Inside the transparent water dome, the incessant pitter-patter of arrows and daggers striking the barrier echoed. Kai's mana was rapidly depleting, but he couldn't give up. Zane lay unconscious, and Arthur and Elara were waiting for his signal.
"Kai! You can't hold it much longer!" Arthur roared, trying to find an opening among the Hunters.
Elara fired a final arrow at the dome, creating a small crack before nocking another. "We need a plan!"
Kai looked around. Bloodwood Valley was a unique battlefield. The towering Bloodwood Trees, the surrounding cliffs, and the lingering thick mist. He recalled his "Crystal Manipulation (Water)" and "Soul Imprint" skills.
Break their formation... and use the environment!
"Arthur! Elara! Get ready!" Kai commanded, his voice firm. "When the dome falls, we attack. Arthur, aim for the Bats! Elara, the Hunters on them!"
He channeled all his remaining mana. Instead of maintaining the dome, Kai decided to turn it into a surprise attack.
"Tidal Counter!"
With a mighty roar, the water dome didn't dissipate but exploded outwards, forming a massive wave of water that powerfully pushed back the surrounding Blood-Screech Bats and Bounty Hunters. This skill not only broke their encirclement but also drenched them and further limited their visibility in the mist.
Water dome shatters! All enemies within a 10-meter radius are pushed back and afflicted with 'Soaked' (Reduced speed, reduced fire resistance).
[-20 HP for each affected enemy!]
Immediately, Arthur charged out. "Thunderous Hammer!" he bellowed, his hammer glowing with electrical energy. He leapt, swinging his hammer and unleashing a powerful sweep into a group of staggering Bats.
"CRACK!" A loud explosion resounded. Lightning spread among the drenched Bats, making them convulse and fall to the ground like stones.
[-40 HP for each affected Bat/Hunter! Afflicted with 'Stunned' for 2 seconds!]
Elara was equally quick. She swiftly seized the advantage. "Deadly Arrow Rain!" A volley of arrows soared through the air, targeting the stunned and disoriented Hunters.
[-15 HP for each affected Hunter!]
Several Blood-Screech Bats and Bounty Hunters have been defeated!
Kai didn't stop. He had used up most of his mana, but now, he felt an even stronger connection to the Ancient Soul Emblem. An idea flashed in his mind: the environment.
He lunged into the mist, using "Mist Camouflage" to vanish completely. The remaining Hunters, still trying to regain their bearings after the shockwave of water and thunder, couldn't see him. Kai moved around the area, focusing his mana on the Bloodwood Trees.
"Soul Imprint: Root Bind!"
Not a direct attack, but environmental manipulation! The energy from the Ancient Soul Emblem connected with the energy of the Bloodwood Trees. From the ground, thick, robust roots suddenly surged up, coiling around the legs of the Bats and Hunters attempting to fly up or escape.
[-5 HP! Afflicted with 'Bound'!]
Several Blood-Screech Bats and Bounty Hunters are immobilized!
The tide of battle suddenly turned. The enemies who had once used the element of surprise were now betrayed by the very environment of Bloodwood Valley. Arthur and Elara, freed from defensive pressure, rushed in to finish off the bound enemies.
Screams, growls, and clashing sounds echoed through the valley until silence returned. The mist gradually dissipated, leaving only scattered corpses on the damp ground.
All Blood-Screech Bats and Bounty Hunters have been defeated!
You have received a total of 1200 experience points!
Experience Points: 2270/100 (Level 24).
Congratulations! You have reached Level 25! All attributes slightly increased. You have unlocked 'Evolution Point - Second' (1 point).
Kai exhaled, his mana nearly depleted. But he had done it. He had overcome a perfect ambush, not just with brute force but with wit and environmental utilization.
Arthur and Elara came to his side, their faces filled with admiration.
"You... you did the impossible," Elara said, her eyes still bright from the battle. "Your coordination with the Ancient Soul Emblem is astounding."
Arthur nodded, placing a hand on Kai's shoulder. "You're no longer a weak little dragon, Kai. You're a warrior. And I think... a leader."
Kai looked towards the unconscious Zane at the base of the Bloodwood Tree. He had given him a warning, a heavy burden. The World Devourer, the Shadow Seal, the Shadow Cult... these words were no longer distant legends. They were reality.
With Zane safe and the enemies defeated, they might have some time to recover. But Kai knew, the true fight had only just begun. With the Evolution Point he had just gained, he could prepare for the greater challenges ahead.