Chapter 244: Final Throw

Blood and sweat streamed down Miss Khaya’s face as she ducked beneath another one of Ronin’s relentless strikes. Yet once again, she failed to find an opening to strike his back.

’I need to find a weakness.’ Miss Khaya pressed her lips into a thin line. ’But how?’

She scanned her surroundings, and an idea struck her when she spotted several medium-sized boulders nearby. Without hesitation, she swung her spear with all her strength, hurling the rocks toward Ronin.

"Take this!"

The rocks hurtled toward him. Ronin swept his katana through the air, slicing each one apart. His attention shifted to the incoming projectiles, giving Miss Khaya the opening she needed.

’Now’s my chance.’

Mana enveloped her legs as she surged forward, closing the distance in an instant. She darted behind Ronin, pivoted, and thrust her spear toward his back before he could react.

"Die!"

Fine cracks spread across Ronin’s armor as Miss Khaya drove her spearhead into its surface. But the damage wasn’t enough. The armor’s thick plating could withstand far more punishment, and she needed a devastating blow to shatter it.

’I have to break this armor, no matter what.’

Ronin spun around and unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks. Miss Khaya retreated, twirling her spear to deflect each strike. She kept giving ground, unaware of the scattered rocks behind her.

"Th-this is bad! I have to—"

Her foot caught on a loose rock, throwing her off balance. Miss Khaya twisted her spear around and plunged its tip into the ground. She dropped into a defensive stance, steadying herself just before she could fall.

"Thank goodness. At least I—"

Ronin suddenly appeared right in front of her. Miss Khaya’s expression stiffened as she raised her spear to block his attack, but she was too late. Ronin struck first, sending her hurtling backward through several rocks.

"Th-this is bad..." Miss Khaya slowly dragged herself forward, then reached for her spear, which lay a short distance away. "I have to defeat Ronin before..."

"Miss Khaya!" Shaan rushed over and helped her to her feet. "You’re injured. Let me take care of—"

"No." Miss Khaya gently patted Shaan’s shoulder. "You can’t defeat him on your own."

She slowly pointed toward Ronin. "His armor. We need to destroy it if we want to defeat him."

"B-but how are we supposed to break through it?"

"I can use my power to do that. Leave it to me." Miss Khaya offered him a faint smile. "Buy me as much time as you can until I finish preparing."

"Miss Khaya, but..." Shaan fell quiet for a few seconds. "All right. I understand."

"I’m counting on you, Shaan."

Ronin raised his katana overhead. A surge of black energy enveloped the blade, swirling across its surface. He swung the weapon, unleashing a powerful slash toward them.

"Robin Hood, use Explosive Quiver! Now!"

Robin Hood’s arrow shot through the air and slammed into Ronin. The impact hurled him backward, and a deafening explosion erupted moments later. Thick smoke billowed around the armored warrior, obscuring his surroundings.

’This is my chance.’ Golden light enveloped Shaan’s twin short swords. Ronin wouldn’t be able to see me through the smoke. ’I can finish this now.’

Shaan dashed into the smoke and launched a sudden assault. His blades flashed as he unleashed one strike after another, moving as fast as he could. Unfortunately, his attacks lacked the force needed to shatter Ronin’s armor.

"Damn it! I never expected his armor to be this thick." Shaan clenched his jaw and turned toward Robin Hood. "Robin Hood, use Explosive Quiver again! Destroy his armor!"

[Understood.]

Robin Hood drew his bow and released an arrow. It shot through the air and struck Ronin with tremendous force. The impact hurled the armored warrior backward, sending him crashing through several boulders.

"Excellent shot, Robin Hood!"

[I’m sure that damn monster must be nothing but rubble now...]

Robin Hood’s jaw dropped. His eyes widened as Ronin’s silhouette emerged from the smoke, still intact. The explosion had failed to destroy his body, just as Robin Hood had hoped it wouldn’t. Only a few hairline cracks marred the surface of his armor.

[No. This can’t be happening.]

Ronin suddenly lunged toward Shaan, swinging his katana as he closed the distance. Robin Hood reacted instantly, firing several arrows in rapid succession in an attempt to stop Ronin before he could reach Shaan.

[Take this, you bastard!]

Ronin showed no sign of slowing down. He continued charging forward, deftly slicing through Robin Hood’s arrows one after another. He even weaved between the boulders surrounding Shaan, making it difficult for Robin Hood to get a clear shot.

"Where is Ronin?" Shaan scanned his surroundings, gripping his twin short swords tightly. "I can’t see him at all—"

[Shaan, look out!]

Shaan twisted sideways just as Ronin emerged from behind a rocks. He immediately crossed his twin blades in front of him, blocking Ronin’s strike at the last possible second.

"Arrgh!"

Shaan’s arms trembled under the impact. His face flushed as he struggled to withstand Ronin’s relentless pressure. His defense began to falter, and it was only a matter of time before his strength gave out.

"I-I have to think of a way to—"

"Shaan, move!"

He glanced over his shoulder and spotted Miss Khaya rushing toward him, her body enveloped in golden light. Realizing what she intended to do, Shaan summoned every ounce of strength he had and shoved Ronin backward, throwing the armored warrior off balance for a brief moment.

"Take this, you bastard!"

Ronin tried to block Miss Khaya’s attack, but she moved too quickly. Her spear slammed into his face, launching him into the air. His defense crumbled in an instant.

’This is my chance.’

Miss Khaya slid one foot back and hurled her spear into the air with all her might. "Gaia Gale!"

A swirling vortex of wind enveloped the tip of her spear. The weapon tore free from Miss Khaya’s grip and shot straight toward Ronin. He tried to deflect it with his katana, but it was useless. The spear shattered his defenses and sent him crashing through the building’s ceiling.

A deafening explosion rang out, unleashing a powerful vortex of wind that swept through the room. In an instant, chunks of rock began floating off the ground, swirling wildly through the air.

"What the hell is—"

The wind tore through the room, lifting rocks, splintering stone, and swallowing every sound. Shaan drove his swords into the ground, but the hilts slipped beneath his trembling hands. His feet left the ground.

"Shaan!"