In the Abyss (7)
“I’m going…!”
Varis shouted sharply to his comrades. His voice was laced with resolve and unease. The enemy before them—Galan, clad in black armor—exuded an overwhelming presence that seemed to crush the very air. Yet Varis didn’t flinch. He gathered all his strength, gripping his sword tightly. His knuckles cracked inside his gauntlets as tension surged through his hands. Then, in one explosive dash, he charged at Galan.
“Haa!”
He swung his blade in a massive upward arc, unleashing his power with a roar. The fierce momentum rippled along the edge—but
“Hmph.”
Clang!
Varis’s sword halted emptily. Galan had caught it with one hand alone. His expression unchanged, he handled it as casually as swatting a fly.
“W-What?!”
Varis faltered in disbelief. But in the next instant, Galan’s wrist twitched ever so slightly.
Whoosh—!
“Guh?!”
Like brushing away an insect, Galan’s casual sword stroke sent Varis flying back. He tumbled across the ground, barely regaining his balance, but his arm throbbed with numbness. A single clash had made the vast gap in their power all too clear.
And then—
“Die.”
A short, merciless verdict. At the same time, a sound like tearing air assaulted his ears.
Whoooosh—!
Galan’s sword descended like a bolt of lightning. The immense pressure cleaved the wind, creating the illusion that even the air itself was being sliced apart. Varis twisted his body on instinct.
Boom!
The blade struck the floor, sending cracks spiderwebbing outward. The ground split like torn flesh, shards of stone exploding in all directions. Dust billowed from the impact, clouding their vision.
“As expected… this won’t be easy.”
Varis wiped the sweat from his brow roughly, muttering under his breath. Even through the haze, Galan stood out sharply. The man in black armor continued to dominate them with his colossal presence. Each step he took made the earth groan heavily.
“Haat!”
But then, another shadow darted forward with blinding speed. Eily lunged like lightning, targeting Galan’s flank with agile precision. Her thrust pierced toward his vulnerability—but
“Sloppy.”
Galan’s eyes flashed coldly.
Clang!
His sword curved smoothly yet firmly, deflecting Eily’s blade tip. In one fluid motion, he nullified her attack.
“Eek?!”
Eily was flung back, rolling once on the ground before scrambling into a defensive stance. Her hand trembled slightly from the lingering shock.
“He’s… no joke.”
She whispered through gritted teeth. That single exchange had driven home that Galan’s prowess was no mere undead fluke.
“Eily, you okay?!”
Varis called out worriedly, and Eily caught her breath.
“Yeah…! I’m fine.”
She readjusted her grip on her sword and steadied herself. But at this rate, they couldn’t match him. That’s when someone who had been quietly channeling mana stepped forward.
“O radiant great spirit.”
A clear, resolute voice rang across the battlefield. It was Elisha. She clasped her hands and began her incantation. Warm golden mana condensed around her, beginning to glow.
“Let your power descend… Let your warm embrace purify evil and banish the darkness!”
The light gathered at her fingertips. A dazzling radiance blazed like the sun. And she cried out fiercely.
“Saint Burst!”
———!
In an instant, a beam of light shot forth, striking Galan dead-on. Explosive holy mana surged, engulfing his armor like a blazing sun devouring a shadow.
However,
“Crude magic.”
Galan didn’t dodge. He simply raised his sword.
Crack!
His stroke cleaved the air, unleashing a blue flash that raced along the cracked ground toward Elisha.
“……!”
Her pupils dilated. It was an overwhelming force that rent the holy mana asunder, like slicing through a stream of water.
“Hyah!”
Elisha hurled herself aside just in time. But where she’d stood, a deep fissure gouged the floor, and the sword ki’s aftershock grazed her skin. A chill ran through her as cold sweat trickled down her back.
Can we even beat that…?
She bit her lip. But surrender wasn’t an option. And she wasn’t alone.
“Saint Arrow!”
Melina’s clear, sharp voice echoed through the temple. An arrow infused with light magic left her bowstring, slicing the air toward the enemy’s heart in a lightning-sharp trajectory.
But—
“Hmph.”
Galan didn’t move. His blue eyes gleamed coldly as he stared down the incoming projectile. And the moment it touched his body—
Ting—!
A faint ripple of light flickered at the impact, but his armor bore not a single scratch. It was as if a mere speck of dust had brushed past—utterly ineffective.
“No way…!”
Melina’s face froze in horror. This wasn’t the first time her attack had been blocked. But his deliberate choice to take it head-on, as if etching their futility into her mind, sent a chill down her spine.
“These weaklings are getting annoying.”
Galan’s low, chilling voice reverberated. Slowly, he raised his sword. In that moment, dark energy began to spread along the blade. Like black mist, it expanded into a massive wave that crushed the ground. The oppressive weight bore down on the air itself.
“Brace yourselves!”
Varis gritted his teeth and thrust his sword forward like a shield, channeling every ounce of strength.
Kraka boom—!
