Crestfall: Darkness Unveiled

"It's here!" Sosuke burst through the forest, digging his katana into the creatures skin. He pulled it out with extreme force, then kicking himself off the beast.

"You're kidding me." Arthur's attention shifted to the arrival of a new group. Sosuke Estrella, Rentaro Natsume, and Rin Sakurai. The battle for the points began.

Ren leapt from the top of a tree, onto the monsters face. He stabbed his dagger into its eye, then pulling it out, and stabbing it into its face.

"Melt, Moltenrock." Rin stretched out her arm as she ran toward the monster. A mass of molten rock and lava formed in front of her and fired out. Ren jumped off the beast's face and raised his hands.

"Ice volley!" The mana in the air froze to form razor sharp shards of ice. They spun around before shooting out at the monster. They pierced the creatures thick skin and the ice began to freeze its body for a short period. Rin's spell finally struck, exploding flames and lava in around its body. The monster let out a deafening roar in pain, stunning everyone.

It opened its mouth wide and looked up at the sky. The mana in the air twirled into a massive whirlpool, forming into a small ball of concentrated energy. The beast darted its head down, firing out a beam of intense mana from its mouth.

Arthur glanced around the area, spotting a terrified Elowen. He rushed toward her, wrapping his arm around her waist and moving her to safety. Lyra moved toward the two, narrowly avoiding the attack herself.

"What do we do now? They came to rob us of our kill!" Lyra waved her arms and paced around in frustration.

"They won't kill it. It case you didn't notice, Sosuke is missing an arm, and Ren is operating at no more than half his mana pool." Arthur knelt down to Elowen's side, placing his hand on her shoulder. "We need to think of a plan."

"I didn't notice actually," Lyra stopped, the frustration draining from her. "Wait did you say he's missing an arm?!"

Arthur stood up and unsheathed his sword, the blade gleaming as the mist around them caught the faint light. "Yes, an arm. I don't know what happened, and I don't care. It just means they're weaker than usual." His gaze turned cold as he analyzed the ongoing battle. "We can still take this kill. They've softened it up for us."

Lyra blinked, still trying to process what Arthur said. "You're ruthless, you know that?"

"Ruthless wins," Arthur finally said, glancing at her. "But we need a strategy. If we rush in, we're just another set of obstacles for that thing to crush."

"Fine, genius." Lyra rolled her eyes. "What's the plan?"

Arthur scanned the battlefield, his eyes darting between the monster and the other group. He pointed at the beast's legs, where Rin's molten attacks had weakened the scales. "It's starting to stagger. Its legs are the weak point. If we can immobilize it, they'll be forced to back off."

"And by 'we,' you mean me," Lyra said with a smirk, electricity sparking in her hands.

"You're the fastest and the most precise with ranged spells," Arthur replied, ignoring her sarcasm. "Elowen, stay back and keep an eye on them. If any of them collapses, heal them. We don't want them turning on us just because we let one of them die."

Elowen nodded, her usual timidity replaced by quiet determination. "Understood."

The monster roared again, thrashing as Rin's molten rock spell finally faded. Arthur took a step forward, his grip on his sword tightening. "Now!"

Lyra dashed forward, her hands glowing as she chanted, "Crackle and bind, Lightning Snare!" Electric tendrils shot out from her palms, wrapping around the beast's legs. The creature let out a deafening roar, trying to shake off the spell, but its movements slowed as the electricity surged through its body.

Arthur seized the opening, sprinting toward the monster's flank. "Cleave and rend, Swordbreaker!" His blade shimmered with mana as he slashed at the beast's already weakened leg, the force of the blow causing it to buckle.

Ren noticed the attack and narrowed his eyes. "They're trying to steal the kill!" he shouted, forming another set of ice shards around him.

Sosuke landed beside him, panting heavily, his katana dripping with the monster's blood. "Let them try. We're still in better shape than them."

Rin raised an eyebrow but didn't stop her next spell. "Just make sure they don't get in my way." She summoned a Firecannon, her focus entirely on the monster.

Arthur stepped back, his attack complete. "Its movement is slowing. Lyra, keep it restrained!"

