Chapter 221: Beating Moments (1)
In the dimly lit, expansive room, shadows cast by the flickering blue torches danced on the ancient stone walls, setting an eerie stage for the impending battle. Todd and Pegasus, now back to back, braced themselves against the relentless onslaught of the Minotaurs.
Each beast bore the sinister marks of Anger and Madness on its fur, a testament to their ferocious nature and the dark magic that tainted their souls.
With a determined grit, Todd's skin, a unique blend of green hues that bespoke his heritage, shimmered slightly under the intermittent torchlight. The subtle glow highlighted the tension in his posture as he flexed his fingers, preparing to deflect any incoming attacks with his innate ability.
His eyes, alight with a mix of determination and caution, scanned the advancing horde for any sign of weakness.
The Minotaurs, undeterred by their previous losses, charged once more, their axes glinting with a malevolent light that seemed to draw in the shadows around them. The air in the room grew thick with anticipation, the only sounds the heavy thuds of their hooves on the stone floor and the eerie crackle of the blue torches.
One Minotaur, its eyes aflame with unbridled Anger, swung its massive obsidian axe toward Todd with deadly intent. Swiftly, Todd raised his hands, his palms glowing with a subtle, mystic energy, hinting at the deep, arcane power at his disposal.
As the axe's blade met his glowing palms, Todd, with a deft and practiced movement, redirected the force of the blow, sending the Minotaur stumbling past him, its axe merely slicing through the air where Todd had stood moments before.
Simultaneously, Pegasus, whose youthful appearance belied the calm determination and experienced prowess in his eyes, faced off against the Minotaur marked with the chaotic energy of Madness. The creature, with a ferocious lunge, aimed to overpower him, but Pegasus was quicker, his movements a blend of grace and lethal precision.
His katana, a blade aglow with magical enhancements, moved through the air with such grace that it left behind a trail of ethereal light, a stark contrast to the dark, oppressive atmosphere of the room. As it made contact with the Minotaur's flesh, the sound it produced was an eerie amalgamation of a whisper and a scream, hauntingly echoing off the ancient walls.
This strike, while effective in slowing the beast's frenzied charge, did not stop it completely. Despite the wound, the Minotaur remained a formidable opponent, its madness undiminished, its eyes burning with a wild, unyielding ferocity.
The battle grew more desperate as the Minotaurs, undeterred and relentless, seemed to multiply, splitting into two more with each defeat. Their numbers appeared infinite, a dark horde replenishing faster than Todd and Pegasus could counter. Todd, observing this daunting pattern, let out a low growl of frustration, the sound rough and filled with the weight of impending doom.
"There's no end to them!" Todd exclaimed, his voice a potent mix of anger and desperation echoing through the cavernous room. In a moment of determined defiance, he slammed his hands together, channeling his formidable energy into a powerful shockwave.
This forceful burst of energy, a visible wave of power, swept through the room, knocking back the nearest Minotaurs and granting them a brief respite in the relentless tide of their assault.
Pegasus, his breaths heavy and measured from the exertion, nodded in agreement with Todd's sentiment. "We need a new strategy," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos, as he dodged another vicious swipe from a Minotaur. With a burst of speed enhanced by his magical prowess, Pegasus circled behind the creature to deliver a critical strike, his blade moving with precision and grace.
The Minotaur roared in pain, a sound that reverberated ominously, but to their dismay, it quickly regenerated, its wound closing before their eyes, a chilling display of its resilience.
The relentless advance of the Minotaurs pushed Todd and Pegasus further back, their boots scraping against the cold, hard stone as they retreated step by step. The room, vast and shadowy, seemed to shrink with each new pair of Minotaurs that appeared, their roars echoing like thunder in a narrowing valley.
The walls, once distant and indifferent, now loomed close and imposing, a tangible reminder of their shrinking battleground.
With their backs nearly touching the rough surface behind them, the moment felt claustrophobic, the air heavy with the scent of magic and sweat. Then, as if the challenge hadn't been daunting enough, the twelfth pair of Minotaurs emerged from the darkness, their eyes glinting with a fury that seemed to burn brighter with each generation.
Exhaustion clung to Todd and Pegasus like a heavy cloak, yet their spirits, tempered by the heat of battle, remained unbroken. They positioned themselves back to back, a fortress of two against the encroaching darkness. Their weapons, though weighed down by fatigue, were held with unwavering grips, ready to carve hope into the seemingly endless night.
Pegasus, his breaths coming in sharp gasps, managed to glance over his shoulder at Todd. "Any ideas?" he asked, the fight taking its toll on his usually steady voice.
Todd's voice, steady and resolute, carried a weight that belied the chaos surrounding them. "We fight until the end. Together," he declared, his determination a beacon in the storm of battle. Amidst the clash of steel and the roar of Minotaurs, Todd's mind raced, desperately searching for a strategy to turn the tide.
As one of the Minotaurs bore down on him with its axe raised high, a glint of red in the corner of the room caught Todd's attention—a small, red cocoon, incongruous against the backdrop of stone and shadow. With no time to ponder its significance, Todd acted instinctively.
He met the Minotaur's strike head-on, his palms catching the blade with his mystical energy, then with a powerful twist, he redirected the attack, severing the creature's head.
The Minotaur staggered, falling to one knee, its body already beginning to regenerate, a grotesque spectacle of dark magic at work. Seizing the moment, Todd grabbed Pegasus by the collar, pulling him close amidst the frenzy of attacking Minotaurs.