As the last drops of her mana began to flow out, Artie's fingers were increasingly getting brighter, a spell on the verge of being born.
But just as her shimmering golden mana crept out, a dark sinister energy had begun to circulate around her, summoned by the mage's desperation…
It was begging to be let in. Begging to let loose within her, corrupt her mind, soul and body before taking the husk as its own.
Artie snarled, just about to release her magic when blood suddenly splashed from the arm in front of her.
Then a shadow passed by them, suddenly stopping by the other side.
Artie's vision was blurry so she had to blink to make out the silhouette. And when she did, her eyes widened slightly.
"E-Eliron?"
He was standing by her side, his saber dripping fresh blood as he fixed a glare on the monster. And then right before her eyes, the monster's arm suddenly came apart…
Strips of flesh and bone gliding down as its grip on her neck weakened.
Artie's feet finally touched the floor and she hungrily gasped for air, greedily inhaling as much air as she could, both hands on the floor.
The sinister energy fizzled away, disappearing just the way it had come, but not without leaving a taint in her—a black lock of hair that fell down her face.
A temptation and reminder that power would always welcome her, if only she would give herself to the darkness lurking within her.
The battle though was far from over.
The hob goblin, now armless, screamed at the top of its voice, the sound of its shout causing Artie to clasp her hands around her ears.
But Eliron stood before it, only looking annoyed if anything.
Vwooosh!
The force of the goblin swung and sent ripples through the air as its mace cut towards Eliron from the side.
Swish!
Both mace and goblin came apart, a large gaping hole in its body as a glass-like dark blue energy consumed it, ripping it apart.
The goblin fell down on both its knees before Artie, its eyes filled with fear.
Artie drew her blade, her hands shaky…
And its head was off its body in a heartbeat.
Now there was only one hob left, the notorious stone-thrower who had put Artie in this state.
Artie wanted nothing but to plunge her sword deep in its eye sockets and tickle its brains, but she was not given the chance.
As the hob launched another rock, this one most likely the biggest in its collection, Eliron raised his tarp.
And caught it midair—
Not stopping the momentum, he spun around, tossing the rock back at its owner with just as much force as before.
Reacting quickly, the goblin had already thrown yet another one, so both rocks met in the middle, shattering to dust and creating a smoke screen in front of it.
Without wasting a second, Eliron grabbed the spiked mace of the dead goblin with his free hand.
He sucked a deep breath, wind currents pulsing around him as he summoned his magic.
And then he launched it right at the hob.
Empowered by his winds, the mace cut through the air like lightning, charging right through the dust screen and blowing off the head of the hob.
The goblin fell backwards, lifeless, and only then did Eliron visibly relax, breathing heavily.
Artie was sitting on the floor covered in blood when he offered her his arm.
She hesitated for a second before grabbing it, then he pulled her up— one arm on hers, and the other on her waist to steady her.
His icy blue eyes which should have been effortlessly cold, instead were undeniably warm as he watched her with concern.
"Are you alright?"
For a few seconds, Artie just stared into them.
His words were sincere. He had not acted out of any hidden motive, nor did he look upon her in a condescending manner because he had just saved her.
Right now, he was truly worried about her.
Seeing him like this took Artie aback, and in that moment, she remembered a thought she had just a day before this expedition.
'I'll go with him, but if there is even the slightest risk of danger…'
'Then I'll leave them.'
Artie knew deep in her soul that she was more than ready to flee this fight if her life was on the line, and she had the chance.
Yet, Eliron had rushed to her aid.
He felt concern for someone who would even hesitate to leave him for dead if it suited her agenda.
Artie slowly pushed him back and shook her head. "You're a fool…" she muttered, her voice too low for him to pick up.
But Eliron did not let go of her no matter how much she struggled to set herself free which made her glare at him.
Eliron raised a brow, unsure of what she had said. He sighed and picked up her sword for her, seeing that she was completely exhausted.
"Stop being stubborn, do you want to fall flat on your face?"
Like an angry cat, she looked away, but gave up on trying to free herself.
Then Eliron smiled. "That was the last one... We did it."
All around them, the goblin camp had been reduced to a slaughter yard, several bodies lining the streets.
Only the females and kids who had been tucked away were probably alive, and Eliron had no plans on fishing them out.
Yennefer was lying by the door of the building the girls were in, completely exhausted. While Ash was kneeling, his sword the only thing holding him upright, his clothes caked in blood.
Eliron let out a relieved breath.
All that was left now was the seventh girl.
'I wonder where she is—'
Bang!
Eliron's thoughts were interrupted by a large explosion that shook the entire goblin camp.
Very far in the distance, one of the buildings, the biggest one in the city, had its door blown off.
A wave of sinister aura washed over them, causing Eliron's eyes to widen as the monster stepped out of the building.
Then his eyes grew cold as he watched it emerge.
The good news was that they had found the seventh girl.
The bad news was that she was in the hands of a goblin king.