'Shockwave'
Realizing what the incoming attack was, Arezu braced himself.
At such close range, standing directly in front of his opponent, Arezu didn't have enough time to dodge—let alone defend. The only option left was to face the attack head-on.
He gripped his weapon tightly, channeled his mana, and activated the same combat skill to counter the incoming strike.
'Shockwave'
A burst of destructive aura erupted as the two forces collided, causing everyone nearby to halt their fighting. The shockwave shook the ground and reverberated through the air, forcing others to brace themselves.
Though both attacks appeared equal in power, Arezu was the one pushed back. He stumbled to regain his balance, sliding down the barren hill, while his opponent stood firm at the top.
"That girl…" Arezu muttered, wanting to glance back at Lynn with a questioning look. But the danger of looking away from his opponent, even for a second, kept his focus forward.
He was sure Lynn had kept something else from him.
The swordman was taller, with a broader frame than Arezu, and wielded a massive buster-sword effortlessly with one hand. He could unleash multiple combat skills in rapid succession and his fighting style was far beyond that of a mere veteran iron-rank adventurer.
No matter what Lynn had kept secret, Arezu steadied himself, gripping his halberd-axe with both hands. He prepared for another clash and charged forward—but before he could close the distance, a sharp, piercing sound tore through the air. A loud shattering noise followed, pulling his attention behind him.
The clash of the vanguards was disrupted by a single arrow—fired by the female archer. Using the combat skill Pierce, she had brought down Minion 1A and tipped the balance of the battle.
A look of horror spread across their faces as Minion 1A collapsed, bleeding from an arrow that shattered his shield and armor, piercing clean through the protection veil of Aegis and his body.
"Ice Lance"
Lynn followed up with a mystic spell, targeting the second swordsman battling the two Minions in an attempt to cover Minion 1B as he carried Minion 1A and retreated. Yet the female archer intercepted the attack, shooting down every ice lance before they even touched the ground.
That archer is dangerous, Arezu thought, preparing to strike and provide cover for his team.
'Shatter'
Arezu charged at the second swordsman, swinging his halberd-axe with a combat skill meant to break the cursed sword. But the strike was blocked—the cursed sword held firm.
Having turned his back to his original opponent, Arezu left himself vulnerable. The first swordsman raised his buster-sword, preparing to strike Arezu's exposed back—or so he thought.
"Waterjet"
Lynn covered Arezu, releasing a high-pressure blast of water. Though the first swordsman managed to block it with his buster-sword, she successfully disrupted his attack.
But Lynn's interference caught the archer's attention.
As Minion 1B reached Lynn's location with Minion 1A in tow, the archer nocked another arrow, this time aiming to eliminate Lynn's group entirely.
Lynn saw the flow of mana channeled through the cursed bow and arrow and immediately recognized the incoming attack's power. She drew her ancient relic dagger and cast her divine blessing with all her might.
"Barrier"
A translucent white sphere formed around Lynn and those behind her. But it shattered instantly.
The sharp, piercing sound came just before the thunderous crack of the arrow breaking through the barrier—it barely missed its target, but its power was overwhelming.
It wasn't that Lynn's Barrier was weak or hastily cast. The archer had simply used a combat skill specifically designed to break defenses.
Ballista—an advanced version of Pierce, capable of busting through magical barrier and physical defense, even castle gates or fortress walls.
A second arrow followed, this time aimed squarely at Lynn.
With no time to recast her defense, Lynn resorted to her next mystic spell.
"Tremor"
Stone walls erupted from the ground, layer after layer. But the arrow pierced through them all, closing in on Lynn.
'Reinforce'
Minion 1B jumped between Lynn and the arrow, activating a combat skill and using his sword as an improvised shield.
He deflected the arrow—but it shattered his sword and broke his arm. With that injury, he could no longer fight.
Their group was at a clear disadvantage. Arezu knew even Lynn had realized that. But retreating wasn't an option—not if they intended to save their fallen allies.
The female archer would never allow them to escape, not without abandoning the injured.
Knowing her Minions would die if they fled, Gwen made a decision.
"Arezu!"
She didn't explain. She didn't need to. Gwen simply trusted Arezu to understand.
In response, Arezu fell back behind Gwen and raised his halberd-axe. He prepared to unleash a wide attack, giving Gwen the diversion she needed. And in the moment his weapon touched the ground, he activated his combat skill.
'Shockwave'
It was a desperate, destructive attack meant to clear everything in front of him—the three swordsmen, the archer, the cautious mage, the Dungeon Core, and even Gwen herself.
But of course, their opponents wouldn't let it happen.
The first swordsman raised his buster-sword, poured mana into it, and activated the same combat skill: Shockwave.
The ground shattered as two colossal auras tore through the battlefield, bound to collide.
And in the very center stood Gwen, ready to activate her divine gift.
"Resonance"