BXBX NOVEL Chapter 69: Unwinnable Battle
The Forgotten Beast didn't seem to have the opportunity to dodge, using both of its hands to keep its black blade above its head to intercept the crusher's descent.
"Damn dirty mutt!" Seung shouted, continuing to drive down.
A momentary stalemate; Finn among the others saw an opportunity to strike while the beastman was kept in a deadlock. He sprinted in, though immediately felt a change in the air when coming within a few meters–
"Get back, you idiots!" Seung yelled.
["Blistering Starpower"]
From the brightly-shining knuckles of the gauntlet, a scattering of blows manifested, coming from the other swung fist of Seung. It brought down dozens of colossal impacts at once, causing waves of sand to rise and fall, rupturing the battlefield with bludgeoning light.
"Shit!--" Jasper shouted, raising his shield.
The monk used his own arms to protect himself, being blown back, "Nrgh!"
Finn had ample time to react, slipping back as he watched the crusher's self-centered assault cause the colosseum to rumble. It was frustrating to experience, though he couldn't deny that among them all, Seung had the greatest strength.
Amidst his barrage, the golden-haired crusher flipped around, landing his foot on the beast's blade before leaping back up, "--I'll crush you! Right here!"
["Era End"]
Finn witnessed a star rise into the void in the form of the crusher himself, rearing his fist back. The action called upon the construct of a gargantuan, gold-matter meteor that loomed above the colosseum.
Like a convergence of solar winds like that of the Aurora Borealis, the gilded meteor born at the authority of Seung's fist cast down a golden light on the arena.
It was a display of power daunting, presenting dismay to those who believed only the beast to be a danger to them.
Ember clutched her stave close to her shirt while looking up, "That's…That's a meteor?!"
"What the hell is that guy doing?! Is he trying to kill us all!?" Magnus shouted.
Standing atop the dazzling sphere of great mass, Seung brought his hand back before striking the meteor from above. As if using it like a vastly oversized volleyball, the crusher sent the golden comet crashing down.
Finn watched as the massive chunk of shining mass came down, feeling the weight of it as the ground rumbled and the air vibrated.
"Get back! Get out of the colosseum!" Finn shouted, pointing at the entrance as he signaled everybody else.
Nearest to the entrance were Magnus and Ember; the cannoneer slammed his weapon against a closed-off wall, finding it shut.
"It's gone! The entrance…!" Magnus shouted.
"No!—" Ember shook her head.
Finn bit his lip while thinking amidst the intense situation, watching as the others thought the same.
As the golden meteor fell, Jasper lended his shoulder to a wounded warrior; Charlotte clutched her blade as though considering what could be done.
All of that only to witness the cloaked beast leap in the air, rising to intercept the falling mass directly.
The beast dragged its foul blade through the wind; such ferocious strength caused the air to hiss as it struck the descending meteor head on.
From the surface, Finn witnessed a perfect line carve across the golden object before it split apart into two, perfect parts.
'—It cut it?' Finn witnessed.
It a horrific display of strength from the beastman only further cemented the feeling of dread in those that witnessed the fantastical act.
The wind pressure that exuded from the sword's edge traveled upward, cutting into the shoulder of the crusher.
Seung gritted his teeth, not at the pain that he entirely ignored, but at the futility of his strength.
"To hell with that!" Seung shouted, sharply descending while cocking back one fist.
While the man of golden hair stared down the cloaked beast amidst their descent, he struck his gauntlet against the wind.
["Bellow of The Mighty"]
The strike that hit the sky caused a rippling force to reach the two halves of the meteor. The split mass was burst into golden fragments, sharply raining down upon the beast.
"Ahh!" Ember yelled, tucking her head into her arms amidst the downfall of meteoric shards.
"Don't just stand there, ya idiot!" Ramon shouted, raising his hammer.
The Maestro forged a large, flat mechanical familiar, resembling that of a manta ray, using its great reach to act as a cover for those around Ramon.
