As Aria, Selena, Eryk, Leon, and Orin engaged in fierce individual battles, the remaining seven monsters charged at Ronan, Kael, Darius, Garrick, and Sylphie.
"Formation!" Ronan barked, his voice firm despite the chaos.
Sylphie immediately took control of the battlefield, her Wood Magic, vines weaving through the air like living snakes. Roots burst from the ground, entangling several of the humanoid monsters, restricting their movements. She chanted softly, sending pulses of mana to enhance their strength.
Kael's eyes glowed with a faint shimmer as he unleashed his Mist Magic, creating illusion distorting the humanoid monsters' perception and disorienting them before lunging in with his sword.
Garrick, with his one-handed shield and sword, moved with precision. He intercepted attacks meant for Sylphie, his shield absorbing blows while countering with swift strikes. His role was clear—protect Sylphie at all costs.
Darius, his spear infused with Thunder and Wind, moved like a storm incarnate. Each thrust sent lightning-charged gusts tearing through his enemies, his footwork leaving no room for retaliation.
Ronan, flames burning at his fingertips, unleashed a relentless assault. His sword, wreathed in fire, cleaved through flesh, searing wounds shut before the monsters could even scream.
The battle was intense. Roars of agony and flashes of magic filled the air. Blood stained the ground as their attacks connected, yet the humanoid monsters refused to falter easily. They clawed and bit, their unnatural resilience keeping them standing longer than any ordinary enemy should.
Despite their skill, exhaustion began to creep in. Their mana reserves dwindled. Their breaths came ragged. But they fought on, determined to survive.
Finally, with one final synchronised strike, the last of the monsters fell. Silence followed, but only for a moment.
Flames licked at the dry trees surrounding them, sparked by stray embers from the battle. The forest ignited in a furious blaze, casting long, twisting shadows around them.
And then, the man at the altar rose.
The absorbed mana radiated from his form. His once withered body now pulsed with vitality, his eyes glowing with some unknown power. He let out a slow, menacing laugh, his gaze locking onto two figures.
Ronan and Orin.
"Well, well… I never thought I'd see you two again," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Fate is truly kind to me. To think that the very boys who were with Alden when he struck me down would stand before me once more. And this time... there will be no escape."
Orin's blood ran cold. His fingers tightened around his spear, his body trembling. "Y-You… we saw you die that day. You should be dead!"
The man grinned, the flickering flames casting his face into a twisted mask of glee. "Dead? Oh no, child… death was merely an inconvenience. And now, I will finish what was left incomplete. Just as I absorbed her essence, I will consume yours."
Ronan's hands trembled—not with fear, but with unrestrained rage. His vision blurred, blood roaring in his ears. His breath came in slow, shuddering gasps.
"That day…" he whispered, his voice thick with fury. "That day, I was too weak to stop you. Too weak to save her."
His flames flickered, growing wilder, hotter.
"Today, I will end you for sure."
The inferno reflected in Ronan's eyes, his control slipping away to raw, unyielding wrath. The air crackled with searing heat as he took a step forward, his fingers tightening around his sword.
The man smirked, his gaze shifting between Ronan and Orin. "Thanks to all of you, I can finally attain a new ability." His voice dripped with arrogance, revelling in his impending evolution.
Everyone could feel Ronan's rage burning hotter than his own flames. His eyes, wild with fury, locked onto the man before him. Though his body trembled with anger, his voice remained steady but edged with murder. "I saw you die. How are you alive? And in a different body?"
The man laughed, a wicked, mocking sound. "Why would I tell you?" His eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "But if you become my pawn—like those humanoid monsters—perhaps I'll let you in on my little secret."
"Dream on!" Ronan snarled, slashing forward with a Blazing Strike—a fiery blade of mana streaking through the air.
The man evaded with ease, a smirk never leaving his face. "Then you are going to die here."
Ronan narrowed his eyes, scanning the battlefield. "Look around," he said, voice laced with venom. "How do you think you can win? You're alone. We're many."
The man tilted his head, glancing at the bodies of his fallen humanoid monsters. "True, I never expected you all to wipe out my minions so efficiently." He chuckled darkly. "And without sustaining many injuries, no less. But tell me, Ronan… how much mana do you have left?" He gave a knowing smile. "I bet you're already drained. Of course, you could use a mana stone or a potion…" He made a sharp tsh, tsh, tsh sound with his tongue. "But I prepared for that. You're running on fumes, aren't you?" His gaze locked onto Ronan's shaking fists. "Your body betrays you. You're stalling for time, waiting for reinforcements. But how much longer can you last?"
