Mount Larshen - Power balance.

A flash of light burst between Géandre and his opponent as he spoke the name of his new summon.

"Arvasté!" He shouted.

A huge, slender bird with a long, narrow head, four wings, a long and feathery reptilian tail, and two large hind legs with sharp claws appeared just above its master, knocking the enemy backwards with its sudden increase in mass and size.

The sword left the monster trainer's torso as its owner was pushed away, and before he could even straighten up, Géandre shouted a command to his creature.

"Arvasté! Seize!"

The huge bird-reptile immediately flew up into the air some twenty meters before abruptly swooping down toward its target; talons extended forward and ready to grab the masked human.

Its claws came into contact with the enemy's strange mobile shield, and realizing that it could not attack him from that angle, furiously flapped its wings to keep itself in flight.

The main joints of its wings had two clawed fingers, with which it began to harass the human standing in front of it with blows.

Taking advantage of this distraction, Géandre stood up and looked around to better analyze the situation.

The Behemoth continued to charge the other hunters, who were constantly moving to avoid it. The creature already looked more tired and injured than the last time he had laid eyes on it, which was a good sign: the fight was going back to their advantage, hopefully this guy in the mask didn't have another nasty surprise to reveal.

"Erzebrun! Block!" Géandre ordered, shouting.

The massive creature, which until now had remained motionless for lack of orders given by its master, came to life again, and starting to gallop heavily with the help of its six legs, placed itself in the line of race of the Behemoth to intercept it.

The other beast, also launched in a crazy race, accelerated when it saw that the creature which had already immobilized it sought once again to hinder its movements; and at the last moment, shifted to dodge its adversary.

"Erzébrun! Grab!" Howled Géandre.

As if suddenly hit by an invisible whip, the thin-limbed monster followed the movement of the Behemoth that passed by its side, and leaping with all its weight on the flank of the creature with huge horns, encircled with its four arms the hairy torso of the Behemoth; its two back legs sunk into the ground to slow down the mad race of the creature.

Suddenly trapped without being able to free itself from this embrace nor being able to turn its little head to the side to skewer the foolhardy one, the Behemoth growled in anger.

"Focus your attacks! Now!" Géandre ordered.

Immediately, the hunters who had been running around stopped to change their course and direct their attacks at the immobilized monster.

Valshesia's spear flew back into the air, propelled through several short-range teleportation circles.

Géandre didn't have time to rejoice, however, as he heard the painful cry of an animal, coupled with a sudden burning sensation on his torso, where the extra summoning plates were stored.

Turning his gaze to Arvasté, he watched in horror as the great bird was effortlessly sliced in half from top to bottom; both the left and right parts of its body falling limply to the ground in an agonizing gurgle.

The creature had been killed instantly, and its death had forcibly released the mana previously stored in the stasis plate; creating that sensation of heat that burned the young man through his clothes.

Now the masked man was looking back at him, the smooth surface of his mask facing Géandre, and the latter felt that this enemy was too strong for him to face alone.

His gaze wandered to the members of his group, too busy slaying the Behemoth, before returning to the sword in their enemy's hand.

A bright liquid dripped down the metal, the color of the giant bird's blood impossible to discern on the long, pitch-black blade.

Géandre gripped the handle of his sword tightly in his hand. Even if he needed them, he couldn't ask the other hunters for help without risking them too. A moment's distraction was the worst enemy of a hunt, and could turn a situation on its head.

The masked man rushed towards him again with his sword lowered to the side, and Géandre had just enough time to prepare himself for the next part of the confrontation.

Quick and light, the masked man arrived very soon in front of him, and the young monster tamer raised his sword just in time to deflect the blade of his opponent. The latter had raised his sword upwards and from back to front, making his black blade describe an inverted arc aimed at Géandre's stomach and torso.

However, the young man could not get any respite, for the aggressive-looking blade swung sideways to position itself horizontally to the ground, and immediately returned to him; this time aiming at his neck.

Leaping back, the young man with the long black braid deflected the enemy's blade with his metal gauntlet, and took the opportunity to retaliate by aiming the cutting edge of his sword at the masked man's sword arm.

Unfortunately, Androanni's mobile shield repelled Géandre's attempt; the latter clenching his jaw.

'Damn it! That guy's untouchable with that artefact!'

It was obvious: with such an asset on his side, it was only a matter of time before the masked man managed to disarm Géandre and kill him.

Raising the metallic gauntlet of his free hand again towards the enemy, the young man blocked between the metallic scales the descending blade of the man he was facing. This was his chance to disarm him, and taking advantage of this sudden advantage, the monster trainer swung his arm to the side and pulled the blade trapped in the metal jaws of his gauntlet with him.

He felt a huge blow in the stomach that momentarily took his breath away, and looking down, saw that the masked man had just thrown a violent punch. He had not foreseen that the enemy could also possess a physical force so developed; and staggering back, saw with horror that the masked man finally released the black blade of his sword of the metallic scales covering the left forearm of Géandre.

Then, the man brought his sword backwards, ready to take the necessary impulse to slice on the spot the hunter who was facing him.

Four whistles pierced the air, followed almost immediately by four crossbow bolts that pierced the torso of the masked man. The latter, under the violence of the multiple impacts, staggered backwards; and turned his face, still impossible to discern, towards the point of origin of the shots.

Also following the movement of his opponent, Géandre turned his head to look at who had just saved him in-extremis.

Behind him, about twenty meters away and positioned just at the edge of the clearing, stood Ewan, with one arm outstretched towards them; dripping with sweat and panting with great difficulty to catch his breath.