Earth Shattering End

Arthur Leywin POV

Samantha's eyes widened in sheer terror, the colour swiftly receding from her face as she whispered, "N-No way..." She stumbled back, her legs giving way beneath her, causing her to sink slowly to her knees. She drew a ragged breath, "I've read ancient tales about such creatures," she managed, her voice quivering with dread. "Could it be th-that's..."

I stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, interrupting her. "An Elderwood guardian," I stated with certainty.

This behemoth before us was unmistakably an imposing foe and likely more powerful than any my current team, aside from Jasmine, had encountered before. Its presence was palpable, an almost overwhelming pressure that seemed to weigh down on us. But it wasn't just its size or aura that was disturbing. There was a dark, malevolent undertone to its energy, something deeply ominous that set it apart. Still, I squared my shoulders, confident in my capabilities. This challenge, despite its heightened threat, was within my grasp.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Lucas, his body rigid. But it wasn't just fear that was etched across his face. There was a raw, visceral revulsion, and even though his gaze was fixed on the Elderwood guardian, I couldn't shake the feeling that some of that disdain was directed my way. Throughout this expedition, Lucas had barely lifted a finger. His inexplicable aversion to action was baffling, and I hoped he wouldn't choose this moment to complicate matters.

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Lucas Wykes POV:

The colossal entity before us filled the expanse of the cavern, its malevolent aura pulsating with palpable force. The enormity of its presence caused me to pause. Was this fear? Could it be? I, Lucas Wykes, a scion of the Wykes lineage, hesitating? No, this wasn't fear. This was mere prudence. Why should I, of all people, risk everything for these plebeians? Especially that masked buffoon who paraded as an S-class adventurer. His showy heroics were just an act. Deep down, I knew he was just a stumbling block, curbing my rise to match my brother's prowess. The audacity of him to think he could overshadow a Wykes! Me, the destined titan of this continent!

A thought crystalized in my mind: I needed an exit. For the legacy of Lucas Wykes was yet to be written in golden letters. To ascend to unparalleled heights, I had to preserve my boundless potential, rise above these commoners.

"You truly believe I'd sacrifice myself for the likes of you?" My voice dripped with contempt as I addressed the awestruck party. "Rejoice, for when the tales of this day are recounted, I'll ensure your 'noble' sacrifice, as fodder to this beast, is immortalised. Your pitiful end will have been in service of aiding my grand escape!"

A mocking laughter escaped my lips. It was high time they acknowledged their insignificance.

Drawing from the depths of my immense power, I channelled an intense blaze into my staff, the red-orange inferno dancing ominously at its tip. Without a moment's hesitation, I aimed it at that masked imposter, releasing a roaring jet of flames in his direction.

And then there was the haughty adventurer, Flamesworth. Sure, her lineage might command respect in lesser circles, but compared to the grandeur of the Wykes, she was a mere footnote. With a swift, fluid motion, I invoked another surging inferno and hurled it towards her, the flames illuminating the cavern in their brief, scorching passage.

With a flick of my wrist and a murmured incantation, a dense smokescreen billowed from my staff, cloaking the cavern in an impenetrable veil of grey. The sudden shroud muffled sounds and sights, granting me the perfect diversion for my egress.

Amidst the haze, the enraged voice of that dark-haired conjurer pierced through, his words laced with fury and disbelief. He truly was a simpleton, thinking that someone of my stature would engage in banalities with him.

However, just as I was about to revel in the brilliance of my escape strategy, a sharp sense of inexplicable fear gripped me, causing my legs to buckle. I crumpled, landing heavily on my knees, disoriented and vulnerable.

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Arthur Leywin POV

Lucas's confident stride was incongruous to the danger surrounding us. I had begun to hope that, with his talents, he might turn out to be an asset rather than the impediment he'd been. His actions shattered that notion instantly.

"You think I'd risk my life to help all of you escape?" he sneered, eyes darting with a malicious gleam. "Be honoured that you'll be the valiant heroes that stalled the beast enough for me to escape! I'll tell everyone all about your courageous deeds!" With a laugh that dripped with mockery, he unleashed potent fireballs directly at Jasmine and I. The power behind those spells was not just indicative of his significant mana reserves, but of his deliberate intent to harm.

A cocktail of shock and fury bubbled up within me. That he would attack me was one thing, but to target Jasmine, who had done nothing to provoke his wrath, was sheer insanity. This wasn't mere defiance; it was madness.

Before the roaring flame reached me, I manipulated the surrounding air to create a vacuum, snuffing out the fireball before it could so much as singe my robes.

As the smokescreen billowed around us, I could see Lucas's silhouette hastily retreating. Unleashing a fraction of my bloodlust, an aura so overwhelming it could cripple minds, I brought everyone, friend or foe, to a standstill. Even Jasmine, someone I never intended to target, was momentarily overwhelmed.

