Warlock of Oceans: My Poseidon System-Chapter 456 : Fifth Floor: The Molten Cavern of Lava Lizardmen (4)

Sylus used his frost magic strategically, creating slick patches of ice on the molten ground that caused the lizardmen to lose their footing. When one stumbled, Sylus capitalized on the moment, delivering a precise thrust that pierced through a gap in its armor. He immediately spun to deflect an attack from another lizardman, his blade meeting its molten sword in a shower of sparks.

Cyrus used his aetheric energy to maintain mobility, leaping and dashing in unpredictable patterns. When a lizardman charged him with a flaming axe, Cyrus ducked low and rolled beneath the swing, coming up behind his attacker. With a sharp strike to the back of its leg, he forced it to kneel before delivering a powerful downward slash that severed its weapon arm.

The lizardmen's numbers and coordination were overwhelming, but the trio's teamwork and adaptability kept them from being overrun. Sylus and Cyrus worked in sync, their attacks and defenses flowing together seamlessly, while Jesua's dark magic disrupted the lizardmen's formations, creating openings for the others to exploit.

The heat intensified, and the fight was far from over. The armored lizardmen, undeterred, regrouped and launched another wave of attacks, their molten weapons glowing brighter as if fueled by the dome itself.

The battle raged on, the searing heat of the molten dome pressing down like a physical weight. The lava lizardmen, their glowing weapons and thick armor radiating menace, charged with unrelenting ferocity. Sylus, Cyrus, and Jesua stood firm, each moving with a calculated mixture of aggression and defense to avoid being overwhelmed.

Sylus sidestepped a lunging lizardman, its massive molten hammer barely missing him and smashing into the ground with enough force to send cracks spiderwebbing across the surface. He twisted his torso mid-dodge, his frost-coated sword slashing horizontally. The strike connected with the lizardman's exposed arm joint, the ice spreading instantly across the armor seam. The lizardman roared as the frost seeped into its molten core, steam rising in violent bursts.

Another lizardman flanked him, its dual swords swinging in deadly arcs. Sylus dropped into a low crouch, one blade whistling harmlessly over his head. Using the momentum of his crouch, he propelled himself upward, driving his shoulder into the creature's midsection. The blow unbalanced the lizardman, and Sylus followed through with a spinning slash, his sword carving an icy path across its back.

"Keep it tight! Don't let them separate us!" Sylus barked to Cyrus and Jesua, his eyes darting to their positions.

Cyrus found himself surrounded by three lizardmen, their coordinated strikes leaving him little room to maneuver. The first lunged with a spear, the tip aimed straight for his chest. Cyrus spun on his heel, twisting his upper body as the spear barely grazed his aetheric shield. Using the spin's momentum, he swung his glowing blade in a wide arc, forcing the lizardmen to backpedal.

A lizardman behind him swung a molten axe in a vertical chop, aiming to cleave him in two. Cyrus reacted instantly, rolling forward and out of harm's way, the axe embedding into the molten ground where he'd stood. Without hesitation, he turned his roll into a springing leap, his sword flashing downward to sever the axe handle. The disarmed lizardman hissed in rage, but Cyrus didn't let up. A quick burst of aetheric energy launched him forward, his blade driving into the creature's chest and sending it sprawling backward.

"Are they getting faster?" Cyrus yelled, deflecting another incoming blade with a ringing clang.

Jesua's dark magic rippled like living shadows around her. When a lizardman attempted to rush her, a tendril of black energy erupted from her hand, wrapping around its neck like a noose. She jerked her hand backward, yanking the lizardman off its feet and slamming it into the molten ground. Another approached her from the side, but a shadowy claw shot out from her own shadow, catching the attacker mid-stride and crushing its arm with a sickening crunch.

"This is what happens when you mess with my patience," Jesua muttered, her eerie smirk unwavering.

Despite her efforts, the lizardmen began coordinating against her. Four of them surrounded her, their weapons glowing brighter as if drawing energy from the dome itself. They struck simultaneously, forcing Jesua to shift her magic into a defensive barrier of swirling darkness. The molten weapons collided with her barrier, the clash sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Jesua gritted her teeth, sweat forming on her brow.

