(Ten Minutes Ago)

The tide of battle had begun to turn. Once-helpless creature hunters, now invigorated by newfound strength, were pushing back the enemy forces with fierce determination. The war, once a one-sided affair, was now a complex struggle, a delicate balance of power.

Amidst the chaos, Orpheus, one of the Orwells, found himself locked in a deadly dance with Neresu Poteus. Soaring through the sky, Orpheus observed his adversary, searching for a vulnerability to exploit. Neresu, however, remained vigilant, his defensive stance unwavering.

"He seems to have a plan," Orpheus muttered to himself, his eyes scanning Neresu's movements. "I must find an opening."

After a moment of observation, Orpheus spotted an opportunity. With a swift maneuver, he altered his course, his target a seemingly unguarded spot on Neresu's body.

"Right there!" Orpheus exclaimed, his heart pounding with anticipation.

Neresu's seemingly nonchalant stance puzzled Orpheus. Why had he chosen to stand in such a vulnerable position? Was it a trap?

Determined to strike, Orpheus launched himself forward, his speed a blur. He aimed for Neresu's heart, confident in his ability to deliver a fatal blow.

Yet, to Orpheus's astonishment, Neresu remained motionless. "So he didn't realize yet," Orpheus thought, his confusion growing.

As he drew closer, Orpheus noticed something peculiar. Neresu, despite the prolonged battle, appeared completely unscathed. His movements were fluid, his eyes sharp.

Undeterred, Orpheus pressed his attack, delivering a powerful blow. To his shock, his hand came away wet, devoid of blood. Had he missed?

Orpheus spun around, his gaze searching for Neresu. The creature hunter was nowhere to be seen. A wave of confusion and fear washed over Orpheus.

"Did you miss something?" a voice echoed in the air.

Orpheus turned to see Neresu standing a few yards away, his spear raised. The creature hunter, the one he had believed he had struck, was a mere illusion.

"You've already figured out my strategies on the battlefield," Orpheus said, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and frustration. "So I think I need to try something else."

"It's not the strategies you've used so far, it's how you've used them," Neresu replied, his eyes fixed on Orpheus. "If you continue to use them in such a hurry, you will have no advantage."

Orpheus was forced to admit that Neresu was right. The advantage, at that moment, lay in his hands. Yet, there was something else that Orpheus had overlooked. Something that would soon prove to be his undoing.

From the outset of the war, Orpheus had employed a cunning strategy. He had created a clone, sent it into the fray, and bided his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Now, as the battle raged, Orpheus observed his clone circling Neresu, a silent sentinel waiting for its orders. Believing he held the advantage, Orpheus initiated his plan.

"I have lost in previous battles and made many dumb mistakes," he said to his clone, his voice filled with feigned remorse. "But I can't let Mr. Nuzuki's effort go to waste!"

With a dramatic flourish, Orpheus launched himself at Neresu, his intent to catch the creature hunter off guard. However, Neresu, ever vigilant, assumed a defensive stance, his eyes fixed on Orpheus.

Just as Neresu was about to counterattack, Orpheus vanished, revealing himself to be a clone. The real Orpheus had been lurking on the other side of the battlefield, observing Neresu's every move, searching for a weakness to exploit.

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Orpheus's deception had paid off. He had successfully lured Neresu into a false sense of security, leaving him vulnerable to attack.

However, Orpheus's haste proved to be his undoing. Despite being mere inches away from delivering a fatal blow, Neresu's snakes, sensing his presence, lashed out, their venom searing through Orpheus's body.

Paralyzed by the poison, Orpheus plummeted from the sky, his body a charred husk. As he fell, another snake struck, severing his head from his body. Orpheus, the cunning strategist, had fallen victim to his own arrogance.

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Valdis, locked in a fierce duel with Achilles, was mirroring the relentless intensity of Neresu's battle. Their clash was a symphony of steel and sorcery, each blow a testament to their exceptional skill.

