Helliana activated her own skill, [Shadowstep], and her form shimmered as she became a blur of motion. She reappeared behind Kraggul, her knife aimed for his spine. But Kraggul anticipated the move, pivoting with a speed that belied his bulk, and blocked her strike with the flat of his blade.
Their weapons clashed in a flurry of blows, each strike faster and more precise than the last. Helliana's [Blade Dance] skill allowed her to weave intricate patterns of steel, her sword a blur as she pressed the attack.
Kraggul, however, met her every move with an unyielding defense, his halberd a fortress of metal. With a grunt, Kraggul activated [Iron Fortress], a skill that enhanced his defense and made his skin as hard as steel.
Helliana's blade skittered off his armor, failing to find purchase. She darted back, breathing hard, her mind racing for a strategy. Kraggul seized the moment, launching into his [Whirlwind Strike]. He spun in place, his halberd a deadly arc of destruction.
Helliana ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding the lethal edge, but the sheer force of the skill created a powerful gust that knocked her off balance. She tumbled to the ground, but quickly rolled to her feet, her eyes blazing with determination to kill Kraggul at all cost! Summoning her inner spirit energy, she activated [Spirit Blade], her knife now wreathed in ethereal flames.
With a fierce cry, she charged at Kraggul. The latter met her charge head-on, his halberd crackling with the residual energy of his earlier skill. Their weapons collided in a shower of sparks and flame, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the ground. Helliana pushed with all her might, the ethereal flames of her Spirit Blade licking at Kraggul's armor.
If only he could still activate his domain, Kraggul thought bitterly. His fight with Kargoth had drained most of his mana reserves. Domain activation demanded an immense amount of mana, and using it now would deplete his spirit energy, possibly leading to his death.
He couldn't afford to die now. There was still so much left to do, so much to accomplish for his race. He couldn't fall here!
With a roar, he activated [Warlord's Fury], his halberd igniting with a fierce, red flame. He swung with all his might, the sheer power of the skill overwhelming Helliana's defenses. Her sword shattered under the onslaught, and the force of the blow sent her sprawling to the ground. .net
Helliana struggled to rise, her body aching and her vision blurred. Kraggul loomed over her, his halberd raised for the final strike. Desperation clawed at her, and she summoned the last of her strength, her hand closing around a hidden dagger at her belt.
With a swift motion, she hurled the dagger at Kraggul, aiming for his throat. But Kraggul's reflexes were lightning fast. He deflected the dagger with a flick of his halberd, and then brought the weapon down with lethal precision.
The halberd's blade stopped inches from Helliana's throat, its edge crackling with residual energy. Kraggul's eyes bored into hers, his expression a mix of triumph and respect.
"How are you alive?" King Kraggul demanded, eyes narrowing. His two generals and ten thousand Hobgoblins sent to the south should have finished them off.
"Don't underestimate the power of the Seadwellers and a warship," Rain replied, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
King Kraggul's eyes widened as the realization struck him. His two generals had been killed along with his 10 000 Hobgoblin army!
No . . . Kraggul was stunned as the realization struck him. He had believed that sending two of his generals and ten thousand Hobgoblins would be more than enough to wipe out the south, especially with the new lord just starting out and the port town unguarded.
The Seadwellers, with their slow movement on land, should have been easy prey. He had clearly underestimated them — and this player called Rain.
However, there was something that didn't sit well with Kraggul. "How can you travel here so fast?" he asked, confusion and frustration mingling in his voice.
They shouldn't have caught up to him if they had come from the south, especially with the notoriously slow Seadwellers. This should have given him plenty of time to annihilate the Orcs and prepare for another assault.
Right now, facing a fresh wave of enemies was the last thing Kraggul needed.
Rain's grin widened slightly. "We had a shortcut." He pointed towards the sea.
Kraggul's gaze followed the gesture, and comprehension dawned on him. With the thousand Seadwellers, traveling by sea was ten times quicker than overland.
"I see . . ." King Kraggul's initial surprise melted away, his expression hardening into a steely mask. "And I suppose you're here to claim my head?"
Rain's demeanor turned grave as he stepped forward, his voice carrying a solemn weight. "That's right. Your reign of terror ends today."