The rocky foothills trembled under the weight of the five Taurox. Dust swirled in clouds around their massive, horned bodies, and Omina's chest heaved as her eyes locked on the snarling herd. Yoshiya followed silently, staff in hand, every ounce of his focus dedicated to keeping her alive.
No words were exchanged. There was no time. Only instinct and the relentless rhythm of the battlefield—the thundering hooves, snapping rocks, and the occasional crash of shattered boulders.
Omina activated Aura Blade, a faint shimmer racing along her twin swords. Yoshiya's Blessing washed over her, enhancing reflexes, strength, and endurance. With Sword Frenzy, her movements became a storm of flashing steel, striking, dodging, and weaving between charging Taurox with practiced precision.
The first two beasts had been lured into a narrow rocky pass. In their fury, they collided mid-charge, staggering against jagged stones. One twisted awkwardly, exposing the thickly muscled underside of its neck. Omina seized the moment, leaping with a spinning motion, blades striking clean under the throat. Guard Break pierced the stony hide, and the first Taurox collapsed, bellowing in defeat. She pivoted immediately, attacking the second exposed beast with the same deadly precision. Another slash, another collapse. Two down, three to go.
Breathing heavily, Omina glanced at Yoshiya. His hands glowed faintly, readying Protect and Barrier, but he remained silent, focused. She nodded, and together they moved to face the remaining trio. The last three circled cautiously now, wary of the choke points and the fallen herd, but still massive threats.
The largest Taurox—the leader—stepped forward, nostrils flaring, muscles coiled like springs. Its eyes were sharp, calculating. Every step shook loose stones, and its horns gleamed as if daring her to strike. Omina's fingers tightened on the sword hilts; this was not a foe to underestimate.
She darted forward, baiting it toward a cluster of uneven boulders. The creature lunged with terrifying force, smashing stones aside, horns gouging the earth. Omina sidestepped, letting it charge past a narrow ledge, then spun to strike at the exposed flank. Guard Break grazed the hide, drawing a streak of blood, but the beast roared, turning with inhuman speed. The impact shook the boulders around them, sending debris scattering.
Yoshiya raised his staff, channeling Barrier to shield her from falling rocks. He followed with a quick Heal, knitting the shallow wounds and bruises she'd accumulated in the skirmish. She barely registered it, already moving again, weaving between the Taurox and using rocks for leverage. Each strike was precise, aimed for the underbelly or joints, but the giant's hide held firm. The leader's strength and stamina were unlike anything she had faced so far.
A sudden charge sent her sliding across loose gravel. She rolled behind a boulder, catching her breath for a heartbeat, then sprang upward, striking with a spinning slash. Sparks flew as Guard Break pierced the hide once more, and blood welled along the slash. The Taurox staggered but did not fall. Its roar shook the foothills, dust and loose stones raining down. Omina's chest heaved; her blades moved almost instinctively, a combination of Aura Blade's power, Sword Frenzy's speed, and her own deadly precision.
The giant circled, head low, each movement calculated, avoiding obvious strikes while smashing boulders and cliffs to dislodge rock fragments. Omina danced around each attack, dodging under its horns, leaping over feet the size of barrels, slicing at exposed skin whenever it misjudged the terrain. Yoshiya's Blessing and Protect shimmered around her constantly, holding her together as she forced the fight across the rocks.
Time seemed to stretch; every maneuver required split-second calculation. The Taurox's stamina was immense, its recovery rapid, but so too was Omina's agility. She darted between pillars of stone, striking, rolling, striking again. Sparks and blood mingled with dust, the air thick with heat and the metallic tang of battle. The foothills had become a cage, a natural arena that limited the giant's charging advantage but tested every ounce of her speed and precision.
The other two Taurox kept their distance, watching, waiting for an opening. The leader had become the center of the dance, a relentless, almost unstoppable force. Omina slashed at its flanks and neck whenever a rock or misstep opened a tiny gap, drawing shallow streaks of blood each time. The creature's bellows echoed off the cliffs, each roar a reminder of its immense power.
Minutes—or was it hours?—passed in a blur of movement, strikes, and dodges. Omina's blades sang, her feet moved like wind over stone, and Yoshiya's constant support kept her at peak efficiency. Yet despite every precise strike, the largest Taurox remained standing, its bloodied hide still imposing, its roar still deafening.
She backed toward another rocky outcrop, baiting the creature into a narrow path, stones precariously stacked. The Taurox lunged, forcing itself into the confined space. It scraped against the rocks, horns wedging against stone, creating tiny openings. Omina's eyes narrowed; she readied her next assault. This was the opportunity—but she paused. The battle was far from over.
The last three Taurox were now reduced to the single, colossal leader. Exhaustion tugged at her muscles, sweat stinging her eyes. Dust swirled around them, boulders shattered, and every rock bore the marks of their relentless fight.
She steadied herself, blades raised, Aura Blade shimmering faintly, Sword Frenzy still enhancing her speed. Yoshiya's Blessing glowed across her form, his hands steady, silent. Both braced for the next round, knowing the fight would not be decided so easily.
The foothills were quiet, but tension coiled in the air like a spring. Only the final Taurox remained, its nostrils flaring, body poised for the next clash. The stage was set for the ultimate strike.