The Battle in the Burning Town

In the village, Max engaged in a fierce battle with the two men.

"Who are you, and for what reason do you commit such acts?" Max shouted, unleashing a surge of killing intent, its intensity reaching unparalleled heights.

The two men momentarily paused, sensing the dense aura of death that surrounded Max, acknowledging his formidable strength. He surpassed them both.

"Hehe, though he may appear formidable, he stands no chance against our combined might," Thorne and Drave, the two men, remarked with overconfidence.

"Hehe, our mission is clear. We are here to eliminate the young Everlight," Drake said, a sinister glimmer in his eyes.

Max's eyes widened at the revelation, and his killing intent surged even further.

"YOU DESPICABLE SCOUNDRELS! HOW DARE YOU!" Max went into a state of berserk fury. While Auric was not his son, Max cared for him deeply, akin to a true father. He was also a dear friend of Auric's mother, and the mere thought of her son being mercilessly slaughtered shattered his composure.

Cloaked in darkness, Drave and Thorne moved with deadly grace, their daggers shimmering ominously in the flickering firelight. Max firmly gripped his massive greatsword, its weight almost inconceivable to an ordinary warrior, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

As the battle commenced, Max unleashed a primal roar, his muscles bulging with raw power. He charged at the assassins, his greatsword slicing through the air with a resounding whoosh. Drave and Thorne, nimble and agile, evaded his initial strike with swift precision, narrowly escaping the lethal arc of his weapon.

Thorne swiftly lunged forward, his daggers slashing through the air like venomous serpents. Max expertly parried with precision, the clash of steel echoing through the area. Each collision fueled the bloodlust in Max's eyes, intensifying his rage. He countered Thorne's relentless attacks with unyielding force, his greatsword acting as an impenetrable barrier against the assassin's deadly daggers.

The room resounded with the clash of steel as the battle escalated. Max swung his greatsword with unrelenting force, aiming to crush his adversaries beneath its immense weight. Drave and Thorne, sensing the imminent danger, fought in perfect synchrony, their movements mirroring each other with lethal precision.

Drave lunged forward, his dagger aimed at Max's vulnerable side. Max, with lightning-fast reflexes, twisted his body, narrowly evading the blade that grazed his armor, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. Disregarding the searing pain, Max retaliated with a vicious swing, his greatsword crashing against Drave's defenses, causing him to stagger backward, gasping for air.

Meanwhile, Thorne seized the opportunity and circled behind Max, launching a strike with lethal precision. His dagger sliced through the air, aimed at the warrior's unprotected back. However, Max, fueled by an inner rage, anticipated the attack. With a deft twist of his body, he intercepted Thorne's strike with the flat side of his greatsword, sending a jolt of pain up his arm.

The battle continued in a frenzied dance of steel and blood. Max fought with relentless ferocity, every swing of his greatsword a whirlwind of raw power. Each blow sent shockwaves through the chamber, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Wounds adorned Max's body, crimson rivers flowing freely from gashes and deep cuts, yet he remained impervious to the pain, his focus solely on obliterating his adversaries.

As the battle raged on, Max's strikes grew increasingly desperate and devastating. He hurled himself at Drave, shattering his defenses with a relentless onslaught. His greatsword cut through flesh and bone, leaving the assassin's lifeless body to join the growing pool of blood that adorned the chamber.

" UGH!!!"

Thorne, the sole remaining assassin, watched in horror as his partner fell. Fear etched across his face, he instinctively retreated, attempting to create distance from Max's furious assault. But Max pursued him relentlessly, his eyes burning with an unquenchable thirst for the blood of these bastards.

With a mighty leap, Max closed the gap between them, his greatsword arcing toward Thorne with deadly intent. The blade found its mark, slicing through Thorne's feeble defenses and burying itself deep within his chest. A gurgled gasp escaped Thorne's lips as he crumpled to the ground, his life extinguished.

Breathing heavily, Max stood amidst the carnage, his body drenched in the blood of his fallen adversaries. The room fell silent, save for the crackling of the dying candles. Max, victorious but battered, surveyed the aftermath of the brutal battle.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

A round of applause echoed through the chamber, drawing Max's attention. As he turned, a mysterious figure clad in black entered his view, casting an eerie silence over the area. Max, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of this person, could scarcely detect his presence.

There was no doubt that this guy is a master assassin. The man's black garments seemed to absorb all light, concealing his identity behind a mask. Slowly, he removed the mask, revealing a face marred by a massive, sinister scar. It was Duval.

