The fight was slowly picking up speed. Kings and Queens had two mages as well. Both sides began their attacks. However, while Cyclone and Fortune quickly began to cast skills, Kings and Queens followed a different strategy.
Their mages stuck to normal attacks. Those were not weak, but easier to block for Silver Blade. The tank was puzzled but naturally did her job.
Everyone found their opponents. The tanks on both sides did their best to hold back the warriors. At this time Kings and Queens showed their own skills.
A pale-skinned woman in tattered clothes remained at the back of the group. She didn't use the sword in her right hand. Instead, she held a black crystal in her left hand, unleashing magical bullets as if she was using a handgun.
When Radiant Shield's [A Paladin's Challenge] was about to hit her, she escaped with a skilled flash step. Without being affected by aggro she could freely chose her target, focusing on Quickstep.
The latter frowned as she was under increasing pressure. She realized that Kings and Queens tried to take her out first. Even another warrior called Vvo, who had been affected by [A Paladin's Challenge] unleashed his AOE skills in a way which was meant to affect Quickstep.
Quickstep frowned. Uncle Bill kept entangling her. With great positioning he made sure that his teammates were able to attack Quickstep, whose HP began to decrease.
Gritting her teeth the young woman used her skill [Carrier of Storm]. Engulfed in wind she flashed through the battlefield, finally getting away from the tank.
However, running away was naturally not an option. As a melee fighter she eventually had to face the enemy directly again, which instantly led to her being targeted.
It didn't take long until Balm was forced to act, using her [Regeneration] on Quickstep.
However, as soon as she did so Kings and Queen instantly ignored Quickstep.
[Quickstep: Damn, they want to wait out Balm's regeneration.]
[Radiant Shield: It was just a bait.]
[Silver Blade: Careful guys!]
Suddenly Kings and Queens changed their focus. Silent Acacia felt his chest tighten as all kinds of attacks were suddenly targeting him. The enemy mages even began to cast their skills.
[Silver Blade: What a bait and switch. Protect Acacia!]
Standing alone between the front- and backline of Kings and Queens, Liam furrowed his brows. Kings and Queens didn't give him any chance to contribute so far. Everyone seemed to avoid him.
But now that their mages began to cast skills, Liam finally had a clear target.
He turned around, staring at the two mages with a grin, which sent showers down the mages' spines.
Liam instantly darted forward. Engulfed in a faint golden light his swords were thirsty for blood.
Perceiving the movement behind her back, Prime instantly sent a warning in the chat.
[Prime: Don't let him get close!]
The mages appeared somewhat reluctant. They gritted their teeth, gathering mana for a flash step.
Liam noticed what was happening. He sped up, bringing his speed to the limit, focusing on Lona, the mage on the left.
The woman's eyes widened in shock as Liam quickly came closer. She instantly used flash step to get away. Immediately she felt the mana in her body go out of control. She managed to escape Liam, but her cast failed in the process.
Retention, the other mage, sighed in relief. She had about a second longer to prepare, which was enough. Reappearing elsewhere she managed to complete her cast. Suddenly a massive hand made of bones came out of the floor, delivering a heavy punch towards Silent Acacia.
Besieged by multiple attacks the hunter didn't manage to dodge, receiving more than 3500 points of damage.
The spectators were shocked. Kings and Queens managed to secure the upper hand! Silent Acacia was under enormous pressure and Hotpot didn't seem to have a good answer to that.
Hotpot did their best to interfere with the enemy's damage dealers but those seemed adamant on taking down Silent Acacia, even going so far as to tank some attacks if it allowed them to target Hotpot's hunter.
"What's going on? Why does Hotpot look so weak?"
"They are not weak, but Kings and Queens seems purely focused on taking out Silent Acacia."
"Do they have a grudge against him?"
"I think it's clever. Taking out Acacia also takes his pet away and he doesn't have good escape skills."
"No, look, he's camouflaging himself!"
"Haha, watch this, Hotpot fans! Retention doesn't miss! That camouflage might as well not exist!"
"Damn, is your Kings and Queens so much better?! Look at how much damage they are taking since they decided only to focus on Silent Acacia!"
