After encountering Asterion for the first time, the three companions had barely managed to escape. Injured and exhausted, they hid in a dark part of the cave, where they finally had time to recover their strength. However, it wasn't long before the minotaur found them again, forcing them to fight for their survival.
"Thorny Vines!"
Several vines wrapped around Asterion's arm, piercing its skin and embedding themselves in its flesh to restrict its movements.
Sylvia was covered in injuries but continued to hold on, protected by a water barrier created by Caelan. The barrier took the impact of the minotaur's axe. The force of the blow made the barrier tremble, and she had to concentrate even more mana into her vines to prevent them from breaking under the strength of the minotaur's muscles.
"Accursed Water Chain!"
A chain of water appeared and coiled around Asterion's neck, restricting some of its magic. This was a new technique Caelan had been developing over the past month, carefully following the training instructions Enrico had left in his letter.
Liam took advantage of the opening and concentrated his magic into his spear.
"Feather Magic: Extra Weight!"
The weapon became considerably heavier as he charged toward the minotaur's leg. With a precise movement, he managed to cut one of Asterion's tendons. The creature reacted immediately, twisting its body and punching Liam, sending him flying into a wall.
'Shit... I'm getting dizzy.'
Pain throbbed in Liam's head, making it difficult for him to concentrate. He brought one hand to his forehead and realized that blood was running down his face. Even so, he forced himself to keep his eyes open and observe the battlefield.
Sylvia had just saved Caelan, pulling him away from a blow with her vines. However, before the two could reorganize themselves, Asterion's body began turning even redder. Its muscles increased in size, and the pressure of its mana intensified to the point that the ground cracked beneath its feet as it broke the vines.
The next instant, it disappeared from the four companions' sight.
Sylvia immediately panicked.
"Where did it go?"
"Behind you!"
Asterion appeared behind Sylvia, wielding its axe to deliver a blow that could end her life. Caelan reacted immediately, jumping toward her and pushing her away from the blade's trajectory. The two fell to the ground, narrowly escaping the attack.
The minotaur turned its red eyes toward them and prepared to charge again, but five wind daggers struck its back, piercing its skin.
"Damn it! I managed to catch it by surprise, but that's all the damage I did?"
Elian had appeared at the entrance of a nearby hole, his daggers raised. Realizing that his intervention wouldn't be enough to stop Asterion, he wrapped his body in wind and increased his speed, quickly reaching Liam's side.
"Thank goodness you showed up in time!"
"Thank me later by asking Enrico to pay for some items for me."
"I think that'll be difficult. Asking others for things isn't really my style."
Asterion gripped the axe with both hands and violently twisted its body. The movement unleashed a slash of energy that spread in every direction, forcing all four to dodge.
Liam narrowly escaped, while Elian retreated using his speed. Sylvia ducked just in time to avoid the blade, but Caelan wasn't fast enough. The attack struck his shoulder, opening a deep gash that made him lose his balance.
"Caelan!"
"Relax, there's no need to worry. I can heal myself."
"That's not it! You need to retreat. We need your healing ability!"
Caelan lowered his head slightly, understanding what Liam meant. Although he didn't like abandoning his companions in the middle of battle, remaining in that position would only increase the risk of being defeated before he could help them again.
He retreated to tend to his own injuries and recover mana.
Sylvia, meanwhile, watched Asterion grab Liam by the neck. The minotaur squeezed so hard that the boy could barely breathe, even as he tried to strike it with his spear to make it let go.
That scene awakened a painful memory in Sylvia: the image of her friend dying before her eyes that day. The feeling of helplessness she had experienced on that occasion returned to suffocate her, reminding her of how she had been unable to prevent that tragedy.
'I'm going to try something dangerous.'
Elian also realized that he needed to act before Liam was crushed. He charged toward the arm holding his companion, concentrating half of his mana into his two daggers. With a combined slash, he managed to cut through approximately one-third of Asterion's arm, but the creature retaliated with a brutal kick, sending him away.
Even so, the minotaur continued holding Liam.
While the two fought to survive, Sylvia remained at a certain distance, concentrating mana in her hand. Gradually, a sword began to take shape before her.
It was a technique she had seen Virelle use in that dungeon.
'I could never forget what happened that day. That's why I remember how that magic was formed. I might not be able to reproduce it perfectly, but I can try to create a weaker version.'
