Achilles and Lyra Alone 

A few minutes later, the 3rd wave was already in full swing, with the banshees madly attacking the duo of Achilles and Lyra with everything they had.

As the banshee swarm grew in number, Achilles found himself at a disadvantage. The addition of Devastated Banshees changed the entire complexion of the battle. Now there were even exchanges where Achilles had to flee from his enemy. Even if he killed a Devastated Banshee once with a powerful blow, due to its unique skill of reviving three times, the creature would rematerialize and attack with an even greater frenzy. After executing such a blow, Achilles often needed to recover and thus would retreat.

The Devastated Banshees also used the Mourning Banshees under them as shields. Their poison could permanently damage the soul. This gave rise to a problem Achilles found hard to deal with. Mourning Banshees within the 2nd wave used Wailing Banshees as shields but their patterns were simpler and their physical specs were manageable.

Devastated Banshees on the other hand had intelligent subordinates capable of acting as intelligent meat shields. The Devastated Banshees also had the ability to analyse and learn. Achilles was unpredictable, but he still had little battle experience and was under level 100. Fighting multiple intelligent opponents capable of analysing his own movements was still a difficult task. Achilles never the less revealed his mettle as he also changed tactics. He started to focus on swift fast attacks and used force less often.

He fought valiantly, his sword slashing through the air with mesmerizing precision, but the banshees' wave tactics began to exploit his vulnerability. They darted in and out, attacking in unison with calculated ferocity.

Achilles could feel his strength waning, his qi diminishing as the onslaught continued. He had enough energy to fight, but the sheer number of banshees and the Devastated Banshees overwhelming him was taking its toll. His short to mid-range battle skills were ill-equipped for this relentless assault from multiple opponents. Yet despite his fatigue, thanks to Guardian's Call, the other Banshees could not attack Lyra at all and had to focus their attention on Achilles.

Giselle and the other maidens watching the battle from above smiled in delight as they had expected him to tire at some point.

Achilles' vision blurred for a moment, his breath becoming ragged. The banshees sensed his exhaustion and pressed their advantage, closing in on him with glowing eyes filled with malice. One Devastated Banshee in particular, its skeletal face cackling, launched itself at Achilles, poised to deliver a lethal blow.

It screamed and unleashed a spiritual attack on the man, causing his movements to become sluggish. Achilles' mental defences crumbled as he loosened his grip on his trusted blade. The Banshee saw an opportunity and used its claw to swipe away at Achilles' sword, causing the warrior to become weaponless. The rebound from the attack caused him to lose his form while the stupor he had from the spiritual attack caused him to lose sight of his enemy. The Devastated Banshee squealed in delight as it moved in for the kill!

Just as the banshee's attack seemed inevitable, a blinding flash of light engulfed the clearing. A massive divine sword, adorned with ancient Greek symbols, descended from the sky with thunderous force, piercing through the banshee before it could strike Achilles. The ground trembled beneath the weight of the sword as if the heavens themselves had come to Achilles' aid.

Achilles blinked in astonishment, his heart racing in his chest. He pulled back, distanced himself from the fallen banshee, and cast his gaze upward. The divine sword, its ethereal glow illuminating the clearing, radiated power and purpose. The other banshees were stunned by the sudden appearance of the weapon and temporarily retreated, gifting the warrior a brief moment of respite.

"The fact that the Banshee is dead meant that attack was enough to kill it three times over!"

With a mix of awe and trepidation, Achilles approached the divine weapon. He reached out hesitantly, his hand trembling as it made contact with the cool metal. The sword resonated with energy as if acknowledging him as an ally. At that moment, Achilles understood.

'No doubt about it. This is Metalos Surge!'

The sword was not his, but it in part felt like an extension of him in a way he could not comprehend.

'Is it because I'm connected to Lyra through multiple spells? Or is it because we are locals from the same master?'

The sword he was touching was indeed no ordinary weapon, but a gift from his friend, imbued with their ancient power. It shrank down to a small size he could comfortably utilize.

Renewed with a surge of vigour, Achilles reached for the blade and tightened his grip on the divine sword. He felt the energy course through him, filling him with newfound strength and vigour. His diminishing reserves of mental energy started to replenish while his weary mind and taut soul felt a refreshing metamorphosis. With a resolute expression, Achilles turned to face the banshees again, determination burning fiercely in his eyes.

The banshees hesitated as they witnessed Achilles' transformation. They could sense the shift in the battle's tide, the intervention of a divine force that threatened to tip the scales against them.

…

Lyra spotted his brother in a tight spot a moment ago, and instead of just watching, he waited for the perfect time to intervene. His only goal was to assist once Achilles hit his limit because their purpose was to surpass their boundaries.

That's why he started chanting spells well before he was supposed to cast them—an advanced mage skill known as Delayed Casting! It strained the mind and spiritual pathways but had miraculous effects when used right and combined with other powers.

When the opportune moment arrived, an ethereal aura surrounded Lyra, signalling the activation of his ultimate spell, Metalos Surge.

Achilles was taken off guard, but he had been anticipating the spell. He marvelled at the sword's power, fully aware of its significance.

Metalos Surge, a spell spoken quietly among magic practitioners, allowed the summoner to pull spiritual swords from an alternate dimension and use them as weapons. With telekinetic abilities, the summoner could skillfully control these ethereal blades.

In a breathtaking display, hundreds of identical swords materialized above the cold riverbank, gleaming in the moonlight. They cast an eerie glow as Achilles' laughter echoed, resonating with the thrill of battle. The pressure around him lessened as the banshees faced Lyra's summoned arsenal.

The swords descended upon the banshee swarm like a storm, sharp and swift. Each sword hit its mark with deadly precision, cutting through ethereal flesh and turning banshees into vaporous trails. The creatures fell in droves, their tormented screams drowned out by the clash of metal and spirit.

Inspired by Lyra's spell, Achilles revelled in battle. His divine sword clashed with the spectral creatures, and since the Devastated Banshees joined, he couldn't defeat them with every move. He now had to put in effort to slaughter each creature, necessary as he faced the feared Sector bosses. However, he no longer feared the Devastated Banshees as much and quickly dispatched most foes.

Achilles was a weapon master capable of borrowing strength from any weapon he used. The swords produced by Metalos Surge were spiritual by nature and allowed the warrior to exhibit far more power than usual. The sword he was wielding at the moment was especially rich in metal element qi and was rich in spiritual energy. A form of energy created from fusing soul energy and mental energy, allowing the long-haired warrior to bring out even more power. Achilles had the inherent ability to take on the spiritual traits of the weapon he used. Similar to how Call of the Forest relied on the environment, Achilles' innate talent relied heavily on the equality of his weapon. This ability was related to his Class; Armoury Maestro!