Chapter 412: The light at the end of the tunnel
Freya’s eyes were sharp as explosions echoed above her head, each thunderous boom a testament to the titanic battle unfolding in the skies. The clash between Vlad and the Divine Leviathan painted the heavens with flashes of red and gold, their energies intertwining like battling serpents of lightning.
The sheer magnitude of their fight sent shockwaves rippling through the air, but instead of instilling fear, it only fueled Freya’s determination. The young Viking princess pushed herself harder and harder, every fiber of her being committed to defeating the Special Unit Leviathan.
She dashed forward with all her strength; muscles coiled like steel springs. Her mace glowed with an intense fusion of Force and totemic energy. With a fierce cry, she swung her weapon, aiming for the Leviathan’s exposed right ribs—a vulnerability left by its missing arm. The mace connected with a resounding crack, the impact sending a shockwave through the creature’s massive frame.
"Aaargh!" The Special Unit Leviathan growled, the blow causing its internal organs to tremble. Its exoskeleton, usually impervious, showed signs of fracturing where Freya had struck. Hatred and killing intent blazed in its myriad eyes as it gazed down at the defiant warrior. Without wasting a moment, it lashed out with its left whip-like appendage, the speed of the attack slicing through the air with a high-pitched whistle.
Freya sensed the impending strike and raised her shield just in time. The whip collided with her shield, the force behind it nearly numbing her arm. Sparks flew upon impact, but she held her ground. Using the momentum, she spun around and countered with her mace, this time aiming directly for the creature’s grotesque head.
Despite its wounds, the Leviathan was still a formidable opponent. Sensing the danger, it pulled back at the last second, the mace narrowly missing its target. The creature retreated a few steps, putting distance between itself and the relentless warrior.
Freya’s eyes remained cold and focused. She refused to give the Leviathan even a moment’s respite. "You won’t escape me," she muttered under her breath, her voice steady and filled with resolve. She immediately gave chase.
Nearby, Ned and the other Lords of Horror stood ready. They longed to assist their princess, but the situation made it impossible. The hive mind had directed hundreds of thousands of drones to swarm the area. While this reduced the pressure on the frontline forces of the Golden Wave Legion, Shadowstrike Legion, and Turkin riders, it forced the juggernauts to focus on maintaining a perimeter around Freya, ensuring she wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the relentless horde.
"Hold the line!" Ned bellowed, his massive sword cleaved through drones with each swing, but for every enemy he felled, more seemed to take their place.