While Forlune was rushing at Nalia, Harald was not standing still. Alongside his direwolf pack, he dashed toward Nalia’s cohort of grunt soldiers. Then, using their elemental abilities, they showered Nalia’s group with attacks. Each attack took out a dozen of Nalia’s weaker men, killing them instantly.
After Nalia had dealt with Forlune and the warriors who had attacked her, she looked up at Thorian and made her declaration. "Why don't you come down here and face me, Thorian? Or do you prefer to watch as your men fall one by one?"
Yet just as she uttered those words, she noticed the chaos unfolding behind her. That split-second distraction was all Thorian needed to begin his attack.
Lightning Strike.
In less than a second, the spell materialized above her before blue lightning struck her, shocking her to the core. Yet Thorian was not finished. Raising his Emberstrike Cane, Thorian invoked two spells using his dual-casting technique: Greater Gale Slash. Fire Stream.
The two spells combined into one fiery slash that struck her the moment the lightning spell fizzled out. Yet, with a mighty battle cry, Nalia’s black aura grew stronger and more intense. Using her staff, she clashed with Thorian’s combination spell, before finally overpowering it.
At the same time, Zogarth, who had been stationed far away, leapt towards her with his mighty great battleaxe. Red and black auras surged through his whole body before concentrating at the edge of his blade. With a mighty roar, Zogarth slashed at the weakened Nalia, sending her flying dozens of meters backward.
Seizing the opportunity, Thorian laid out his orders, “Finish off the subordinates!”
Without wasting a second, Forlune and Zarjin rushed toward Ragnar, who was still shocked by what had happened to Nalia. Before he could realize what was happening, Zarjin reached him with a cold look in his eyes before impaling his body multiple times with his spear. At the same time, Forlune leaped at him from the side and slashed through his neck with his sword, severing his head.
“Serves you right for being so stupid,” Forlune spat at Ragnar's decapitated head.
Meanwhile, Ventus rushed toward Soren. Yet, Soren still had some wits about him. He launched multiple Wind Slashes at Ventus, which the latter quickly dodged. However, before Ventus could reach him, Soren used all of his spells to flee from the battlefield. By the time Ventus could react, Soren was already gone.
“Forget about him! Focus on Nalia!” Thorian ordered before Ventus could get distracted by the elusive Soren. At the end of the day, Nalia was the biggest threat; Soren could be dealt with later.
Meanwhile, Nalia stood up from her crash site, amidst the rubble and the dust cloud that emerged from her impact. However, instead of distress, a wide grin was plastered all over her face.
With a tap of her staff on the ground, shadows emerged from all around her, before they fully materialized. Ogres, goblins, humans, and orcs all awoke, replacing her army of the living with an undead one.
But among these undead, Thorian’s focus was on one creature alone—a large serpent with malevolent eyes, whose form eclipsed the rest. Its skin was a yellowish-brown adorned with purple streaks.
With decisiveness, Thorian issued his command to Harald. “I need you to focus on that serpent. It’s the biggest threat.”
“Consider it done,” Harald responded.
Immediately after, Thorian addressed the rest of his magicians. “Everyone, Fire Tornado!”
At his command, wind swirled around the incoming army of undead before transforming into multiple vortices. The humans and goblins were the first to be engulfed by the spinning tornadoes, followed by the ogres and orcs.
Immediately, Thorian invoked his next spell: Fire Pillar.
Simultaneously, multiple fire pillars surged from beneath the tornadoes, and the combination spells fully formed. The fire tornadoes spun with a raging inferno, incinerating grass, trees, and all the undead caught within them.
Yet, just as the tide of battle seemed to turn in their favor, Nalia slashed through the fire tornadoes with her staff.
Instinctively, Thorian knew he was in danger. Without waiting for Nalia to appear, he cast his spells: Magma Armor and Ice Barrier. His body was instantly encased in an armor of molten rock, and a wall of ice emerged in front of him. However, as soon as his ice spell materialized, it was shattered by Nalia’s staff.
Having only enough time to cast once more, Thorian’s mind raced before settling on the most suitable counter. He then cast his Bramble Patch skill and snapped his fingers.
The sharp sound of a thunderclap disoriented Nalia, and the entangling roots from his Bramble Patch significantly slowed her. Yet, it did not stop her. With blinding speed, she reached Thorian and struck him in the chest with her staff, sending him flying off the cliff.
Boom!
With a terrible impact on the ground that left a crater, Thorian felt the wind knocked out of him. Gasping, he looked up to see Nalia standing atop the cliff, looking down at him. However, just as she was about to descend and finish the job, Forlune rushed towards her, a purple aura bursting from every pore of his body.
Is that his ultimate form?
With one slash of his sword, Forlune struck Nalia back, before reappearing next to her before she could hit the ground. He then slashed at her again, leaving a massive gash across her abdomen, sending her flying to the side like a playtoy.
