The battle erupted in utter chaos.
The Kobolds snarled like starving beasts, swinging crude weapons as they charged into the formation with wild strength, like a violent crashing wave.
The clash of steel, the growls of monsters blending with the hiss of daggers slicing through air, and the endless cries of battle created a chaotic symphony of life and death.
"Ready... Front row... move up!" Diavel shouted, his voice firm and commanding.
Immediately, Nautilus and Lind sprang into action, their figures darting through the gaps of the battlefield like flickering shadows, swift as lightning.
They raced down the narrow path with the precision of warriors honed to a fine edge.
Steel swords gleamed in the dim light, followed by the harsh clanging as they met the crude weapons of the advancing Kobolds, sharp thrusts and slashes bouncing off the enemies' armor.
"Don't let them surround us...tighten formation! Yuna, go!" Diavel gave his next command, eyes sharp as blades, locked onto the shifting situation.
He swiftly drew his sword, his right hand gripping the hilt tightly, his left arm raising his shield, and then he charged into the horde like a bullet, fierce and without hesitation.
His footsteps were powerful and calculated, like a commander directing everything according to a pre-planned strategy.
Yuna didn't hesitate. She followed Diavel, each step light and graceful like a dancer on stage, yet every move carried deadly precision.
She weaved between enemies, her sword slicing in clean arcs, like a cunning wolf amidst a pack of prey.
The Kobolds fought back fiercely against the sudden assault. Some quickly looped behind the two frontline swordsmen, aiming to strike from the rear.
Small but agile, the monsters dashed wildly like beasts gone mad, intent on shattering the formation from within.
They swung their crude weapons downward at Diavel at blinding speed.
A deafening metallic clang rang out as a stone axe slammed into Diavel's shield, forcing him to lower his stance as the shockwave rippled through his body.
Not allowing the enemy to exploit the momentum, Diavel shoved hard with his shield, forcing the creature backward.
In a flash, he raised his sword, its tip slicing through the air like lightning, and drove it straight through the Kobold's throat.
Pixelated dust exploded like a red rose blooming, then slowly dispersed into the air, leaving behind a stillness filled only with the sounds of ongoing battle.
Before Diavel could regain his balance, another Kobold leapt into the air, clutching a crude war pick with both hands, its sharp stone tip aiming to smash down on his head.
But at that moment, the sound of something slicing through the air cut in, followed by a sharp swish...a steel blade struck the monster.
It was Yuna. She had launched a surprise attack from the side, her short sword slashing hard into the Kobold's arm.
The sharp strike threw the creature off balance, sending its attack veering off course, the stone tip barely grazed Diavel's armor instead of smashing his head.
The Kobold staggered and crashed to the ground, rolling like a mortally wounded beast.
Before it could stand, several sharp daggers whistled through the air, embedding themselves into its vital points, shattering the monster's body into hundreds of pixel fragments, vanishing instantly into the air.
Diavel gave a subtle nod, his cold gaze signaling everyone to keep fighting, there was no room for fatigue or delay.
On the other side of the battlefield, Chest and Shivata were holding their ground impressively.
They bravely blocked the monsters from both flanks, not letting them advance a single step, continuously pushing back the charging Kobolds.
Chest's powerful swings and Shivata's lightning-fast strikes formed an unbreakable wall of defense.
However, this came with a significant risk. Every second they held the line, every strike they made, added tension to the situation.
If either of them made a mistake, if either lost rhythm, the monsters would find a gap and break through the defense.
And if that happened, the entire formation would collapse, leaving behind a deadly opening.
Ren raised his sword and dashed into the fray like an arrow tearing through the wind.
His foot slammed into the hard ground, his body arching like a drawn bow, and he swung his sword at the incoming Kobold.
The slash carried a force that seemed to rip through flesh, and the monster collapsed instantly, pixelated blood spraying like rain.
But just as Ren prepared his next strike, another Kobold charged in from the left, its sharp dagger whistling through the air.
Ren reacted swiftly, spinning with precision to dodge, then immediately thrusting his sword into the creature, piercing through its body.
The monsters came in waves, relentless and wild, surging forward like a violent tide.
