—Who is that? —said Ziggy, trying to make out the figure moving through the shadows. The flame of his sword had dimmed, making it difficult to determine if this was an ally or a new threat.
The figure advanced slowly, until the faint glow of a lighter revealed his face.
—Max! —Ziggy exclaimed, surprised.
Standing before him was Max, the second strongest of the Centurios. Despite the dangerous situation, Ziggy couldn’t help but feel a brief wave of relief having him there. A Legatus and a Centurio together almost guaranteed victory, especially when it came to them, widely recognized among the beasts for their strength and skill.
Pardo frowned, aware that he was in a difficult position. Facing two of the most powerful Elementals wasn’t something to take lightly.
—It’s rare to see you around here, Ziggy, —Max said as he extinguished the lighter and drew his sword—. I thought I’d find BJ.
—It doesn’t matter, —he added with a confident glint in his eyes—. With you here, we have a good shot against this freak.
Without another word, Max launched himself at Pardo with the speed and strength characteristic of the Centurios. Pardo reacted instantly, positioning himself to intercept the attack. At that precise moment, Ziggy seized the opportunity to strike from behind, brandishing his flaming sword. For a brief second, Pardo forgot about Ziggy’s presence and was nearly hit, but with a powerful blow to the ground, he made the entire street quake, forcing both Elementals to retreat.
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Max and Ziggy stepped back but quickly repositioned themselves in front of the beast, launching a coordinated attack. Their movements were swift and precise, as if they were an extension of each other. They didn’t need to speak; each seemed to know exactly what the other would do, covering and supporting one another with every strike.
Saico, watching the battle from a dark corner, couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
—How...? When...? —he muttered, bewildered.
Everything was happening too fast for his eyes. The two swordsmen fought with near-perfect synchronization, but what was most shocking was how Pardo, despite being outnumbered, seemed better positioned than his opponents.
The battle raged on for several minutes. Max and Ziggy’s attacks didn’t relent, but Pardo endured with inhuman ferocity. Though he knew the Elementals wouldn’t give up easily, he also understood that he couldn’t afford to fall tonight.
Suddenly, with a guttural roar, Pardo slammed the ground with all his strength, lifting chunks of pavement and creating a distraction amidst the chaos. He knew he had to retreat before reinforcements arrived. Seizing the confusion, he slipped away into the shadows, but not without leaving a message.
—Zero is almost ready! —he roared—. And he’s coming for you, Elementals!
With those words, Pardo vanished into the cold darkness of the night, leaving Max, Ziggy, and Saico with a mix of unease and determination.