Galen emerged from the hole he had created, knowing that he couldn't stay hidden for long as the tornado that had been chasing him moved away. He quickly scanned the area for Varence and spotted him in the distance, sliding across the ground with a trail of ice forming beneath his feet. The golem pursued him with relentless fury, its fiery aura causing the ice to melt on contact. Varence remained focused and determined as he weaved through the terrain. One of the mages shouted commands to the golem, instructing it to target the arcanist.
As Varence slid expertly across the ground, he realized that he was hurtling toward the tornado. In a split-second decision, he led the pursuing golem straight into the path of the vortex before sliding out of the way at the last moment. The golem was caught up in the powerful wind, and the electricity coursing through the tornado further damaged the elemental creature.
Despite its formidable strength, the golem's movements were slow, and Varence had exploited this to his advantage. As the golem slammed back down onto the ground, the tornado delivered a final blow, slamming it into the earth with immense force. The outer body of the golem showed noticeable cracks, and the elemental armor adorned on it shattered under the pressure. The tornado dissipated shortly after.
The mage who had summoned the golem let out a furious scream as he watched it being slammed into the ground. His face twisted with anger as he glared at the mage controlling the tornado. "I was just about to crush him, you idiot!" he spat out.
Galen, who watched the mages bicker grew impatient, and shook his head in disappointment. "These guys are supposed to be Kingsguard, but they really didn't feel like a challenge," he muttered to himself.
Thorne, who had been silently observing from within Galen's mind, suddenly spoke up, his calm and calculating demeanor contrasting sharply with Galen's impulsiveness and brashness. "Do you mind if I try something?" he asked. Galen replied, "Only if you're going to kill the mages. Otherwise, I'm not interested." Thorne chuckled. "Oh, I'll do better than just take care of them," he said cryptically.
Abruptly, Galen's voice thundered through the air, aimed at the trio of mages before him. A torrent of power-infused his words, his eyes shone with unwavering resolve. "Your arrogance knows no bounds, so vast it could fill the ocean's depths! You self-important mages willingly accepted the task of safeguarding the king, yet you failed to protect a mere crystal or the castle's walls! Come now, unleash the full extent of your power upon me, and see if you can leave so much as a scratch."
One of the mages scoffed, his cloak billowing in the magical winds, a sneer etched upon his face. "How courageous of you to taunt us when we are shackled by this crippling debuff! Unleash the golem upon him," he commanded, "for surely he must be drained of mana after casting those high-tier spells."
But Galen's smile remained unwavering, a sly grin that hinted at something greater lurking beneath the surface.
The golem, after a momentary struggle, regained its composure and heaved itself up to its full height. It loomed over Galen like an ominous, living mountain, its stone limbs creaking with every movement. The other mages, their rage, and frustration boiling over with such ferocity that they were akin to an angry bear interrupted during hibernation, focused their efforts solely on bringing Galen to his knees, attempting to not become blind with rage.
Meanwhile, Varence found himself in a precarious position. His mana reserves had dwindled to a mere wisp, and he struggled to maintain consciousness. Desperation clawed at his mind as he searched for a solution. With haste, he took cover behind a nearby object—a fallen pillar, perhaps, or the remnants of a once-mighty statue—hoping it would be enough to shield him from the golem's wrathful gaze.
"Consider them primed for your grand entrance," Galen declared, panting slightly. "I'm only conceding to this switch because that crystal I absorbed barely replenished my mana." Thorne raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk playing on his lips as they began to trade places.
"For someone who revels in the thrill of the kill, why do you insist on spending most of your mana debuffing your foes instead of going straight for the jugular?" Thorne inquired, his voice laced with curiosity.
Galen managed to retort just before their souls completed the switch, "Because witnessing the artistry of your murderous creativity brings me unparalleled joy." Thorne's body twisted and contorted as they exchanged positions within themselves; their souls strained against the limits of how many times they could swap places during a single battle.
"We should be able to switch more often than this…" Thorne muttered, puzzled by the unexpected development. "Something is amiss."
Bewildered, the mages gazed upon Thorne as his body collapsed to the ground, writhing in what seemed to be a seizure. Uncertainty gripped them, torn between rejoicing and exercising caution, for Galen's actions had been erratic and unpredictable.
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"Moments ago he was brimming with arrogance, and now he's convulsing?" one mage mused, uncertain if their foe sought to ensnare them in yet another ruse. "He's a skillful deceiver, that much is clear." Growing impatient, the mage continued, "Just command the golem to crush him already. Cease this needless deliberation!"
At the last second, Thorne had narrowly avoided being flattened by the golem, thanks to his timely switch with Galen. He swiftly leaped back, putting ample distance between himself and the lumbering golem, whose movements had become even more sluggish and labored after sustaining severe damage from the tornado.
"Thorne grinned as he taunted the mages, "A word of advice: flee now, or face your demise at my hands." This is your only warning."
