We weren't in the same stony hallways anymore. It was a large square room, dark but with a small light that let us see.
Seeing Ros, our Support, barely holding his ground against the Corrupted, I got up and took his place as the attacker.
Ros quickly stepped back as I moved forward, sword in hand.
In front of me were multiple beasts—two large snakes, quick and deadly. One hit from them would probably be the end for me.
Then, other corrupted wolves appeared. These looked nothing like the ones I faced before.
They were especially wide, their eyes glowing red. Drool leaked from their mouths as if they were starving for blood.
I thought about using Form One, but this was probably just the start. I couldn't waste it now since I could only use it once per day.
"Let's go!" I shouted.
Ros raised a staff I hadn't noticed before. It had a large crystal at the end, and the handle fit perfectly in his hands.
He summoned shards of ice as I charged toward the wolves, the shards flying to hold them back.
The shards scattered quickly, multiplying as soon as one was fired.
They moved perfectly in sync with my fight. I reached for one wolf as the shards kept coming.
The wolf let out a roar and raised its massive paw, claws curved sharp enough to slice someone in half.
I stepped aside just in time, dodging its attack aimed for my torso.
I swung my sword and sliced its large paw that hung over me. Hot blood sprayed across my cheek like a burning slap.
I closed my eyes as the wolf's blood dripped down, then shook my head left and right to clear my vision.
I caught the wolf off guard—it was still hurting from the attack. Quickly, I jumped up and drove my sword deep into its head, killing it instantly.
Before I could catch my breath, more wolves lunged at me, angered by their fallen comrade.
The shards of ice stopped, replaced by spikes of stone rising from the ground—sharp enough to tear through a person's stomach.
Without hesitation, I jumped up as two wolves charged from different directions.
I used a wind spell to propel myself forward, then again to land firmly on my feet.
The wolves dodged the spikes, and the snakes climbed over them.
More spikes erupted from the already raised ones. I was shocked when one snake's head exploded, and one wolf stumbled trying to dodge.
Now, only one wolf and one snake remained. I had to act fast before the snake got to me.
I furrowed my brows and faced the wolf again.
This time, I engulfed my sword in flames—to cause more pain and finish this fight faster.
Ros kept casting his spells, sending shards of ice and spikes of earth to slow the beasts.
I charged with my fiery sword raised.
The wolf was right in front of me, and I lifted my blade to end it quickly before the other could recover.
But the wolf stepped back and leapt onto a nearby spike, catching me off guard.
It jumped again, moving from spike to spike, each time triggering more spikes to rise.
The wolf's movements got faster, and soon I couldn't keep up.
With no idea where it would come from next, the growing spikes, and the dim room, I gritted my teeth and gripped my sword tighter.
Then, suddenly, the wolf lunged at me. I noticed just barely.
Flames erupted as my blade sliced through the air—right into the wolf's path.
A huge slash of fire roared from my sword, cutting the wolf in half as it charged.
I glanced at the wolf and saw its injured leg. My eyes widened.
"A distraction!" Ros shouted from across the room.
I turned, but it was too late.
The other wolf that had been jumping around the spikes finally charged downward—straight at me.
I was completely distracted and had fallen for their trap.
The wolf roared as it closed in. Its curved claws slashed me. I felt burning pain on my back as the slash cut through my cape and clothes.
Thanks to my mana reinforcement, the cut wasn't deep enough to be fatal, but the pain was sharp.
I shouted in agony as my body trembled.
The Corrupted Viper, waiting for its moment, hissed nearby. I was on the ground, defenseless.
Ros, seeing me in danger, tried to cast another earth spell to reinforce me.
Before he could finish, the viper bit my leg hard. I felt venom flood my veins—I couldn't even move.
An icy burn spread from the bite; pain flared through my blood like fire.
The beast kept its teeth sunk in, but three arrows—one normal, two charged with wind magic—pierced its head, killing it.
The poison still seeped through me, though.
Then the wolf lunged again, but I gritted my teeth through the pain and raised my sword to stab it.
The wolf stumbled as it saw me ready to strike, leaping away in surprise.
I engulfed my sword in flames again and released a fiery slash, screaming in pain as I did.
The blaze slashed toward the wolf's head, cutting it off—but not completely, since this slash wasn't as strong as before.
The sight was disturbing, but my own state was worse.
My body burned with pain. The venom spread fast through my blood. My legs trembled, and I collapsed, unable to stand.
I heard footsteps rushing toward me. Ros and Lara appeared just as I lay on the brink of death.
Lara dropped to her knees, preparing a high-level healing spell. She chanted something I couldn't hear clearly. My vision blurred.
Ros did the same, which surprised me, but then I remembered—he was Support and had to know some healing magic.
A faint smile touched my lips as I felt them healing me. I felt safe, even as pain shook my whole body.
My consciousness faded—probably from the poison. I had to accept it.
If this was how I died, I had no regrets.
"Thank… you…" I muttered, barely a whisper to my party before my vision went dark.