The dark mage's laughter filled the chamber once more as he raised his hands, summoning yet another wave of corrupted goblins. The purple portals swirled into existence, disgorging dozens more of the twisted creatures.
Esteria felt his strength wavering, the multiple shadow forms flickering like candles in the wind. Maintaining such precise control over seven separate entities had taken more out of him than he'd anticipated. Two of his shadows dissipated into mist, then another three, leaving him with just two.
"Feeling tired?" the dark mage taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "Your impressive display is coming to an end, I see. Now, witness the true extent of my army!"
The remaining orcs charged forward while thirty more goblins poured from the portals, their weapons gleaming in the purple light. Esteria's remaining shadows struggled to maintain their form as exhaustion began to set in. His muscles burned with fatigue, and his vision blurred slightly at the edges.
But even as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him, Esteria saw his companions rallying to his side. Vale nocked three arrows simultaneously, his hunter's skill manifesting as he muttered, "[Triple Shot: Binding Arrow]." The arrows whistled through the air, trailing ethereal light as they sought their targets among the advancing horde.
Lyra's blade began to glow with an intense blue light as she assumed her signature stance. "[Shadow of the Moon: Flawless Blade]!" she called out, five shadows split from her form, each wielding a replica of her blade as they danced through the enemies with deadly precision, their synchronized attacks leaving a trail of fallen foes in their wake.
Marcus planted his feet firmly, his massive frame becoming like a mountain as he channeled his energy. "[Shield of the Mountain King: Extended Protection]!" The golden barrier expanded, creating a safe zone for their group to operate from.
Sarah, despite her injuries, refused to stay down. Propped against the wall, she drew her backup dagger, its blade glowing with a venomous green light. "[Poisoned Edge: Area Denial]," she whispered through gritted teeth, the technique creating a toxic barrier that kept enemies at bay.
The dark mage's confident expression faltered as he witnessed their coordinated defense. His army of puppets crashed against their combined skills like waves against a cliff, each attack met with unwavering resolve.
A new notification appeared in Esteria's vision:
[System Notification] [Total Enemies Defeated: 110/100 Goblins] [Quest Update: Goblin Army Eliminated] [Remaining Enemy: Dark Mage (Boss)] [Bonus Objective Completed: Exceed Expected Kill Count]
Esteria's eyes narrowed as he processed the information only he could see. The army was defeated - now only its master remained. He tightened his grip on his blade, focusing his remaining energy on the dark mage before him.
The three orcs suddenly shifted their focus, charging towards Lyra with devastating force. Her shadow forms tried to intercept, but the corrupted creatures moved with an unnatural coordination that caught her off guard.
CRASH!
The first orc's war hammer smashed through two of her shadows, dissipating them instantly. The remaining shadows managed to parry strikes from the second orc, but the third beast flanked Lyra, its serrated blade catching her across the side.
"Lyra!" Esteria called out as she stumbled backward, pain evident on her face. Her remaining shadows flickered and vanished as her concentration broke. Blood stained her leather armor where the orc's blade had found its mark.
The orcs pressed their advantage, forming a triangle around her. Their purple eyes gleamed with malicious intelligence as they coordinated their attacks. Lyra barely managed to dodge the next hammer strike, only to be caught by a vicious kick that sent her sprawling across the chamber floor.
"Your impressive shadow technique means nothing against my elite guards," the dark mage sneered, watching as his enhanced warriors systematically broke down Lyra's defenses. "They've been specially trained to counter such abilities."
Lyra tried to regain her footing, but the orcs gave her no chance to recover. A brutal combination of strikes left her gasping for air, her blade trembling from the effort of defending against their relentless assault.
Time seemed to slow as Esteria watched in horror. The largest orc raised its massive battle axe high above Lyra's prone form, the corrupted weapon glowing with an ominous purple light. Lyra's eyes met his, a mix of defiance and resignation in her gaze.
The axe began its deadly arc downward. In that terrible moment, Esteria saw with crystal clarity how the blade would connect, how it would—
A sickening thud echoed through the chamber. Blood sprayed across the stone floor.
"LYRA!" Esteria's scream tore from his throat, raw with desperation and fury. His remaining shadows flickered and vanished as his concentration shattered completely, the horror of watching his companion fall overwhelming all other thoughts.
A vision flashed through his mind—the nightmare that had haunted his sleep. Lyra, standing alone against a shadow. Blood spraying through the air. Her scream echoing in his ears. The vision was so vivid it made his heart race, his hands trembling on the golden barrier.
But that terrible vision snapped Esteria back to reality. Time hadn't frozen – he still had a chance. With desperate speed, he channeled his newly acquired skill, pushing his body to its limit as he crossed the chamber in a blur of motion.
"[Shield of the Mountain King]!" The words burst from his lips as he threw himself between Lyra and the descending axe. Golden light erupted around them both as the protective barrier materialized just in time. The orc's weapon crashed against it with tremendous force, sending vibrations through Esteria's entire body, but the shield held firm.
"What?" The dark mage's confident sneer faltered. "How did you—"
Lyra stared up at Esteria with wide eyes. "You copied Marcus's technique?"
"Just in time," Esteria grunted, maintaining the barrier as the other two orcs joined their companion in hammering against it. "Can you stand?"
Lyra managed to nod, though pain was evident in her movements. Before she could respond further, a bone-chilling scream filled the chamber. The dark mage's face contorted with rage as he watched his elite guards fall.
"If my army cannot defeat you..." His voice took on an unhinged quality as he pulled out a curved ritual dagger. "Then perhaps it's time to summon something that can!"
Before anyone could react, the dark mage plunged the dagger into his own chest. Purple energy erupted from the wound, and his body began to dissolve into a swirling vortex of darkness.
"What is he doing?" Vale shouted, nocking another arrow.
The dark mage's maniacal laughter echoed through the chamber as his body continued to disintegrate. "My life force... my very essence... I offer it all! Come forth, demon of the ancient depths!"
The vortex of darkness expanded, and a deep rumbling shook the entire chamber. The temperature plummeted as an otherworldly presence began to manifest where the dark mage had stood.
[System Notification]
[Skill Detection Active]
Target: Unknown Entity
Classification: Dark Mage
Skills Available for Copy: • [Shadow Puppetry] - Unique Requirements:
✓ Defeat the Dark Mage - Complete✓
Free 100 controlled creatures - Complete
[Skill Copy Successful]
• [Shadow Puppetry] - Unique has been added to your skill list [Skill capability 4/5]
[System Notification]
[Warning: Boss Evolution in Progress]
[Dark Mage sacrificed - Summoning Ritual Initiated]
[New Enemy Approaching: ???]
The shadows in the chamber seemed to deepen and coalesce, forming a massive, writhing shape. Two blazing red eyes opened in the darkness, and a low, inhuman growl reverberated through their bones.
"Everyone, get ready!" Esteria called out, maintaining his protective barrier around Lyra while readying his blade. "Whatever's coming through that portal, it's going to be far worse than what we've faced so far!"