EPS 33 Kreig Constancy

It was a tense morning, even though the sun had begun to shine down on the battlefield, providing a bit of warmth amidst the cold, tense atmosphere. Kreig stood tall amidst the seemingly never-ending crowd of Horned Serpents. With each slash of his flaming sword, he crushed the Horned Serpents one by one. Although his body moved quickly, his mind was haunted by fear. Not because of the Horned Serpent's terrifying threat, but by the image of his team members falling one after another at the hands of these creatures.

While swinging his sword, Kreig growled inwardly. **"Is this the end? Are all the members of Spring Colony going to die in vain here? '** he thought, his gaze occasionally glancing towards the ruins in the distance. His body moved relentlessly, as if fatigue was an enemy that should not be given the chance to get close.

With a swift movement, Kreig cast **[Fire Slash]** magic, slashing at several Horned Serpents that tried to approach from the left side. The flames from the blade of his sword burned brightly, enveloping the reptiles' bodies before finally exploding, leaving behind the smell of burning flesh. However, despite the dozens of Horned Serpents he managed to bring down, the creatures seemed endless.

Suddenly, a larger and more powerful Horned Serpent appeared from behind the crowd. Its scales seemed thicker than usual, the long horns on its head glittering with electric sparks. The reptile's eyes flashed ferociously, staring directly at Kreig.

**'Shit!'** Kreig cursed. **"I'm in a bad mood, and now I have to fight this too? '** Immediately, he gathered the energy in his sword, casting **[Fire Slash Execute]** magic. He slashed with incredible speed, hoping to break through the Horned Serpent's powerful defences.

However, the attack was blocked by the reptile's horn. A violent impact occurred, sending sparks and electricity flying through the air. Kreig was knocked backwards by the impact, but he used his flying momentum to slash at several other Horned Serpents within his reach. Despite the pressure, Kreig remained calm and skilful, his every move filled with incredible precision and speed.

The huge Horned Serpent attacked again with its electrically shimmering horns, but Kreig used **[Speed Up]** magic to dodge. With a high jump, he managed to dodge the attack and positioned himself in the air. From high up, he unleashed a **[Fire Slash Execute]** towards the reptile's neck, but once again, the Horned Serpent's thick scales blocked his blade, leaving it stuck in the creature's body.

**"Bastard! That skin is so thick!"** Kreig grumbled, though he did not lose his spirit. He saw this opportunity and immediately used **[Fire Explode]** magic, slamming fire blasts repeatedly into the Horned Serpent's body. The vibrations from the explosions made the ground tremble, and the creature fell to the ground, burnt in several parts of its body.

However, that was not enough. Another group of Horned Serpents began to arrive, surrounding Kreig from all directions. Seeing himself surrounded, Kreig frowned, before using **[Particle Protector]** magic. A dome of energy appeared around him, protecting him from the attacks of the other creatures. Inside the dome, there was only Kreig and the large Horned Serpent that was dying.

While breathing rapidly, Kreig once again cast **[Fire Explode]** magic at full power, striking the Horned Serpent's neck where his sword was stuck. A powerful explosion occurred, shattering the creature's neck and splitting its head open. Kreig panted, his body beginning to feel exhausted. Nevertheless, he took refuge inside the magic dome for a moment, using **[Sprint]** magic to recover some of his energy.

Amidst the sudden silence, Kreig heard a telepathic cry from Ima. **'NATALIIIII!!!'** The cry was filled with sadness and despair. Kreig's heart beat faster. **"What happened? Natali... is dead? '** he thought, his heart shrouded in deep sorrow. Quickly, he used **[Sensor]** magic to check the state of the battlefield.

When he realised the truth he did not want to face, that Natali had died, his body trembled. **"No... no way... Natali? '** he thought, anger beginning to burn within him. Not only that, the condition of the other members was also getting worse. Ima, Steven, William, they were all in danger. Once again, Kreig felt cornered, feelings of despair began to creep into his mind.

However, he knew that he had to do something. With all his strength, Kreig decided to distract the Horned Serpents so that the other members would have a chance to survive and gather. He began to move, drawing the attention of as many Horned Serpents towards him as possible, all the while hoping that his plan would work. However, his efforts seemed futile, as the enemy was too numerous and too strong.

As the sun began to rise, Kreig mobilised his full strength. With determination, he emitted a lava aura around his body, making the ground beneath his feet melt. The **[Lava Land]** began to activate, turning the surrounding area into a sea of lava that burned away any Horned Serpent that dared to get close.

Each of Kreig's blows was now coated in hot lava, allowing him to crush the Horned Serpent's body with ease. The creatures hit by his fists melted instantly, their thick scales unable to withstand the heat of the lava. Even the more powerful Horned Serpent, which he had previously struggled against, now took only a few blows to destroy.

However, in the midst of his rage, Kreig saw something that surprised him. In the distance, Steven was sprinting towards the Dragon Horned Serpent, ready to unleash his ultimate attack **[Centaur Thunder Slash!]**. Hopeful, Kreig saw Steven ready to attack, but the cruel reality soon hit him. The Dragon Horned Serpent calmly unleashed its **[Fire Laser Particles]** attack, spraying a powerful blast of fire at Steven. In an instant, Steven's body vanished, leaving no trace behind.

**'Steven!'** Kreig shouted inwardly, his eyes burning with anger and sadness. One by one his comrades fell, and now he realised that only himself, Primo, Neved, and Dracko remained. Frustration engulfed him, but he couldn't stop now.

With the remaining power he had, Kreig used **[Lava Land]** magic with greater intensity. The ground around him grew hotter, turning into a sea of lava that burned every Horned Serpent within its attack radius. Kreig fought back with all his might, but his body began to feel extremely exhausted.

As he checked the situation using **[Sensor]**, Kreig saw something that crushed his spirit. Neved, his faithful companion, had fallen. His body was motionless, lying on the ground, hopeless. The grief was too much to bear, but Kreig had to keep going.

With a grief-stricken look, Kreig saw Primo in the distance, who also seemed to be in distress. Kreig, with what strength he had left, moved towards Primo, hoping to save him. **"I may not be able to last much longer, but I have to make sure that Primo survives. At least one of us must live... '**