VII - Borak's Wrath

As they crept closer to the camp, the bandits laughed and joked around the fire, oblivious to the danger lurking in the shadows.

Azea raised his staff, his heart pounding.

"Kael," he whispered. "Do it."

Kael grinned, slamming his staff into the ground. A surge of electricity exploded into the clearing, lightning crackling around the bandits. They screamed, scrambling to their feet as the bolts stunned them.

Amon roared, charging into the chaos with his sword blazing. He slashed through the first bandit with ease, his strikes precise and brutal.

Lyra was a blur of motion, taking out the patrolling guards before they could react.

Azea stayed back, using his staff to cast a protective barrier around his team.

The bandits were caught off guard, and within minutes, the camp was in disarray.

But then the tent flap burst open, and a hulking figure stepped out. Borak, the bandit leader, towered over them, his axe glowing with dark energy.

"You think you can take my camp?" he bellowed. "You'll regret this!"

Borak slammed his glowing axe into the ground, and a shockwave tore through the camp. Azea barely managed to cast a barrier in time, shielding himself and Amon from the blast. Sparks flickered around them as the protective spell absorbed the impact.

Kael whistled. "Well, he's not messing around."

Lyra darted back into the shadows, already angling around the massive bandit leader. "Guess that's our guy. Let's cut him down before he breaks something—or someone."

Borak roared again, his eyes glowing crimson. He charged forward like a bull, swinging his axe in a wide arc. Amon stepped in to intercept, his sword meeting the axe with a deafening clang. The ground cracked beneath their feet.

"Go for his flanks!" Azea yelled.

Amon pushed Borak back, giving Lyra an opening. She zipped in, her dagger flashing as she sliced into Borak's side. Blood sprayed, but the massive man barely flinched.

"That tickles," Borak growled, swiping at her with his free hand.

Lyra flipped backward, narrowly dodging his massive fist. "He's built like a damn fortress!"

Kael raised his staff, smirking. "Then let's see how he handles this."

Lightning surged from Kael's hands, arcing toward Borak. The electricity crackled around him, and for a moment, the giant froze. But then Borak growled, the dark energy surrounding his axe flaring to life. The lightning fizzled out, repelled by whatever magic protected him.

Kael frowned. "Okay, that's annoying."

"Focus!" Azea shouted. He raised his staff, channeling mana. A glowing rune appeared beneath Borak's feet, and chains of light shot upward, wrapping around the bandit leader's limbs.

Borak struggled against the chains, his muscles bulging. "You think this will hold me?"

"Long enough," Azea muttered.

"Now!" Amon charged again, his sword glowing with a fiery aura. He aimed for Borak's exposed chest, the blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Borak twisted at the last second, and the sword glanced off his armor. With a furious roar, he broke free from the chains, swinging his axe in a brutal counterattack.

The force of the swing sent Amon flying backward, his body crashing into a nearby tree.

"Amon!" Azea's heart sank.

"I'm fine," Amon grunted, pulling himself to his feet. Blood trickled down his forehead, but he tightened his grip on his sword. "He's strong, but he's slow. Keep pressing him."

Lyra darted back into the fray, her movements a blur. She landed another series of cuts, aiming for Borak's unarmored spots. This time, the bandit leader roared in pain, swiping at her with his massive hand.

Azea raised his staff again, summoning a barrage of glowing projectiles. They rained down on Borak, exploding on impact. The attacks staggered him, but they weren't enough to bring him down.

Kael stepped up, spinning his staff. "Time to turn up the heat."

A massive fireball formed at the tip of his staff, its flames roaring like a miniature sun. With a flick of his wrist, Kael hurled it at Borak. The explosion lit up the forest, and Borak let out a guttural scream as the flames engulfed him.

When the smoke cleared, Borak was on one knee, his armor scorched and cracked. But his eyes burned brighter than ever, and the dark energy around his axe seemed to intensify.

"You've got guts," he snarled. "But it's not enough."

He slammed the axe into the ground again, and tendrils of black energy erupted, snaking toward Azea and his team.

"Move!" Azea shouted.

Lyra and Kael dove out of the way, but one of the tendrils caught Azea's leg, yanking him off his feet. Pain shot through him as the dark energy seeped into his skin, sapping his strength.

"Boss!" Lyra shouted, her dagger flashing as she cut through the tendril.

Amon charged forward again, his sword glowing with renewed intensity. He swung with everything he had, finally landing a solid hit on Borak's chest. The bandit leader staggered, blood pouring from the wound.

But he didn't fall.

Borak raised his axe high, dark energy swirling around him. "If I'm going down, I'm taking you all with me!"

Azea forced himself to his feet, his leg still throbbing. His mind raced. They couldn't take another hit like that. They needed to end this now.

"Kael," Azea said, his voice steady despite the pain. "How much mana do you have left?"

Kael smirked. "Enough for one more big hit. What are you thinking?"

Azea raised his staff, summoning the last of his energy. "Combine it with mine. We'll hit him together."

Kael nodded. "Let's do it."

The two of them stood side by side, their staffs glowing with intense light. Azea channeled his mana into a swirling vortex of energy, while Kael summoned another massive fireball.

Borak charged, his axe raised for a final, devastating attack.

"Now!" Azea yelled.

The combined blast of energy and fire roared forward, slamming into Borak with a deafening explosion. The force of the attack sent shockwaves through the forest, toppling nearby trees.

When the dust settled, Borak lay motionless on the ground, his axe shattered beside him. The dark energy that had surrounded him was gone.

A notification appeared in front of Azea.

[Quest Complete: Whispering Forest Cleanup.]

[EXP +600, Rare Summoning Crystal x1, Gold +800.]

[Level Up! You are now Level 4.]