Chapter 10: End of the third trial
The towering armored figure loomed over Alex, its massive ether-infused sword crackling with dark energy.
Every instinct in his battered body screamed at him to dodge, to run, but his legs felt like stone, his breath ragged and labored.
Blood trickled from countless wounds, staining the ground beneath him. His body was on the verge of collapse, his vision blurred, yet he refused to fall.
With a roar, the armored warrior swung its colossal blade down at him. Alex mustered the last of his strength and twisted his body, barely escaping the devastating slash.
The force of the attack shattered the stone beneath him, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Dust and debris clouded the air, but Alex couldn't afford to stop.
Shadow Step!
His body flickered as he reappeared behind the towering figure, both dagger and sword slashing toward the gaps in the armor.
Sparks erupted as his weapons struck true, but the figure barely flinched. Instead, it whirled around with inhuman speed, its blade carving a deadly arc toward Alex's midsection.
Too fast!
His instincts screamed, and he barely managed to raise his dagger in time. The impact sent him flying, his ribs cracking under the force.
He crashed onto the hard stone floor, gasping as pain shot through his body like wildfire. His vision darkened at the edges, his limbs sluggish, his mind teetering on the brink of unconsciousness.