Talax stood frozen for what felt like an eternity, as if an icy wave had washed over him. The shock had left him temporarily paralyzed, and it took several seconds for him to process what he had just witnessed. In stark contrast, Qalo's immediate response was a desperate cry of anguish, as he sprinted toward the spot where Franny's lifeless body had disappeared.
As the initial shock subsided and rational thoughts began to resurface in his mind, a torrent of threats and curses erupted from Talax's mouth. Every word was directed at the nobleman who was currently fighting fiercely for his life against the Toad King. "I will end you! Do you hear me? I will kill you with my own hands! If that creature doesn't do it first, I will!"
Without realizing it, Talax found himself charging toward Edward. His sword swung menacingly, but the older noble seemed oblivious to his approach. Edward was leaping, rolling, and diving into the toxic waters, desperately attempting to evade the lethal tongue of the monstrous beast.
Talax's frenzied advance was only stopped when he was confronted by a wall of determined toad warriors, resolute in their mission to block his path to the entrance. He grimaced with impatience, his sole focus fixed on reaching Edward. In that moment, he activated his ability, Clarity of the Wrath, and his already muddled mind became even cloudier. His singular purpose was to inflict pain and death. He didn’t care where his attacks were aimed at, only that he brought misery and suffering to everyone around him.
He heard shouts and deafening croaks, but all Talax could do was swing his sword for just a little longer, his attacks now amplified by his heightened damage. He watched in grim fascination as bits of green flesh and blood sprayed around him, creating a grotesque spectacle of destruction. He pressed forward relentlessly, all the while hacking at the diminutive but persistent foes who struggled to defend themselves against his empowered onslaught.
His ability ended, plunging his body into a weakened state. He felt his hands trembling, but he wasn’t sure whether it was happening because of the ability’s aftereffects or his burning anger towards Edward. It was in this vulnerable state that a warrior toad seized an opportunity and lunged at him. In a twist of fate, the creature found its mark, a small hole in his ruined shirt allowed the sword to pierce his skin and embed itself to the hilt.
The warrior toad croaked in triumph, its eyes locked onto Talax's, as if awaiting them to dim with the approach of death. Talax, however, scoffed and swiftly clubbed the creature with his elbow. There was a distinct snap, and the toad's head twisted unnaturally, causing its grip on the sword to loosen until it tumbled into the water.
With a grunt, Talax grabbed the wooden stick, which the toads had mistakenly believed to be swords, and extracted it from his body with a grunt. More toads circled around him, but he had no time for them. He planted his sword into the swamp's soggy ground and raised his hand, casting the Fog of Mystica. As the spell took hold, some of the toads who had ventured too close were left stranded and bewildered within the misty veils of his enchanted fog.
Talax took a moment to dispatch the confused toads using his Stone Spike spell before turning his attention to finding Qalo. Relief washed over him as he spotted his friend, who clutched an unconscious Franny in one hand and swung his hammer with lethal determination in the other, fending off the encroaching toads.
Qalo appeared to be wielding an unfamiliar ability, twirling his hammer in a circular pattern, causing a small tornado of mana to buffet the nearby creatures without even the hammer making physical contact. He was creating a path leading to the nearest island outside the battle zone, in a desperate attempt to bring Franny to safety.
Amidst the chaos, a sudden shout drew Talax's attention back to the Toad King. He observed Edward narrowly evading the creature's lashing tongue only to be struck by an essence bead. A brilliant light momentarily blinded the old warrior, providing the Toad King an opportunity to attack. But before the Toad King could land a blow, Vesperine materialized out of thin air, executing an acrobatic jump that left her suspended upside down, with her two daggers extended and dripping with a noxious green substance.
The Toad King wasn’t quick enough, and Vesperine managed to land on the creature's neck, viciously stabbing at the back of its neck, effectively halting the beast's attack. Green blood spurted out in a small fountain due to the masked woman's cunning strike. The Toad King croaked in agony, Vesperine's assault appearing to inflict massive damage, momentarily diverting the colossal toad's focus.
However, in the next instant, the Toad King's eyes cleared, and it released a menacing cry, causing its excessively inflated neck sack to pulse dangerously. It raised its webbed hands in an attempt to capture its elusive assailant, but Vesperine had already vanished into a puff of black smoke. The enraged beast scoured the area behind its back, finding nothing but empty air.
Edward was momentarily distracted by a small group of toad warriors and had momentarily forgotten about the Toad King. The massive creature retracted its impossibly long tongue with a wet slurping noise and began to rhythmically raise its foot. The swamp trembled, and Talax watched as the water around him churned as though it were boiling, and he was standing within a colossal cauldron, on the brink of being boiled alive.
The poison within the water appeared to react, and a wave of weakness washed over Talax's body. He continued firing arrows at the ranged warriors, but each time he pulled the bowstring, a fresh wave of weakness overcame him. Desperate to understand what was happening, he delved into his core, only to be surprised by the sight of his mana pool shrinking. Every passing second saw more mana slipping away, as though it were being siphoned by an unseen force.
