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Chapter 32 - Desperate Measures
The Echo of Infinity: Chapter 32 - Desperate Measures
The Sky Tyrant’s psychic assault slammed into Kael’s mind like a physical blow. His vision swam; icy tendrils of fear sought to paralyze him. *‘Submit. Die.’* The command echoed, amplified by the creature’s primal power.
His high INT and WIS stats, boosted further by his hidden levels, provided some resistance. He activated his [Meditator] class’s passive mental fortitude skills mentally, fighting back against the wave of terror. He wouldn't break.
But he was still in mortal danger. The Tyrant lowered its head, maw opening for another attack, this time aimed directly at him.
"Kael!" Elara's training kicked in – teamwork. He couldn't fight this alone.
Help arrived unexpectedly. Shadow, Zephyr’s Lynx, darted from the camp's edge, a blur of grey fur. It leaped onto the Tyrant’s lowered snout, claws digging in, distracting the beast for a critical moment. The Tyrant roared, shaking its head violently, trying to dislodge the surprisingly tenacious Lynx.
Zephyr used the opening. *‘[Hunter’s Mark]!’* A shimmering green rune appeared on the Tyrant’s flank where Kael had wounded it. *‘[Seeking Arrow]!’* Zephyr loosed an arrow that glowed faintly, curving in mid-air to strike the rune precisely, deepening the wound Kael had inflicted.
The Tyrant shrieked again, finally flinging the Lynx away (Shadow landed skillfully, bruised but alive) and focusing its rage back on Zephyr.
Lysandra seized the chance. *‘[Magma Burst]!’* A sphere of molten rock formed and shot towards the Tyrant’s wounded flank. It struck, burning scales sizzling, eliciting another howl of pain.
Torvin and Grokk (partially healed by Seraphina) re-engaged, hammering at the creature’s legs, trying to slow it down or trip it.
Kael scrambled back towards the relative safety of the defenders, his mind clearing slightly. His [Nightblade] class felt potent, the [Shadow Step] incredible, but the mental assault was terrifying.
The Sky Tyrant was wounded, enraged, and surrounded. But it was far from defeated. It beat its massive wings, creating a powerful downdraft that kicked up dust and debris, staggering the attackers. It launched itself into the air, hovering just above them, its eyes scanning the camp.
"It's looking for weak points!" Torvin bellowed. "Protect the wagons!"
The Tyrant seemed to spot something. It dove again, not at the main defenders, but towards a section of the wagon circle where several terrified drivers huddled.
"NO!" Seraphina cried, raising her holy symbol. *‘[Wall of Light]!’* A shimmering barrier of pure white energy erupted between the diving Tyrant and the drivers.
The Tyrant slammed into the Wall of Light. Unlike the stone barrier, this one held firm, searing the creature’s scales where they made contact. The Tyrant recoiled with a hiss, frustrated.
It hovered again, assessing. Kael realized its strategy: hit-and-run attacks, targeting perceived weaknesses, using its aerial mobility. They couldn't win a battle of attrition. They needed to either drive it off or find a critical weakness, fast.
"Its eyes!" Kael shouted, remembering his Mana Bolt strike. "And the wound on its flank! Focus fire there!" He was projecting his Lv. 15 [Duelist] status, but giving tactical advice based on his real observations.
Torvin nodded grimly. "Archers, aim for the eyes! Grokk, Lysandra, keep pressure on that flank wound!"
The battle resumed, a desperate cycle of the Tyrant attacking, the defenders blocking or redirecting, and trying to land hits on the designated weak points. Arrows glanced off scales near the eyes. Lysandra’s spells scorched the flank wound, widening it slowly. Grokk landed heavy maul blows nearby, making the creature roar in pain.
Kael used his [Duelist] skills, darting in and out, using [Precise Strike] whenever he saw an opening near the flank wound, making his attacks look like skilled follow-ups rather than primary damage. He subtly used [Shadow Step] again, short bursts disguised by the chaos and dust, allowing him to reposition faster than believable. Each successful strike, each evaded attack, funneled EXP through the Accumulator.
[Duelist Lv. 22], [Nightblade Lv. 21], [Mana Weaver Lv. 20]. His power climbed relentlessly even amidst the desperate fight.
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[ Mana Weaver reached Lv. 20! ]
[ Attribute Points Gained: +2 (Allocate Manually: INT +1, WIS +1) ]
[ New Skill Available: [Mana Weaver] - [Mana Weapon Lv. 1] (Temporarily imbue weapon with mana) ]
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[Mana Weapon]! That could be useful.
The fight dragged on. Dawn was approaching, painting the eastern sky pale grey. The Sky Tyrant was visibly tiring, its movements slightly slower, its flank wound weeping ichor. But the defenders were also reaching their limits. Lysandra’s mana was low; Seraphina was drained from constant healing and wards; Grokk and Torvin were battered and bruised. Several wagons were damaged.
The Tyrant hovered, gathering energy for what felt like a final, devastating attack. A nimbus of crackling blue energy formed around its head, far larger than the earlier Sonic Lance.
"It's overloading!" Lysandra gasped, stumbling back. "That blast could wipe us all out!"
There was no time for defense. Kael knew this was it. He had to gamble everything.
He focused, activating [Mana Weapon Lv. 1]. Blue energy enveloped his sword. He channeled the remaining dregs of his mana into [Shadow Step], aiming for the creature's back near the base of its neck – a classic weak spot for many reptilian creatures. He clutched the Resonance Stone, projecting a massive 'artifact surge' reading.
*‘Here goes nothing.’*
He vanished in shadow, reappearing on the Tyrant's back just as it unleashed its devastating energy beam downwards. The beam missed Kael but vaporized the ground where the defenders had been scrambling away.
Kael drove his mana-infused sword down with all his might, aiming for the juncture of neck and shoulder. The blade bit deep, amplified by the mana, shattering scales, severing muscle and sinew.
The Sky Tyrant’s devastating beam cut off abruptly. It let out a gurgling shriek, a sound of mortal agony this time. It thrashed violently in mid-air, trying to dislodge him. Kael held on, pouring every ounce of strength into pushing the blade deeper.
With a final, shuddering convulsion, the massive creature plummeted from the sky, crashing to the ground just outside the camp with an earth-shattering impact that threw Kael clear.
Silence descended, broken only by the wind whistling over the plains and the exhausted gasps of the survivors. The Sky Tyrant lay still, its light fading from its eyes. They had done it. They had survived.
Kael lay on the ground, bruised, bleeding, mana utterly depleted, sword still embedded in the creature’s neck. He had delivered the killing blow, using abilities far beyond his official status. The gamble had paid off, but the exposure felt absolute.
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Publishment Date: 10/4/2025
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