The monstrous horde slowed, their rapid advance grinding to a near halt as Adrius' powerful spell took hold. From his vantage point high in the sky Adrius watched as the creatures now moved sluggishly.
The smaller beasts now struggled as though wading through an unseen mire. Their yellow eyes, which had once glowed with murderous intent now flickered with frustration as their prey seemed to drift just beyond their reach.
Adrius could feel the strain of the spell beginning to wear on him. There's just too many of them.
Sweat started to bead on his forehead, even though he tried to maintain a calm face. He could feel the power surging through the Starsteel staff, its golden light still blazing. Thankfully, he got this staff.
Continue the saga on m-v-l-e-mpyr
But Adrius knew better than anyone. The longer he held the spell the more it will eventually drained him, and he could already sense the vast reserves of his Magic slowly dwindling.
His jaw clenched as he pushing aside the growing fatigue. The kingdom depended on him for now. At least until Aethor begin to act.
This was not the first time he had faced dark forces but never had he encountered something of this magnitude. The sheer number of portals, the overwhelming tide of beasts, and the ominous energy that seeped through the air—it all pointed to something far more sinister than a mere invasion.
Suddenly, a shift in the air caught Adrius' attention. One of the largest beasts—a towering monstrosity covered in jagged bone-like protrusions—paused in its advance. It let out a deep, guttural growl that reverberated through the night, its yellow eyes narrowing as if sensing something amiss. That growl is going to alert the citizen at least.
The giant beast swung its massive head from side to side, scanning the battlefield.
Adrius' breath hitched as he realized what was happening. The beast had noticed the unnatural stillness around it, the slowing of its brethren and it was searching for the source of this disruption. Its nostrils flared as it sniffed the air, its eyes glowed even brighter and piercing through the darkness.
The Archmage's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the creature's search. It was only a matter of time before it found him—before it understood that the force holding back its army was not some natural phenomenon but a single mage, high above them. And when that realization came, Adrius knew the beast would not hesitate to strike.
Still, the giant beast had not yet pinpointed his location. Its frustration grew with every passing second as it failed to locate the source of the spell. It let out another roar, this one louder and more furious than the last.
Adrius gritted his teeth, maintaining the spell even as his body began to tremble from the effort. The weight of the staff grew heavier in his hands, and the sweat now poured freely down his face.
"Be quick, Aethor!"
---
Lysander didn't hesitate. Drawing on the Magic within him he invoked an ancient incantation and in an instant the staff responded. Blue light erupted from its core wrapping around Lysander and lifting him into the air and he ascended toward the heavens where Adrius hovered.
As he approached, Lysander could see the strain on Adrius's face more clearly now. Sweat glistened on his brow, and though his expression was calm, his eyes betrayed the fear that lay beneath the surface. Lysander slowed his ascent, hovering beside his predecessor, the golden light of their staffs mingling to create a brilliant, protective halo around them.
"I didn't expect you to join me up here," Adrius said.
"How could I not? The king already moving the soldiers. Andthe situation is worse then I think, Sir."
Adrius nodded grimly. "There are too many of them. The spell is holding them back for now but it won't last much longer." He paused, his gaze turning to the horizon where the largest of the beasts, the giant with jagged bone-like protrusions, was barely visible but unmistakably menacing. "Lysander, that giant beast... If we take it down, we might buy ourselves more time."
Lysander's heart skipped a beat. The giant beast was easily the most terrifying creature he had ever seen—a massive. The idea of facing it head-on was daunting, even for someone of his experience and power.
He gulped, feeling the dry swallow scrape down his throat. His grip on the staff tightened. But when he looked into Adrius's eyes, he saw the unwavering determination there.
"Alright, sir," Lysander said, his voice steadier than he felt. "I'll take it down."
Adrius gave him a small, reassuring nod. "I'll keep the others at bay for as long as I can. But you must hurry. The spell is weakening."
Lysander glanced down at the giant beast again, its grotesque form towering over the others as it led the charge. He could feel the darkness radiating from it, a palpable force that made his skin crawl. But there was no turning back now.
"Be careful, Lysander," Adrius said, his voice carrying both warning and hope.
Lysander met his Adrius's gaze, giving a brief, determined nod. "Yes, sir."
And with that, Lysander took a deep breath and began his descent toward the battlefield, his staff blazing with power. The wind whipped around him.
Below, the giant beast seemed to sense his approach, its glowing eyes turning upward, locking onto him with a predatory glare.
Lysander's heart thundered in his chest. But he have no choice but to fight it now.
---