Achilles's rapid-fire attacks and defensive maneuvers left Valdis struggling to keep pace. Yet, Valdis's resilience was undeniable. He absorbed each blow, his body seemingly impervious to harm.

As the battle raged on, Valdis unleashed a hidden power, his back erupting with a pair of obsidian wings. These wings, imbued with dark magic, rivaled Achilles's own in size and power.

"What happened? You didn't expect this to happen, did you?" Valdis taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance.

Achilles remained composed. "Your tricks won't fool me," he replied, his eyes unwavering.

"Pity," Valdis sneered. "Because you won't be the only bird flying in the sky anymore."

With a powerful flap of his wings, Valdis soared towards Achilles, his speed a blur. He landed a devastating elbow blow, followed by a vicious snake attack. Achilles, momentarily stunned, was sent tumbling to the ground.

Valdis, seizing the opportunity, launched himself into the air and delivered a devastating knee strike to Achilles's face. The impact was so forceful that Achilles was left momentarily paralyzed.

"Got you!" Valdis shouted, his voice filled with triumph. He kicked Achilles in the stomach, sending him flying.

Landing gracefully on the ground, Valdis grinned. "These things are really useful and fun," he said, referring to his wings. "I think I'll use them a little more."

However, Valdis's celebration was premature. Achilles, his resilience unmatched, slowly rose to his feet. "Don't be happy," he warned. "Because you will never ever use them again."

Before Valdis could react, Achilles launched himself into the air and wrapped his arms around Valdis's body, immobilizing him.

Valdis, his arrogance momentarily shaken, struggled to break free. "Hey, what are you doing there? Didn't I tell you these don't hurt?" he demanded.

Achilles, his eyes cold and calculating, replied, "I know that. But I know something that could hurt someone like you."

With a chilling smile, Achilles began to channel a destructive spell. The dark energy surged from his hands, slowly creeping towards Valdis.

Valdis's expression turned from arrogance to terror. "Maybe your cells are healing fast and don't take damage that much," Achilles taunted. "But when I root you out, your presence will disappear."

Valdis, his fear palpable, struggled against Achilles's grasp. "Hey, what are you doing! Get your arms out now!" he yelled.

But Achilles remained unyielding, his spell drawing closer to Valdis.

Desperate, Valdis summoned all his strength and plunged his sword into Achilles's chest. To his astonishment, Achilles showed no signs of pain.

"Your useless tactics won't work," Achilles said, his voice cold and emotionless.

With a final burst of energy, Valdis grabbed Achilles by the hair and ripped his head from his body. His cunning had saved him once again.

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Nijimura Rai and Neo, locked in a fierce duel, stood panting, their eyes locked in a silent confrontation. Their battle, a whirlwind of energy and skill, had stretched for over ten minutes.

"The ability you have there is truly annoying," Rai remarked, her voice laced with a hint of admiration. "You might be one of the hardest enemies I've faced so far."

Neo returned her smile. "That is truly wonderful to hear-"

Rai interrupted him, her tone growing impatient. "But I'm kinda bored. And I don't want to waste my time here anymore."

"I had the same idea," Neo replied, his smile widening. "Then it would be better for us to do our best, wouldn't it?"

As they exchanged words, Rai's body began to shimmer with a pulsating energy. She was channeling electricity into herself, her movements growing increasingly erratic.

Neo watched in confusion as Rai's body became enveloped in a crackling aura. Her speed had increased exponentially, her movements blurring into a blur of motion.

"So she's using one of her other abilities to beat me?" Neo thought to himself. "It's a shame for her to not understand that she can't get away just like that. But let's see, maybe we can have more fun than we think."

Before Neo could react, Rai had vanished, reappearing behind him with astonishing speed.

"Maybe this tactic looks useless to you," Rai taunted, her voice a chilling whisper. "But I told you before, didn't I?"

With a swift motion, Rai's sword sliced through the air, severing Neo's head. The severed head tumbled to the ground, a stark testament to Rai's victory.

Rai sheathed her swords, her expression devoid of emotion.

And with that, the end of the war was getting closer and closer.