Immediately he stopped struggling. The three Magus came closer, cautiously continuing to cover themselves with shields while the two whipped out daggers.
"Do you think we should capture him? Unlike Jarek herself, we can just put the others together for extraction."
"Well, what you said makes sense but we don't have the time. Besides, we weren't instructed to do otherwise and don't think I don't see the look on your face, you definitely have something else planned!"
The shackles were draining his mana at an alarming rate and even though he wasn't struggling, Eldros felt the thorns lengthening and digging into his flesh and muscles. The pain that it brought made his head light and he had to grit his teeth to keep from whimpering.
But Eldros was used to pain. He had inflicted and accepted pain before. Even then, he knew he wouldn't last long, especially since it looked as if the thorns were trying to dig into his whole body.
The Magus were nearer now and one of them laughed loudly. "Of course! Don't you see the look in his eyes? It'll be good for breaking!"
Suddenly Eldros focused his attention on the three Magus, his eyes filled with pain and anger.
He narrowed his eyes and without hesitation he leaped forward.
Pain flared in his body, turning his eyes white hot but that was nothing compared to what he did next.
He jerked his hands.
The shackle of light fought back, thorns digging into his flesh and veins. But he ignored it and yanked it all the way through.
Rip!
Chunks of flesh fell to the floor as his Demon Hand tore, blood sprayed in the air and even some of his bones were showing.
All of this happened midair and all the Magus saw it, their faces showing their shock and surprise. They couldn't believe what they were seeing as it chilled them to the bone because even animals and beasts flinched away from pain.
It was then that their eyes flickered with alarm. "Wa... wait, you can't break the shi...!!"
Eldros slammed into the shield. He used his mangled hands like a spear tip, his claws glinting with dark mana.
Crack!
The shield shattered as if it was made of strong glass but was hit by an even stronger warhammer. Splinters of translucent golden light flew in the air.
The Magus that created the shield shuddered at the sudden break of it but he didn't even have the time to feel anything as a blur fell on him and his throat was torn away.
One of the Magus turned and began running but Eldros ignored him and like a streak of darkness he was immediately on the other Magus, who slashed with his dagger. But Eldros avoided it with his right hand, letting the dagger add to the damage already there.
He then shoved his right hand forward, but at the same time the man also shoved his right hand forward and it rippled with golden light that turned into a rope of thorns that bound their hands tightly together.
The thorns were even more aggressive than before and they immediately started lengthening at an astonishing rate, trying to force their way through his arm to his chest and to his heart.
"How will you get out of this now?" The Magus laughed darkly, as his other hand burst with another golden light filled with thorns.
Eldros couldn't help it this time. There was no way for him to avoid the attack and it bound his left hand as well, leaving him entirely tied up with thorns shredding through his muscles on their way to his heart.
The Skullhowl Magus smiled with a dark look on his face. Light shone on his back like wings, ropes of thorns lifted up. "And now, it's time to strangle you!"
Eldros gritted his teeth and shouted out in pain and defiance. He could feel his muscles and flesh getting torn, and more ropes were already reaching for his neck.
Without care for the ropes binding his hands, he yanked the Skullhowl Magus close and his mouth opened wide as he bit down directly on his throat.
He channeled all the strength in his body, all the pain he was feeling, and all his fear was put into the bite.
The Skullhowl Magus let out a surprised muffled gasp and tried to free himself but Eldros wouldn't let go. Instead, he tightened his teeth.
Warm blood spilled into his mouth and a wet crunch sounded.
The Skullhowl Magus struggled harder and the thorns, as if sensing what was happening, began to grow even faster. But Eldros didn't give him the chance as he ripped his head free, biting out a chunk of flesh and leaving a gaping hole in the Magus's throat.
The Magus collapsed, his face still filled with stubborn shock as if he couldn't really believe what was happening, but then he was already dying and his thorns dissolved.
Eldros took a shuddering breath, ignored his pain and his trembling mangled hands, and reached for the Magus's dagger. He lifted it and used what remained of his strength to throw it at the fleeing Magus.
Thwack!
The dagger hit him on the back of the head and he was dead before his body flopped to the ground.
Eldros breathed deeply, his face a mask of pain and his muscles twitching. The pain he was feeling was so much that his face stung but still, he straightened and balled his hands into fists.
Fortunately, the silver rune was beginning to heal his wounds but it was going to be much slower than usual.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The last Skullhowl Magus, the three star, clapped. "I didn't know Jarek's team had something like this. A Bloody Magus like you. I think I'll take your body back with me. I should be able to sell it to necromancer Magus."
Eldros didn't say anything, he was using the chance provided to heal a little while he summed up the opponent. '...this Skullhowl Magus has impressive power pressure... he's definitely different from the others I've killed... he seems even stronger than Soren...'
'...and with my current state... this is going to be difficult...'
As Eldros analyzed the situation he could only come up with one conclusion. If he fought right there and then, he was going to die.
He began to move backwards.
But the Skullhowl Magus only smiled. "Time to die."