The skeletal warrior crumbled to dust, leaving behind an unsettling silence in the clearing.
Also a single, fist-sized sapphire like gem, its surface cracked, lay discarded beside the pilea.
Relief washed over Vedik, so intense it made his legs wobble. He leaned heavily on his Echoblade, the golden glow a fading ember compared to its earlier brilliance. A searing pain ripped through his entire body, each muscle screaming in protest.
He also felt like the Godhood system was calling him to show something but Vedik didn't have the time to view the system as he knew the real battle is not over yet .
Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed through the clearing. Vedik forced his blurry vision upwards to see Thalnos emerge from the shadows of the trees. The sorcerer's face was a mask of fury, his aged features twisted in a grimace. His once pristine robes were tattered and singed, and a deep gash bled on his forehead.
"How could this be?" Thalnos roared, his voice hoarse with disbelief. "You, a mere child, defeated my skeletal warrior?" He gestured towards the pile of dust with a bony hand. "And because of you, my artifact is damaged!"
Vedik noticed a crack snaking across the ornament Thalnos was wearing.
It seemed the battle had taken its toll on the sorcerer as well. Thalnos's skin stretched thin over his prominent bones. Which made him look very old and horrifying . It was like someone has sucked all the energy from Thalnos.
Seeing this , fear tugged at Vedik, but something else pulsed within him too - a fierce determination to protect his family.
Vedik with his bloodshot red eyes , stares at Thalnos and emits a horrendous blood lust.
Thalnos recoiled as if struck, a shiver running down his spine. The chilling gaze triggered a primal memory - a memory of a similar look filled with unyielding wrath, that had haunted him for years.
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Thalnos also felt goosebumps all over his body .He felt like he is being stared down by a god .
"You won't be needing limbs to be researched anymore," Thalnos sneered, trying to mask his unease. "Prepare to be disabled, bastard!"
Vedik holds his Echoblade tightly , ready to face Thalnos's attack, but it looked like he will faint at anytime.
Thalnos , chanted a spell, and a ball of crackling fire erupted from the tip of his fingers.
The fire ball makes its way towards Vedik, burning everything in the way .
It was a blazing comet which promised annihilation.
Exhaustion and intense pain threatened to consume Vedik, but he couldn't yield. He knew this might be his last stand, yet he wouldn't falter.
Just as the fireball engulfed him in its searing embrace, a blinding light erupted from his chest.
The locket, the one Miss Nuwa had given him, pulsed with a soft, emerald glow that expanded rapidly, forming a protective shield around him. The fireball hissed impotently against the barrier before dissipating harmlessly.
The unexpected turn of events stunned everyone. Thalnos stared, his jaw dropped with disbelief. Vedik slumped to his knees, his body drained, the world tilting on its axis. The locket's light dimmed, slowly fading back to its usual inconspicuous state.
William POV
William's vision swam back into focus, a dull ache throbbing through his entire skull. The memory of the fight, the agonizing pain, and the chilling sight of the skeletal warrior flooded back. Panic surged through him. Vedik! Jasmin! Where are you? he shouted .
He tried to sit up, but a jolt of pain shot through his entire body. Every muscle in his body felt like it had been pummeled. Ignoring the protest of his body, William pushed himself to his hands and knees. He needed to find his family and make sure they were alright.
He could hear sound of the clash of steel, a guttural roar, and a strangled cry. Fear clawed at his throat.
Those were the sounds of the fight, and judging by the intensity, it seemed far from over. William gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain. He had to get there, and reach Vedik and Jasmin.
With a shaky resolve, William hauled himself onto his feet. Thousand of thoughts crossed his mind , the world tilted precariously, threatening to send him crashing back down.
He took a tentative step, then another, his movements wobbly and slow. He had to ignore the agonizing protest of every bone and muscle in his body.
As he stumbled out , his gaze fell upon Jasmin. She lay sprawled a few meters away, her face pale and drawn. Relief flooded him momentarily, but it was quickly replaced by a renewed wave of panic. Vedik! Where was their son?
"Jasmin!" he called out, his voice filled with worry.
Jasmin's eyelids fluttered open. Her gaze met his, filled with terror and despair. "William," she rasped, her voice barely a whisper. "Don't worry about me. Go save our son!
The skeleton Thalnos has summoned , Vedik might still be fighting it. Although I have used the slow time spell around Vedik , he will not be able to defeat such a gruesome undead monster .
So please, go and save him!"
Her words sent a jolt of fear through William. That skeletal warrior? The one he saw before getting knocked out by Thalnos sneak attack. A cold dread settled in his stomach.
Although he had trained Vedik for months it is still not enough to beat such a monster.
So he knew , Vedik wouldn't stand a chance alone. William's vision blurred with a mix of pain and terror. He pushed himself forward, ignoring the world tilting around him. He would reach his son, even if his body gave out before he got there.