Thank the gods you were swift, Thorian mentally thanked Forlune as he stood up, still gasping for breath.
“I've finished the job here,” Harald announced telepathically, making Thorian turn back towards him. The Storm Direwolf had decapitated the great serpent with his claws, leaving multiple slashing wounds across the dead serpent’s body.
“Great, that leaves only her,” Thorian turned back toward Nalia, who was holding Forlune at a stalemate. Even in his ultimate form, Nalia was still able to contend with Forlune. Yet, Thorian knew this was only temporary. Once she consumed all the souls in her possession, he would be unable to stop her.
Knowing this, Thorian realized he had to swiftly concoct a plan. He looked back to Aqua, who was worrying about him from atop the cliff, and said, “Prepare yourself. We will only get one chance.”
Understanding Thorian’s command, Aqua’s focus returned to the battle between Forlune and Nalia. The two were engaging at a level none of Thorian’s men had ever seen. Their speed was so high that they could only see blinding flashes as the two continued clashing.
Yet, Thorian’s vision was unlike the rest. Having fought for a decade in battles against much higher leveled opponents than Nalia, and equipped with both his Predator’s Gaze and Elemental Sight, he was able to follow this magnificent battle. In fact, he could even predict its pattern.
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Just as Nalia struck down Forlune, leaving a gaping wound on his chest, Thorian knew it was time to act. The moment she descended from the skies, confident she had beaten the Celestial Kobold, Thorian unleashed his spell: Quicksand Trap.
The ground upon which Nalia landed immediately turned into sand, momentarily trapping her. However, Thorian was not done yet. Before Nalia could escape his trap, he cast another spell: Earth Burial.
The ground around Nalia immediately shifted as blocks of condensed rock and dirt continuously stacked around her. In less than a second, she was completely encased in a large cube of condensed earth. Despite her immense power, she could not easily break through this spell.
Just as the earth cube started to crack, Aqua sprang into action without waiting for Thorian’s command. Snowflakes appeared all around the encasement trapping Nalia, before the ground slowly turned to ice. Suddenly, a great ice structure formed around Nalia, an ice palace that froze everything within it, trapping her securely.
Knowing this was the opportunity he could not afford to miss, Thorian activated his ultimate skill. Elemental Domain: Fire.
The area around Thorian erupted in flames. The grass burned, the air turned arid, and the trees fell. Even the ice from Aqua’s ultimate skill began to melt slowly.
Recognizing they had only one shot, Thorian turned toward Ventus and Zogarth. “Now is the time! Give it everything you've got!”
“I will not disappoint,” Zogarth declared, raising his battleaxe, ready to unleash his final strike.
Simultaneously, Ventus conjured his ultimate skill: Arcane Stormforged Spear. The lightning spear he conjured was so large it even eclipsed his own body. Then, with a windup, he launched it at Nalia. The lightning spear zipped through the battlefield, exploding on Nalia’s face. In its aftermath, a white-blue lightning pillar engulfed her body before soaring to the heavens.
Nalia screamed in pain as she struggled to break through her trap with her charred body. Her black aura surged continuously, empowering her and cracking her entrapments. Yet, she still could not break free from the confines of the Earth Burial and the Ice Palace spell combination.
Meanwhile, Zogarth unleashed all of his black aura, concentrating it on the blade of his battleaxe. With a mighty war cry, he slashed toward Nalia, creating a black aura slash bigger than anything he had ever conjured.
The battlefield seemed to fall silent as the mighty black severance rushed toward Nalia, cutting through her left arm from the shoulder and slashing through half of the Ice Palace.
Finally, it was Thorian's turn. He raised his staff and began the invocation of his newest combination skill, one he had been contemplating since the moment he received his second advancement spells. Galeforce Spear. Fire Arrow.
The two spells merged as Thorian conjured them, forming a mighty fire spear that concentrated all of Thorian’s mana into one attack. The blazing flames were so hot that even Thorian’s fur began to singe.
Then, as he locked onto Nalia’s desperate face, he unleashed his spell. The fire spear rushed like a phoenix toward Nalia before it exploded with such a mighty shockwave that Thorian was pushed back a few meters.
As Thorian gazed upon the scene, the entirety of the Ice Palace was consumed by flames, igniting a surrounding forest fire. The inferno soared towards the heavens, rendering the air scorchingly hot.
Overcome with exhaustion, Thorian collapsed to his knees, the sheer volume of mana expended in that singular assault leaving him reeling. Nearby, Ventus and Zogarth shared his state of debilitation. Nonetheless, if their efforts resulted in Nalia's demise, it would all be deemed worthwhile.
As the flames gradually subsided, Thorian's eyes settled on the scorched remains of Nalia. Her left arm severed, her hair obliterated by the fire, her skin peeled away to reveal the raw flesh and bones beneath. Miraculously, she clung to life – a faint breath still stirring in her. The dark aura emanating from the thousands of souls she had ensnared was the only thread tethering her to this tenuous existence. This aura, too, was fading. Thorian knew that without intervention, death would claim her.