Lucas's betrayal stoked a fury in me that I hadn't felt in a long time. He might be an elite, but in my eyes, he was nothing more than an insect, ready to be squashed when he became a nuisance.

Each step I took towards him was imbued with raw power, causing the very ground to fracture beneath my feet. Lucas, pinned down by my aura, could barely lift his head to meet my gaze. Without using any mana, my physical blows could deal devastating damage, enough to shatter bones and rupture organs. For someone at Lucas's stage, it would mean catastrophe.

As I wrapped my fingers around his throat, the entire chamber resonated with the tension of the confrontation. Even the hulking Elderwood guardian, a creature of ancient power, stood frozen, as though it too recognized the monumental force being wielded.

Before me, Lucas Wykes, the celebrated heir of the illustrious Wykes family, quaked in fear. The arrogance that once radiated from him had all but evaporated, replaced by the tremors of a broken ego. I took a moment to absorb his feeble state, letting a slow smirk creep onto my face. "Lucas Wykes," I began, each word seeping with contempt, "It's astonishing, really. For one of your esteemed lineage to fall so disgracefully. You're nothing more than a speck, a triviality, beneath my feet. I could snuff out your life in an instant. Yet, your existence is barely worth the exertion. But let it be known: your betrayal won't go unanswered."

Without warning, I drove my knee into his ribcage. Despite the protective barrier of his mana, the sheer force elicited a gory cough, as droplets of crimson splattered, tinging the air with the stench of fresh blood.

Addressing the situation at hand, I remarked coldly, "Our next challenge is the Elderwood guardian. Should you remain in the vicinity once we've subdued it, believe me, the guardian's wrath will seem merciful compared to the retribution I have in mind."

Swiftly, with pent-up frustration, I flung him, watching with grim satisfaction as he crashed against the rocky expanse of the cavern. His agonised groan was barely a whisper as my gaze settled intently on the formidable guardian ahead.

An all too familiar resonance pierced my senses. Sylvie, my devoted ally, having perceived my anger, was rushing to my side. Through our bond, I tried to dissuade her, urging her to keep at bay for her own safety. But her steadfast loyalty overpowered my warnings.

The diminishing pulse of Lucas's mana echoed his hasty departure. My threats weren't lost on him. He had wisely chosen flight over fight.

Taking a deep breath, I eased the oppressive weight of my aura, feeling the dense air gradually lighten. That's when I noticed it... my mask. A token of my persona and might, now lay detached, a casualty of my earlier spells. Luckily Lucas had not witnessed the sight of my face. Its fallen state was momentarily concerning, but the impending confrontation with the guardian took precedence.

Infusing my very being with the wind's primal force, a blade, sharp and shimmering, coalesced in my hand, moving as an extension of my soul. With poised determination, I launched myself at the gargantuan creature, every step measured, every move deliberate.

The vast cavern resonated with the haunting chorus of our conflict; my movements a lithe and lethal dance, effortlessly dodging the creature's clumsy yet powerful assaults. The beast's formidable vines, once symbols of its raw strength, met their match against the incisive edge of my wind blade. Every gash I inflicted, while pristine and deadly, was healed in mere moments, as the beast's astonishing regenerative abilities came to the fore. Its aura was thick with malevolence, making me wonder if behind those monstrous eyes, there lurked a sentient being. Could it be devoid of a core, the heart of its immense power?

With resolve steeling my actions, I intensified my attack. Each subsequent strike was faster, carving deeper gashes, executed with refined precision. The creature's resilience waned gradually; its once instantaneous healing was now perceptibly slower. Its life force, manifested as its mana, seemed to be dwindling.

A triumphant grin stretched across my face as I meticulously wore down the guardian. In the heat of battle, a revelation dawned upon me. Instead of just draining its power, why not target the very essence of its existence — its core?

Seizing an opportune moment, I leapt agilely to a prominent ledge above, granting me an unobstructed view of the beast. From the depths of my dimensional ring, I summoned Dawn's Ballad, a legendary weapon whose reputation for devastation was unparalleled. Imbued with a luminescent layer of the purest mana, its edge glowed ominously, promising to slice through any obstacle, no matter how formidable.

Channelling an even greater surge of mana into my very sinews, I moved at breakneck velocities. To those watching from a distance, I was an ethereal wraith, moving too swiftly for the naked eye, slashing at the guardian with unmatched fervour. The once indomitable Elderwood Guardian was now a mere shadow of its former self, its essence increasingly isolated from its core.

Gearing up for the climax, my senses honed in on the exposed core. With a surge of adrenaline and a swift, intricate manoeuvre, I released a devastating maelstrom of wind mana, delivering the coup de grâce and bringing the guardian to an earth-shattering end.