With a sinking feeling, Talax realized that the poison's effects were sapping his mana. He released another arrow and fervently prayed that this debilitating effect wouldn't last for long. If it did and his mana pool was entirely drained, he'd be left utterly helpless, unable to function in any way due to the excruciating headache.
Out of the corner of his eye, he observed the Toad King using its tongue as a weapon, forming loops and scouring the area in search of Vesperine, seeking revenge. The water offered little resistance to the creature's wrath, parting easily to reveal the muddy ground beneath. There was a cry, and Vesperine materialized out of thin air as the tongue finally found its target. The impact sent her sailing into the air, and Talax opened his mouth to shout, but Vesperine contorted her body like a cat and landed gracefully on her feet.
Clutching her side, she showed clear signs of pain, and Talax was taken aback to see a significant gap in her leather armor, exposing the skin beneath. Before his eyes, the skin reddened and blistered as though it had been burned by acid. The woman moaned and quickly took out a healing potion, draining it in a single gulp.
Meanwhile, Edward, who had been patiently waiting for an opportunity to strike since he couldn't approach the Toad King while his tongue was being used like a plowing weapon, roared in defiance. He began to run, clutching his sword tightly as it began to shine with mana, only for the next instant to magically double in size.
Talax held his breath, waiting to witness the outcome. Talax held his breath, waiting to see the outcome. Even though he didn’t much care for the nobleman’s fate, he wanted the beast dead, so that they could finally return to the safety of the path and finally reach the end of this dungeon. If Edward died in the process, the better. He hoped the two beasts killed each other.
The Toad King, upon seeing the man approaching, croaked weakly. It started to convulse, and Talax watched in astonishment as small holes began to manifest all over the creature's body. These openings began to ooze a sticky liquid that flowed in waves down its body like dripping honey and swiftly solidified into a gel-like state.
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Before Edward could reach the toad, the massive creature was enveloped by the sticky substance, which had turned translucent and gleamed in the swamp's dim light. Edward showed no sign of being daunted by this new development and let out a furious roar as he launched his attack.
The collision that followed was nothing short of spectacular. The magically enlarged sword clashed with the hardened substance, creating a deafening boom. For a brief moment, it seemed as if the Toad King would meet his end, but to Talax's astonishment, the glowing greatsword light quivered and shattered into pieces, like shards of broken glass.
The illusion of the massive greatsword crumbled along with the light, reverting to its original size. Edward was sent hurtling backward by the impact, bouncing off the toad's huge belly like a ball. Talax witnessed the man slump into the shallow water, and then his attention turned back to the creature. The protective substance that had shielded it from the attack had cracked, and huge chunks of the solid liquid tumbled away, only to be swiftly replaced by a new layer of liquid that flowed and sealed the cracks, covering the exposed skin.
Shaking his head, Edward climbed to his feet, leaning on his greatsword that appeared undamaged despite the failed attack. He scanned the area, searching for any assistance, but all his allies were preoccupied. Walter was still locked in combat with the remnants of the toad warriors, who had decided that he was an easy target since he was still caged by the magical whirlpools.
The red headed man proved what a skilled warrior he was. He leaped, rolled, and dived, adeptly evading attacks while dealing death to the small creatures that surrounded him like a bloodthirsty wall. He maneuvered through the cramped space with grace, moving his sword in an elegant and mesmerizing manner. Each time the tip of his sword touched a creature, it left behind a small wisp of fire. These wisps connected with one another through delicate strings of fire, forming a protective wall that shielded the small warrior's flanks.
Walter was a silent power that Talax had dismissed so far because of his crude ways and disheveled appearance. Seeing him, however, fight with such elegance and effectiveness despite the unfavorable terrain proved to Talax once again that appearances could be deceiving.
Callum had never stopped targeting the endless number of toad rangers, who stood on the barricade trying to help their brethren by throwing whatever they could find. At some point, their supply of darts must have ended, and doing their best to assist their fellow toads, they decided to fling whatever they could find, including rocks, branches, and even dried mud shaped into makeshift projectiles.
Vesperine's whereabouts remained unknown, as was often the case, while Qalo and Franny had withdrawn from the ongoing battle. They stood on a small island, with Franny recuperating from his injuries. The half-orc loomed over the pale-faced Franny, shielding him from anyone who dared attack them.
This left only Talax. Edward met his gaze for a moment, but Talax bared his teeth. All the pent-up anger and resentment surged within him as he recalled how the noble had treated his friend. Edward, however, paid no heed to his anger, dismissing his presence, and rose to his feet.
He gripped his sword with both hands and raised it high in front of him. An aura began to materialize, small mana clouds surrounded the man’s form, and slowly the intimidating aura started growing stronger. Before long, the old warrior appeared engulfed in an inferno forged from mana. Sensing the imminent danger, the Toad King attempted to thwart the noble by lashing out its long tongue like a whip.
When the slimy appendage was about to crush into the noble Vesperine came to his rescue. She materialized in front of him and tossed a small device at her feet. Edward remained as still as a statue, waiting for his ability to fully charge. A transparent wall constructed of ethereal bricks materialized before them. Talax watched as brick after brick popped into existence, as if an invisible hand were assembling the wall in that very moment.
