Chapter 52：Bloodied Sword (2/2)
As it fell to the ground, it roared as it used another skill of hers. Black shadows exploded from underneath her attacking all of them. Miko was able to teleport in time, and Jin and Hazel were able to block it using their summoned monsters. Arthur, who was the closest to the harpy, wasn't so lucky as a shadow impaled itself in his left shoulder.
”Dammit!” Arthur cursed in pain and used his right arm to slash the shadow away with his dagger. The shadow withered away leaving only a deep wound on Arthur's shoulder.
”Arthur! Are you okay?” Miko rushed to his side while the other two attacked the harpy to prevent her from attacking again.
”I am, let's end it!” Arthur gritted his teeth. He just wanted to go back home, see his family, and escape this bloody trial.
Miko wanted to ask him to retreat, but she closed her mouth. She looked at the Dark Queen, who had wounds all over her body, battling the six-limbs bear and Annabel. They needed to end this now.
”Distract her,” Arthur said, looking calmer than earlier. She nodded her head and rushed toward the queen. She teleported in and out while attacking her endlessly, emptying her mana in the meantime. She left nothing to use as she knew this would be their last stand.
Angering the queen greatly, Miko knew now was the chance. She revealed an opening that the queen didn't miss to attack her. Before she was struck, Miko used the last of her mana to teleport a distance away, making the queen strike empty air.
The Dark Queen was about to attack her again due to her anger, and she fell in their trap. Arthur appeared out of nowhere, using his Shadow Swap skill to appear behind the queen. Holding the dagger in his left hand, he poured all of the remaining mana into it. Even after weeks of training, his mana was still unstable and left him damaged if used too suddenly.
This was their last chance to end this. Arthur attacked the queen with the dagger, that was now shining blue and golden, at the queen's wound from the back. It pierced right through its flesh and the queen issued a dying scream, as it fell to the ground.
The hall was quiet. The four of them stood there, wounded and emptied of mana, but they did it. Arthur fell to his knees as he was in the worst condition of them all.
”Arthur, are you okay?” Miko walked over to him and so did the other two. Hazel was barely standing as her legacy drained mana that she barely had, as she still lacked the mana to supply it. She also fell to her knees and Jin held her body, offering her a mana-replenishing potion.
”I am… We finally…” Arthur smiled thinly, his eyes blurring. Words were appearing in front of him but he was too emotional to read them.
”Tack, tack, tack.” The sounds of footsteps came from the entrance of the hall, and Arthur snapped out of his joy. He lifted his head in alarm, only to see Erin and his group entering the hall.
”You guys did it, wow.” Erin looked surprised, looking at the harpy's body in greed. Arthur felt his body turn cold at this sight and picked himself up, despite his energies. If push comes to shove, he could use his Restore rune.
”What are you doing here?” Arthur took a step forward, glaring at them with hostility. He had no idea how they found them, but things were not looking good. Even if he could fight, his group could not. He needed to stall for time until he picks up the mana core from the Dark Queen to use it with his dagger, teleporting them out of here.
”How about you ask him?” Erin grinned, looking behind Arthur's back. Arthur was bewildered and followed his gaze, trying to turn around.
It was then that he felt extreme pain. His back was burning as Arthur looked down, seeing the bloodied sword, penetrating his back, and coming out of his abdomen. He turned his head, looking at Jin who was holding the handle of the sword with shock before he fell to the ground.
He could hear Miko's scream and he could see Hazel lying on the ground as well, unconscious. He felt his body turning cold on the inside while being warmed from the outside by his blood.