Chapter 505: Dead
Lysander's body ached from the earlier attack but his determination of wanting to safe as many soldiers as possible burned brighter than the pain. He summoned his Magic and immediately feeling the familiar crackle of energy course through him. The soldiers were start to faltering. Their lines breaking under the relentless assault of the beasts. He couldn't let more of them them fall.
Without wasting another moment Lysander took to the sky and go toward the embattled soldiers like a bolt of lightning. As he neared the front lines he extended his hands and arcs of lightning erupted from his fingertips. The air buzzed with the scent of ozone as the lightning streaked out, striking down a dozen beasts in an instant.
The creatures convulsed and their roars of pain cut short as they collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
The soldiers who had been on the verge of despair looked up in awe and renewed hope as Lysander descended among them. His presence alone seemed to bolster their spirits and for a moment the tide of battle seemed to slowed.
"Keep focus!" Lysander shouted. "Hold the line!"
The soldiers rallied again after hearing his words. They tightened their grips on their weapons and surged forward again, meeting the next wave of beasts with steel and fury.
Satisfied that the soldiers were starting to holding their own again, Lysander turned his gaze toward the sky. Adrius was still locked in combat with the giant beast. The air around them alight with bursts of fire and dark energy.
Lysander wasn't sure that Adrius would be able to hold out forever. The smaller beasts needed to be dealt with first to free the soldiers from their burden and then he will join Adrius in the skies and bring down the giant beast together.
Lightning still crackling at his fingertips, Lysander swept his gaze over the battlefield. He spotted a cluster of smaller beasts breaking through the soldiers' defenses. With a sharp intake of breath he launched himself toward them.
Lysander then unleashed another torrent of lightning. The bolts arcing across the field, cutting down beasts in rapid succession. Each strike was precise and lethal. The creatures numbers quickly thinning as he tore through them.
The soldiers cheered as they saw the beasts fall, their morale bolstered by Lysander's help. But Lysander didn't stop. He moved swiftly using his lightning Magic like a deadly force that swept across the battlefield and cutting down anything that threatened the soldiers' line.
Lysander surveyed the chaos of battlefield below. After several relentless minutes of combat,the tide was beginning to turn. The once overwhelming horde of beasts had been significantly thinned. Their numbers much lesser now than what they were when the battle began. The soldiers now were able to hold their ground.
Seeing this, Lysander felt a small measure of relief. He had done what he could to ease their burden. Now, it was time to assist Adrius and put an end to the giant beast's reign of terror.
Lysander descended toward the front line, landing beside the battle-weary commander. The commander's armor was splattered with blood and dirt. The commander looked up at Lysander with a mix of exhaustion and gratitude in his eyes.
"Commander. The beasts are nearly defeated. You can take it from here," Lysander said.
The commander nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "Thank you, Archmage."
Lysander offered a brief nod in return. There was no time for further words. He could see that Adrius was still locked in a struggle with the giant beast.
Lysander launched himself into the air once more cutting through the smoke and ash that filled the sky.
As he flew toward the ongoing battle between Adrius and the giant beast Lysander gathered his Magic again. He focused on the giant beast as it traded blows with the his Archmage predecessor. Adrius was holding his own but Lysander could see the strain on his old face.
"Not on my watch," Lysander muttered to himself.
Lysander extended his hand and a series of lightning spears materialized around him. He aimed them at the giant beast.
"Take this!" he shouted, unleashing the lightning spears with a forceful thrust of his arm.
The spears shot through the sky like meteors, each one trailing sparks of electricity as they raced toward their target. The giant beast barely had time to react before the first spear struck it in the side, exploding in a burst of lightning. The creature let out a deafening roar of pain, its massive form shuddering under the impact.
But Lysander wasn't finished. More spears followed, each one finding its mark as they slammed into the beast's thick hide. The sky was filled with the sound of crackling energy and the beast's enraged howls as the lightning spears pierced its flesh, sending arcs of electricity dancing across its body.
As Lysander closed the distance, he could see the giant beast faltering, its movements growing sluggish under the relentless assault. Adrius took advantage of the beast's distraction, his own Magic surging as he prepared to deliver the final blow.
Lysander joined Adrius in the sky, his eyes meeting the Archmage's for a brief moment. No words were needed between them; they both knew what had to be done. Together, they would bring this monster down.
Adrius hovered in the air, his gaze locked on the giant beast as it roared in fury. Its yellow eyes burning with rage. He knew they had to finish this now before the beast could recover and wreak more havoc. Adrius began to weave his Magic.
He extended his hand then the air around him suddenly swirling into a powerful vortex. The giant wind then whipped around the giant beast forming a tight spiral that began to constrict it. The beast thrashed violently, trying to break free, but Adrius held it, his wind Magic wrapping tighter around the creature, slowing its movements and pinning its massive limbs.
The giant beast bellowed in anger. The wind continued to bind the beast. Adrius then reached out with his other hand. The ground beneath the beast's feet began to tremble, cracks spiderwebbing outward.
With a sharp twist of his wrist Adrius commanded the ground to rise. Massive stone hands erupted from the earth, gripping the beast's legs and pulling them off balance. The creature staggered, its towering form swaying. The combination of wind and earth Magic kept it trapped, its movements growing more desperate and sluggish.
"Now, Lysander!" Adrius shouted.
Lysander don't need any further instruction. The air around him crackled with lightning as he gathered his power, the sky above darkening as clouds swirled, drawn to the immense energy he was unleashing.
Lightning danced across his staff.
With a roar, Lysander unleashed his Magic. A massive bolt of lightning shot from his outstretched hand with brilliant light that splitting the sky as it streaked toward the giant beast.
BOOM!
The bolt struck the creature square in the chest, piercing through its thick hide with a blinding flash of light.
The beast let out an ear-splitting roar and its body convulsing as the lightning tore through it. The ground beneath it shook violently, the shockwave from the impact rippling through the earth.
Then, with a low, guttural sound, the giant beast collapsed. Its massive form hit the ground with a thunderous boom and sending dust and debris flying into the air. The beast lay still now, its yellow eyes dimming as the last of its life force ebbed away.
Adrius and Lysander hovered in the air, breathing heavily as they looke at the fallen creature. The giant beast was finally dead.
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