The two heroic gargoyles struck together, their blades descending like a guillotine set before the Forbidden Fire Blessing.
Relying on the experience gained from his long life, Eomer reacted instantly.
He threw his arms up in a defensive posture, and vines grew rapidly to form a protective barrier.
In that moment, there wasn't even enough time to activate a magic item.
He could only barely trigger his Air Iron Tail, stagnating the space around him and the immediate area.
The gargoyles' movements slowed accordingly.
However, his own movements were slowed as well. Eomer could only watch with wide eyes as blood blossomed across his body.
One of his arms was sent flying, and a blade wedged itself deep into his neck.
The activation of the Air Iron Tail had slowed the gargoyles, which provided an opening for the team's most mobile unit, Nephalian.
“Stop!”
Nephalian turned into a phantom. The rapier in her hand erupted with unprecedented light, instantly piercing through one of the heroic gargoyles.
Ignoring everything else, she reached out and grabbed the greatsword that had already bitten into Eomer's neck.
The greatsword was momentarily halted, but Nephalian's fair, slender fingers were sliced clean off along with half her palm.
This gave Eomer his chance. Enduring the agony of a nearly severed neck, he manipulated his vines to bind the descending greatsword and the remaining gargoyle.
Holding her sword with one hand, Nephalian surged forward again, driving her blade straight through the gargoyle's chest.
She didn't aim for the head of either gargoyle.
This was the advantage of experience.
When facing monsters that weren't made of flesh and blood, it was difficult to determine where their fatal core was located.
Therefore, the best way to attack was not to aim for the head—since losing a head might not even affect them—but to cause massive structural damage to the chest cavity.
The two elite gargoyles were quickly repelled. Yet, even with large holes in their chests, they only staggered for a moment before raising their greatswords to strike again.
Eomer had already collapsed to the ground.
He was supporting his head with one hand.
The guillotine-like strike had damaged his vertebrae. He had to hold his head steady to prevent any violent movement from snapping his spine and causing his head to fall off completely.
The pain from his severed arm and the wound on his neck tortured Eomer's nerves.
But the danger was not yet over. Eomer could only continue the fight while holding his own head.
He slammed his palm against the ground, and thick vines erupted from the earth, tightly entangling the two heroic gargoyles with the gaping holes in their chests.
Nephalian seized the opportunity to swing her sword with one hand. Her eyes were sharp as she unleashed a flurry of thrusts. Sharp Sword Qi pierced through the heroic gargoyles' armor, riddling them with holes until they collapsed completely.
Everything happened in an instant, and the other elves quickly rushed forward.
The two mages recovered Nephalian's severed fingers and Eomer's severed arm.
“Quick, give the captain a healing potion!”
Eomer had already lost too much blood and had forced himself to fight despite a fatal wound. He was now exhausted and unable to cast any holy arts.
Compared to heavy warriors and swordsmen, the vitality and constitution of mages and priests were far inferior.
The heavy warrior set down his shield and quickly propped up Eomer's upper body.
The mage beside him held Eomer's head to keep it from falling.
By now, Eomer's handsome elven face was completely devoid of color.
The heavy warrior pried open Eomer's mouth and quickly poured an alchemical potion down his throat.
At the same time, he took out another bottle and, regardless of the waste, poured it over the wound on Eomer's neck.
Meanwhile, Nephalian endured her own pain, pressing the severed half of her hand against the wound as the elven mage beside her quickly applied an alchemical potion.
For now, they could only reconnect the blood vessels and skin to allow for initial healing.
For her hand to regain its mobility and function, she would still need Eomer's holy arts.
“Something's wrong. The mana fluctuations are wrong!”
The elven mage responsible for Nephalian's basic treatment suddenly looked toward the door.
Nephalian instantly drew her rapier with her good arm.
Previously, though it had been quiet outside, there were still some mana fluctuations. Now, those fluctuations had completely vanished.
Staring into the pitch-black exterior, Nephalian quickly turned back to look at Eomer.
Eomer's wounds had healed over.
However, the severed arm and the fatal neck wound had caused too much blood loss.
He was currently unable to regain consciousness.
“Carry the captain. We need to leave this area first.”
Nephalian quickly took command.
Aside from Eomer, she, as a swordsman, was indeed the best leader left in the team.
The elven heavy warrior quickly hoisted Eomer onto his back.
Nephalian took the lead, serving as the vanguard.
The two mages remained in the center of the formation.
Under Nephalian's lead, the group of elves rushed out the door.
But outside the door, only a terrifying sight awaited them.
The countless withered corpses had all revived. Like mindless demons crawling out of hell, they were frantically shaking their cages and the iron bars.
Deep within their pupils, a chilling firelight glowed. In the darkness, they looked like ghosts lying in wait.
“These were clearly just corpses before!” Nephalian exclaimed in disbelief.
“No, they were indeed just corpses. What's making them move now is an external energy!” the elven mage quickly explained. As mages, they could detect changes in power more easily than a swordsman like Nephalian.
“What external power?”
“This mad power... it's the Forbidden Fire!”
Whoosh!
As the words fell, a withered corpse burst into flames, which then triggered a chain reaction.
One mummy after another ignited.
The fire soared high as all the remains burned with the scorching Forbidden Fire, frantically struggling, biting, and destroying the iron bars that bound them.
They continued until their shackles and the iron bars were melted away.
“Run!”
Nephalian shouted. The power of the Forbidden Fire was already well-known, and it would be unwise to confront it in its maddened state.
The corpses, freed from their shackles by the Forbidden Fire, began leaping down from the iron cages hanging in the air.
Their movements were frenzied, their postures deranged.
Some smashed directly into a pulp of burning flesh upon hitting the ground, while others broke their limbs and crawled in a twisted fashion, using their withered hands to grab chunks of their own burning, mangled flesh to hurl at the elves like weapons.
Nephalian had no intention of staying. She led the elves in a sprint, using magic and sword light to block the attacks. They carved a path through the Forbidden Fire.
They dodged the crazed corpses jumping from above from time to time.
The Forbidden Fire filled the surroundings, making everything look like an inferno.
Rate on N.U.
