with terrifying speed.
BWOOSH!
Adrius moved instinctively, a surge of Magic propelling him to the side just in time to avoid the brunt of the attack. The dark orb hurtled past him so close that he could feel its searing heat. He retaliated with a blast of lightning that forcing the beast to stagger back. The beast roared in fury, already preparing another attack.
He couldn\'t keep this up much longer. Each dodge, each deflection, drained his energy. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts — how to defeat this monstrosity, how to save the soldiers, how to protect the kingdom. He was an Archmage, but even his power had limits.
The giant beast unleashed another orb, its speed and power even greater than before. Adrius focused, preparing to deflect it once more but his concentration already faltered. For a split second his thoughts wandered to the soldiers below.
The dark orb struck him squarely in the chest.
Pain exploded through his body and sent him spiraling through the air. He felt the dark energy seeping into his bones, trying to corrupt him from within. But Adrius was strong. With a surge of will, he fought back the encroaching darkness and forcing it out of his body with a pulse of cleansing Magic.
He gasped for breath but he was still in the fight. The beast\'s attack had hurt him, but he was far from defeated.
Adrius gritted his teeth, anger surging through him. The pain from the giant beast\'s attack sharpened his focus. The soldiers below were fighting for their lives but he knew now that he had to eliminate the source of their terror before he could offer any real help. The giant beast had to die first.
Adrius thene raised his staff. He was done playing defense. He would take the fight to the creature. After gathering his Magic in a matter of seconds he channeled his anger into a barrage of fireballs.
BWOOSH!
BWOOSH!
BWOOSH!
With a sweeping gesture he unleashed the attack. Dozens of fireballs streaked through the sky illuminating the battlefield. The first of them slammed into the beast\'s side, followed by another, and another.
The giant beast roared in pain as the fireballs exploded against its thick hide. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, and the beast staggered under the relentless assault.
But Adrius didn\'t let up. He poured more energy into the attack and launching wave after wave of fireballs at the beast. The explosions rocked the battlefield, shaking the ground and sending shockwaves through the air.
At that moment far below on the battlefield, Lysander finally stirred. He had been thrown violently by the giant beast\'s earlier and his body crashing into the ground with bone-rattling force. Now, he awoke with a groan, every muscle in his body aching, his robe torn and tattered. Dust and debris clung to him, and he winced as he pushed himself up on trembling arms.
His head throbbed, and for a moment, the world spun around him. But as he took in the chaos of the battlefield his clarity returned.
With a grunt of effort Lysander forced himself to his feet. His gaze lifted to the sky, where Adrius was locked in a deadly duel with the giant beast. Flames danced around the beast but the beast was still standing.
Lysander decided that he will let Adrius handle the giant beast and he will help the soldiers.
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