Defiance in the Face of Death      

Rain and the others charged, Balaur's eyes gleamed with a sinister light.

The god of war stood still, his towering frame radiating an almost palpable menace, as if daring them to strike first.

Rain was the first to reach him. He swung with all his might, aiming for the gaps in Balaur's scales. But with a swift motion, Balaur deflected the blow with his armored forearm, the clash ringing out like a hammer on steel.

Santi darted in next, her blades aiming low. Her strikes were precise, honed by years of battle, but Balaur simply stepped aside, his movements deceptively graceful for his massive size. A flick of his wrist sent Santi reeling, her balance disrupted by the sheer force of his counter.