Fogspine Pass 2

The moment the first explosion went off, chaos erupted in the Fogspine Pass.

Larin surged forward, the Sinlung Resonance amplifying the pulse of mana coursing through his body. The air was thick with the scent of burning flesh and ozone as spells cracked through the battlefield, illuminating the night in violent flashes. The ground trembled beneath the weight of battle cries, metal clashing against metal, and the shattering of magical barriers.

The Kirati shock infantry scrambled in disarray, their disciplined formation shattered in the wake of the Xiaxoan ambush. The first wave of explosions had torn through their ranks, bodies sent flying, some reduced to charred husks by the raw force of the attack. Those that survived rushed to regroup, raising shields and preparing counterattacks.

One soldier, his armor scorched from the initial volley, stumbled forward, only for Tasi to drive a [Lightning Lance] clean through his chest. The crackling bolt of blue energy skewered him, arcs of electricity dancing along his convulsing body before he collapsed in a smoldering heap. His mouth twisted in a silent scream, the smell of burnt flesh thick in the air.

Voro was a whirlwind of steel, his twin blades slicing through Kirati throats and chests with lethal precision. A soldier lunged at him, but he ducked under the strike, his blade flashing as he severed the man's arm at the elbow. Blood spurted out in an arc as the soldier screamed, clutching at the stump, only for Voro to finish him off with a thrust through the heart.

Gunan, despite his missing lower legs, fought with terrifying efficiency. Kneeling on the dirt, he hurled [Root Snare] into the ground, causing thick, mana-infused vines to lash out and ensnare three Kirati soldiers. Their panicked cries were cut short as Voro and another Xiaxoan drove their blades into their trapped forms. One soldier struggled, his arms pinned, his mouth forming words of desperate pleading before a spear thrust through his skull.

Further ahead, Ewin was locked in a deadly duel with the two Cosmic Magi. The battlefield trembled beneath their clash, arcs of raw energy splitting stone and setting trees ablaze. The first magi, a tall woman with silver tattoos snaking up her arms, whispered an incantation. A sickening hum filled the air as she unleashed [Astral Rend], a crescent of void energy slicing through the space toward Ewin. He barely dodged, the spell grazing his coat and leaving a deep, glowing gash in the earth behind him.

"You're holding up well, old man," the second magi sneered, his hands weaving together in intricate gestures. "[Sun Piercer]."

A spear of golden light coalesced above him before rocketing toward Ewin with a high-pitched shriek. At the last moment, Ewin stomped his foot, activating [Stone Maw]. A jagged slab of earth shot up, absorbing the impact of the spell before shattering into molten fragments.

"Less talking, more dying," Ewin growled, countering with [Gale Piercer]. A needle-thin spiraling lance of compressed wind shot forward, whistling as it struck the magi's shoulder, cutting deep into his flesh. The magi hissed in pain but quickly retaliated, his hands glowing with an ominous blue aura.

Larin had no time to focus on Ewin's battle. The shock infantry had recovered faster than expected, rallying around their surviving officers. A soldier lunged at him with a halberd, but Larin reacted instantly. He sidestepped, casting [Veilstep] to blink behind the attacker. Before the soldier could even register what had happened, Larin's machete flashed, carving through the man's spine in a single, fluid motion. The body hit the ground with a dull thud, twitching once before going still.

Tasi, wide-eyed but resolute, cast [Crimson Arc], her blood-infused mana slicing through two advancing soldiers. Their torsos split apart in a grotesque spray of crimson, their faces frozen in expressions of shock.

A sudden, piercing scream shattered the night.

Voro staggered backward, his hand clutching his stomach where a jagged shard of magic was embedded. His eyes widened in pain as blood seeped through his fingers. One of the Cosmic Magi had turned their attention to him.

"Voro!" Gunan yelled, dragging himself forward despite his injuries.

Before Gunan could act, the magi flicked his wrist. A thin arc of darkness shimmered through the air. [Astral Rend] sliced clean through Voro's midsection. His body barely had time to fall apart before it hit the ground, his mouth still open in an unfinished warning.

Gunan let out a raw, guttural roar. His face contorted in anguish as he hurled a dagger imbued with [Mana Burst] at the magi. The projectile exploded on impact, sending the enemy stumbling. But it was too late—Voro was gone.

Larin gritted his teeth, his vision narrowing in fury. He turned his wrath toward the Cosmic Magi.

Ewin, breathing heavily, shot Larin a glance. "I can hold them a little longer, but you need to finish this!"

Larin inhaled sharply, the Sinlung Resonance flaring within him. The ground beneath his feet pulsed, the land responding to his call.

He sprinted toward the nearest magi, dodging a blast of [Solar Flare] at the last second. The woman snarled, gathering energy for another spell, but Larin was already moving. He cast [Ripple Bind], sending a wave of mana through the ground that ensnared her legs, locking her in place.

Before she could break free, he raised his hand and cast [Thousand Needles]. A barrage of razor-sharp mana shards erupted from his palm, piercing through her body in a dozen places. She coughed blood, her hands trembling as she tried to cast one last spell, but Larin didn't give her the chance. With a swift motion, he drove his machete into her throat, twisting the blade before pulling it free.

The last Cosmic Magi let out a howl of fury, his aura flaring with unrestrained power. He turned toward Larin, his hands igniting with molten energy.

Ewin took the opening.

He cast [Stone Maw] again, but this time, the jagged rocks shot up and clamped around the magi's arms, locking them in place. "Now!" Ewin barked.

Larin didn't hesitate. He dashed forward, activating [Petal Cascade]. A storm of razor-sharp mana petals formed around him, slashing into the magi's flesh as he closed the distance. With a final burst of mana, Larin drove his blade straight into the magi's heart.

The man convulsed, his eyes wide in disbelief. Then, with a final gasp, he collapsed.

Silence.

The battlefield was a graveyard of bodies. The metallic scent of blood was suffocating. Smoke curled from the scorched earth, the remnants of spells still flickering in the darkness.

Tasi dropped to her knees, trembling. Gunan lay nearby, barely conscious, his breath ragged. His severed leg still leaked blood, staining the dirt beneath him. After the adrenaline wore off, Gunan was as good as dead, his packmates not being able to do anything for him.

Ewin sighed, wiping blood from his face. "That was… messy."

Larin sat down heavily, his hands still shaking. "We lost too many."

Ewin nodded, his expression grim. "We still have a job to do."

Larin exhaled, forcing himself to focus. The Mana Striders still stood. Their mission wasn't over yet.