"Truly, a remarkable warrior," Duval remarked, his voice tinged with amusement. A sinister smile curled his scarred lips as he surveyed the fallen bodies of Drave and Thorne, his loyal subordinates whom Max had slain. "Well, that was quite a fight, but you've killed my inept, dog-like subordinates. Shouldn't I avenge them?" His tone dripped with sarcasm, though his eyes conveyed a chilling threat.

Max's body trembled from exhaustion and the wounds he had sustained during the relentless battle. He knew he was in no condition to face someone as formidable as Duval. The scars across his body bore witness to his diminishing strength, but his indomitable spirit remained unwavering.

With a flicker of defiance in his eyes, Max braced himself as an epic clash ensued between the two warriors. Max tapped into his affinity for wind, harnessing its power to enhance his agility and speed. Swiftly, he maneuvered around Duval, seeking to exploit any vulnerabilities he could find. Each swing of his greatsword was imbued with the force of the rushing wind, slicing through the air with an almost ethereal grace.

In contrast, Duval commanded the element of fire, flames dancing in his hands and wreathing his body. He wielded this power with masterful control, directing scorching streams of fire toward Max with deadly accuracy. The entire battlefield came alive with the crackling of flames, the intense heat heightening the oppressive atmosphere.

The clash between wind and fire created a tumultuous battleground. Max's attacks, fueled by his dwindling strength, met with fierce resistance as Duval effortlessly deflected or evaded each strike. The master assassin moved with otherworldly grace, his motions fluid and precise, each step calculated to exploit Max's vulnerabilities.

As the battle raged on, Max's condition rapidly deteriorated. Blood oozed from his wounds, staining his body and mingling with the crimson pool that now coated the battle area. Each swing of his greatsword grew increasingly laborious, the weight of his injuries and exhaustion dragging him down.

In stark contrast, Duval seemed untouched by Max's assault. His movements flowed effortlessly, his fire element ablaze with an unwavering intensity. The scar on his face twisted into a mocking grin as he toyed with Max, taking pleasure in the warrior's despair.

Max pressed on, his determination unyielding even as his body neared its limit. He pushed through the pain, driven by an unwavering will to protect what he held dear. However, as the seconds stretched into minutes, it became evident that his endurance had reached its breaking point. The wounds that adorned his body had taken their toll, sapping his strength and extinguishing the light in his eyes.

Despite Max's valiant efforts, Duval's superiority grew increasingly apparent. Seizing the moment with swift precision, Duval capitalized on the opportunity, his flames engulfing Max's weary form. The scorching heat and intense pain forced Max to his knees, his greatsword slipping from his grasp. Gritting his teeth, he refused to succumb to defeat, even when faced with overwhelming odds.

"I hope they're far enough now..." Max's weary thoughts echoed in his mind as his eyes screamed of exhaustion.

Through the haze of searing agony, Max's gaze locked with Duval's. Despite the pain etched across his face, a flicker of defiance burned in his eyes. "I will not yield," he growled through clenched teeth, his voice strained but resolute.

Duval chuckled darkly, relishing in Max's indomitable spirit. "Such unwavering determination, even in the face of certain destruction," he mused, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. "But your resistance ends here. And don't worry I will send your dear family to you very soon."

Hearing him, Max eyes widened with rage. With a wave of his hand, Duval conjured a torrent of scorching flames that engulfed Max. The intense heat seared his flesh, the searing pain threatening to consume him entirely. Max's armor grew unbearably hot against his body, intensifying his torment as it started to buckle under the relentless assault of fire.

Yet, even as the flames licked at his weakened form, Max refused to surrender. Summoning the last reserves of his willpower, he fought against the overwhelming pain, his muscles straining against the destructive force. With sheer determination, he managed to rise to his feet, his body trembling with the effort. "I have to protect them!!"

In a desperate act of defiance, Max tapped into the remnants of his wind element. Gusts of swirling air enveloped him, momentarily pushing back the searing flames and offering a brief respite from the scorching heat. It was a fleeting moment, but within that ephemeral reprieve, Max's eyes gleamed with a glimmer of hope.

Relying on instinct and fueled by adrenaline, Max lunged forward, his movements propelled by a reckless abandon. Ignoring the agony that engulfed him, he delivered a ferocious blow aimed at Duval's midsection. Yet, the master assassin's reflexes were unparalleled. He swiftly sidestepped the attack, allowing Max's strike to pass harmlessly through the air.

With a sinister smile, Duval retaliated, his flames surging forth once again. The searing inferno ensnared Max, trapping him within its fiery embrace. Max's vision blurred, his body weakened by the relentless assault. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his form smoldering amidst the flames.