The sword caught Asterion's attention. Sensing the danger, it finally released Liam and threw the boy away before assuming a defensive stance with its axe held in front of its body.
Sylvia pointed the sword forward and concentrated even more mana into its blade.
"Vine Sword: Piercing Blade!"
She charged forward, and the sword violently collided with Asterion's axe. The minotaur's weapon withstood the impact, even against the amount of mana Sylvia had accumulated. The force of the clash made the ground crack around them, scattering fragments of stone throughout the area.
'I can't pierce this axe. Then...'
Sylvia slightly altered the sword's trajectory, making a risky decision. Instead of insisting on a direct confrontation, she deflected the blade to the side and took advantage of the opening that appeared when Asterion tried to adjust the position of its weapon.
The speed of the movement prevented it from reacting in time.
The axe's blade still managed to cut Sylvia's arm, but she achieved her objective: the sword pierced the minotaur's defense and opened a hole in its abdomen.
"I did it..."
Asterion's eyes glowed dark red.
Its muscles grew even larger, and it moved its arms with terrifying strength. Using the bony part of its axe, it struck Sylvia's arm before she could retreat.
The impact sent her crashing into a wall, where her body hit so hard that she nearly lost consciousness.
Caelan immediately ran to her. Upon examining her arm, he realized it was broken and beginning to turn purple.
While Caelan focused on treating Sylvia's injuries, Elian and Liam resumed attacking Asterion, trying to prevent it from reaching the two of them.
"Spectral Thrust!"
"Wind Blades!"
The attacks came from opposite sides, but Asterion spun its axe to drive them both away. Elian and Liam were forced to retreat to avoid being hit by the weapon, losing the opportunity to continue pressuring the enemy.
Liam moved a little farther away and prepared another thrust. However, before he could charge, a burst of red energy shot out from the axe and struck him directly, hurling him into a wall.
Elian realized he couldn't continue exchanging direct blows with that creature. Wrapping his body in wind, he began circling Asterion at high speed, creating three images of himself that mimicked his movements.
The minotaur had to watch all three targets while trying to determine which one was real.
Elian took advantage of its hesitation and pretended to charge alongside the other two images, but retreated at the last moment, throwing his daggers at the creature's feet. The blades pierced its flesh, temporarily restricting one of Asterion's movements.
'Great! Now it won't be able to keep up with my speed so easily!'
"Annoying human, just like the other one!"
It was talking about Enrico, who had used a similar technique. The difference was that Flame Steps generated more afterimages.
Elian's eyes widened upon hearing those words.
"Wait... You can talk?"
An explosion of red mana erupted from Asterion's body, sending Elian flying away. The boy nearly fell into a hole, but managed to grab the edge at the last moment and avoid the fall.
He barely had time to catch his breath. When he tried to move again, an enormous hand grabbed his face. Asterion had reached him.
"Let's see if you can withstand this, human!"
The minotaur squeezed his face hard, making Elian feel excruciating pain. Then, it began running through the area, dragging him along and smashing his body against the ground and walls. With every impact, Elian felt his strength diminishing as pain spread throughout his body.
Finally, Asterion spun around and threw Elian against the ground, driving his body into the stone and creating a crater around him.
'Am I going to die?'
Elian tried to move but realized that several bones essential for movement were broken. His body no longer responded as it should, and his vision was beginning to blur.
Asterion approached, raised its axe, and prepared the final blow.
"Goodbye, human."
Elian tried to stand up one last time but couldn't. As he watched the blade descend toward him, he closed his eyes, unable to do anything else.
'Someone... Save me.'
A loud crash echoed through the area. However, the pain Elian had expected never came.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Enrico standing in front of him, holding an improvised shield covered in his own mana. Asterion's axe had been stopped just a few centimeters from his face.
"Looks like you were having some trouble."
"Thank God you arrived!"
Relief washed over Elian's body, and he managed a smile as Enrico briefly waved at him.
Without wasting time, Enrico released the mana accumulated in the shield, triggering a fire explosion that pushed Asterion away.
The minotaur regained its balance and stared at the newcomer, its red eyes fixed on him.
"I've been waiting for you, human."
Enrico smiled, excited about the opportunity to face that enemy head-on.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I was just trying to help someone."
His smile widened.
This would be the first time he used everything he had learned during his training at the Solcren Ferreira mansion.