Lyra accepted Zarek’s duel challenge. It wasn’t long before she found herself in a quiet clearing outside the city walls, the vibrant colors of the Eldoria landscape a stark contrast to the tension in the air. Zarek was a well-known player—an assassin rogue who specialized in debuffs and quick strikes. He had a reputation for being ruthless and a bit of a showoff.
“Ready to get embarrassed?” Zarek taunted as he approached, dual daggers glinting in the sunlight.
“Let’s see what you’ve got,” Lyra replied, keeping her voice steady even though her heart raced. She felt her fingers tingle with the readiness of casting spells, mentally rehearsing the rotations she'd been practicing for weeks.
The duel began with Zarek vanishing in a puff of smoke, activating his stealth skill. Lyra knew she needed to play defensively until she could locate him. She cast Ethereal Ward, a spell she had merged earlier that would pulse energy, potentially forcing invisible players to reveal themselves. Sure enough, Zarek’s outline flickered into view behind her, his daggers poised for a critical hit. She quickly shot off a Thunderfire Bolt, catching him mid-attack.
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Zarek rolled to the side, taking some damage but retaliating with a series of poisoned strikes. Lyra’s health bar dipped, the poison eating away at her hit points. The rogue was fast, almost too fast for her to keep up. She felt panic creeping in, but she forced herself to focus.
“Focus on what he’s doing,” she muttered under her breath. Zarek’s attacks were precise, always aiming for weak points. If she didn’t stop him soon, she’d lose.
A sharp pain jolted her as one of his daggers found its mark, but Lyra didn’t falter. She activated a new merge she had been experimenting with, Ignition Surge, a combination of Mana Shield and Flameburst. As Zarek went in for another attack, her shield flared with a fiery explosion, sending him flying back.
“Got you,” Lyra whispered, her confidence growing as Zarek’s health bar dipped dangerously low. With a final Thunderfire blast, she sealed her victory.