As Knox's vision darkened, a wave of dizziness washed over him, threatening to pull him into unconsciousness. His hands trembled as he reached instinctively towards the wound in his chest, his fingers encountering nothing but empty air where his flesh should have been whole.
Panic surged through him as he realized the severity of his injury. A gaping hole yawned in his chest, blood gushing from the wound in a crimson torrent. He staggered back, his breath coming in ragged gasps as pain lanced through his body with every heartbeat.
Before he could even begin to process the shock of his injury, another blow struck him, this time sending him hurtling back into the unforgiving stone of the mountain behind him. The impact jarred his senses, stars exploding in his vision as he struggled to remain upright.
But even as darkness threatened to claim him, Knox refused to surrender. With a primal roar, his body erupted in flames, the searing heat washing over him like a protective cloak. Through sheer force of will, he focused his energy on healing his wounds, the flames flickering and dancing around him in a desperate bid for survival.
Yet with each attempt to mend his broken flesh, the shadow man was there, his fists like sledgehammers raining down upon Knox with relentless fury. Every blow shattered bone and tore tissue, undoing any progress Knox made with his healing.
The battleground crackled with tension as Knox and his assailant remained locked in their deadly dance. With every attempt Knox made to heal his wounds, the shadow man was there, his blows like thunderclaps, shattering bone and tearing flesh with brutal efficiency.
Each moment felt like an eternity as Knox fought to regain his footing, his mind a whirlwind of pain and determination. Sweat mingled with blood, trickling down his brow as he gritted his teeth against the agony coursing through his body.
But for every step forward Knox took in his healing, the shadow man pushed him two steps back. It was a cruel and relentless cycle, a battle of attrition that threatened to consume Knox's very essence.
Yet still, Knox refused to yield. With every blow, his resolve only strengthened, his determination burning brighter than the flames that surrounded him. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever, but he refused to go down without a fight.
In the midst of the chaos, a flicker of realization dawned within Knox's mind. He couldn't defeat this enemy through sheer force alone. He needed a plan, a strategy to turn the tide of battle in his favor.
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With steely determination, Knox focused his thoughts, racing his mind as he searched for a way to outmaneuver his opponent. He couldn't allow himself to be overwhelmed by despair.
He channeled his flames into his foot only for a moment, but it was enough when he kicked upwards. Knox's foot connected with the man's chin, and a shockwave rippled through the air, sending the shadowy assailant hurtling backward with a resounding impact. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath, the echoes of their struggle reverberating through the rocky terrain.
In that fleeting instant, Knox seized the opportunity. With a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins, he launched himself forward, propelled by sheer determination and the flickering ember of hope that burned within him.
Closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye, Knox unleashed a flurry of strikes, each blow infused with the raw power of his mana. His fists blurred with speed as he rained down a relentless barrage upon his opponent, each impact driving the shadowy figure further and further back.
But the shadow man was no mere pushover. With a resilience born of darkness itself, he weathered Knox's assault, his form contorting and shifting with unnatural fluidity as he fought to regain his footing.
Yet Knox refused to relent. With every strike, he poured his soul into the battle, his movements fueled by an unyielding resolve to emerge victorious. He could feel the tide of the fight turning in his favor, a glimmer of hope igniting within him as he pressed his advantage.
With a final, thunderous blow, Knox unleashed the full force of his fury, a devastating strike that sent the shadow man hurtling backward with bone-shattering force. As his adversary crashed to the ground, a sense of triumph surged through Knox's veins, his spirit ablaze with the thrill of victory.
You have killed Master Scroll: Shadow. Level 515
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As Knox lay on the ground, the world around him seemed to blur. He could barely keep his eyes open, his body trembling from the strain of mana exhaustion. The sky above, painted in hues of twilight, grew darker as the sun set beyond the horizon. The once vibrant colors now seemed muted, echoing the fatigue that weighed heavily on him.
‘A master scroll user?’ Knox thought, his mind racing despite his physical weakness. ‘No wonder he was so powerful.’ Each breath felt like a laborious task, his lungs struggling to draw in enough air to sustain him. He knew he needed to get back to Elara to help her and regroup, but his body felt like it was made of lead.
Pushing himself up on his elbows, he managed to get to his knees. His vision swam, and he shook his head in a futile attempt to clear it. ‘I need to get back to Elara…’ The thought was a beacon of hope in his muddled mind, urging him to keep moving.
He began to shuffle forward, each step a monumental effort. The ground beneath him seemed to shift and sway, and he had to force his legs to move. His thoughts grew hazy, but he clung to the image of Elara, her face a symbol of the life he was fighting for.
After what felt like an eternity but was merely a hundred meters, Knox's strength finally gave out. He collapsed onto the ground, his body unable to support him any longer. The exhaustion was complete, sapping even his will to move.
Lying there, he stared up at the darkening sky, his mind teetering on the edge of consciousness. The sounds of the night began to creep in, the rustling of leaves and distant calls of nocturnal creatures. His eyes fluttered shut, the world fading to black around him.
In his final moments of consciousness, a single thought crossed his mind: ‘I can’t die here. Not yet.’ And with that, he succumbed to the darkness, hoping that when he awoke, he would find the strength to continue.