[92] The undead champion

Our battle cry echoed through the arena as we lunged forward, our weapons slicing through the air. I called out first, my voice resounding with an unmatched vigor. "Radiant Strike!" My sword gleamed in the dim light, as a ray of piercing white light erupted from it. I charged at the undead champion, sword held high and slammed it down on the ghoul.

"Lunar Eclipses!" Kuroko's voice rang out next, a whisper that could've easily been lost in the wind. She pounced from behind, her twin daggers slashing through the air creating a crescent of silver light. She struck the Undead Champion's back with a precise, twin strike that left two deep gashes on the monstrous entity.

"Azure Flame!" Aurelia's voice echoed through the arena, her flame illuminating the surrounding ruins with a deep blue light. Her flames engulfed her arm and shot forward, like a dragon spitting out a blaze of blue fire. It struck the champion directly in its chest, causing it to stumble backward.

"Crimson Torrent!" Sera shouted, her voice filled with steely resolve. The blood magic around her intensified, swirling into a raging, crimson vortex. With a wave of her hand, the vortex transformed into a torrent of blood-red magic missiles that raced towards the monster, hitting it with an overwhelming force.

As Kuroko, Aurelia and Sera's respective attacks struck the Undead Champion, I moved in for my own. I called out, "Sword Dance!" And then my figure became a blur in the arena, as I moved swiftly and gracefully around the hulking creature, my sword moving with me in a mesmerizing pattern.

The blade sliced through the air, dancing around the Undead Champion, leaving a trail of glimmering light behind. With each step and every stroke of my sword, I attacked, targeting the exposed joints and vulnerabilities in the Champion's armor. The sharp ring of metal clashing against metal resonated across the field as my sword met its target again and again.

The Undead Champion roared and swung its massive sword in my direction, but I was already moving out of its way, dancing to the rhythm of the fight. My attacks were precise, like a choreographed performance, aimed at draining the boss's stamina and exploiting its weak spots.

The battle against the Undead Champion was a grueling contest of will, strength, and strategy. Every attack we launched was met with an equally devastating counterattack, the Champion's grotesque, skeletal figure moving with surprising speed and agility. Its haunting, hollow eyes seemed to see every attack coming, its inhuman strength keeping us at bay.

Aurelia, her figure illuminated by the azure flames, rushed in again and again, her magic continuously clashing against the Champion's monstrous power. Every time her fire magic made contact, it left scorch marks on its bone structure. Yet, it seemed to barely slow the Champion down.

Kuroko danced around the edges of the battle, her twin daggers flashing in the sunlight. She would dart in quickly, slashing at the joints in the Champion's armor before disappearing into the shadows again. Her constant harassment seemed to annoy the Champion, its roars of frustration echoing in the silent arena.

Sera summoned her blood magic, red tendrils snaking around her body as she launched attack after attack. Her magic seemed to hurt the Champion the most, the red magic sizzling against its bones, but the effort was visibly draining her, her face growing paler with every attack.

As for me, I continued my Sword Dance, my sword clashing against the Champion's, sparks flying with every collision. I could feel the strain in my muscles, the toll the relentless fighting was taking on me, but I didn't relent. I couldn't afford to.

Lila, protected in our midst, was a beacon of support, her hands busy preparing healing potions and offering encouragement. She was the glue that held us together, the unwavering spirit that kept us fighting.

Even though the battle seemed to stretch into an eternity, we held our ground, refusing to back down. The Undead Champion was powerful, but we were determined. We weren't just fighting a monster; we were fighting for our survival. We were a team, and we weren't going to let each other down.

The fight had already worn on for what seemed like an eternity when a split second of carelessness brought calamity. Sera, who had been bravely wielding her blood magic, momentarily lost concentration. In that moment, the Undead Champion exploited the lapse, its massive sword sweeping out in a brutal arc.

Despite my attempt to intercept, I was a moment too late. The sword found its mark, severing Sera's arm just below the shoulder. A spray of blood erupted, splattering the sand of the arena floor. A gut-wrenching scream echoed through the arena, the usually stoic Sera letting out a cry of agony.

The scene unfolded in agonizing slow motion. Sera's face twisted in pain, her remaining hand reaching for the bloody stump. Her blood magic flickered and disappeared, her concentration shattered. She collapsed onto the ground, her body convulsing in shock and pain. Her other arm, severed from her body, fell lifelessly to the sand nearby.

The fight was descending into chaos. With Sera incapacitated and Aurelia working overtime to cover her fallen ally, the situation was spiraling. The Undead Champion, despite the relentless assault from us, seemed to be growing more powerful, feeding off our desperation and fear.

Aurelia, with her remaining strength, lunged at the Undead Champion, letting out a feral roar as she did so. She spun, her scythe slicing through the air, attempting to strike the monster's exposed flank. But the Undead Champion was faster.

With a swift movement, the Champion brought up its monstrous shield, intercepting Aurelia's attack. The metal clashed with a deafening noise, and then, with a force that seemed impossible, the Champion slammed its shield into Aurelia.

The force of the blow sent her flying. Her scythe slipped from her fingers, clattering to the sandy ground as she was knocked backward. She crashed to the ground several feet away, her body skidding across the arena floor, leaving a deep trail in the sand.

For a moment, Aurelia didn't move. She laid there, sprawled and unmoving. Her chest rose and fell unevenly, showing signs of struggle. The battle-worn dragoness had been brought down, knocked unconscious by the Undead Champion's savage blow.

The clash between Kuroko and the Undead Champion was an intense one. The agile rogue was a flurry of movements, darting around the hulking figure, aiming precise strikes with her twin daggers at the exposed joints of the creature. Kuroko's stealth and speed were her advantage, allowing her to evade most of the Champion's counterattacks.

However, her luck did not last. In an unfortunate moment, Kuroko's agility failed her. Just as she lunged in for another attack, the Champion pivoted, swinging its giant sword with deadly precision. Kuroko was too committed in her assault to evade.

The sword met Kuroko's leg with a gut-wrenching slice. A horrific sound echoed across the arena - the sound of steel cutting through flesh and bone. Kuroko let out a pained scream, her body buckling as she lost her balance. Her leg was severed just below the knee, blood gushing onto the sand, staining it a dark red.

She fell to the ground, clutching her bleeding stump, her eyes wide with shock and agony. Her twin daggers clattered uselessly on the sand, her grip on them lost with the pain of her brutal injury. Kuroko, our nimble rogue, was down. Now missing one leg, her ability to dance around her opponents was harshly cut short.

In the heat of the battle, seeing my comrades battered and bloodied, I knew it was time for me to step in. No longer could I afford to hold back. The moment of dire urgency called for a surge of power - the power I had been keeping in reserve.

I reached for my wrist, where the limiter was snugly attached. The small metallic device was deceivingly mundane for what it contained. I flicked the switch, my body tensing in anticipation.

A surge of energy shot through me as I adjusted the limiter to SS tier. It was as if an invisible floodgate had opened, allowing a torrent of raw power to wash over me. My body was set aflame with this newfound strength, a wild energy that sang in my veins and thrummed in my muscles.

My eyes flickered with a sharp light, my every senses became hyper aware. The weight of my sword in my hand, the texture of the sand beneath my boots, the smell of iron-heavy blood in the air - every minute detail was amplified.

With newfound strength coursing through my veins, I stood tall in the arena, my body radiating an intense aura. I tightened my grip on my sword, turning my focus back to the Undead Champion:

"You will pay for that."

Q: Have you played "Army of darkness" before?