Now, he was starting to piss me off. Every second I spent fighting this smug undead bastard was a second I wasn’t helping Elyria. With a surge of adrenaline, I pushed through the numbing fatigue spreading through my limbs, ignoring the dull ache in my bones as I charged at the Mayor with renewed vigor.
He laughed as I rushed in, a deep, mocking sound that echoed through the crumbling streets. His sword met mine with a clash of steel, the malevolent energy still sapping my strength, but I pushed forward, hacking and slashing with everything I had. Maya joined me, her short swords dancing in the dim light as she struck at him from the other side. We moved in tandem, our attacks coordinated, and for the first time, the Mayor’s laughter faltered.
His grin twisted into a snarl as we pressed our advantage, forcing him to defend with more focus. I could feel his debuffs gnawing at me, but I refused to let them slow me down. I had to push beyond it—I had to end this fight.
Just when it seemed like we were gaining the upper hand, the Mayor swung his sword in that familiar wide arc, a blast of corrupt energy erupting from the blade. The force of the spell sent us both staggering, the ground beneath us cracking and shifting. Before I could recover, I saw the Mayor pivot, his eyes locked on Maya. His sword arced toward her head, and I knew she wouldn’t be able to get out of the way in time.
“Maya, look out!” I shouted, my voice thick with panic.
But just as the Mayor’s blade was about to connect, Maya vanished. She disappeared into thin air, leaving the Mayor’s sword to cleave through nothing but air. He stumbled, thrown off balance by the sudden lack of resistance.
I didn’t waste the opportunity. With a roar, I swung my gauntlet sword and axe wildly, driving the Mayor back as I tried desperately to finish him off. He was off balance, his movements more erratic as he struggled to regain control, but he was still fast, too fast. Every time I thought I had him, he managed to deflect my blows, his twisted grin returning as he steadied himself.
When he finally seemed to regain his footing, the Mayor’s expression shifted. His eyes flared with a sudden, manic intensity, and with a guttural growl, he unleashed a flurry of attacks at an even faster pace. His sword blurred with speed, the strikes coming from all angles as he targeted me. It was as if he had shed any pretense of holding back, his movements becoming erratic and unpredictable.
I barely managed to deflect a series of rapid strikes, my gauntlet sword vibrating from the impact. The Mayor’s attacks were relentless, his sword swinging in wild arcs that seemed to defy logic. I found myself on the defensive, struggling to counter his newfound aggression.
The Mayor’s laughter returned, but this time it was tinged with a wild edge, a feral delight as he grinned at me, opening his mouth to gloat. But before he could utter a word, a sword exploded through his chest from behind, black ichor spraying from the wound.
Maya reappeared, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Guess you didn’t see that coming," she quipped, her voice dripping with mockery.
The Mayor’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth working soundlessly as Maya twisted the blade she had driven through his chest. She looked at me with a cocky grin. "You know, Everett, sometimes it takes a woman’s touch to finish the job."
The Mayor’s body convulsed, the dark energy within him flickering and sputtering like a dying flame. He tried to raise his sword one last time, but his strength was draining fast. I took a step forward, ready to end it, I’d learned my lesson from Tyranix.
But then, with a final, desperate surge of power, the Mayor let out a guttural roar. A shockwave of dark energy exploded from his body, sending both Maya and me staggering backward. I barely managed to keep my footing, my vision swimming as I tried to focus on the Mayor. When the dark energy subsided, I saw him standing unsteadily, his eyes filled with a burning hatred.
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"You... will not defeat me... so easily," he rasped, his voice a strained whisper. With a final, spiteful glare, the Mayor staggered back toward the shadows of the mansion, his body flickering and distorting as if reality itself was rejecting his presence.
"He's getting away!" I shouted, struggling to shake off the lingering effects of the shockwave. I tried to rush after him, but my legs felt like they were made of lead, the Mayor’s debuffs still weighing me down.
Maya darted forward, her swords ready, but the Mayor was already retreating into the darkness. The shadows seemed to swallow him whole, his form fading into the void as if he was being pulled by some unseen force.
"We’ll meet again, my dear citizens," his voice echoed through the empty streets, taunting us even as he vanished from sight. "And when we do, you’ll wish you’d joined me... when you had the chance."
And then he was gone, leaving nothing but the echoes of his words and the oppressive silence of the dead city.
Maya cursed under her breath, lowering her swords as the reality of his escape sank in. "Damn it. I had him."
As the echoes of the Mayor's retreating voice faded into the darkness, I felt the weight of the fight settle in. My limbs were heavy, my breath coming in ragged gasps as the effects of the Mayor's debuffs continued to gnaw at my vitality. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving behind a dull ache that spread through my bones. I could feel the fatigue seeping in, threatening to drag me down. The remnants of the debuff still clung to me, a dull, persistent ache that gnawed at my muscles and clouded my thoughts. The world around me felt slightly out of sync, as if I was moving through a haze that refused to clear.
"We need to sit for a minute," I muttered, more to myself than to Maya, as I stumbled toward a crumbling stone wall nearby. I leaned against it, sliding down until I was sitting on the cold ground, my back pressed against the rough stone. "I need to let these debuffs tick off before we move on."
Maya, still keyed up from the fight, hovered near me, her eyes scanning the dark streets for any sign of danger. But I could tell she was itching to keep moving, her energy still high from the battle.
Ignoring her restless pacing, I reached into my pack and pulled out one of the few health potions I had left. The glass bottle felt cool in my hand, the liquid inside glowing faintly with a soft, amber light. I uncorked it and downed the contents in one go, the warmth of the potion spreading through my body as it worked to mend the damage the Mayor had inflicted. I could feel the healing effects taking hold, the sharp edges of pain dulling as my health bar inched back up.
But as I tucked the empty bottle away, a pang of unease settled in my gut. Only two left. I’d need to be careful with the remaining two, the thought of running out in a place like this made my stomach turn. I knew we couldn’t afford to waste any more time here, but pushing on without letting my body recover could be a death sentence.
Maya’s restless energy was palpable as she continued to pace, her eyes darting around the shadowed ruins. Her swords were still in her hands, her knuckles white from the grip she had on them. She was ready to keep fighting, ready to dive back into the chaos that had consumed her during the battle.
"Did you see that?" she said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her voice was breathless, filled with a mix of awe and something darker. "I’ve never felt anything like it. The way he moved, the power in every strike—it was incredible!"
I watched her as she talked, her eyes wide with a fervor that I hadn’t seen before. She was practically vibrating with energy, her entire body keyed up from the fight. It was clear that the adrenaline was still surging through her, making her movements sharp and her gaze intense.
"Maya, we need to focus," I said, my voice firm as I tried to reel her in. "I know the fight was intense, but we can’t let our guard down. The Mayor’s still out there, and so is Elyria. We need to be ready for whatever comes next."
But Maya wasn’t listening. She moved closer to me, her eyes locked on mine as she spoke. "You and I... we make a great team, Everett. I’ve never felt this connected to anyone before. The way we fought together, the way we moved... it was perfect." There was a strange intensity in her gaze, an almost predatory glint. What was going on with her?
Her movement interrupted my thoughts. She was close now, too close, her excitement spilling over into something else, something that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Her hand reached out, brushing against my arm, her touch lingering longer than necessary.
"Don’t you feel it too?" she asked, her voice dropping to a husky whisper.