Chapter 58: Chapter 58: System's Balance

The attack had also exhausted Lucien.

Mordred, despite his injuries, saw the opportunity. "He's weak! Attack together!"

An ice attack from Estin hit him in the chest, making him stagger.

Lucien: 75 - 14 = 61

Barely recovered from the impact, a fireball from Kairos struck him in the back.

Lucien: 61 - 9 = 52

Lucien spun, his mana sword cutting through the air to deflect a gust of wind from Varen, but he couldn't completely avoid an ice attack from Lotar. His armor's resistance was depleted, and some damage went directly to his body.

Lucien: 52 - 14 = 38

Despite the pain and exhaustion, Lucien kept fighting. His frog familiar, until now relegated to a secondary role, sprang into action. Jumping between the Summoners, it created distractions and blocked lines of sight, giving Lucien precious seconds to reposition and counterattack.

His mana sword danced in the air, cutting through elemental attacks and keeping his opponents at bay. But even he knew he couldn't maintain this for much longer.

With labored breathing and an aching body, Lucien knew he needed a desperate plan. His opponents, though injured, were still a formidable force. A barely perceptible smile formed on his lips as a daring idea took shape in his mind.

"What are you plotting, Lucien?" Mordred growled, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Lucien didn't respond. Instead, he summoned another torrent of water.

"Careful!" Estin shouted. "He's going to try the same trick!"

The five Summoners braced themselves, prepared for the imminent ice attack. Kairos was the first to react, his salamander spitting a burst of flames that began heating the water to prevent it from freezing completely.

"Not this time, Lucien," Varen smiled smugly, his hands already charging a fire counterattack.

But Lucien didn't care. With a sudden movement, he jumped upward, propelling himself with a powerful gust of wind. His opponents' eyes followed him, expecting the inevitable ice attack from above.

Raelar, for his part, simply tilted his head to one side, observing the scene with a calm that bordered on indifference. "Interesting situation," he murmured, his voice soft but clear in the sudden silence of the room.

Mordred was the first to recover from the surprise. "This is none of your business," he growled. "Lucien is a traitor and must be..."

"Traitor?" Selene interrupted, her laugh harsh and humorless. "Why? For wanting a better future for everyone, not just a handful of greedy old men?"

"Selene," Raelar's voice was calm, but carried a weight that made everyone look at him. "Perhaps we should hear both sides before drawing conclusions."

"Oh, we'll hear them, alright," Selene replied, her eyes never leaving the other Summoners. "But first, let's make sure this is a civilized conversation and not an execution."

With a fluid motion, Selene and Raelar positioned themselves in front of Lucien, their familiars glaring menacingly at the other Summoners.

"Lucien," Raelar said, without turning, "can you stand?"

With a grunt of effort, Lucien managed to get up, leaning heavily against the wall. "I'm fine," he gasped, though it was evident he was far from it.

"Sure you are, champ," Selene snorted, giving him a concerned look over her shoulder. "You look fresh as a frog."

"Selene, Raelar," Estin's voice was laden with warning. "Think carefully about what you're doing. Aligning yourselves with a traitor will make you accomplices."

"Traitor?" Selene's voice rose, filled with indignation. "Weren't you the ones who betrayed the rules by not giving a fair trial to a Summoner?"

Raelar raised a hand, his gesture conciliatory in contrast to the tension in the air. "Calm down, everyone. I'm sure there's an explanation for all this. Why don't we sit down and discuss this like the leaders we're supposed to be?"

Mordred let out a bitter laugh. "Discuss? The time for discussions is past. Lucien has crossed a line that cannot be redrawn."

"And what line would that be exactly?" Raelar asked, his tone genuinely curious.

"Enough!" Kairos roared. "If you're with Lucien, then you're our enemies too."

The tension in the room reached its peak. On one side, Mordred, Estin, Varen, Lotar, and Kairos, their bodies tense and ready to attack. On the other, Selene and Raelar, protecting a wounded but still defiant Lucien.

"Then so be it," Selene declared, a fierce smile lighting up her face. "I've always liked evening the odds."