Chapter 142 A Turn of Events
Eric's Silent Stride was a thief in the night, allowing him to traverse 120 feet and appear behind his target as if by magic. While not as instantaneous as the Elementalist's Blink, its shorter cooldown and lack of casting animation made it the perfect tool for a silent predator.
"No!"
"Scatter!"
ZephyrStrider's head swiveled abruptly, his blood turning to ice as he detected Eric lounging nonchalantly behind his assembly of healers.
The healers, startled by their leader's frantic cries, turned to look, their minds struggling to process the sudden shift in the situation. Why would they run?
"Too late."
Eric didn't hesitate. Time was precious, and pleasantries were for the living. Twelve arcs of silver flashed, each a death sentence for the unsuspecting healers. Their cries were cut short as their health bars evaporated, their digital souls dispatched back to the respawn point.
"Kai Blackthorn!" ZephyrStrider roared, his voice raw and in fury. "You're dead!"
The loss of his healers was a devastating blow. Without them, taking down the Shadow Panther King would be a costly affair, potentially wiping out his entire team. And it was all thanks to this infuriating, shadowy figure.
ZephyrStrider's hand flashed, pulling five pitch-black arrows from his quiver. He nocked them, his movements a blur of practiced precision.
Deadly Shot!
The arrows, imbued with lethal force, ripped through the air, aiming for Eric's vital points. They even blocked his potential escape routes, a deadly net woven from shadow and steel.
"Playtime's over," Eric murmured with a hint of amusement in his voice. He'd accomplished his goal, and lingering now would be foolish. The other players were closing in, their crowd control skills a constant threat. One wrong move, and he'd be at their mercy.
He activated Zephyr Stride, leaving behind a fleeting afterimage as he melted into the surrounding woods.
The five arrows found their mark, piercing the fading illusion of Eric's form.
Martial Alliance members, their reactions honed by countless battles, surged forward, eager to avenge their fallen comrades.
But Eric was gone. His speed, enhanced by Zephyr Stride, was too much for them to handle. He vanished into the dense undergrowth, leaving them to curse his name.
"Damn it!" ZephyrStrider slammed his fist against a nearby tree, his frustration echoing through the forest.
"Should we pursue, ZephyrStrider?" an Assassin asked, his voice cautious.
ZephyrStrider shook his head, his anger replaced by cold calculation. "No. We're in no condition to chase him."
Without their healers, engaging both Eric and the Shadow Panther King would be suicidal. They'd be playing right into his hands.
Eric's display of skill and power had shaken him. A small group wouldn't stand a chance. Even a full team might not be enough to bring him down. And that terrifying speed... If they chased him now, he'd pick them off one by one, turning their pursuit into a massacre.
"We fall back," ZephyrStrider ordered, his voice regaining its usual authority. "Leave the Shadow Panther King. And be wary of ambushes. Notify the other teams to converge on our location immediately. He wants to use this to his advantage? Fine. But he won't like the outcome."
As much as it pained him to abandon the Shadow Panther King, especially with victory so close, he knew it was the only logical choice. Better to cut their losses than risk losing everything.
Besides, with the boss in such low health, even if Eric attempted to solo it, there was a good chance he'd fail. They might even get lucky and catch him off guard, turning the tables in a satisfying display of vengeance.
And if Eric chose to avoid the boss altogether? Even better. Once their reinforcements arrived, the Shadow Panther King would be theirs for the taking, and Eric would be left empty-handed.
Following ZephyrStrider's orders, the remaining Martial Alliance members reluctantly retreated, their frustration palpable.
But as they turned to leave, the Shadow Panther King, its roars echoing through the forest, suddenly sprang to life. Two elite panthers materialized beside it, their eyes burning with malevolent energy.
The panthers charged, their movements unnaturally swift as they harried the retreating players.
And then, the Martial Alliance members realized something was terribly wrong.
The Shadow Panther King wasn't giving up. It pursued them relentlessly, its attacks growing fiercer with each passing moment. Their tank, already battered from the previous fight, was nearing its limit. More players fell, their cries swallowed by the dense foliage.
"ZephyrStrider, it's too fast!" an Elementalist cried, his voice laced with panic. "We can't outrun it! We're doomed!"
"No need to remind me!" ZephyrStrider snarled, his frustration mounting.
The Shadow Panther King's relentless pursuit was throwing a wrench into his plans. If he'd known this would happen, he would have prioritized killing the beast, consequences be damned. Now, they were trapped, their losses mounting with each passing second. They were down to less than thirty members, their ranks dwindling with alarming speed.
"Tell the others to hurry!" ZephyrStrider barked, his mind racing. "We'll kite it towards the rendezvous point. And stay alert! That bastard could be anywhere!"
Hidden amongst the trees, Eric watched the chaos unfold, a cold smile playing on his lips.