While Magnus and the monk were close enough to take cover beneath the Maestro's makeshift barrier, Finn found himself caught right in the middle of the battlefield, finding Charlotte in the same predicament.
"Hey! Move!" Finn called out while running towards the spellblade.
Charlotte nodded her head, moving with him, though it seemed far too late as the glistening shards of golden meteor rained down. Each piece that struck the black sand erupted with a daunting impact, causing a ripple of explosive force.
As he ran right behind Charlotte, the air flexed for a moment before a flash of gold struck down right in front of them–FWOOM. It crashed down with such force that it knocked the young woman back, right against his chest.
"Gotcha!" Finn called out.
"Nrh…Sorry–" Charlotte quickly straightened herself out.
Before another step could be taken, he found himself looking up in unison with her as a golden shard came down right above them. In that split second, Finn reached out to her, questioning if he could manage to move fast enough if he pulled her along with him.
'Can I do it? Can I make it?' He questioned.
CLANG
"--Made it!"
That relieving accent met Finn's ears like a delight in the chaotic battlefield, finding the safety of a shield held above himself and Charlotte.
The spellblade found herself at a loss for words at the splendid timing of the knight, "Jasper?"
Jasper held his ground, having to stand on his tippy toes, reaching up as high as he could to cover them with his shield, "Don't just stand there, mates! Do that copy thingy, Finn!"
"Right–! Thanks!" Finn focused again, bringing his hand against the back of the shield, "--Replication!"
A copy of the shield was forged into his grip, holding it up alongside the knight to alleviate the pressure on him. As the meteoric shower was endured, a colossal weight crashed down only a few meters ahead of them–
The black-furred beastman was covered in wounds from the golden downpour, its cloak left in tatters as blood leaked from its injuries, though it did not fall.
"Shit, it just looks angry now," Finn quietly said.
That glint in those scarlet eyes of the beastman as it dripped its blackened blood onto the sand sent a chill down his spine.
Before the beast could approach, a golden fist descended from above.
"Hraaaah!—" Seung shouted out.
The aerial blitz from the crusher was swiftly intercepted by the beastman's blade, colliding with the gauntlets of Seung. Like a fly, the golden-haired man was flung down, crashing against the walls of the colosseum.
Its attention returned to the knight, spellblade, and assassin, taking a single step before—BOOM.
A barrage of explosive cannonballs and flame spells crashed towards the beast, forcing it on the defensive.
Finn looked over at the source of the assault, finding the cannoneer and mage responsible.
"Keep it up!—" Magnus shouted, firmly planting his feet down while firing off.
The words of strict encouragement were given to the meek mage, who kept her spells firing from her staff, "I am…!"
It was a perfect opportunity to prepare himself as Finn looked over at his companions.
"Charlotte, Jasper…Can I trust you two to keep its aggression on you? If you can, I'll be able to get a killing blow, I think," Finn said, glancing down at his bleeding chest.
"That's a big ask, mate, but I've got your back," Jasper claimed, having to move his arms around as if coaxing his confidence to stay.
"I can do it–just take it down," Charlotte said, looking right at the assassin.
Finn nodded, "It'll work." He assured them.
["Turn Shadow"] [2:59]
Sinking into the darkness, he hid from the sight of the bloodthirsty beastman, watching as he swam in the unseen element.
It was amidst the suppressing fire of the cannoneer and mages efforts, alongside the drones of the maestro did the Forgotten Beast run across the walls of the colosseum with frightening agility. As the fire chased at its heels, the daunting sword-beast lunged the rest of the distance, aiming its malice right for the mage.
"Eek!--" Ember flinched, shutting her eyes.
CLANG
"--Nrgh!"
The trembling, young woman found herself unharmed as in front of her stood the cannoneer, using his massive weapon as a makeshift shield.
Even so, it did not entirely stop the length of the beast's blade, causing a laceration to carve across the man's chest, reaching up to carve against his chin.
"You're hurt!" Ember shouted in dismay.
"Focus…or we're all dead!" Magnus said through gritted teeth as blood sprayed from his wounds.