"So what? With Prince of Shadows healing from the back, that damage is nothing. Prince can carry on for ages!"
Hotpot's fans gritted their teeth. They wanted to retaliate but the situation was indeed as the opposing fan said. Prince of Shadows scattered his heals with great efficiency, keeping his whole team alive and well.
Just as the situation already looked bad, it deteriorated even further. Suddenly Prime stomped her foot with the force of a mountain, unleashing terrifying shockwaves in all directions.
Bloody Edge, who sneaked up behind her was instantly revealed. Prime grinned and swung the great sword in her hands in 360-degree angle. Bloody Edge was heavily damaged and thrown away. Additionally, he was even stunned upon hitting the floor.
Radiant Shield was pushed back as well, but because his STR stat was above Prime's the skill didn't affect him as much.
Shocked gasps ran through the audience. Hotpot's fans balled their fists or bit their fingernails. They were afraid! Afraid that their heroes might be eliminated.
Maybe it was really as Prince of Shadows said? That Hotpot didn't face a strong opponent so far. Now that they were really challenged, they revealed their flaws.
In the arena Prince of Shadows watched with a gloating grin. He swung his staff, releasing an arc of dark magic which healed all his allies it touched.
He couldn't help but let out a mocking laugh:
"Hey, you can just surrender if you want. No need to struggle fruitlessly! Haha!"
Liam and his friends gritted their teeth. They wished they could bash that arrogant healer's mouth in. Cyclone ignored everything and abruptly began to cast her ultimate skill.
Instantly she was targeted by Xaio, who wasn't affected by the aggro anymore. The warrior quickly tried to interrupt Cyclone's skill.
Meanwhile Liam stood next to Lona feeling incredibly stifled. After the mage escaped with her flash step, Liam chased after her with a flash step of his own.
But before he could deal any damage, Lona used a skill to shroud herself in black fog. Liam instantly recognized the skill. He knew that the mage was immune to attacks for the next four seconds although the damage of her own attacks was reduced as well.
[Bleary Mirage: They are doing their best to avoid me.]
[Silver Blade: I see it. Do we have any solution?]
[Bleary Mirage: When her skill runs out, she should be out of options, and I can attack.]
[Silver Blade: But our situation is worsening by the second.]
Just then Prince of Shadow spewed more insults, causing everyone to burn in anger.
[Radiant Shield: Mirage, can't you take that bastard out?!]
[Bleary Mirage: Ok!]
Liam had enough as well. He turned towards Prince of Shadow not far away. His eyes were as if looking at a dead man.
Prince of Shadow shivered momentarily before glancing at Liam, his face full of smiles.
"Angry? What can you do?"
Liam didn't answer. Instead, he dashed towards Prince of Shadows with the determination to kill the healer. His eyes never left his friends though.
Under Liam's watch Bloody Edge finally got rid of the stun and approached Prime again. Suddenly the pale-skinned 'Damned and Cursed', who fought with a sword and magic attacks, emitted a ghostly aura.
Liam instantly recognized the sign of a certain skill.
[Bleary Mirage: Balm, use reflect on Bloody Edge!]
Balm didn't dare to hesitate. She instantly did as ordered.
The next moment Damned and Cursed transformed into a ferocious ghost. She floated towards Bloody Edge, reaching him instantly. A frightening screech escaped her mouth, meant to induce fear into the target, stunning it.
But suddenly a pale golden shield surrounded Bloody Edge. The skill was reflected, hitting Dammed and Cursed, freezing her in place.
Bloody Edge's eyes lit up instantly. A chance! The thief wasted no time and unleashed his skills on the enemy.
[Prime: Save her!]
[Lona: What happened?!]
Everyone was shocked. From one moment to the other a member of Kings and Queens was in life-threatening danger!
Prince of Shadows stared in shock, but he was a professional after all. He didn't miss a beat and immediately readied his skill.
But just at that moment, Liam reached his side. Two swords stabbed forward, prepared to take the healer's life. If Prince of Shadow wanted to save his teammate he would be forced to endure the damage.