Chapter 272 The Heated Up After-battle
Dravis was a blur of black, his twin curved blades slicing cleanly through the air. His strikes were swift, deliberate, each one aimed at the core of the shadow creatures, dismantling them with an ease that left those around him in awe. He moved like a specter, weaving between attacks with almost preternatural agility, his blades glinting faintly in the flickering light of the battlefield.
Sylvanna perched herself on her elevated vantage point, loosing another arrow imbued with light magic that arced through the air and burst into a creature attempting to flank the knights. She glanced down at the battlefield, her lips curving into a slight grin. "Come on, bastards, keep up!" she shouted, clearly enjoying the thrill of the fight.
Her arrows never missed, and each one seemed perfectly timed to cover her allies.
Sophie continued fighting with an icy determination, her sword glowing faintly with frost as she moved forward, each swing of her blade smooth, calculated. She fought with an almost ethereal grace, her movements deliberate, precise—her strikes hitting the shadows where it hurt, her frost slowing them down enough for the others to finish them off.
Sharon was just a step behind her, her broadsword a whirlwind of raw power as she struck at the creatures, her fierce yells punctuating each attack.
Dravis twisted, bringing one of his blades up to parry a shadow's strike, his body spinning in a seamless movement to bring the second blade across its core. The creature dissipated in a cloud of dark mist, and he immediately moved on to the next. He could feel the rhythm of the battlefield—the flow of magic, the pounding of feet, the clash of metal, the determination of those fighting beside him.
It was amidst this chaos that Dravis heard Doran, his voice rising above the din, harsh and full of frustration. "This is pointless!" Doran shouted, his face flushed red as he swung his sword in a wide arc, cutting down a shadow. "You're just toying with them, aren't you, Dravis?"
Dravis didn't pause, his blades slicing through another shadow as he responded, his voice cold, indifferent. "If you focus less on my actions and more on your enemies, you might actually be of use, Doran."
Doran's face twisted in anger, his teeth gritting as he stepped forward, his sword cleaving through another creature. "You think you're better than us? Is that it?" He spat the words out, his eyes locked onto Dravis. "You're just a adventurer—no loyalty, no honor. You fight for coin, not for anything greater."
Dravis turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting Doran's, the icy disdain in them unmistakable. "Honor is a luxury of those who haven't faced true darkness. I fight to end this, nothing more. If that bothers your sensibilities, perhaps you should focus on surviving rather than lecturing."
Doran's eyes flared with anger, his jaw tightening as he lashed out again at a shadow. "You have no idea what it means to be a knight. We fight for something bigger than ourselves!"
Dravis scoffed, sidestepping a shadow's strike before bringing both his blades down in a swift motion, dismantling it. His voice was sharp, biting. "Your ideals are nothing but a hindrance. The shadows don't care for your honor or your so-called greater cause. They exist to consume, and if you hesitate, they will."
"Enough!" Sophie shouted, her voice carrying over the clash of weapons. She swung her sword in a wide arc, her frosty blade cutting down a shadow that lunged at her side. She turned her gaze towards the two, her expression stern. "Both of you, focus on the enemy. This isn't the time for petty arguments."
Doran shot her a glare, but relented, turning his attention back to the shadows. Dravis, on the other hand, merely gave Sophie a curt nod before moving forward, his blades cutting through another wave of shadows. The tension between the two was palpable, even amidst the ongoing battle.
The shadows were thinning now, their numbers finally beginning to dwindle as the group pushed forward. The knights, though exhausted, continued to fight, their determination unbroken. Theo's shield remained a steadfast barrier, blocking attacks from reaching Sophie, while Evan's spear darted out from behind him, striking at the weakened creatures.
Rhea moved with her usual agility, her daggers flashing as she struck at the creatures' weak points before darting away.
Sylvanna's arrows rained down, providing support as the group continued to advance, her aim unerring, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Sharon's powerful swings continued to cleave through the shadows, her movements less wild now as she began to coordinate with Sophie, their attacks complementing each other.
Finally, the battlefield began to clear. The once overwhelming horde of shadows was reduced to only a few scattered remnants, their forms flickering weakly. The group moved as one, pushing the last of them back, each of them fighting with everything they had until there was nothing left but the silence of the night and the heavy sound of their breathing.
Dravis stood still, his twin blades lowered at his sides, his eyes scanning the area, ensuring there were no more threats. The others slowly gathered, their weapons still drawn, their eyes wary as they glanced around. It was then that Doran stepped forward, his face twisted in a scowl, his eyes locked onto Dravis.
"You think you're better than us, don't you?" Doran growled, his voice low, dangerous. "You fight like you're untouchable, like we're beneath you."
Dravis turned his head slightly, his gaze meeting Doran's, his expression unreadable. "You should be grateful I am here," he said, his voice cold. "Without me, many of you would have fallen."
Doran's face flushed with anger, his grip on his sword tightening. "You arrogant bastard," he snarled, and before anyone could react, he swung his sword at Dravis, a powerful, reckless strike aimed directly at his chest.
Dravis moved almost lazily, his body shifting to the side, the blade missing him by mere inches. His eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with disdain as he spoke. "Pathetic."
Doran let out a frustrated growl, swinging his sword again, but Dravis was faster. He stepped in, his blade moving with blinding speed, deflecting Doran's strike and countering with a swift, precise movement. His curved blade came to rest against Doran's neck, the cold steel pressing against his skin.
The battlefield fell silent, the other knights staring in shock, their weapons still drawn but unmoving. Sylvanna watched from her perch, her eyes wide, a grin playing at the corners of her lips as she watched the scene unfold. Sophie stepped forward, her eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and concern.
Dravis's voice was calm, almost eerily so, as he spoke, his eyes locked onto Doran's. "You should use your sword when you're ready to get killed. Drawing it against me with nothing but anger and pride is a death wish."
Doran's face was pale, his eyes wide as he stared at Dravis. He didn't move, his body frozen as the reality of the situation sank in. The tension in the air was thick, the silence almost deafening.
Sophie stepped forward, her voice firm, commanding. "Dravis, lower your blade."
Dravis held Doran's gaze for a moment longer before he slowly lowered his blade, stepping back. He sheathed his swords, his expression cold as he turned away, his eyes scanning the group. "Control your men, Captain. Their recklessness will get them killed."
Sophie nodded, her expression tight as she looked at Doran, who was still standing there, his face flushed with embarrassment and rage. "Doran," she said, her voice softening slightly, "stand down."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Doran swallowed, his hands trembling as he slowly lowered his sword, his gaze dropping to the ground. He didn't say anything, his jaw clenched tightly as he sheathed his weapon, his face a mask of barely-contained anger.
Sharon stepped forward, her eyes wide with concern as she looked between Doran and Dravis. "My lady, we should regroup, check for injuries," she said, her voice hesitant, her gaze flickering to Dravis with a mixture of fear and curiosity.
Sophie nodded, her eyes still on Dravis, who had turned away, his attention seemingly already elsewhere. "Yes," she said, her voice firm. "Everyone, form up. We need to regroup, assess the situation."
The knights slowly gathered, their weapons sheathed, their expressions tense. The magma bear returned to its resting position, the glow of its molten core dimming as it sat back, seemingly content now that the battle had ended.
Sylvanna leaped down from her vantage point, landing gracefully beside Dravis. She glanced at him, her lips curving into a grin. "You always know how to make things interesting," she said, her tone teasing.
Dravis didn't respond, his eyes still scanning the surroundings, his focus elsewhere.
"The shadows... They're retreating...?"