"Doing my best here!" Lyra shouted, beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she reinforced the electric tendrils.

The monster, now visibly weakened, swung its tail in desperation. Arthur braced himself, but before he could react, Ren intercepted the attack, forming an ice barrier that shattered under the impact but slowed the tail enough to keep Arthur unharmed.

"You're welcome," Ren muttered, glaring at Arthur.

Arthur nodded once, his jaw tight. "We're wasting time. The longer this drags out, the worse it gets for all of us."

"Then finish it already!" Rin snapped, her fire spells launching straight at the creature's chest.

Arthur glanced at Lyra and then at the monster's exposed neck. "Together," he said firmly.

Lyra hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Fine. Just don't screw this up."

Arthur leapt forward, his blade glowing with mana. Lyra followed his lead, summoning another bolt of lightning. As the two attacks struck the creature simultaneously, it let out an ear-piercing roar, its body convulsing.

But it didn't fall.

Instead, the monster reared up, its eyes glowing brighter than ever. The ground beneath it cracked, and a surge of raw mana erupted around it, forcing everyone back.

"This thing's not done yet," Arthur growled, pulling himself to his feet.

"Great," Lyra muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Now what?"

Arthur glanced at the others, his eyes lingering on Elowen, who was frantically casting a barrier spell to protect them from the mana surge. "We survive," he said simply, gripping his sword tighter as the monster prepared for its next attack.

Arthur tightened his grip on his sword, watching as Sosuke staggered, exhaustion clear in his movements. Elowen approached cautiously, kneeling beside Sosuke with a mixture of concern and determination.

"Let me help," she said softly. "I can heal what's left of your arm… but it'll take time."

Sosuke glanced at her, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Do what you can," he said, his voice low but steady.

Elowen began weaving her hands together, a faint glow surrounding them as she whispered an incantation. Mana coalesced into a shimmering light, hovering just above the remains of Sosuke's arm.

Meanwhile, the battle raged on. Ren leaped back onto the monster's shoulder, summoning a sphere of icy mist. "Cryo Lance!" A massive spear of frozen energy materialized, driving into the creature's neck. It reared back, thrashing wildly, its roar shaking the ground beneath their feet.

Lyra dodged its tail sweep, her hand outstretched. "Echo Bind!" A wave of translucent, rippling energy shot forward, wrapping around the beast's limbs. The creature struggled against the restraints, snapping one of them almost immediately.

"Not bad!" Ren shouted down to her, a rare grin on his face.

"Don't get cocky—this thing isn't going down!" Lyra fired another spell, "Shatter Strike!" The ground beneath the monster exploded, jagged spikes of stone impaling its legs.

Rin darted forward, her blade drawn. "Keep it busy!" she shouted, flames swirling around her weapon. But instead of releasing another fire-based spell, she altered her stance. "Rupture Blade!" She slashed downward, her strike sending a shockwave that tore through the air and into the monster's exposed chest.

The beast retaliated with a crushing swing of its arm, slamming into Rin and sending her flying. She hit the ground hard, blood staining her shirt as she coughed weakly.

"Rin!" Sosuke's voice rang out, but Elowen placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Not yet," she whispered. "I'm almost done."

Arthur and Lyra closed in on the monster to cover Rin's retreat. Arthur unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, every blow precise and unrelenting. "It's still regenerating too fast," he muttered, frustration mounting.

Lyra summoned a new spell, her voice sharp. "Warp Flare!" A sudden explosion of light and sound disoriented the beast, halting its regeneration temporarily.

Ren ran to Rin's side, helping her to her feet. "You're tough."

Sosuke stood abruptly, his eyes glowing faintly as Elowen pulled back, her healing nearly complete. "Enough," he said, stepping forward. "This ends now."

His core began to radiate with electric energy, the air around him growing heavy. Sparks crackled along his body as he raised his katana, now pulsating with raw power. The battlefield fell silent as all eyes turned to him.

"Sosuke!" Lyra called out, her tone uncharacteristically worried. "You're barely holding it together—what are you doing?"

"Winning," he replied simply, his voice steady but resolute.