The deeper they walked into the nest, the darker it became. The sound of their boots echoed against the high rock walls, soon swallowed by the oppressive silence.
They stood at the edge of a wide, open arena—an unnatural pit surrounded by cliffs. The dust smelled scorched. Even the air shimmered like it didn't want to stay still.
"This is it," Hara muttered. "The center of the battlefield."
Roine surveyed the terrain carefully. The pit had no obvious exits. They were inside a natural trap.
"The three lizards will emerge from underground, right in the center," said Hara. "I'll go first."
Roine gave a small nod, gripping his scrolls and feeling the weight of his dagger on his back.
"One more thing," Hara added, turning slightly. "They can burrow. They'll dive into the earth and pop up anywhere. Keep your guard up."
"Understood," Roine replied—though his voice wavered just a little.
As Hara stepped forward into the arena, the ground beneath them trembled.
RUMBLE.
Three points cracked open at once—dust shot up like geysers. And then, they rose.
The Lightning Lizard, crackling with energy, its skin thin and glowing like a live wire.
The Ice Lizard, tall and cruel, its breath frosting the air, its spear tipped with a shard of freezing death.
The Steel Lizard, massive and armored like a fortress, moving slow but unstoppable.
"Divine Provoke!"
Hara's shout rang through the pit as his mace glowed with light. A radiant wave burst toward the Ice Lizard, drawing its attention instantly.
The creature shrieked and lunged toward him, and Hara ran—leading it to the far left corner of the arena.
Roine moved quickly. He stepped into the Steel Lizard's vision, taunting it silently. The behemoth began lumbering toward him. But Roine didn't attack. Not yet.
Once he had enough distance, he pulled out a scroll and whispered an incantation.
"Shadow Cat."
A creature of black mist, shaped like a feline, slinked out from his shadow. It darted toward the lizard and struck first blood, drawing its attention away from Roine.
That gave him time.
But then he noticed the Lightning Lizard.
It wasn't standing still.
It was moving.
Fast.
Straight toward Hara.
Damn it.
Roine dashed across the battlefield, unsheathing his dagger. With fluid movement, he cut across the creature's flank, just enough to stop its momentum.
The lizard shrieked and sparked with fury. Roine dodged a wild swipe of its tail and ducked under a surge of electricity.
From across the arena, Hara called out, "I told you to ignore that one!"
"If I ignore it, it'll reach you!" Roine shouted back. "Besides, I'm better suited to stall this one than to chip away that Steel tank."
"Tch." Hara gritted his teeth, narrowly avoiding a frozen spear strike.
The battle grew chaotic.
Roine was everywhere—dodging, weaving, attacking just enough to keep the Lightning Lizard distracted. His shadow skills danced like flickering ghosts. Meanwhile, his summoned cat kept nipping at the Steel Lizard, just to keep it enraged and isolated.
And through it all, the clock ticked in his mind.
Two minutes thirty seconds.
Thirty seconds left before berserk.
But his body was starting to feel it.
His breathing quickened. His attacks slowed.
His doubts returned.
What if I fail? What if I'm not enough? What if… I drag him down?
But he shook the thoughts off like ash.
He had promised to fight. And he meant it.