Malik lunged forward, his decayed feet cracking the brittle earth beneath him. His corrupted form moved like an unleashed predator, each step unnaturally swift and erratic.

Raed stepped forward, his scimitars gleaming in the dim light. His voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

"Spread out! Focus on coordinated ranged attacks, and keep your distance."

Activating his Earth Domain, a surge of brown energy rippled outward, amplifying his strength and that of the elders around him. Despite his calm demeanor, his eyes burned with fierce determination.

The elders moved in unison, spreading out to encircle Malik.

Hakim pressed his hands into the ground, summoning a powerful Earthquake. Seismic waves rippled outward to destabilize Malik's footing.

The fractured earth cracked and buckled beneath him, forcing Malik to steady himself with his longsword, its decayed blade anchoring him against the chaos.

Samira seized the moment. With a swift motion, twin stone walls erupted from the ground on either side of Malik. The walls slammed inward enclosing him in a crushing embrace.

"Now, Tariq!" Hakim shouted, sweat pouring down his face.

Tariq stomped the ground, a surge of elemental energy rippling through him. High above Malik, the air seemed to tremble as a massive boulder materialized, summoned from the earth and suspended momentarily.

Tariq roared, slamming his hammer into the ground, launching the enormous rock downward with devastating force.

The timing was perfect, just as the stone walls confining him decayed, the boulder hurtled toward him, its shadow engulfing his form.

Malik glanced up, his decayed lips twisting into a mocking grin. He leaped upward with an explosive burst of corrupted energy.

Mid-jump, he unsheathed his longsword in a single fluid motion. The jagged blade darkened faintly, an unnatural shimmer dancing along its edges as he slashed downward with terrifying precision.

The massive boulder split cleanly in two, its shattered halves crashing to the ground and shaking the battlefield before crumbling into dust.

Malik landed heavily, his grin twisted and feral.

"Is this all the mighty elders capable of?" he rasped, his voice dripping with venom.

"I'm… out of energy," Hakim muttered, collapsing to one knee.

Raed's gaze hardened. "Samira, cover him!" he barked, stepping forward with his scimitars drawn.

Raed's sharp eyes narrowed, and with a flick of his hand, a barrage of metal pikes erupted from the ground in a deadly arc, their gleaming tips slicing through Malik's torso and limbs, leaving gaping holes that oozed black ichor.

For a moment, Malik staggered, his laughter turning into a guttural snarl.

Tariq, seizing the moment, activated his Giant's Might, his frame growing taller and broader as earth energy surged through his body. With a roar, he leaped high into the air, his Warhammer poised for a devastating strike.

The hammer came down with the force of a collapsing mountain, slamming toward Malik's head. Malik raised his jagged longsword to intercept the blow.

The corrupted blade clashed against the Warhammer with a deafening crack, absorbing the impact. The ground beneath his feet crumbled further, and his bones snapped audibly under the strain.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Yet Malik showed no sign of pain or strain. Instead, a twisted grin spread across his face.

The Warhammer groaned under the pressure, its metal corroding rapidly under the decay radiating from Malik's blade.

Within moments, the hammer splintered into fragments, the pieces crumbling into dust as Malik straightened, his blade still steady in his grasp.

Tariq staggered from the sudden release of force, and Malik lunged forward, his decayed blade tip grazed the retreating Tariq's forearm. His skin blackened immediately, the rot spreading rapidly as Tariq roared in pain.

From the side, Raed had already activated his mountain might buff and swung a massive metal column like a battering ram, striking Malik squarely in the ribs. The force sent him tumbling across the battlefield, crashing into the ground with a heavy thud.

Raed rushed to Tariq's side, his scimitar gleaming faintly with elemental energy. Tariq gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as the corruption crawled up his arm.

"Do it," Tariq growled through clenched teeth.

Raed didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, his blade sliced cleanly through Tariq's arm just above the elbow. The corrupted limb fell to the ground, crumbling into ash.

Before they could regroup, Malik landed near a guard who had ignored orders to stay back.

He saw his chance as the corrupted elder sprawled on the ground, ichor pooling around him.

Determined to end the threat, he conjured a clay pool beneath Malik to pin him in place before charging with his Greatsword raised high.

"Die, you abomination!" he yelled, swinging the heavy blade with all his might.

Malik caught the blade mid-swing, his decayed hand corroding the steel instantly. The weapon crumbled into useless shards.

The guard froze in shock, his eyes wide with terror as Malik turned his gaze toward him.

"Pathetic," the corrupted elder rasped, his voice dripping with malice.

Before the guard could retreat, Malik lunged, his decayed hand closing around the man's neck. The guard's screams pierced the air as his body withered before their eyes.

His skin shriveled, his frame collapsing inward as Malik drained his vitality. The black ichor leaking from Malik's wounds retracted, his body visibly rejuvenating.

Raed's scimitar trembled in his grip as he watched the horrific display. His jaw clenched, his voice a low growl.

"You've caused enough damage."

Raed surged forward, summoning metal chains from the earth. They lashed out like serpents, coiling tightly around Malik's limbs. Sharp steel spikes followed, erupting from the ground and skewering his corrupted body with precision.

Malik thrashed violently, his decayed energy seeping into the chains, corroding them almost instantly. With a guttural snarl, he broke free, snapping the bindings.

His jagged longsword came down in a sweeping arc, forcing Raed to dodge. Raed merged into the earth beneath him, disappearing in a blur, and reemerged a short distance away with blinding speed.

Raed didn't relent. He summoned gleaming metal blades from the earth, their edges glinting dangerously as they hurtled toward Malik.

The corrupted elder moved like a cornered beast, dodging some of the attacks while the rest struck true, embedding into his flesh.

Black ichor seeped from the wounds, yet Malik laughed, a twisted, maniacal sound that sent chills through the air.

Raed pressed the assault, closing the gap. His scimitars slashed in precise arcs, each swing aimed to end the fight.

Malik met him head-on, his corrupted blade parrying the attacks with uncanny speed. Sparks flew as metal clashed against decay, the ground beneath them cracking from the force of their battle.

Malik feinted left, then lunged low with his longsword, aiming for Raed's midsection.

Raed vanished into the earth once more reappearing behind Malik with both scimitars raised. His blades descended like a storm, cutting deep into Malik's decayed flesh.

Malik roared in frustration, his corrupted energy surging as he swung wildly. The jagged blade grazed one of Raed's scimitars, and the weapon began to wither and corrode, the metal crumbling under Malik's touch.

Undeterred, Raed dropped the ruined weapon and conjured a spear of pure steel. With a burst of speed, he drove the spear into Malik's stomach, pinning him to the ground.

Malik howled, his decayed hands clawing at the spear as black ichor spilled from his wounds.

Raed didn't stop. A second steel spike erupted from the ground, impaling Malik through the chest, followed by a third that drove through his throat. Malik convulsed violently, his laughter turning into a guttural rasp before fading entirely.

As the spikes held him in place, Malik's body began to collapse in on itself. His decayed energy unraveled, black ichor seeping into the ground as ash replaced what remained of his twisted form.

The battlefield fell silent. The oppressive energy lifted, and the wind carried away the remnants of what had once been Elder Malik.

Raed stood over the ashes, his breathing heavy.

"I'm sorry Malik. Rest in peace." He murmured silently.

From his hidden perch, Zayd's fists clenched. His mind raced with questions, his heart heavy with dread.

'How am I supposed to get anywhere near that thing… when it can turn someone like Elder Malik into this?'