Unyielding, the enemy mage retorted, "Firstly, we won't back down, as our duty is to safeguard the kingdom. You've unleashed several formidable spells, and even after absorbing the crystal, the most powerful mages would be depleted of mana by now. We, however, still possess mana reserves. So go ahead, give us your best before our reinforcements arrive."
"Thankfully, they remain unaware that the combined strength of our individual mana pools amounts to twice that of a typical mage," Galen astutely observed. "Well, if they were aware that this body harbors two souls, they'd undoubtedly know," Thorne responded with a hint of sarcasm.
As Thorne commenced the incantation, his eyes were suffused with a brilliant violet hue, his pupils widening. The mages beheld in wonder as he harnessed mana from the atmosphere, his hands bristling with arcane power. The air surrounding Thorne appeared to quiver and undulate with the sheer force he amassed, causing the mages' hairs to stand on end.
Charged with vigor, Thorne lifted his hands skyward and bellowed, "Simulacrum of Allegiance!" The proclamation reverberated throughout the vicinity, and for an instant, the air hung motionless.
The golem, which had been hot on Thorne's heels just moments prior, came to an abrupt halt. It stared at Thorne, observing its caster's face on Thorne's body. Bewildered and disoriented, the golem spun around to scrutinize the other mages, only to perceive Thorne's visage on all of them. Enraged and resolute, it charged toward them, intent on annihilating them all. The mages were taken aback by the golem's sudden shift in hostility and hastily sought shelter.
"How on earth does he command such a vast array of illusionary and arcane spells?" the mage bellowed, both furious and confounded. His voice quavered as he continued, "Wait, what in the world is that golem doing?" He whimpered, "Regain control of it, immediately!" he demanded, fervently hoping someone could subdue the rampaging behemoth. Alas, it was too late, and the mages had no choice but to scatter and flee in different directions.
The golem singled out the mage with a missing hand to pursue. Already drained from empowering the golem, being struck by Galen's arcane energy blast, and suffering the effects of Galen's Cataclysmic Aura, the mage was bereft of energy to flee. He crumpled to the ground just as the golem brought its rocky fist down, targeting his leg with devastating force. The blow was so fierce that only a bloodstain marked where his leg once was.
"Dispel the golem!" the wounded mage cried out in terror, his eyes locked on the gruesome sight of his missing limb. However, his desperate plea went unheeded. "I can't undo a golem's creation!" a mage cried out, aghast. "They only cease to function when their mana is depleted." The circumstances had escalated beyond their control, leaving the mages utterly helpless to intervene.
The mage's heart thundered within his wounded frame, his eyes locked onto the looming golem as it advanced. Its monstrous silhouette engulfed him, igniting a wave of despair and surrender that washed over him. He was all too aware of what was about to happen, and tears streamed down his face, mingling with profound feelings of sorrow and regret. The golem's colossal fists descended with a sickening crunch, shattering bones and tearing flesh. In the end, only a grotesque, bloody mess remained.
Initially seized by fear, Varence steeled himself for an attack. He glanced at Thorne, looking for guidance, and the disapproving expression on Thorne's face made him reconsider. Reluctantly, he held back, opting instead to use his ice spell to impede the fleeing mages. The ground beneath them transformed into a treacherous sheet of ice, sending them slipping and sliding, unable to regain their footing.
Though the spell would normally have been child's play, the Cataclysmic Aura of Galen had robbed the mages of their efficiency, requiring significantly more time to charge their incantations. To compound matters, their panic had shattered their focus, making it increasingly difficult to control their mana.
The golem, its movements slowed by the damage it had sustained, lumbered menacingly towards one of the remaining mages, each step causing the ground to tremble beneath its weight. "Please, Varence, I'll give you anything you desire! Just make him stop!" The mage's voice trembled as he held his hands aloft, pleading for mercy. Despite the plea, the golem descended on the mage with a crushing blow, obliterating him. Varence, witnessing the gruesome scene, felt a whisper of regret and began to question the path he had chosen. The golem shuddered and crumbled in on itself as its mana was expended. The other mage, a tall and lean figure with an air of cunning, finally managed to navigate the icy terrain and made a desperate dash for safety.
Varence, driven by a ruthless desire to eliminate the last remaining mage, was about to deliver the final blow when Thorne intervened. Recognizing the mage's potential value, Thorne suggested they extract information from him using illusion magic instead.
As Thorne approached the fleeing mage to begin the interrogation, he couldn't help but notice the repulsive stench emanating from Varence. Disgusted yet concerned, Thorne advised Varence to clean himself up and address the mess he had created. Hoping to ease Varence's embarrassment, Thorne attempted to empathize with him by sharing a fabricated tale of his own struggles with a similar issue because of his cowardice.
Unfortunately, Thorne's well-intended words only exacerbated Varence's humiliation. Stammering, Varence tried to explain the golem's pursuit as the reason for his state, but his face flushed a deep shade of red, betraying his mortification. Varence felt the heat of shame radiating from his cheeks, and Thorne's efforts to console him had only intensified his discomfort.