Yet, Thorian was unwilling to leave their mission incomplete. Turning to Aqua, he issued his command, "Finish her off."
But as Aqua summoned an ice spear, an unexpected figure burst through the flames. Soren, forgotten amidst the chaos, scooped up Nalia's body and vanished into the blazing forest with astonishing speed.
Frustration coursing through him, Thorian sent a telepathic order, "Harald, pursue them!"
* * *
Nalia’s POV
Nalia had thought she was dead, or perhaps she had wished for it. The excruciating pain that engulfed her entire body was relentless. Her severed arm and melted skin inflicted agony that was unbearable. Even in her state of shock, she felt every ounce of pain. Her body, fueled by the souls she consumed, attempted to regenerate, recreating her nerve endings only for them to be destroyed again by the remnants of fire still consuming her. She was trapped in a continuous loop of torment.
Yet, she was not entirely ungrateful for her regenerative abilities. In those brief moments when her nerves were reborn, she could feel the touch of someone. She knew it was Soren, the one who loved her, the one for whom she had no care.
As her body slowly healed, she began to see and hear again. She was no longer in the freezing confines of the Ice Palace, nor engulfed by the hellish flames. She was being rescued, and now she found herself in the middle of the forest, as Soren hurried back towards the safety of Locksley.
Yes, that’s right. I still have the soulmire. As long as I sacrifice William to it, it will become as strong as a high-tier 1000 sacrifice soulmire. Even though it would be unstable, I can still defeat Thorian. Then I can live!
However, she knew her time was running short. Her injuries were so severe that even consuming the rest of the souls she had wouldn't stave off death for long.
No, I cannot die, not again… I need to live!
Time seemed to blur, and in the blink of an eye, the scenery changed completely. The trees of the forest were gone, replaced by the dimly lit walls of an unknown location.
Looking back at Soren's determined face, Nalia found herself devoid of emotion. She was acutely aware that Soren was risking his life for her, and she fully intended to let him do so.
"Soren..." she gasped, her voice barely a whisper.
"My lady," Soren replied, looking back at her with a pained smile. "Do not worry, I have lost their trail. We are now in the underground tunnels; they cannot find us here."
Nalia almost chuckled. The thought of losing such a dependable subordinate pained her slightly, but her own survival was paramount.
"Come here," she muttered. "Let me touch your face."
With a smile, Soren leaned forward, allowing Nalia to caress his cheek. For a moment, it seemed like a scene filled with romance and emotion, yet Nalia felt nothing.
Necronoble Appointment: Deactivate.
Black aura surged from within Soren's body, his expression turning to shock as the energy flowed into Nalia. Her strength gradually returned as Soren's support faltered and he dropped her.
"My lady..." Soren looked at her, shock and betrayal written on his face as his power was siphoned by Nalia. His skin began to wither, revealing his skeletal structure beneath. "Why?"
With those final words, he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
With a smirk, Nalia observed her body. The black aura seeped into her skin, healing her flesh and bones. Her melted skin regenerated, leaving only a few scars. Still, her left arm remained severed.
It’s not enough power to strengthen myself, but it was enough to save my life, she thought. Then, looking at Soren's corpse, she mused, Thank you. You were useful to me until the end.
With that, Nalia quickly made her way through the underground tunnels. By now, she had expended all the souls she had possessed. All that remained were her base stats.
Aware of her current weakness, Nalia was determined that this state was only temporary. As long as she could awaken the soulmire, she believed she would have the power to defeat Thorian. Then, with his soul, she envisioned conquering his village of monsters and claiming it as her own.
With these ambitions fueling her, Nalia finally arrived at the staircase leading to the inner citadel. Upon passing through the trapdoor, she was taken aback by the almost deserted streets.
Choosing to ignore this anomaly for the moment, Nalia hastened towards the Strongheart manor and entered into the dungeon located in its basement through the backdoor.
"What is this?" she exclaimed in shock upon discovering the empty cells. Her resolve wavered as she paced the dungeon, desperately hoping to find even a single remaining sacrifice. But there were none.
Feeling a sense of panic, she hurried towards the room housing the soulmire. To her relief, it was still there.
"Just what happened?" Nalia murmured in disbelief as she approached the Soulmire, her mind racing through countless possibilities, yet unable to ascertain the cause of this unexpected situation.
Did Johannes betray us? No, he's too cowardly for such an act, she thought.
Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice a shadowy figure stealthily approaching her from behind. Before she could react, a sword enveloped in shadows pierced her chest, slicing through her heart.
Collapsing into a pool of her own blood, her gaze fixated on the soulmire before her, Nalia's last thought was a lament. I’m sorry… Oh mighty Yaksha.