Chapter 46: Running on Low Fumes!
Chapter 46
BOOM!
A deafening explosion echoed as a massive fireball burst forth from the hammer’s head, streaking through the air and threatening to consume the group of humans.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The group screamed in unison as they bolted aside, scattering left and right while the fireball tore through the center.
A violent explosion erupted, shaking the entire room. The group was flung to the ground, crashing face-first into the dirt as the fireball annihilated everything in its path.
A deep crater gaped in the floor, scorched black, while part of the wall collapsed where the blast struck. The stench of ash filled the air as the group staggered to their feet, coughing violently, their bodies covered in dust.
"Is... is... cough... is everyone okay?" Jace asked between fits of coughing, his gaze darting toward his groaning teammates as they struggled upright.
"If being almost roasted alive by a giant fireball from a massive ogre boss is called okay, then yeah... we’re totally fine." Kael said sarcastically, his shield clutched tightly as his glare locked on the beast’s smirking face.
"Thank you for warning us in time, Zen. Without you, we would’ve been pulverized already." Aria said, sparing Zen a glance. Yet Zen seemed lost in thought, his gaze unfocused as if he hadn’t heard a word.
"How do we defeat something this powerful?" Erin muttered, her voice trembling slightly as her grip tightened around her sword. "I’ve never fought a beast with an Essence Veil before... how are we supposed to deal with it?"
"We don’t need to defeat it," Jace said firmly, stepping forward. His eyes never left the ogre, whose hammer was still raised and gleaming ominously.
Aria frowned. "We don’t?"
"No. We just need to survive until reinforcements arrive. The clan must have noticed the rank shift by now. Someone will come."
Finally, Zen snapped back to reality.
’That’s right. There’s no way the clan hasn’t noticed. They’ll send someone to help... but can we hold out long enough?’ He swallowed hard, his gaze locking onto the monstrous ogre again.
As if mocking his thoughts, the hammer’s head lit up once more—another attack was coming.
"Come on guys! Let’s try our best to survive long enough till we get saved. I don’t know about you all, but this is not where I want my life or story to end." Jace said as he turned to glare at the bright light and without hesitation, he dashed forward with full speed.
"Same here!" Erin cried, bolting after him, her icy blade trailing as she fixed her eyes on the glowing hammer.
The ogre’s smirk widened. Spotting the charge, it halted its fireball and instead raised the hammer high overhead before slamming it into the ground with brutal force.
BOOM!
The earth cracked apart, spiderweb fractures racing toward Jace and Erin. In perfect sync, they both leapt high into the air, narrowly evading the splintering ground.
"Water Veil!"
"Ice Veil!"
"Wheel of Death!"
"Cold Death!"
The duo roared in unison. Jace’s sword unleashed a swirling torrent of water, spinning violently like a wheel. Erin lunged, kicking off the air as she brought her icy blade down, freezing the wheel solid before sending it hurtling forward at terrifying speed.
The ogre remained unfazed. Its lips curled into a grin stretching wide across its face. With effortless motion, it swung its hammer to meet the attack.
BOOM!
CRACK!
SHATTER! (The sound of glass breaking filled the chamber.)
The whole attack crumbled down while the duo’s eyes widened in horror, their mouths hanging open. Before they could even react, the hammer was fast approaching their faces like a meteor about to obliterate everything in its path.
’Crap! If that hammer hits us, we’ll be gone in an instant.’ Jace thought as he free-fell along with Erin, the both of them completely helpless. Their hearts raced, their eyes widened even further when...
"I guess you were right. We can’t die here, not yet." A voice echoed across the room, heavy and resolute, and in the next moment a figure leapt into the air with astonishing speed.
"Earth Veil: Mountainous Defense!" the same voice roared, and immediately an immense shadow erupted out, casting over the duo who had just landed back on the ground.
In front of them, Kael stood firm, his shield braced tightly. Rocks surged around him, intertwining with hardened earth, until they formed a massive barrier that completely filled their view.
It wasn’t just a wall. It was towering, thick, and immovable—an earthen fortress.
And it rose just in time, for the giant hammer was already upon them...
BOOM!
The hammer struck the wall with a deafening crash that shook the entire chamber. The impact unleashed an immense shockwave that blasted outward, hurling the trio far away from the beast.
The wall that had shielded them shattered instantly into countless fragments, while Kael’s shield went flying from his grip, clattering across the ground.
KUK!
TCHK!
THUD!
The three of them coughed out blood, their crimson spray splattering into the air. Their battered bodies slammed into the ground, bouncing and rolling backward until they skidded close to where they had stood before. Blood dripped steadily from the corners of their mouths, staining their faces and armor.
"Sh... shit! That was just the shockwave, damn it!" Kael cursed bitterly as he struggled to his feet. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes immediately darted across the room, locking onto his shield lying three meters away.
"What do we do?" Erin asked, huffing in exhaustion. Sweat rolled down her cheeks as she kept her gaze locked on the ogre. Strangely, the monstrous beast still hadn’t left its throne, its enormous body looming like a king watching pawns scatter before him.
"I... Kuk! I... cough. I don’t know. I’m already running on fumes, pushing myself past the limit," Jace groaned, coughing up flecks of blood. His body trembled, a living testament to how little essence he had left.
Kael clenched his jaw. "We need to find a way to bypass that hammer. Only then do we stand a chance. But how in the hell do we get it away from him?" His eyes remained fixed on the shield, his mind working desperately.
"Hammer?" Zen suddenly spoke, finally breaking free of his silent thoughts. He stepped forward with a calm but steady stride. "I think I can handle that—if I can get close enough."
"What do you mean?" Erin snapped at him, glaring.
Zen’s lips curled into a confident smile. "I know how to get that hammer under control. All you have to do is get me close to it." His eyes glimmered with determination as a glowing message flickered in front of him.
{Skill: Soft Touch is off cooldown and can now be used}
"Fine. Let’s go get it then," Jace muttered with a weary sigh. "We need all the help we can get."
The four of them slowly regrouped, standing shoulder to shoulder. Their weapons trembled in their hands, their breaths came in uneven bursts, but their gazes locked onto the beast with unshakable resolve. The ogre still sat upon its throne, watching, waiting.
And together, the four prepared themselves to tackle the monstrous foe, bracing for the storm that was yet to come.