I Ascend Alone-Chapter 17: Struggles

The warlord snarled, his blood-red eyes darting between me, my shadow warrior, and the two charging hunters.

He raised his massive cleaver to block Vance's strike, but at the last second—

Dane's warhammer crashed into his knee.

CRACK!

The warlord let out a guttural growl, momentarily losing his balance.

Vance took the opening, twisting his blade mid-swing and slicing toward the monster's neck.

But the warlord wasn't that easy to take down.

With terrifying reflexes, he dropped his cleaver and caught Vance's sword with his bare hand.

A sickening grinding noise echoed as the blade bit into his palm, blood dripping onto the stone floor.

"Annoying," the warlord spat, his grip tightening.

Then, with raw power, He swung Vance away like a ragdoll.

"Shit—!"

Vance crashed into a nearby wall with a heavy thud, coughing up blood.

Dane barely had time to react before the warlord's elbow smashed into his ribs, sending him sprawling onto the ground.

I cursed under my breath. "Even with all of us attacking at once, this bastard is still this strong?!"

The warlord straightened, flexing his fingers. His wounds were already closing at an unnatural speed.

He let out a deep, amused chuckle. "Did you really think that would work?"

He took a step forward—but then, his muscles twitched.

His movement staggered.

The warlord's eyes widened for a brief moment, his breath hitching. "What...?"

That was when I saw it.

The shadowy tendrils from my summoned warrior's blades were still embedded in his back. They were draining him.

***

[Eclipse Legion: Shadow Infliction Active]

The summoned warrior's attacks leave lingering wounds, restricting enemy movement and absorbing energy.

***

A grin crept onto my face. "So that's how it works."

This was my chance. I tightened my grip on my dagger, then vanished.

With Phantom Step, I shot forward like a blur, weaving past his slowed movements.

I reappeared behind him. My dagger flashed—

SCHLICK!

A deep gash opened along the warlord's Achilles tendon, forcing him to one knee.

He roared in frustration, swinging wildly behind him, But I was already gone, slipping back into the shadows.

Vance, still panting from the earlier hit, saw what happened. His eyes burned with renewed determination.

"Dane! Now!"

Dane, coughing but still standing, grinned through bloody teeth. "Heh... Been waiting for that."

He raised his warhammer.

And swung down with everything he had.

BOOM!

The warlord's knee exploded inward, forcing him to the ground completely.

He howled, fury and pain mixing in his voice.

But I wasn't done. I turned to my summoned warrior, my mind clear.

"End him."

The shadow warrior didn't hesitate.

With eerie precision, it dashed forward, its twin blades plunging straight into the warlord's chest.

The warlord gasped—his red eyes filled with pure disbelief. But a moment later, the warlord's deep, guttural laugh echoed through the chamber, sending a chill down my spine.

Even with twin blades buried in his chest, he showed no signs of pain, only amusement.

"Fool." His voice rumbled like distant thunder.

Before my shadow warrior could pull its blades free, the warlord's massive hand shot forward, gripping its head like a vice.

With terrifying ease, he lifted my summon off the ground—then slammed it into the stone floor with a sickening crack.

The impact sent a ripple through the shadowy form, making it flicker.

My eyes widened. He can grab them?! Before he could finish crushing my summon completely, I moved.

With a burst of Phantom Step, I shot forward, appearing right beside him, And drove my dagger into the back of his elbow.

SCHLICK!

The warlord snarled, his grip loosening just enough for my summon to slip away.

But I didn't stop there. I twisted my blade and ripped it out, forcing his arm back.

Vance saw the opening and rushed in. "Dane, now!"

Dane, still reeling from earlier, gritted his teeth and pushed forward.

With a loud battle cry, he swung his warhammer—

And it slammed directly into the warlord's temple.

BOOM!

The warlord staggered, blood splattering against the cracked stone. But even that wasn't enough.

His grin widened, blood dripping between his teeth. "You... vermin..."

Despite the deep wounds we had inflicted, his body refused to falter. His breath steadied, his muscles no longer sluggish.

His wounds were closing.

"No way..." Vance muttered, panting.

Dane, gripping his warhammer, staggered back. "This bastard—he's healing!"

I followed their gaze and then, I saw it.

The colossal, pulsating crystal behind the throne. A sickly red glow pulsed in sync with the warlord's wounds.

Each beat of its eerie light restored him, knitting together torn flesh and shattered bone.

Roth swore under his breath. "That thing... it's keeping him alive."

My stomach clenched. That's why nothing was working.

Dane wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Then what the hell do we do? We can barely stand, and he's—"

The warlord let out a deep, guttural laugh, his massive frame looming over us.

"Pathetic."

His mana surged, sending a shockwave that rattled the entire chamber.

Vance tensed, barely keeping his sword raised. "We won't last much longer like this..."

I glanced at my summoned warrior, still crouched in the shadows, waiting for my command.

A risky gamble.

But if it worked, we could end this. I forced a smirk and tightened my grip on my dagger.

"We're taking out that crystal."

Vance shot me a look. "The hell are you—?"

"Let's do this." I interrupted, my mind already set.

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Without waiting for a response, I mentally unsummoned my shadow warrior.

The warlord blinked, his eyes flicking toward the space where my summon once stood.

"Good. That meant he noticed. Now, for the second step." I muttered

I lunged forward, engaging him once more, but not to win. I just needed to buy time.

As the warlord roared and swung his massive fist toward me, I whispered the command in my mind.

Summon.

And from the shadows behind the throne, I summoned my shadow warrior.

The instant my shadow warrior's blades struck the crystal—

CRACK!

A deep, resonating fracture ran across its surface. The pulsing red glow flickered violently as if it was struggling to hold itself together.

The warlord's body stiffened. His eyes widened in shock.

"What—?"

Before he could react—SHATTER!

The crystal exploded, sending shards flying in all directions. A wave of sickly red energy burst outward, washing over the throne room.

And then, silence. The warlord stood frozen, his breath shallow, his massive frame unmoving.

For a moment, I thought we had won.

But then, a deep, inhuman growl rumbled from his chest.

Dane tensed. "That... doesn't sound like a death cry."

Vance tightened his grip on his sword. "Shit! Something's wrong!"