The courtyard erupted into chaos as the corrupted figure extended its arms, and the pulsating mass around it surged to life. Tendrils of dark energy lashed out like serpents, striking at the team with alarming speed.
Kaede darted forward, her blade slicing through a tendril aimed at Mira. “Focus fire on the core! If we take it out, this thing will crumble!”
Ryo let out a roar, his axe cleaving through the corrupted mass. “Easier said than done, boss! This thing’s got more arms than I’ve got patience!”
Dren positioned himself on a ledge, his crossbow firing bolt after bolt into the heart of the creature. “I’ll keep it distracted. You three do what you do best—wreck it!”
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THE WEIGHT OF COMMAND
Kaede’s mind raced as she dodged another attack. Her movements were precise, her instincts honed from countless battles, but the sheer scale of the enemy made every step feel like a gamble.
“Ryo! Keep the tendrils off Mira!” she barked, parrying a strike aimed at her shoulder. “Mira, give us some breathing room with a barrier!”
Mira nodded, her staff glowing with a bright, white light. “On it!” She slammed the staff into the ground, creating a shimmering dome around the group. The tendrils recoiled, unable to penetrate the barrier, giving the team a brief moment to regroup.
Kaede’s chest heaved as she assessed the situation. The core was exposed, its pulsating energy growing more erratic, but the figure within remained still, its hollow eyes locked onto her.
“You are strong,” it said, its voice echoing in her mind. “But strength alone will not save you.”
Kaede tightened her grip on her sword, her gaze hard. “We’ll see about that.”
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HARUKI’S WATCHFUL EYES
Within the crystal far away, Haruki clenched his fists as he watched the battle unfold. He could feel the strain on Kaede, the weight of her decisions pressing down on her like an iron shackle.
“Come on, boss,” he muttered. “You’ve got this. Don’t let that thing get in your head.”
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THE CORE STRIKES BACK
The corrupted figure extended its hand, and the ground beneath the team quaked violently. Cracks spiderwebbed across the courtyard as tendrils erupted from below, forcing the group to scatter.
Mira barely dodged a swipe aimed at her, her barrier flickering out as she channeled a burst of energy to blast the tendrils back. “I can’t hold the barrier and attack! We need to hit it hard, now!”
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Kaede leaped onto a fallen pillar, using the high ground to aim a precise strike at the core. Her blade gleamed as she focused all her energy into the swing.
But the corrupted figure moved faster than she expected, its form shifting to intercept her. A massive tendril shot out, wrapping around her sword and jerking it from her grasp. Kaede landed hard, rolling to avoid another strike.
Ryo bellowed in rage, charging toward the tendril holding her weapon. His axe cleaved through it in one clean strike, freeing the blade and sending it clattering across the stone floor. “Kaede, get your head in the game! You’re the brains here—we need you sharp!”
Kaede pushed herself to her feet, gritting her teeth. “I’m fine. Just keep it busy!”
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UNLEASHING THEIR POTENTIAL
Dren reloaded his crossbow, his voice cutting through the chaos. “That thing’s protecting its core like it’s life or death—which means we’re close! We just need a big enough opening!”
Mira nodded, determination replacing her earlier fear. “I’ll create a distraction. Ryo, cover Kaede while she goes for the core!”
Kaede glanced at Mira, her voice firm. “You’ll be wide open if you do that.”
Mira smiled faintly, raising her staff. “That’s why you’re going to finish it fast.”
Before Kaede could argue, Mira chanted a spell, summoning a blinding sphere of light that illuminated the entire courtyard. The corrupted figure recoiled, its tendrils flailing wildly as the light burned its twisted form.
Ryo seized the moment, barreling into the fray with his axe swinging in wide arcs. “Go, Kaede! I’ve got this ugly thing’s attention!”
Kaede didn’t hesitate. She sprinted toward the core, her sword flashing as she reclaimed it mid-run. Her heart pounded as the corrupted figure turned toward her, its hollow eyes narrowing in recognition.
“You will not succeed,” it intoned, its voice reverberating with malice.
Kaede smirked, her blade glowing faintly as she summoned every ounce of her strength. “Watch me.”
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THE FINAL BLOW
Kaede leaped into the air, her sword arcing toward the core. The corrupted figure lashed out with its remaining tendrils, but Mira’s light weakened them, and Ryo’s relentless assault kept them at bay.
The moment seemed to stretch as Kaede’s blade struck true, piercing the core. The pulsating mass froze, its glow flickering violently before collapsing inward.
A deafening roar echoed through the ruins as the corrupted figure disintegrated, its form unraveling into streams of light that dissipated into the air. The tendrils fell limp, and the eerie hum that had filled the courtyard faded into silence.
Kaede landed in a crouch, her sword still buried in the core. She pulled it free, breathing heavily as she turned to face her team.
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A HARD-WON VICTORY
Ryo wiped sweat from his brow, leaning on his axe. “Well, that was... something. Is it dead?”
Mira nodded, her face pale but triumphant. “The corruption is fading. We did it.”
Dren lowered his crossbow, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Not bad, for a bunch of misfits.”
Kaede sheathed her sword, her expression unreadable. She walked to the center of the courtyard, where the core had been, and placed a hand on the scorched ground.
“Haruki,” she whispered under her breath. “I hope you saw that.”
Unseen by the others, a faint warmth spread through her chest—an echo of Haruki’s presence, reassuring her