The Toad King's tongue crashed into the magical wall with a resounding, metallic boom that sent shockwaves through the dark swamp, causing Talax's very bones to tremble. The sound reverberated like a tolling bell. The wall crumbled, and small, simmering fragments flew as though carried by an invisible wind. But it had served its purpose, for Edward had finally managed to activate his ability.
Edward appeared transformed, though Talax couldn't pinpoint the exact difference, except for the intimidating aura enveloping him. The nobleman roared with fury, his voice resonating as though it was coming from the depths of an abyss. Vesperine leaped to the side as Edward charged forward like an enraged bull.
He appeared unstoppable, each thunderous step sending tremors rippling through the swamp. The Toad King attempted to stop his advance by lashing out with its tongue, but the older man casually deflected the attacks with the blunt side of his sword, as if he were impatient to confront his adversary.
For the first time, the Toad King appeared uncertain. It emitted a questioning croak, and a fresh wave of liquid cascaded down its body, seemingly trying to prepare for the coming attack. Behind the Toad King, a group of toad leaders hopped atop the gate and began dancing. Talax watched them with keen interest, having fully abandoned any semblance of fighting as he became wholly engrossed in the clash of these two powerful beings.
As Edward charged forward, and with his every step energy seemed to build and crack around him, electrifying the area around him. The toad leaders continued their frenetic dance. In a synchronized croak, they raised their webbed hands, and the water around the older noble seemed to respond to their collective will.
The water shifted and churned around the warrior. Just before he reached the colossal Toad King, a wall of water rose around Edward, encircling him from all sides. The wall coalesced around him with a rush of bubbles and foam, trapping the seemingly unstoppable warrior. Talax observed him struggling against the aquatic prison, hands emerging momentarily only to be driven back by the turbulent waters. Then, Edward's enraged face surfaced, promising a painful end for the creature.
The Toad King seized the opportunity and attacked the noble with its tongue, and despite the cacophony of water, Talax heard the telltale crunch of ruined metal. Vesperine once again came to Edward's rescue. She swiftly scaled the wooden wall and, with a graceful leap, landed atop the barricade. The toad leaders, still engrossed in their spell, had no time to react and fell one by one to Vesperine's daggers, offering no resistance. She remained on the barricade, deftly moving from side to side, bringing death with her dark daggers to the few remaining toads.
The watery prison Edward had been trapped in collapsed as soon as the toad leaders perished, sending a torrent of water that created small waves on the still swamp. Edward landed in an ungraceful heap, sputtering and gasping. It took him a moment to regain his composure, but when he did, he shot a menacing glare at the Toad King that even the beast felt its menace.
With a deep exhale, Edward rose to his feet and clutched his greatsword tightly. The aura surrounding him flickered momentarily, causing the old warrior to falter. Then, his aura flared up with an intensity so profound that even Talax, who stood dozens of meters away, felt the mana radiating from the man. Edward resembled a bright sun on the brink of implosion.
The Toad King made one last desperate attempt to thwart the enraged man. Its tongue darted out with impossible speed, but then an arrow sailed through the air with deadly precision and found its mark on the creature's face. The massive head whipped around from the impact, dragging the tongue with it.
Edward easily sidestepped the slick tongue and, with a swift twirl, raised his arm in a powerful overhead chop, slicing the appendage in half. The severed piece of flesh splashed into the water, and the disoriented toad let out a croak of pain. The creature appeared lost, as if it couldn’t comprehend that someone had actually managed to harm it. Before the King could react, Edward closed the distance and activated another ability.
A radiant column of light descended from above, as if emanating from the heavens themselves, and bathed the entire cavern in its brilliance. Edward's laughter echoed manically, his voice sounding magnified, as he swung his sword with the finality of a reaper. The eerie light followed the trajectory of the weapon, as if a deity were shining a spotlight from above. The sword channeled the magical light into a devastating beam that struck the Toad King.
The beam of concentrated light descended upon the colossal creature with brutal finality, carving a path of devastation. A thin, glowing line materialized on the creature's skin, extending from its shoulder to its hip, as Edward heaved with effort, trying to control the overwhelming energy.
Then, the light abruptly blinked out, plunging Talax and everyone on the battlefield into blinding darkness. He blinked repeatedly, his vision filled with stars from the sudden transition. The battlefield fell into an eerie silence, with everyone rendered speechless by the display of power, anxiously waiting to see the outcome.
Talax's eyes eventually adjusted to the dim cavern light, and he saw the Toad King frozen with an expression of shock. Edward let out a feeble sound, overcome by weakness, and collapsed face down into the water. Talax watched in bewilderment, struggling to comprehend how the creature could have survived such a devastating...
A wet sound drew his attention to the creature once more. He peered more closely and his eyes widened as he realized what was truly happening. The hardened liquid that had shielded the creature was starting to liquefy once again, and gradually but surely, the colossal beast began to unravel. Edward's attack had cleaved the creature in two, and the sticky substance that had held the two pieces together was now failing. The Toad King's fate was laid bare.
Like a crumbling mountain, the Toad King fell.