Trickster planted his feet, muscles tense, ready to charge.Eleza's palms glowed faintly as currents of air twisted into a shield before her, bending each of the golems' crushing blows with bursts of pressure and wind.
Trickster uncorked a potion and drank it down in one go. A sharp crack echoed through his armor as his bones shifted beneath the metal.
He bent forward, a spray of blood spilling from his helmet's visor, followed by a hiss of steam and sweat rising off his body like mist from a forge.
The golem swung its massive fist — but Trickster dashed straight into the blow. In a blur of motion, his blade carved upward, from fist to head, and the stone giant shattered into a storm of fragments.
The other two went down just as fast, crushed and torn apart in seconds. But before they could even take a breath, the shattered pieces started moving again — crawling back together. "Run!" Trickster barked. They didn't think twice. Both dashed for the other end as the ground rumbled behind them.
They finally made it to the other side, far from the golems. But as the smoke cleared, three figures stepped out. "So, we meet again," one of them sneered. "You really tracked us down… that falcon—was it yours?"
Trickster could barely stand—his body felt drained after the fight with the golems. But he didn't hesitate. Without wasting a second, he lunged straight at the lizardman.
The other two turned toward Eleza, they rushed her.
Trickster barely held the lizardman with one arm, forcing him back. With the other, he swung a heavy punch straight for the ribs.
The lizardman caught it midair, sneering. "Oh, you think you're clever, Mr. Trickster?"
But he didn't notice what was in that hand—until the smoke bomb exploded right in his face.
"Cough—cough—damn him and his little tricks!" the lizardman growled, waving away the smoke. As the haze cleared, his eyes widened in fury—Trickster was already standing a few steps away, holding the very bracelet Eleza had been fighting for.
Eleza could only raise her guard, bracing herself. The lizardwoman's spinning spheres whirled through the air, followed immediately by the ninja, blades flashing in perfect rhythm. They didn't stop, relentless and precise, hunting for the tiniest opening to end her. One slip, one moment of hesitation… and it would all be over.
Just one misstep. The spheres found their mark, striking Eleza with brutal force and sending her crashing to the ground.
No pause, no hesitation. The ninja and lizardwoman surged forward, dashing straight toward Trickster, ready to finish their assault.
"Enough is enough. Trickster, you've done your best… I'm so thankful."
Before the enemies could reach him, Eleza lifted him effortlessly. She floated just a few inches above the ground, her entire being radiating a soft, mesmerizing glow. Her new form shimmered with power, each movement graceful yet commanding, amplified by the wind-fairy circling around them. "Let's end this, Zephyra," she whispered, her voice steady, determination and charm shining through every word.
The ninja and lizardwoman lunged, but she dodged effortlessly. With a swift sweep of her powers, wind and light tore through them, leaving nothing behind — destroyed in an instant by her precision and strength.
She chanted, "Vayrua Trium!"
Three massive, spinning arrows of wind erupted around her, slicing through the air with a deafening roar. In an instant, the lizardman, lizardwoman, and ninja were obliterated, leaving nothing but dust and echoes behind.
She was leaving, steps light but determined. Then something strange rippled through the air — a chill, a vibration she couldn't place.
Before she could react, all three appeared, glowing marks etched onto their heads.
Their faces and expressions twisted unnaturally, accompanied by low, grinding sounds that made the air shiver.
Without warning, they lunged, unleashing a brutal, synchronized attack aimed straight at her.
A single punch landed, and Eleza crumpled instantly. She couldn't even lift herself off the ground, her body trembling from the force. Her expression twisted in pain, breaths coming in ragged gasps as she lay there, utterly overwhelmed.
The lizardman gripped Trickster tightly and snatched the bracelet from his hand.
"Ha ha ha! Tsk tsk… all this effort, and you'll die by my hands," the lizardman sneered.
Through gritted teeth, Trickster gasped, "Eleza… just once — push yourself. Use all your might, and teleport us away from here!"
Eleza dashed forward, seized Trickster's hand, and bent the air with her power — the space around them folding into thin slivers of light. As they began to slip free, Trickster's eyes flared a hard green; through clenched teeth he hissed, "You all are doomed."
They emerged from the underworld, stepping onto the fresh, open land.
"You… why did you teleport us here?" Eleza snapped, frustration cutting through her voice. "Did you forget our mission—to bring back that bracelet? How could you! It's all your fault I lost it in the first place!"
Trickster calmly pulled the bracelet from his vortex. Eleza froze, eyes wide with confusion.
"Wait… what? How didn't the lizardman take this from you?" she asked, disbelief in her voice.
"He definitely tried," Trickster replied coolly, "but that was a fake — a duplicate. When I hit him with the smoke punch, I did everything… replaced the original with this one."
"Damn! It was fake! He tricked us, damn that guy…"
Before they could react further, a massive blast erupted. Stone and debris flew everywhere as the three were swallowed by a sudden surge of molten lava, their furious screams lost in the roar of destruction.
"Did you plan all of this?" Eleza asked, half in awe, half in disbelief.
"Yeah," Trickster replied, his voice calm and steady.
"Dude… has anyone ever told you that you're one hell of a scary guy?" she said, shaking her head.
"That's why people don't like me," he said, still calm, unshaken. "Especially those who've seen my tricks."
Eleza let out a long, tired sigh, exhaling all her tension.
"So… what now? Wait, where are you going?" Eleza asked.
"My work here is done. I've provided my service," Trickster replied, calm as ever.
"And your reward?"
"Send it to the guild. They'll give it to me," he said, already turning away.
Eleza's gaze followed him, heavy with sadness. She didn't want him to leave like this. Deep down, she knew him well — this was the type of man who would never approach her again, not unless it was about work.
Her shoulders slumped slightly, the glow around her dimming as a quiet ache settled in her chest. Even with all the chaos behind them, this moment of stillness felt colder than any battle.