Chapter 46:If this is doom, then let me carve my name into it
The battlefield was drenched in chaos.
For two straight hours, Ank's sword had not once stopped swinging. His arms trembled, his breaths came out ragged, and his entire body screamed with exhaustion. Yet still, he refused to fall. Every slash he made was a declaration , I will not lose.
The ground shook beneath his boots as countless Stone Plant Soldiers surged forward, their vines lashing like whips,they started attacking Ank non stop. Ank had already lost count of how many he had cut down. His body was already in immersed pain and it was increasing every moment , his vision blurred, but his will remained stopping him from losing.
And then it happened.
From behind, one of the soldiers attacked him with his arms pointing at his heart, its jagged claws gleaming with murderous intent. Ank didn't even have time to turn.
A flash of sword intercepted the strike.
"Focus on the fight, boy," a calm yet commanding voice rang out.
Ank's eyes widened. Standing there, holding back the attack with one arm as though it were nothing, was Arthur his master and Maya's grandfather.In his white hair and beard had some blood strain but his gaze sharp and focused.
" Master!" Ank gasped.
Arthur didn't even look back and said by moving his sword and in one swing he killed at least five stone plant monsters "Thank me later. For now, keep your head in the battle."
"Understood!" Ank shouted, gripping his weapon tighter.
Side by side, the two of them fought. The air was filled with the clash of swords and the crushing sound of stone breaking. Arthur moved like a tempest, his strikes carrying an authority that make ,fear even the strongest of stone plant soldiers monsters.
Before coming to help Ank .Arthur was helping the wounded villagers.
Arthur also helped with the evacuation of the village, moving all the villagers to a safe place.
After the last of the villagers had escaped. He quickly searched for Ank and maya whereouts like before this time he was not panicked ,he watched both maya and Ank progress and knew they can handle these monsters easily and lastly he found Ank first then he found him a stone monster was attacking him from back so he quickly moved to protect Ank .
Now another two hours had left ,The battlefield was quiet leaving only Ank and Arthur standing amidst the corpses of shattered stone plant monsters.
And, from a distance more stone plant soldiers were coming towards them .
Arthur's sharp eyes turned to him he had limited time before second wave will come so he quickly asked the questions . "Ank, where is Maya?"
Ank froze for a split second. His heart clenched. Images of Maya flashed in his mind ,the smile she always wore, the way she worried for him. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to speak.He cannot tell about maya conditions to arthur if he tell maya conditions to Arthur ,Arthur will definitely break and lose his will to fight.
So Ank lied to Arthur "I I moved her to a safe place,"
Arthur's eyes narrowed. His instincts screamed and alerted him, but this was not the time for this he knew Ank would protect Maya with his life. "Hmph. Very well. We'll speak of it later. Right now, survival comes first."
He ignores his instincts and tries to believe in the Ank words .
Arthur's expression hardened. "How much longer can you last before you collapse?"
Ank straightened his back, though his body wanted to crumble. "At least ten hours before my body gives out completely."
Arthur nodded. "Ten hours, is it? Good That will be enough."
Ank glanced at him and asked, "And you, old man? How much time do you have?"
A faint smirk touched Arthur's lips. "Not much. I can hold out for twenty more hours at best. After that, well, it won't matter."
Ank tried to reply to Arthur words.
Before Ank could reply, the earth itself rumbled.
Two enormous figures emerged from the forest of shattered stone plants. Unlike the others, these were different. Their hulking bodies radiated a presence that made the air become very heavy. Their movements were slow, deliberate, as though mocking the weakness of humans.
Arthur's eyes narrowed, and with a flick of his wrist, he summoned the status windows.
[Status Window: Stone Plant Tank]
[Level: A]
[Threat Level: High Monster]
[HP: 5000]
[Energy: 7000]
[Strength: 10,000]
[Constitution: 300]
[Stamina: 10,000]
[Charisma: 10]
[Intelligence: 10]
[Skills: Stonewall Shield, Earthquake Step, Plant Shield, Protected Area]
Description:
A plant made of stone that evolved into a tank, tasked with protecting ordinary Stone Plants. In battle, it absorbs most of the attacks directed at its allies. Its skill Protected Area alters the environment to suit its kind, reducing opponents' attack strength by tenfold.
[Status Window: Stone Plant Bodybuilder]
[Level: A]
[Threat Level: High Monster]
[HP: 5000]
[Energy: 50,000]
[Strength: 20,000]
[Constitution: 300]
[Stamina: 15,000]
[Charisma: 10]
[Intelligence: 10]
[Skills: Stonewall Shield, Earthquake Step, Body Blast, Suitable Environment]
Description:
A plant made of stone that evolved into a bodybuilder, tasked with protecting ordinary Stone Plants and amplifying its strength when fighting alongside a tank by a hundredfold. Its skill Suitable Environment alters the battlefield, multiplying its strength by one hundred times.
Ank's eyes widened as he read the glowing panels. "This was impossible. They're … "
"Yes," Arthur interrupted grimly. His voice was low, but the weight in it was enough to crush hope. "These aren't like the others. They are beyond anything you've fought before."
The Tank stomped forward, its massive frame cracking the ground with each step. Behind it, the Bodybuilder flexed its rocky arms, the sheer pressure of its strength distorting the air around it.
Ank felt a chill run down his spine when he watched both moving towards them. His body shivered instinctively, warning him of death.
"Master " he whispered. "We can't win against that."
Arthur's jaw tightened. His eyes never left the monsters, yet his voice was calm, unyielding.
"Then we will fight until the end."
Ank heart pounded. Fear and despair start filling his heart , yet Arthur's words lit a fire in his chest. Even if they were doomed, they would not kneel.
The two of them raised their weapons once more, facing the monsters that could shatter mountains.
And deep in Ank's heart, a single thought echoed
If this is doom, then let me carve my name into it.