BOOM!
The sound of an explosion cracked through the air.
Both Atlas and Arabella snapped their heads around, startled by the sudden noise. Arabella's heart jumped as she instinctively reached for her bag, her thoughts racing. Had the sorcerers broken through?
But Atlas caught her hand.
His grip was firm, his eyes locked onto hers as he shook his head, "Don't," he said lowly. "We need to focus. Here, first."
He nodded toward the flask she had just pulled out from her satchel.
Arabella hesitated, her gaze darting toward the castle walls, but then remembered: the sorcerers still couldn't breach the barrier. Not yet. With effort, she forced herself to focus.
Her eyes lifted to the second floor where Cassius was.
He stood at the edge, his breathing ragged, blood glistening on his black sword. His attack had torn a wound more than three meters deep into the monstrous creature's neck, yet still, it wasn't enough. The thing was too massive to be fully beheaded in one strike.