NOVEL NEXT Chapter 72: Who's the fire?
As the chief advanced, his massive figure looming over the battleground, the atmosphere changed drastically. Dark energy rippled around him like a living force, crackling in the air as it swirled and twisted, warping the very space around him.
Adrian could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, a prickling sensation creeping over his skin as the chief made his power known.
"You think this is over?" the chief repeated in a cold and mocking voice. "You haven't even begun to understand what you're up against."
Adrian tightened his grip on his sword, his fiery chains flickering with renewed energy as he positioned himself between Zack and the advancing menace. Standing to his right, Medea surveyed the chief with narrowed eyes, her posture shifting subtly into a ready stance.
Lilith, for once, seemed unusually quiet, watching the events unfold before her with a raised brow and an unreadable expression.
The ground beneath the chief's feet began to crack, jagged fissures forming as the dark energy poured into the earth. It was as though the very ground was recoiling from his presence, splintering under the weight of his power.
Shadows stretched unnaturally, curling toward him like hungry beasts drawn to their master.
Then, with a sudden surge of movement, the chief raised his hand, and a torrent of dark energy shot out, spiraling toward Adrian and Medea like a black vortex.
Adrian had only a split second to react.
He spun his sword in a defensive arc, his fiery chains snapping into place to form a barrier of molten heat. The dark energy slammed into his shield with the force of a battering ram, sending shockwaves through his body and nearly knocking him off his feet.
Medea was beside him in an instant. Her hand shot out, conjuring a shimmering wall of shadow that absorbed the brunt of the attack, dissipating the dark energy before it could reach them.
Her eyes flashed angrily as she lowered her hand to look at the chief. "You're playing with fire," she said coldly. "And you're not going to survive the burn."
The chief laughed, the sound deep and malevolent, echoing across the battlefield. "I am the fire, weaklings," he snarled, his eyes blazing with an eerie light. "You're nothing but embers compared to my power."
Without warning, he thrust his hand forward again, and this time, the ground exploded beneath their feet. Pillars of dark energy shot up from the earth, forcing Adrian and Medea to leap backward.
The soldiers, who had been watching in fearful anticipation, were scattered like leaves in a storm, some of them caught in the blast and vaporized instantly.
Adrian landed in a crouch, his chains lashing out in response. He sent them flying toward the chief, but the man was fast—unnaturally fast.
The chief deflected the chains with a flick of his wrist, sending them careening into the dirt. He moved with a speed unusual for his massive size, his form blurring as he advanced toward them.
Medea reacted just as swiftly, summoning a spear of shadow in her hand and hurling it at the chief's chest.
The spear tore through the air, crackling with dark energy, but the chief swatted it aside as if it were nothing more than a bothersome insect.
The force of his deflection sent the spear crashing into the ground behind him, where it exploded in a shower of sparks.
"Adrian, stay sharp!" Medea barked, her voice snapping him out of his momentary daze. "He's stronger than he looks!"
Adrian nodded, focusing his mind.
The chief wasn't just some brute with magic—he was a seasoned warrior, skilled in both combat and sorcery. This was no ordinary fight. It would take everything they had to bring him down.
As the chief raised his hand again, Adrian darted forward, his chains trailing behind him like fiery serpents.
He swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming for the chief's midsection, but the man sidestepped with ease, countering with a blast of dark energy that sent Adrian skidding across the ground.
Medea took advantage of the opening, launching herself at the chief with a flurry of rapid strikes. Her sword moved with blinding speed, each blow aimed with deadly precision, but the chief met her strike for strike.
The clash of steel rang out, sharp and relentless, as the two of them fought with a ferocity that shook the air around them.
The chief blocked one of Medea's blows and retaliated with a burst of energy that sent her sliding back with her arms covering her face, but she recovered instantly, her eyes burning with rage. "You'll have to do better than that," she hissed, lunging at him again.
Adrian regained his footing and charged back into the fray, attacking from the other side. Together, he and Medea assaulted the chief relentlessly, their movements perfectly coordinated, their strikes coming from every angle.
But the chief fought back with equal ferocity, deflecting their attacks with brute strength and raw magic.
Medea was powerful, even more powerful than the chief, but having just emerged from the underworld, her powers were still not up to full strength.
Dark energy crackled around the chief's hands as he swung at Adrian, sending a wave of force nearly knocking him off his feet. Adrian countered by summoning his chains, which wrapped around the chief's arm, pulling him off balance.
Medea seized the opportunity, driving her sword toward the chief's exposed side.
But the chief was ready.
With a roar, he unleashed a shockwave of dark energy that sent both Adrian and Medea flying backward. The force of the blast was so intense that it carved deep trenches into the ground.
Adrian crashed into the dirt, his body aching from the impact. He struggled to his feet, his vision swimming as he fought to stay focused.
He could see Medea a few feet away, rising to her feet with a grim expression. Her clothes were torn, her body bloodied, but her eyes burned with anger.
"This guy…" Adrian muttered, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "He's not giving us any room to breathe."
Medea's gaze flicked to him, and she gave a curt nod. "Then we'll have to take it," she said simply. "No more holding back."