The corrupted king, battered but defiant, let out a chilling growl, his breath ragged as he straightened, gathering dark energy around him like a shroud. Arpious and Elara, blood surging with both exhaustion and resolve, set their stances as they prepared for the king's next brutal assault.
Without a moment's hesitation, the king charged forward, his blackened blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Arpious anticipated the attack, twisting her body to the side just as the blade grazed past her, feeling the biting cold of the corrupted aura. She dropped low, bracing her hands on the ground as she swept her leg in a wide arc, aiming to unbalance him. The king staggered as her foot connected with his ankle, but he quickly regained his footing, bringing his massive sword down in a heavy vertical strike aimed straight at her head.