The icy chamber quaked under the immense pressure of Vrothael's presence, the walls glittering and refracting the pale light cast by the runes embedded within them. Velkharion stood at the ready, his fiery eyes fixed on the towering emissary of Kryntar, the Eternal Blizzard. Frost clung to his armor, growing thicker with each moment, as though the very atmosphere sought to suffocate him. His grip on Crimson Fang tightened, the weight of the sword feeling heavier than ever under the debilitating debuffs that still lingered.
"Blessings? Power? You wield nothing but sacrilege," Vrothael bellowed, its glaive raised high, creating an arc of frost energy that pulsed with destructive intent. "It is your very existence that defiles Kryntar's sanctum!"
The ground beneath Velkharion's feet split apart as ice spikes erupted in sync with Vrothael's words, but he reacted with practiced precision, activating Rune Sage's Frozen Barrier to counter the initial assault. The shimmering wall of frost magic dissipated the attack, but Velkharion could feel his protections weakening with each passing second—the Sentinel's relentless power was eroding even his most potent defenses.
The Sentinel's glaive surged with energy as it swung forward, creating a massive wave of frost that distorted the space around Velkharion. Visibility dropped to nearly zero, the icy storm enveloping the chamber and transforming it into a battlefield that seemed to belong to Vrothael alone. Velkharion grit his teeth, activating Rune Sage's Temporal Runeward, a skill that negated environmental effects within a limited area. For a brief moment, clarity returned, allowing him to regain control over his position.
He dashed toward the Sentinel, Crimson Fang glowing faintly as he used Maximize Magic: Frostfire Bloom to launch a ranged attack. The spell exploded against Vrothael's enchanted armor, sending a burst of frostfire energy scattering across the room. But the Sentinel remained unfazed, its glowing eyes narrowing in irritation.
"You are persistent," Vrothael growled, raising its glaive once more. "But persistence means nothing before inevitability."
The chamber trembled again as frostbound minions emerged from the icy ground, spectral warriors summoned to bolster Vrothael's assault. Their hollow eyes gleamed with malice, their movements unnaturally fast as they swarmed Velkharion from all sides.
Velkharion pivoted on his heel, using Rune Sage's Elemental Safeguard to layer his defenses as the minions closed in. The frostbound warriors collided with the barrier, their attacks chipping away at his protections while Velkharion prepared a counterstrike. With a sharp swing of Crimson Fang, he activated Sword Unity: Apex Slash, a melee ability designed to target multiple enemies in a single arc. The glowing blade cleaved through the minions, their spectral forms dissipating into the icy air.
But Vrothael was relentless. The Sentinel charged forward, its glaive crackling with elemental energy as it delivered a sweeping attack aimed at cutting Velkharion in two. Velkharion dodged narrowly, his movements hindered by the relentless froststorm that continued to sap his stamina. He countered with Maximize Magic: Chain Dragon Lightning, golden bolts of energy chaining between Vrothael and the remaining minions. The attack disrupted their formation, but Velkharion could see the cracks forming in his own defenses—he couldn't sustain this battle much longer without finding an opening.
As Velkharion dodged another swing of the glaive, he noticed something unusual about Vrothael's movements. The Sentinel's armor pulsed faintly during specific attacks, its energy concentrating around the weapon before dispersing across its body. Velkharion narrowed his eyes, piecing together the pattern—it wasn't just random fluctuations. The core of Vrothael's power was tied to its glaive, the exposed energy acting as both a weapon and a vulnerability.
"Found you," Velkharion muttered, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
The realization gave him new purpose. Velkharion shifted his focus, aiming to bait the Sentinel into overextending its attacks. With each swing of the glaive, he maneuvered closer, analyzing the timing of the energy pulses and preparing for a decisive strike. Vrothael, unaware of the impending strategy, continued to press its advantage, summoning blizzards and frost explosions to keep Velkharion off balance.
As the battle raged on, Velkharion made his move. Activating Rune Sage's Frozen Barrier one final time, he charged forward, channeling all his remaining mana into Crimson Fang. The blade flared with frostfire energy, combining the elements into a volatile mix that pulsed with destructive force. Vrothael raised its glaive, the weapon glowing brighter than ever as the Sentinel prepared to unleash its ultimate attack.
The chamber erupted in chaos, frost and fire colliding as the two forces met. Velkharion's fiery eyes burned with determination as he positioned himself for the strike, his blade aimed directly at the Sentinel's exposed core.
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