Then Lucas gritted his teeth, gripping his bow so tightly his knuckles turned white. He pulled back the string, releasing a rapid volley of arrows, each one striking the Behemoth's thick hide with relentless force. The monster let out a low growl of irritation, shaking off the arrows as if they were nothing more than insect bites.
Behind him, Karis turned to his team, his expression resolute.
"We don't have any other option. Listen to him," he commanded. "I know we won't regret it."
The swordsman scoffed, his brows furrowing in frustration. He still hated the idea of taking orders from some random kid, but the reality was clear—they couldn't win alone.
"Fine," he spat, gripping his sword tightly. "I'm not helping the brat, but I'll fight. Just tell me what the hell to do."
Lucas didn't waste a second. "Now fight as a team! That girl—use magic to slow it down! You hit its legs from behind and try to bring it down! Karis, you're with me—we'll go for the weak spot on its neck!"
Without hesitation, Karis gave a firm nod. "Move, move! Do exactly what he says!"
The swordsman took off, his super-speed kicking in as he dashed behind the Behemoth, gripping his sword with both hands. Lucas and Karis braced themselves, waiting for their chance to strike.
The girl—her name still unknown to Lucas—lifted her hands, her breath shaky. A faint blue glow surrounded her fingers as she cast her spell.
"Frostfang Spear!"
A massive, jagged spear of ice materialized in the air, its surface glistening like crystal. She let out a desperate cry, launching it forward.
CRACK!
The spear slammed into the Behemoth's leg, freezing a portion of its armor on impact. The monster let out a thunderous roar, its movement faltering as its massive weight struggled against the freezing effect.
Lucas's sharp eyes locked onto the wound. "Good! Now hit it with wind magic—it'll amplify the damage!"
Karis clenched his fists, then hesitated. "She… can't. She only knows ice magic—it's the only affinity she inherited from her family."
Lucas's mind raced. Damn it.
The girl was already gasping for breath, her body trembling from the strain of casting such a powerful spell. She was running out of mana.
The Behemoth snarled, its red eyes flashing with rage. It started moving again, shaking off the frost like a beast awakening from slumber.
Lucas's jaw tightened.
"No time to hesitate. If wind magic isn't an option, we go with brute force."
He turned to the swordsman.
"Hit its frozen leg. NOW!"
The swordsman didn't need to be told twice. With a furious battle cry, he dashed forward, his blade glowing with energy.
"DIE, YOU DAMNED BEAST!"
His sword slammed into the frozen armor.
CRACK!
A massive fracture split across the Behemoth's leg as the ice shattered beneath the force of his blow.
The monster let out a piercing screech, its balance finally breaking—its enormous body teetering, then collapsing onto one knee.
Lucas's eyes blazed with determination.
"Now's our chance!"
He grabbed Karis's arm. "Follow me! We're taking it down!"
With a swift movement, Lucas leapt onto the Behemoth's back. Karis followed close behind, gripping onto the beast's ridged spine for balance.
Their target: the exposed weak point on its neck.
Suddenly, Karis's eyes widened as he caught sight of the Behemoth's massive, clawed fist hurtling toward them like a wrecking ball. His heart pounded in his chest.
"Lucas, MOVE!" he roared.
Lucas reacted in an instant. Grabbing Maze by the arm, he yanked her aside just as the Behemoth's fist slammed into the ground, shaking the earth with a deafening boom. Dust and debris erupted around them, but Lucas didn't stop.
"Stay with me!" he urged, as they sprinted forward.
The monster was still off balance—its right knee buckled from the swordsman's devastating strike. This was their moment.
Again, Lucas and Karis rushed toward its head, climbing up its armor-plated body with quick, calculated movements. The Behemoth let out a thunderous roar, its sheer presence shaking the battlefield.
But then—Maze's magic stopped.
Lucas's eyes darted to the ground below. Maze stood there, hunched over, gasping for air, her hands trembling. The ice that had once frozen the Behemoth in place was melting away.
