Crash!
With a thunderous roar, the massive Golem slammed into the earth. It wasn't dead, but it had completely lost its balance for the moment.
Mohg seized the opportunity, beating his wings to surge to the very front of the Blood Mist. He swept his wings forward with a violent gust; instantly, the crimson fog accelerated as if driven by a powerful engine, surging toward the Carian camp two or three times faster than before.
In the blink of an eye, the mist crossed the remaining distance and swallowed the front lines of the camp.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"
Seeing the mist close in, Griff's eyes narrowed. He stepped out onto a high platform and roared his command.
"For the glory of Caria!"
"For the glory of Caria!!"
Morillan realized the situation had turned dire. He immediately halted the Golems' movements; in this kind of close-quarters melee, the constructs were no longer suitable. Golems were designed as vanguards and siege engines; in man-to-man combat, they were simply too cumbersome.
A second later, the Blood Mist surged over the palisades and into the heart of the camp. Shadowy figures of Blood Warriors vaulted over the walls, diving headlong into the fray.
"Blood for the Blood God, Skulls for the Skull Throne!"
"For blood and glory!"
"For the Great Lord of Blood!"
In an instant, blood sprayed, and the air was filled with the cacophony of roars and the rhythmic clashing of steel.
Griff did not lose his composure. He remained calm, barking orders to the surrounding soldiers while noting the unnatural properties of the crimson fog. The mist was constant, gnawing at their sanity and sapping their strength with every breath.
"Professor Morillan, do you have any way to repel this mist?"
Morillan shook his head and raised his staff. A translucent, azure barrier expanded around him, carving out a small sanctuary where the mist could not penetrate.
"I can protect myself and those in my immediate vicinity. Beyond that, it is beyond my reach."
Griff nodded. "Take care of yourself then. I don't need the protection yet."
"Mmm."
Morillan glanced at Griff's state. Confirming that the knight wasn't just being stubborn, he nodded and began scanning the chaos for the enemy leaders—specifically the powerhouse who had gone head-to-head with the Golem earlier.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, a foul wind whipped through the air. A blood-red blade sliced through the fog a second later, aiming straight for Griff's head.
Griff's reflexes were peerless. He ducked the blow and drew his Carian straight sword—embedded with a brilliant blue glintstone—slashing back toward the source of the attack in a single, fluid motion, trailing a wake of pale blue light.
After the strike, Griff's brow furrowed. He hadn't felt the sensation of his blade hitting home.
Realizing an expert assassin was lurking nearby, Morillan narrowed his eyes. He tapped the butt of his staff against the ground. Instantly, a shimmering blue light appeared above them, and surging mana coalesced into a sphere of raw energy.
Magic Downpour!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Orbs of concentrated mana slammed into the earth, blasting craters into the dirt. The resulting shockwaves temporarily cleared the surrounding Blood Mist, revealing Horuff's silhouette.
Horuff wasn't panicked by the exposure. He calmly wiped his crimson straight sword and shrugged off his outer robe, revealing the heavy, thick armor beneath.
At the sight, Griff's pupils contracted. To wear such heavy plate and still move with the silent lethality of an assassin... the environment had helped, but the sheer skill required made the man a Tier 1 threat.
There was an old saying: when a man in full plate armor can run faster than you, it's time to start thinking about how to run away.
With a flick of his wrist, Griff drew a staff from his belt. Though he wasn't an official Carian Knight, he was a member of the Royal Magic Knights!
Glintblade Phalanx!
Seeing this, Morillan waved his own staff. Brilliant blue lights flickered at the tip as one Glintstone Pebble after another streaked through the air.
Horuff retreated slowly. A crest of the Mohgwyn Dynasty appeared in his hand, and a fresh wave of Blood Mist billowed out to reclaim the area. The incoming sorceries vanished into the fog without a sound.
"What a troublesome incantation..."
Morillan squinted, trying to pierce the gloom. The fact that neither of them specialized in sensory or detection magic made these opponents incredibly difficult to pin down.
With a flourish of his staff, a blue light coated Griff's sword and shield: Magic Weapon and Magic Shield.
Griff gave Morillan a curt nod of thanks.
"To be honest, I don't particularly enjoy using this spell, but given the circumstances, I have little choice." Morillan sighed and raised his staff high, a concentrated mass of deep teal mana gathering at the tip.
Hidden within the mist, Horuff felt a sudden, piercing sense of danger. Without hesitation, blood surged beneath his feet. He turned into a crimson blur and lunged at the two men.
Bloody Slash!
Squelch—
The sound of splashing blood erupted, followed immediately by a terrifying blade of energy condensed from Accursed Blood.
Clang!
However, Griff's magic-fortified shield was now on a completely different level. He absorbed the brunt of the bloody blade, and the remaining force was dissipated by his expert footwork.
Common logic dictated that an assassin should retreat after a failed strike, but Horuff was no mere assassin. He slammed his foot into the ground, and a tide of blood surged toward the two Carians. Simultaneously, he lunged forward, his crimson sword driving straight for Griff's chest.
Griff raised his shield in a perfect guard, his feet shifting as he prepared to counter the moment the blow landed.
Clang!
"Now!"
The moment sparks flew from the impact, Griff's eyes flashed. He put his full weight into a shield bash, shoving forward while his other hand lunged with the straight sword, which suddenly erupted with a piercing blue radiance.
Carian Piercer!
This was the Ash of War infused into his blade—his long-hidden finishing move!
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