V1-Chapter 25 : Without Him

As an hour passed, the trio remained seated around Rylan, their gazes fixed on his sleeping face. The flickering fire cast shifting shadows across the cave, lending an ethereal quality to the scene. Elina broke the silence with a question that caught Serena off guard.

"Serena, do you think Rylan believes we're not good enough to be his females?" Elina's voice was soft, hesitant, but her question hung heavy in the air. "I mean, Rylan has never laid his hand on us. Is it because we are not worthy enough for him? "

Serena flinched at the unexpected question, her heart skipping a beat. She looked at Elina, then glanced at Raina, unsure of how to respond. The truth was, she didn't know how Rylan truly felt about them. They had all been through so much together, but the dynamics of their relationship were complex.

"I... I don't know, Elina," Serena replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I hope not. But it's hard to say. Rylan's feelings are... something we can control but.. Although he never saw us that way, he also never showed any hate for any of us. Let's just wait for him to tell us."

Raina, who had been listening quietly, spoke up, her tone resolute. "We don't need to worry about what Rylan thinks of us," she said firmly. "We just need to follow him, support him, and trust that he knows what's best for all of us. To be honest, I like what we currently have. If Rylan ever looks for females to be by his side, I will be the first to offer myself no question asked."

Serena nodded in agreement, grateful for Raina's straightforward perspective. Despite her lingering doubts, she knew that their bond with Rylan ran deep. They were a team, bound together by shared experiences and unwavering loyalty.

Suddenly the ground began to shake, the trio's panic surged, their hearts racing with fear and uncertainty. They scrambled to their feet, their eyes darting around the cave in search of the source of the disturbance. The sudden reappearance of Rosie amidst the rubble sent shockwaves of terror through their bodies.

Rosie's massive form, raised amidst the ruins, her once formidable figure now reduced to a shattered wreck. One of her arms was missing, and her body oozed green blood, staining the cave floor in a grotesque tableau. Of her ten heads, only one remained intact, its eyes glinting with malevolence as it surveyed its surroundings.

Serena, Elina, and Raina stood frozen in horror, their faces drained of color as they beheld the monstrous sight before them. Without Rylan to guide them, they felt utterly lost, unsure of how to confront this threat. Fear gripped their hearts as they realized the gravity of their situation. Rosie may have been weakened, but she was far from defeated. With a single head still capable of wreaking havoc, the danger she posed was all too real.

Serena looked behind them to see Rylan's steady breathing and his injured back, a surge of determination coursed through her veins. Despite the fear that gripped her heart, she steeled herself for the battle ahead. With a reassuring smile directed at Rylan, she whispered softly, ensuring her words reached his sleeping form.

"Don't worry, Rylan," Serena murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "We'll be fine. We'll put an end to this monster." With a silent vow to protect their injured companion, Serena turned her gaze back towards Rosie, her eyes blazing with resolve. In a firm voice, Serena addressed Elina and Raina, her tone commanding. "It's up to us now," she declared, her words ringing out in the cavernous space. "We need to protect Rylan at all costs. We have to do whatever it takes."

Elina and Raina nodded in agreement, their own determination matching Serena's. With Rylan's safety as their utmost priority, they braced themselves for the impending confrontation with Rosie. Though fear still lingered in their hearts, they knew that they couldn't afford to falter now.

Serena, Elina, and Raina hid among the large rocks nearby, they watched Rosie stumble to her feet, her remaining head shaking from the effects of the previous battle. The trio remained silent, their breaths shallow as they assessed their limited resources and prepared to face the monstrous creature once again.

Serena turned to Elina and Raina, her voice barely a whisper as she inquired about their remaining arrows. With a sense of urgency in her tone, she asked, "How many arrows do you have left?"

Elina checked her quiver and replied, "I have nine arrows left."

Raina followed suit, counting her remaining ammunition. "I have seven arrows," she whispered back.

As Serena reached for her quiver, her heart sank when she realized she only had five arrows remaining. Panic threatened to consume her, but she forced herself to remain calm. They needed to make every shot count if they were to stand a chance against Rosie.

With a silent nod of acknowledgment, Serena relayed their dwindling ammunition situation to Elina and Raina. Despite the odds stacked against them, determination flickered in their eyes as they prepared to confront Rosie once more. Drawing upon the lessons they had learned from Rylan's teachings, the trio formulated a plan of attack. They would use their remaining arrows strategically, aiming for Rosie's vulnerable spots to maximize their effectiveness. 

Serena's plan was simple yet effective, they would utilize a technique called kiting to outmaneuver Rosie and keep her off balance. It was a strategy they had learned from Rylan during their training sessions, and now they would put it to the test in the heat of battle.

With determination etched on their faces, Serena, Elina, and Raina nodded in agreement, ready to execute the plan. They knew that coordination and precision would be crucial to their success, and they were prepared to give it their all to protect Rylan and defeat Rosie once and for all.

As they emerged from their hiding spots among the rocks, the trio spread out to surround Rosie, their movements calculated and deliberate. Serena took the lead, signaling to Elina and Raina to follow her lead as they began to implement their kiting strategy.

The trio's plan went into motion, Rosie let out an angry roar, her remaining head twisting and snarling as she caught sight of Serena, Elina, and Raina rushing towards her from all directions. With a swift motion, she raised her lone arm in a feeble attempt to shield her vulnerable head, but it was too late.

Arrows flew from all angles, piercing the air with deadly accuracy as Serena, Elina, and Raina unleashed their attacks. The sound of bowstrings and whistling arrows echoed through the cave as the trio expertly aimed for Rosie's exposed weak points, their movements fluid and precise.

Ducking behind the massive rocks for cover, the trio executed their kiting strategy flawlessly, each taking turns to fire upon Rosie before swiftly changing positions. The cave reverberated with the sound of Rosie's enraged cries as she struggled to fend off the relentless assault.

Despite her attempts to protect her remaining head, Rosie found herself overwhelmed by the onslaught of arrows raining down upon her from all sides. With each hit, she staggered and stumbled, her movements growing increasingly erratic as she fought to stay upright.

But the trio was relentless in their attack, their determination unyielding as they pressed on, refusing to give Rosie a moment's respite. With every arrow that found its mark, they drew closer and closer to victory, their resolve unwavering in the face of adversity.

As Rosie's strength began to wane and her movements slowed, Serena, Elina, and Raina seized the opportunity to deliver the final blow. With one last volley of arrows, they unleashed their combined might upon the monstrous creature, their shots finding their mark with deadly accuracy.

With a final, guttural roar of agony, Rosie collapsed to the ground, defeated and vanquished at last. The cavern fell silent once more, the only sound the labored breathing of the trio as they emerged from their hiding spots among the rocks, victorious but weary from the battle.

As Rosie's massive figure crashed down, the trio watched in awe and relief, their hearts pounding with adrenaline as the tension of the battle finally began to ease. With a collective sigh, they exchanged looks of exhaustion and weariness, their bodies bearing the strain of using their bow skills repeatedly. Yet, despite their fatigue, a sense of triumph shone in their eyes as they realized they had emerged victorious against the formidable foe.