Pixel blood splattered everywhere, the metallic scent thick in Ren's nostrils. He frowned slightly, but there was no time to be disgusted.
Sweat drenched his forehead, both hands gripping the sword tightly, but his mind suddenly went blank.Something was wrong, a strange, indescribable feeling began to creep into his heart.
Ren scanned the battlefield, searching for the familiar figure of Yuna.
But unlike before, he didn't see her standing beside him, supporting him, fighting alongside him.
A flicker of hope sparked, only to vanish instantly when he saw Yuna in the distance, fighting with Lind and Diavel.
They were putting all their strength into their battle, facing a massive Kobold with thunderous punches.
Yuna leapt up, swung her sword with precision, shielding Lind from a blow. Yet, her gaze was fully focused on the Kobold, not once did she glance toward the battlefield where Ren was surrounded by other enemies.
The feeling of being left behind, forgotten, surged in Ren's chest, sharp as a knife.
He turned his head, breathing heavily, searching for Nautilus, the one who had once been a steadfast companion, someone he could trust in the most dangerous moments.
But just as he feared, Nautilus didn't appear either. He was up ahead, locked in battle with someone else.
Nautilus's strikes were precise and swift, with no delay.
But what chilled Ren to the bone was the fact that Nautilus's eyes never once turned toward him.
He didn't see Ren struggling among the small Kobolds, there was not a hint of concern in his expression.
Nautilus continued to fight like an emotionless machine, unaware that his friend was in need of help.
Another Kobold suddenly lunged from behind, its sharp claws slashing into Ren's shoulder.
Pain shot through his body, and he cried out as his strength began to fade.
But Ren didn't stop. He gritted his teeth, forced himself through the pain, and swung his sword with all his might, severing the monster's arm.
Even so, in that moment, the loneliness became more overwhelming than ever.A sense of isolation, of being left behind, drifted like a cloud through the sky of war.
His former comrades now had new bonds, other warriors they trusted more.
And Ren, now, was just a shadow, unseen amidst the chaos of the battlefield.
He couldn't let himself be distracted any further, Ren kept fighting, despite his unstable state.
His slashes grew weaker, as if there was no strength left in his body.
Each strike now was just an automatic motion, as if his body repeated the reflexes without effort or will.
The sword in his hand felt unbearably heavy, not just from its weight, but from the burden of sorrow and disappointment pulling him down, dulling everything around him.
Ren's strikes no longer carried power or determination like before.
Instead, they were just weary swings, lacking life and passion.
He clearly felt that this battle wasn't just against monsters, it was a relentless struggle against his own emotions, as he gradually realized he was no longer a vital part of this team.
A Kobold charged toward him, but this time, Ren didn't have the strength to dodge.
He raised his sword, but the movement had no purpose, just empty motions devoid of vitality.
It felt like each swing, each step, existed only to maintain his presence in a world he no longer belonged to.
When the Kobold fell, a wave of despair hit him. He looked at the defeated enemy, but the victory no longer brought the satisfaction it once did.
In truth, what he was fighting wasn't the monsters, but the loneliness engulfing him, the feeling of being left behind in a battle where he no longer had meaning.
That feeling grew heavier by the second, like a massive stone pressing down on Ren's chest, making it hard to breathe.
The victories he once earned were now just empty moments, devoid of weight or value.
He had once fought with all his strength...but now, he couldn't find the motivation to continue. Each slash felt meaningless, each step a soulless reflex.
Though the Kobolds kept attacking, Ren was no longer fully aware of them.
He was like a shadow in his own battle, lost among the crowd of fierce fighters, yet no one noticed him.
No eyes sought Ren, no commands from Diavel, Lind, or Yuna lingered in his mind.
They had their own goals, other enemies, new bonds. And Ren was just a piece of the formation, a puzzle piece that had slowly lost its place.
With every battle, he felt himself being pushed further out, no longer contributing anything meaningful.
The comrades he once trusted now seemed like strangers, unable to see the exhaustion and disappointment consuming Ren from within.
He had hoped he could start over, find a place again, but the gap only grew wider.
The Kobolds kept charging, but now, Ren had only the strength of a worn-out machine, moving on autopilot, without passion, without emotion.