ZephyrStrider might be smart, but he was predictable. And Eric always planned for every eventuality.
He'd known the Shadow Panther King wouldn't simply let them go. The beast's territory likely encompassed most of Tempest Canyon. Unless they left the area entirely or ventured into its heart, it would hound them relentlessly.
Time ticked by, each passing moment marked by the deaths of more Martial Alliance players. The Shadow Panther King, its health now below 10%, was a whirlwind of death and fury.
The once mighty force of fifty had been whittled down to a mere sixteen, their ranks decimated.
"Where are they?" ZephyrStrider muttered, his voice tight with tension. He divided his attention between the enraged Shadow Panther King and their surroundings, his senses on high alert for any sign of Eric.
As the boss approached its end, the timing for an ambush became opportune. A single error could result in their annihilation.
"They're still ten minutes out, ZephyrStrider," came the reply, heavy with despair.
"Ten minutes?" ZephyrStrider swore, his voice laced with venom. "They might as well be dead!"
He cursed his decision to split their forces. Now, with the Shadow Panther King on its last legs and Eric lurking in the shadows, they were caught between a rock and a hard place.
He'd underestimated his opponent. Again.
The minutes dragged on, each one an eternity. The Shadow Panther King's health dwindled, dropping to a tantalizing 2%. Still, there was no sign of Eric.
"Everyone, converge on the boss!" ZephyrStrider roared, a surge of hope rising in his chest. "Focus fire! It's almost over! But stay vigilant! That bastard could strike at any moment!"
If Eric had shown up earlier, they would have been doomed. But now, with the Shadow Panther King on the brink of death, they had a fighting chance. Even if Eric attacked, he could hold him off long enough for his team to finish the job.
The Shadow Panther King, its movements sluggish, roared in defiance as its health dipped below 200. Two more volleys, and it would be over.
"This ends now!" ZephyrStrider cried, drawing back his bowstring. He poured all his remaining strength into the shot, aiming for a killing blow.
The arrow, a whisper of death, sliced through the air, aimed at the Shadow Panther King's exposed flank.
And then, Eric struck.
He materialized behind the Shadow Panther King as if from thin air, his Abyssal Blade a blur of motion.
332!
The number flashed above the boss's head as its remaining health vanished. The Shadow Panther King, its reign of terror finally over, collapsed with an earth-shuddering thud.
ZephyrStrider's arrow, a hair's breadth too late, embedded itself in the lifeless corpse.
In the cruel calculus of "Divine Realms: Legends," the last hit determined the victor. And Eric, with his impeccable timing, had claimed the kill.
60% of the experience points, a king's ransom for any player, flowed into Eric's coffers. The remaining 40% was distributed amongst the surviving Martial Alliance members, a paltry consolation prize for their suffering.
A small mountain of loot, over ten items in total, materialized beside the Shadow Panther King's corpse.
"Kill him!" ZephyrStrider screamed, his voice raw with rage and despair.
The remaining Martial Alliance members, their faces contorted with fury, surged forward, surrounding Eric. They unleashed a torrent of attacks, their crowd control skills activating in unison, determined to deny him even a moment's respite.
Eric, unfazed, activated Swordsoar Ascension. He moved with impossible speed, his hands a blur as he scooped up the fallen loot.
Attacks crashed against his defenses, but Swordsoar Ascension held firm.
One by one, the items vanished into his bag. Nine in total, including one that pulsed with an ominous black glow, a clear sign of its power.
As Swordsoar Ascension began to fade, Eric acted.
Swap!
He traded places with a clone hidden deep within the forest. One moment, he was surrounded; the next, he was gone, leaving behind a bewildered group of enemies and a single, enraged doppelganger.
The clone, its purpose fulfilled, went berserk, cutting down five more Martial Alliance members before finally succumbing to their combined might.
ZephyrStrider stared at the spot where Eric had stood moments before, his face a mask of disbelief and rage.
He'd been played. Outmaneuvered, outsmarted, and utterly humiliated.
And to add insult to injury, Eric had escaped with the majority of the loot.
"Kai Blackthorn," ZephyrStrider growled, his voice low and dangerous. "This isn't over. I swear it. You will pay for this. I will hunt you down, and when I find you, I will make you regret the day you crossed the Martial Alliance."
His words, laced with venom, echoed through the silent forest.
Unbeknownst to him, perched high above in the canopy, FlameDancer and AquaBison had witnessed the entire encounter. They watched, speechless, as the once mighty Martial Alliance was decimated, their ranks reduced to a handful of battered survivors.
"Holy..." FlameDancer breathed, his eyes wide with awe. "That was...incredible."
For the first time, they understood the true potential of "Divine Realms: Legends." This wasn't just a game. It was a battle of wits, a deadly dance where strategy and skill reigned supreme.
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