Chapter 17

Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble, as if awakened by Zarku's malevolent presence. The very earth rebelled, shaking violently as if it sought to cast off this wicked intrusion. The air grew heavy with ominous energy, and a bone-chilling wind swept through the battlefield. As Zarku raised his arms to unleash a dark incantation, the roots of ancient trees erupted from the soil. Twisted and gnarled, they snaked their way toward the combatants, their intention clear—to ensnare and bind the vile goblin king. With an eerie swiftness, the roots entwined around Zarku's limbs, constricting like venomous vipers, holding him captive in an unyielding grip.

Edward had been waiting for this precise moment. Seizing the opportunity, he chanted an incantation, invoking ancient powers to strengthen his spell. A surge of arcane energy radiated from him, further tightening the grip of the enchanted roots around Zarku.

Aella turned into a red tornado with her two-handed sword, saw her chance, and lunged forward with determined fury. Her blade sliced through the air, its lethal arc aimed directly at Zarku's twisted form. With a sickening thud, her strike landed true, severing Zarku's left arm and sending a spray of dark blood splattering across the desecrated ground.

Galahad darted in with quick slashes and artful maneuvers. His blades danced like shadows, leaving multiple ragged wounds on Zarku's flesh. Each strike unleashed a chorus of agonized shrieks, piercing the air and mingling with the howls of the tortured wind.

But as Zarku's blood spilled and his grotesque form writhed in pain, an unsettling silence enveloped the scene. The momentary victory over the goblin king was overshadowed by an unsettling realization—Zarku's animosity was far from extinguished. A twisted smile spread across his face, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and his eyes glowed with an unholy light.

With a voice dripping with malice, Zarku uttered an incantation, invoking forbidden forces that lay dormant within him. The ground rumbled once again, and the roots that had bound him began to writhe and crack, snapping like serpents released from captivity. The symbol on his forehead glows in blood red and power grew in Zarku's body.

Zarku's severed arm grew back, and the wounds caused by Galahad's blade healed. The knights realized that their attacks would not be able to kill the goblin king, but they hadn't anticipated such swift regeneration. A sense of unease crept over them as they watched Zarku's eyes glow with a newfound malevolence. Edward, sensing the impending danger, hastily cast another incantation to bolster the defense of his team. He knew that the goblin king would reveal its true strength now that it had been enraged.

As soon as the defensive spell surrounded the trio, Aella, and Galahad swung their weapons at Zarku once again. However, this time, the goblin king managed to catch their weapons with both of his arms. Without hesitation, Zarku raised his right leg and delivered a powerful sidekick toward Aella. In a desperate attempt to protect herself, she was forced to let go of her weapon, sending it clattering to the ground. Meanwhile, Edward summoned his magical sword and swiftly slashed at Zarku's leg, causing a gush of dark blood to spurt out and releasing Galahad.

As the battle raged on, Galahad, realizing the dire situation they were in, swiftly reached into his clothing and retrieved a mysterious parchment. He bit his tongue hard, drawing blood, and then spat onto the parchment. Galahad, known for possessing one of the highest defense abilities among the twelve knights, second only to the second knight commander, decided to unleash one of his secret skills—a technique that allowed him to transform his formidable defense into a devastating attack.

He would not have taken this risk if it weren't for Edward. He knew that Edward was the battle strategist of the twelve, the one who turned every battle into a favorable outcome. Galahad felt that his defense had dropped by half, but the strength in his arms and legs had grown. Roaring, he lunged forward and slashed at the goblin king. However, with every attack he made, he suffered equally fierce counters from the goblin king. Aella and Edward were unable to intervene, as both the goblin and man fought with ferocious intensity.

In a desperate attempt to break the stalemate, Galahad unleashed a flurry of powerful strikes, fuelled by a surge of adrenaline. Yet, to his horror, the goblin king seemed unfazed, his dark laughter piercing the air. The wounds Galahad inflicted on him healed at an unnaturally rapid pace as if his very essence was impervious to mortal harm. On the other hand, the wounds on Galahad grew in numbers.

