Chapter 25: The Desperate Stand (Part 2)

Even as I was holding the shield, I still struggled against the monster's attacks. Though my body was stronger than a mage's, I still felt the pain with each blow that landed on me.

Despite my physical prowess surpassing that of an average mage at my level, it proved to be a difficult task for me to stall for enough time. The Rank 4 monster's strength was on par with a mid-level mage. While warriors held an advantage in close combat, my low level became a significant obstacle.

Just because my close combat abilities were strong didn't mean I could easily overpower an opponent of mid-level. The monster relentlessly attacked, pushing me back and destroying my defensive stance with each blow, forcing me to readjust repeatedly.

The relentless assault took a toll on me. Each attack felt like being hit by a truck, no matter how I defended. Thankfully, the Armored Back Great Bear relied primarily on physical attacks, sparing me from the additional danger of magical assaults.

As the battle wore on, fatigue started to assault my body, and my focus began to waver. It was inevitable, given the brutal force I had to withstand while being thrown away repeatedly. This feeling was different from the sparring sessions with my master. During training, I knew my master would stop before I reached my limit. However, this time, Sarah's plan depended on whether I could stall the monster or not. Although she mentioned the option of running away, I doubted its feasibility in the first place.

Even as I started to lose focus, my body continued to move instinctively. Whenever I was knocked down, I would rise again and thwart the monster's attacks. This continued for some time until exhaustion started to overtake me.

Not only was I battling fatigue, but wounds also began to appear on my body one after another. The pain and tiredness made even the simplest movements a challenge. However, regardless of how severe my injuries were, my body kept on standing, seemingly unaware of pain.

As I withstood the monster's attacks, I made sure to maintain its attention on me. To achieve that, I had to move my body back and forth, and at times, charge at the monster if I noticed its focus wavering.

Little by little, as I lost my focus, my movements unconsciously started to change. Without realizing it, my body began to move precisely as the 36 Warrior Fighting Technique. My defensive postures, steps backward, and advances forward were executed flawlessly, movements I had only practiced for a few months.

To my surprise, the effects seemed even better now. My movements had improved, and the exhaustion I felt earlier had diminished. "I can do this." I became convinced of my newfound abilities.

"Now, come!"

"Fireball!" Anna's voice rang out as she unleashed a powerful fireball spell, striking the monster. The creature growled in pain.

"Thomas! Bind it!" Thomas chanted a binding spell, summoning a chain of lightning that wrapped around the monster's body. "Quick, Anna, strike it!" Sarah commanded, orchestrating their coordinated assault on the Armored Back Great Bear.

After a relentless series of attacks, the monster began to visibly weaken. Thunder spells crackled from Thomas while Anna unleashed a barrage of fire spells.

"Now!" Anna screamed at Sarah as the monster fell to its knees. In that moment, Sarah produced an orb-like item, glowing with a beautiful green light. The orb, about the size of a fist, emitted a dazzling radiance, and a shadowy hand materialized. Sarah controlled the hand using the orb, gripping the monster tightly.

The monster struggled furiously, but no matter how much it fought, it couldn't break free. With the monster captured, the orb glowed once more, and the creature, together with the shadowy hand, was sucked into it. The orb ceased glowing and returned to its normal state.

Sarah's face grew pale after using the orb. The toll it took on her body seemed heavier than expected.

Anna approached Sarah with concern evident in her eyes. "Sarah, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It just strained my body a bit. But more importantly, we have to hurry. William could be in danger," Sarah expressed her concern, her thoughts focused on my well-being.

"You better be fine, William," Sarah whispered anxiously.