Kael grimaced. "Damn it… My mana is nearly depleted."
The man nodded as if expecting that answer, then turned back to Ronan. "You're smart, I'll give you that. But smarts won't save you." His voice turned cruel. "You're trembling with rage, yet still trying to strategise. A commendable effort. But you have no time left."
Ronan clenched his teeth. He had no choice now—no tricks left to play. He charged forward, sword raised. "Why gain power like this?!" he shouted, his blade slashing toward the man. "There are other ways to become strong!"
Their swords clashed, sparks flying. The man grinned through the collision. "Sacrifice is necessary to become a god. When I become immortal, I will be invincible. I will rule this world!" His laughter turned maniacal. "If some must die for that future—so be it!"
A surge of black mana erupted from his palm, forming a deadly blast. Ronan barely had time to react. Molten Shield! A protective barrier of molten lava flared to life, intercepting the attack. But the sheer force sent Ronan skidding back, the shield cracking under the impact.
"Sylphie!" Kael shouted. "Pull him back!"
Sylphie's vines shot forward, wrapping around Ronan and yanking him away just as the Molten Shield shattered. The man's eyes darkened as he turned to Sylphie. "You'll die first."
He lunged toward her.
"STOP!" Ronan yelled, still tangled in the vines.
But the man ignored him.
A figure stepped between them—a broad-shouldered young man, shield raised.
Garrick.
"You want to kill her?" Garrick's voice was steady, though his grip tightened. "Try me."
The man sneered. "Fine."
Dark energy gathered around his fist before he launched it forward. Garrick braced himself, but the impact shattered his shield and sent a sickening crack through his left arm.
"AAGH!" Garrick cried out in pain, his left arm hanging uselessly.
But he refused to fall. With gritted teeth, he shifted his sword to his right hand and, mustering every ounce of strength, delivered an upward slash. The man barely dodged, but the tip of Garrick's blade carved into his chest, leaving a shallow wound.
Ronan and Orin rushed forward, placing themselves in front of Garrick.
Ronan gritted his teeth. "Blazing Restoration—!" He tried to cast the spell, but nothing happened. He didn't have enough mana to cast any spells.
Kael's voice rang out. "Everyone! Regroup!"
As the others gathered, Ronan turned to Sylphie. "Boost Orin and me—strength and agility at maximum."
Sylphie hesitated but nodded. "It'll only last ten minutes." With the last of her mana, she stopped Garrick's bleeding before collapsing to her knees.
Ronan turned to Orin. "Think you can keep up this time?"
Orin grinned despite his exhaustion. "If I can't, what's the point of strengthening my body?"
They launched forward, unleashing a relentless barrage. The man barely kept up, summoning defensive barriers to block their blows.
"Kael!" Aria urged. "Shouldn't we help?!"
Kael exhaled heavily. "What can we do? They trained their bodies for this. We didn't."
Minutes passed. Ronan and Orin began to slow, their movements growing sluggish. The enemy took advantage, pushing them back.
"I… I can't keep going," Orin panted. "I might black out."
"One last push!" Ronan roared.
He hurled a sword at the man, who easily dodged. The blade stabbed into the ground.
Orin attacked from behind while Ronan struck from the front. The man conjured mana shields to block both.
Then—two daggers flew through the air.
One slashed across the man's leg. The other missed.
"Tch… Damn it! I can't even control two daggers in this state," Ronan cursed.
Sylphie called out. "Two minutes left on the boost!"
Ronan laid Orin near Sylphie. "Heal him."
Orin weakly grabbed his wrist. "Don't… use it, the human body has its limits."
Ronan smiled faintly.
Then—Void Overdrive.
Crimson cracks laced his body as an overwhelming force surged through his veins. He was past his limit, but that didn't matter now. He launched forward, fists and kicks, hammering the man.
He leapt again, slashing downward to destroy the altar.
The explosion sent him flying. The barrier shattered. The man staggered, wounded but still standing. He grabbed Ronan's throat. "You still lost."
Ronan grinned. "Did I?"
Two daggers emerged—one from the ground, one from the side—severing the man's hands. He screamed. Ronan fell back, laughing.
As Ronan was falling, he saw that Mr. Alden and Mr. Alaric had arrived. With a smirk Ronan fell on the ground. The man glowed, "What's so funny? You still lost. I will absorb your core and heal myself…" He look back and find Mr. Alden, Mr. Alaric, and others arrived. The man tried to fall back, saying, "No, No, This… this is not supposed to happen."
Mr. Alden began healing Ronan.
"Don't let him die," Ronan muttered before passing out.
Without hesitation, they rushed him to Eldergrove Hospital.