Aella and Edward exchanged worried glances, their eyes reflecting the shared fear that now consumed them. They had faced countless foes before, but this was unlike anything they had encountered. A sinister force seemed to emanate from the goblin king, casting a shadow of malevolence over the entire battlefield.

Aella's voice reverberated through the chaos as she shouted at Edward, her eyes filled with fear and desperation. "Do you have any other plans? You're supposed to be one of the smartest among us. We'll all be killed if there's nothing to stop his regeneration."

Edward clenched his fists, his mind racing for a solution. "We need to find the source of his power. If this is the same Zarku, he must derive his strength from something or someone. According to the scouts, he was slaughtering our troops and the surrounding monsters in an attempt to stabilize his newfound power. But it seems it may not be fully stabilized, judging by the destruction surrounding us."

As Edward carefully observed the fierce battle between Galahad and Zarku, his heart sank. There were moments when Zarku's strikes landed on Galahad, but they missed their mark as if Zarku still struggled to control his overwhelming strength.

"Aella, I will create an opening for you. Use that opening to strike at Zarku with your ultimate skill," Edward declared, his voice filled with determination. Aella nodded in acknowledgment and replied, "I need time to cast it. Give me about six seconds. Create the opening in the last second and then retreat with Galahad. I won't be able to control the power of my strike, and anyone within its range will be crushed."

As the battle raged on, the air grew thick with an eerie silence. Aella channeled her skills, feeling its energy course through her veins. The ground trembled beneath her feet as Zarku, unleashed a torrent of dark fireballs towards their group. Edward stepped forward, using his shield to deflect the attack and buying Aella the time she needed, while Galahad tries to inflict damages on Zarku as much as he could.

With each passing second, the tension in the air grew visible. The damage Galahad suffered after he gave up his defense for an attack is showing signs of the toll on his body. Edward tries hard to use his shield to block the attacks. Aella's eyes glowed with an intense light as her power reached its peak.

Suddenly, in the final second, Edward unleashed a burst of blinding light from his shield, momentarily distracting Zarku. Seizing the opportunity, Aella jumped up into the sky and unleashed her ultimate skill: a devastating wave of pure energy that enveloped her two-handed sword.

"Die, Zarku!" Aella shouted as she hurled her sword toward him, resembling a meteorite hurtling through the air. The sword tore through the battlefield, obliterating everything in its path. Edward grabbed Galahad by his collar, desperately pulling him back as fast as he could, narrowly escaping the destructive trajectory of the sword. Aella recovered herself from the sky and falls back to her teammates.

All three of them were breathing heavily, struggling to regain their strength. Galahad, in the worst condition among them, bore multiple dents and burn marks on his armor from Zarku's relentless attacks. His pale face spoke volumes about the brutal battle he had just endured. If it hadn't been for Edward stepping in to deflect the onslaught, Galahad would surely have met his demise.

As the dust raised by Aella's attack began to settle, the trio stared intently at the cloud, hoping to catch a glimpse of the goblin king's lifeless body. But to their astonishment, there was no sign of Zarku. The eerie silence hung heavily in the air, intensifying the growing sense of dread within them.

Suddenly, a chilling breeze swept through the clearing, causing the nearby trees to rustle ominously. Aella's eyes widened with unease as she whispered, "Something isn't right here."

Edward, always vigilant, held his shield in front of the three and scanned their surroundings, his heart pounding in his chest. "Stay on guard," he warned, his voice filled with an undercurrent of fear. "Zarku may still be lurking nearby, biding his time."

But then, a blinding white light erupted from the earth, searing through the darkness. The intensity of the light was overwhelming, causing Galahad to shield his eyes with his arm. The brilliance pierced through the haze of battle, momentarily blinding all who dared to witness it.

In that split second, Galahad's world shattered. A deafening scream tore through the air, mingling with the agonized cries of his comrades. His eyes darted to his left, his heart sinking like an anchor in stormy waters.

Edward, his loyal companion, and brother-in-arms, stood frozen in time. The white light had struck his left arm, severing it from his body, and the shield he held tumbled to the ground, crashing against the blood-soaked earth.