"Sylus, Cyrus! Maybe step it up?" she called out, her voice tinged with irritation.

Seeing Jesua pinned, Sylus and Cyrus acted quickly. Sylus dashed toward her position, creating a trail of frost beneath his feet that began to spread toward the lizardmen. As one of them noticed him approaching, it turned and lunged, its massive sword swinging downward. Sylus ducked, skidding on the ice as he thrust upward. His blade found its mark, piercing the lizardman's side. He twisted the sword, the frost exploding outward and encasing the lizardman in a thin shell of ice.

Cyrus, on the other hand, raised his hand and fired a concentrated burst of aetheric energy toward the remaining lizardmen attacking Jesua. The blast didn't aim to kill but forced them to stagger back, their glowing armor dimming momentarily from the impact.

Jesua used the opening to drop her barrier and retaliate. Tendrils of shadow shot out in all directions, binding the legs of the lizardmen. With a flick of her wrist, she flung them into the air like ragdolls, their armored forms crashing into distant molten spires.

The group began to adapt their tactics as the fight wore on. Sylus used his frost magic not only for direct attacks but to create zones of slippery terrain, forcing the lizardmen to slow down and break their formations. Cyrus capitalized on these moments, darting in and out with rapid strikes that targeted the weaker joints in their armor.

Jesua, while less reliant on direct combat, manipulated the battlefield with her magic, creating areas of darkness that blinded the lizardmen and disrupted their communication. She also directed her shadows to retrieve discarded weapons from fallen enemies, using them as projectiles against those still standing.

The lizardmen, however, were relentless. Reinforcements arrived, their roars echoing through the molten dome. Despite their growing fatigue, the trio held their ground, their movements becoming sharper and more precise as they worked in unison to counter the seemingly endless waves of enemies.

The battle showed no signs of slowing, the heat of the dome intensifying with every passing moment.

The trio pushed deeper into the molten village, each step forward met with increasing resistance. The lava lizardmen, now aware of their movements, rallied in tighter formations, their thick armor gleaming with the orange and red hues of their volcanic surroundings. The heat was oppressive, every breath feeling like inhaling embers, but Sylus, Cyrus, and Jesua moved with purpose, their coordination keeping them alive against the overwhelming odds.

Sylus was at the forefront, his frost sword a blur of silver and ice as he carved through the narrow alleyways of the village. Two lizardmen blocked his path, one wielding a spear and the other a massive shield. The spearman jabbed forward, its movements quick and precise, forcing Sylus to sidestep. The tip of the spear grazed his armor, sending sparks flying.

Using his momentum, Sylus rolled to the side, planting his free hand on the molten ground to stabilize himself. He pivoted, bringing his sword up in a sweeping arc that collided with the shield-wielding lizardman. The frost magic surged on contact, causing the edges of the shield to crack and frostbite to creep toward the creature's arm.

The spearman lunged again, and this time Sylus ducked low, slipping inside the lizardman's guard. He drove his shoulder into its chest, forcing it backward into its ally. Both staggered, and Sylus capitalized by slamming his palm into the ground, sending a wave of ice rippling forward. The frost surged up their legs, freezing them in place momentarily. With a quick leap, Sylus vaulted over them, landing further into the village.

"Move fast!" he yelled, beckoning the others forward.

Cyrus followed close behind, his aetheric blade glowing brighter with every step. A lizardman rushed him from the side, its molten axe swinging in a brutal arc. Cyrus barely managed to bring his blade up in time, the clash of weapons creating a shockwave that knocked nearby ash into the air.

Rather than meeting the creature's strength head-on, Cyrus sidestepped, guiding the force of the axe downward. The weapon embedded itself into the ground, and Cyrus twisted his blade, slicing cleanly through the exposed neck joint of the lizardman's armor. The creature crumpled, its molten glow dimming as it fell.

A group of three lizardmen charged at him next, their weapons held high. Cyrus planted his feet, his free hand glowing with aetheric energy. With a flick of his wrist, he sent out a wave of force that staggered the attackers, their footing slipping on the uneven terrain. He lunged at the closest one, his blade arcing upward in a clean slice that split the creature's chest armor.

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"Behind you!" Jesua's voice cut through the chaos.