★38
THIRD POV
Tokiko and the ogres, along with the trained elves, fought back as much as possible even though they were heavily outnumbered.
As Tokito and his men were clearing their path, they stumbled upon one of the dark figures. It was dressed in black with a smiley face clown mask.
"In position."
He commanded, and they surrounded the clown.
"Heh, this isn't fair about ten to one? What did the Eel of Joy do to deserve this?"
"You single-handedly keep wiping out our forces. We won't be fooled by your tricks."
"You've seen what I'm capable of, yet you're still facing me?"
"We have no other option. No, this is the only option. Defend the island."
"Hmm, how about we play a fast game?"
"This is war. There's no time for that."
"I don't care. You all will hit me first with all you've got. If I die, you win. If I suffer heavy damage, I'll retreat. How about that?"
Eel suggested.
"If you don't sustain any damage, then what?"
"It'll be my turn to play."
<
How can we know you'll keep your word?"
"You can't. You'll just have to trust me."
It was obvious their death was certain, but Eel was playing around as he might not find fun if he swiftly ended their miserable lives.
"That's not enough."
"If you speak again, I'll attack in your place."
"Everyone, give your best shot at this."
"Yeah!"
Everyone unleashed their elemental magic in unison, each attack layering atop the others in a chaotic symphony of power.
Fire, lightning, ice, and arcane energy collided, creating a blinding explosion that ignited the area with brilliant, swirling colors. Debris from shattered terrain and destroyed constructs rained down, scattering in every direction.
When the smoke cleared and the magical afterglow faded, the grim truth emerged: their combined assault had achieved nothing. The enemy, or whatever force had withstood them.
<>
"My turn. Tornado dance."
At his command, the air around him began to churn violently. Whirling gusts coalesced into a massive tornado, roaring with devastating force.
The opposing forces scattered in every direction, desperately trying to escape, but a few weren't fast enough. The storm tore through them, slicing and hurling soldiers as if they were nothing more than scraps of paper.
As the wind finally calmed and the debris settled, the devastation revealed the figure at the center of the chaos, the attacker, standing unmoved and composed amidst the ruin he had wrought.
"Only six perished, how rusty I've gotten. Wind sickle."
Two gleaming sickles materialized along his arms, spinning with deadly precision.
In an instant, he struck down anyone attempting to reach Tokito, cutting through their defenses before they could even react. As Tokito's head was about to be targeted, a burst of flames erupted, engulfing the last assailant in a fierce blaze, searing Eel in the process.
The combination of bladed precision and fire left the attackers decimated, the air thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning flesh.
"O, you're sharp.."
"Wind assist fire, I can take you on."
<
He was just bluffing.
"Such calculations are useless in my presence!"
He yelled and moved together with the natural flow of the wind. Tokito couldn't keep track of his movements, and he was cut in several places instantly, but he stood his ground.
"What now can't keep up? Can't use my wind to your advantage?"
Tokito exhaled, letting his mind synchronize with the chaotic flow around him.
<
His eyes snapped open, and despite the burns and scratches decorating his body, he raised his sword with purpose.
<
Analyzing Eel's movements, he anticipated the pattern with uncanny precision.
With white flames licking the blade, Tokito swung to the right. The searing edge met Eel's neck, and his eyes went wide in shock.
There was no time to react, Eel's head separated cleanly from his body, rolling across the ground as the flames continued to dance along the sword, scorching the remnants of the attack.
<
Eel's body, though undead, should have shrugged off such a strike. His regeneration alone would have prevented fatal damage, but the attack went beyond normal limits. The body turned to white ash instantly, dissipating into the air, his head following in the same vanishing act.
The aftermath hit Tokito like a shockwave. The backlash from the destruction of such immense untamed element forced him to his knees.
His senses were assaulted: blood poured from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, searing pain wracking his body as the sheer force of the strike reverberated through him.
<
'cough' 'cough'
<<...white flames? When did it change completely?>
"Never mind, I have to..."
As Tokito forced himself upright, pain tearing through every muscle, a sudden impact crushed into his stomach. The air was driven from his lungs as his body was hurled backward, skidding across the ground in a helpless arc.
A voice followed, calm and disdainful.
"You play with your food now. Look at you, Eel. As for you…"
The newcomer stepped forward, his presence pressing down like a suffocating weight. He drsss was identical to Eel' a circus outfit with a fright clown mask.
He stared at the drifting white ash where Eel once stood, not with grief, but with quiet appraisal. The pressure in the air intensified, familiar, yet vastly heavier.
Tokito's vision blurred as he struggled to focus.
<
His grip tightened around his sword. <>
His knees trembled, threatening to give way. <
His breathing steadied despite the pain.
The figure finally turned his gaze to Tokito, eyes cold and certain.
"Pel of Fear."
He said flatly.
"My name is the last thing you'll hear. Now die."
Dark energy surged around him, condensing with terrifying density as he drew it into a single point. The ground beneath his feet cracked under the pressure.
"Lion's Rage."
The attack finished charging, its destructive force poised to be unleashed, aimed directly at Tokito.
.
.
.
To be continued...