Lucas's breath hitched. "Why did she stop? We NEED her magic! We can't take it down without her!"
From below, Karis clenched his fists. "She's exhausted—she just awakened her powers, she can't control them yet!"
Lucas gritted his teeth. Dammit.
They were so close. They couldn't afford to lose momentum now.
Taking a deep breath, Lucas looked down at Maze and yelled, his voice raw with urgency.
"Don't give up now! We're about to bring it down! Just hold on for a little longer—we need you!"
Maze's body trembled, her vision blurry. Her legs felt like lead, and her lungs burned with every breath.
I can't… I don't have any more strength…
Then, Lucas's voice cut through the fog in her mind.
"I know it's hard. But listen to your soul. Your magic is part of you—it's waiting for you to take control! Don't run from it. PURIFY it!"
Maze's eyes widened.
She shut her eyes, digging deep inside herself. The exhaustion, the pain, the fear—they all swirled within her. But underneath it all, she could feel something else.
A power, wild and untamed, waiting to be unleashed.
"I won't give up!" she whispered. "My friends need me!"
Then, a sudden surge of energy erupted from Maze's body, a dazzling white aura wrapping around her like a divine blessing. Her hair, once a deep shade, turned pure white, glowing under the moonlight.
Karis, still catching his breath, stared in awe. A soft smile crept onto his lips. "Incredible…" he muttered, watching her transformation unfold.
Maze's eyes gleamed with newfound power as she raised her hands, frost gathering at her fingertips. Her voice carried a chilling resonance as she began to chant:
"The ice that binds me, show me the path of winter's embrace. The frost that whispers, grant me the chains that will seal my enemy's fate!"
Then, with a thunderous voice, she roared:
"ICEBOUND CHAINS!"
A wave of frost exploded outward, thick chains of pure ice materializing from the ground. They shot toward the Ironhide Behemoth, wrapping around its massive limbs and constricting it in place.
The beast roared in fury, its body jerking violently as it tried to break free, but the enchanted ice held strong. Its strength was useless now.
Lucas's heart beat so fast as he saw her magic finally take control. A grin spread across his face.
"You did it!" he called out. "I knew you would!"
Maze's face flushed, a deep crimson tint painting her cheeks. She quickly turned away, flustered.
"Stop talking nonsense and just kill it already!" she snapped.
Lucas chuckled but nodded. It was time to end this.
At that moment, the swordsman's blade gleamed under the moonlight as he dashed behind the Behemoth and slashed through its second leg.
The monster let out a piercing shriek, its balance lost.
With a deafening crash, it collapsed onto its knees.
Lucas and Karis exchanged a glance. This was their chance.
Without hesitation, they scaled its armor, leaping onto its colossal back. Their target was clear—the one place the Behemoth had no protection.
Its exposed neck.
Lucas tightened his grip on his dagger. Karis raised his sword.
"NOW!" Lucas shouted.
Both of them struck simultaneously, their weapons plunging deep into the beast's flesh.
The Ironhide Behemoth let out one final, bloodcurdling roar before its monstrous body stiffened.
Then—silence.
Its massive form lurched forward, crashing into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave through the forest, shaking the trees.
Far away, within the quiet comfort of a small home, a woman froze in place.
She had been setting the table when the distant roar of agony pierced the air, sending a chill down her spine.
Her hands trembled. The bowl in her grip slipped and shattered against the floor.
"Lucas…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Rushing to the door, she threw it open, her heart racing. Fear gripped her.
"Where are you?" she murmured. "Please tell me you're safe…"
Unbeknownst to her, in the shadows of the trees, someone was watching.
Back in the clearing, the battlefield lay still.
The once-mighty Behemoth lay lifeless, its hulking corpse towering over them.
The adventurers collapsed onto the ground, their bodies aching, their breaths ragged.
The fight was over.
Lucas, his hands still trembling from the adrenaline, exhaled deeply and let himself fall onto the grass.
They had won. But something deep inside him whispered—this was only the beginning.