The colossal wave crashed like a tidal surge. The earth split, stones flying everywhere. Varis held firm, but the ground beneath him crumbled.
“Guh…! Urghaa…!”
The flesh-rending pressure drew groans from him. The force transmitted through his sword twisted his arms, sending numb shocks up his spine.
I have to hold this…!
But his body was nearing its limit, screaming in protest.
“I’ve got you!”
Elisha’s voice cut through. She hurriedly clasped her hands, condensing mana. Light bloomed from her fingertips, enveloping Varis in warm golden radiance.
“O great spirit, look upon us… Grant this holy shield to overcome the raging evil.”
Holy magic rippled softly, wrapping around him. A golden barrier draped over Varis, repelling the cold, brutal darkness.
“Haa…!”
With the light’s blessing, Varis barely withstood Galan’s power. He regained his footing on solid ground. Still, his breaths came ragged, his body rigid with tension.
Galan, meanwhile, hadn’t budged. He merely gazed down at them leisurely.
“Pathetic.”
He murmured lowly. Then, he tightened his grip on his sword once more.
“But among humans, you’re at least sturdy.”
Varis had no breath left to retort to the mockery. His heaving gasps echoed loudly in his ears. Yet he couldn’t give up.
“A head-on fight’s impossible. We need to cooperate and create openings.”
He scanned his surroundings swiftly and made his call.
“Eily, hit the flank!”
At his shout, Eily moved like a shadow to Galan’s opposite side.
“Everyone! Coordinated assault!”
Varis’s command clicked for them all; they sprang into action intuitively.
“Hah…”
Melina steadied her breath and nocked another arrow. Light gathered at her fingertips, holy energy condensing at the tip, ready to fire.
“Saint Ball!”
Elisha chanted too. A blazing orb of holy fire formed above her.
Varis timed it perfectly, clenching his greatsword tight until the last second.
“Now!”
At his signal, they unleashed everything.
“This arrow will do it…!”
“Here goes!”
Melina’s arrow streaked away in a brilliant trail, while Elisha’s massive light orb hurtled forward with ferocious momentum. Varis swung his greatsword in a heavy arc toward Galan, the steel tearing the air as it descended. Simultaneously, Melina’s and Elisha’s spells targeted from front and side, the light arrow and holy flames closing in fast.
But—
“Futile.”
Galan raised one hand, forming a blue magic circle. Like a vast shield, it expanded to absorb Melina’s and Elisha’s attacks outright. The light arrow fizzled against its surface, and the holy flames scattered and vanished in moments.
At the same time, his other hand gripped his sword, casually parrying Varis’s plunging greatsword.
Clang—!
The blades clashed with a shrill metallic screech.
“Eily!”
Varis seized the moment both of Galan’s hands were occupied. Spotting the split-second opening, he called her name.
“Haat!”
Eily struck like lightning. Leaping lightly, she soared from behind and brought her sword crashing down from above. Her nimble blade slammed into Galan’s helmet with a heavy thud.
Thud—!
A dull metallic impact rippled outward. Yet the helmet didn’t shatter. His armor still boasted unyielding defense.
But—
“Guh…”
In that instant, a short groan escaped Galan’s lips. For the first time, a faint crack appeared in his composed demeanor.
It landed!
Varis watched sharply. That strike had definitely affected him. Hope flickered within.
“Pointless!”
Suddenly, Galan roared in fury. Dark blue energy erupted from his armor, morphing into a powerful shockwave that blasted outward.
“Kuh!”
“Kyaa!”
The massive impact swept like a gale. Varis barely stayed upright, but Eily tumbled several rolls, scraping harshly against the ground. Her panting form caught his eye.
We won’t last long like this…
Varis exhaled roughly, surveying the group. Elisha and Melina were regrouping in the rear. Eily rose, swallowing her pain.
Still, there was hope. That last hit—Eily’s strike had left a tiny crack at the edge of Galan’s helmet. Minute, but undeniable damage. Proof he wasn’t invincible.
We can do this!
Varis gritted his teeth and regripped his sword.
“Guys, it’s working! Keep pushing!”
His shout echoed across the field. Elisha and Melina began gathering magic again. Eily’s eyes gleamed as she raised her sword.
But then—
“Grk…”
Galan let out a low groan. His head dipped slightly, an ominous aura swirling around him.
Grrk— Grrk—
A grotesque sound emanated. His armor writhed like a living thing. The black energy pouring from his body began to churn violently.
“…!”
Varis tensed instinctively, swallowing hard.
“What the hell is that…?”
Elisha stared in horror. Melina gripped her bow tighter, murmuring lowly.
“Is that… his true form?”
Even before the transformation finished, the air grew unbearably heavy. A skin-prickling pressure enveloped the battlefield, the atmosphere thick and suffocating.
And finally, the fully transformed Galan slowly raised his head.
“I suppose… I’ll fight in earnest as well.”
His voice was deeper now, more sinister, sending shivers down their spines.
A chill ran through them.
And… the real battle was just beginning.