Hope's vision tunnelled as he stared at the Centaur.
Walker's blood was still fresh on the ground, its crimson hue gleaming under the dim, eerie light. The stench of iron filled his nostrils, and the image of his crushed skull was seared into his mind.
For a brief second, his grip tightened around his daggers, his breath heavy, rage threatening to push him into reckless action—
Then—
"DON'T attack him angrily!"
Kelvin's hoarse voice cut through the tension.
Hope snapped his head toward him.
Kelvin was struggling to stand. Blood dripped from his torn armor, pooling around his feet. His broad sword was cracked, the once-mighty weapon now barely holding together. But despite the injuries, his gaze was sharp, filled with determination.
"It's a Sacred Beast, Hopeless! Your anger means NOTHING to it!"
The words hit him hard.
Hope clenched his jaw.
Kelvin was right.
It didn't matter how much he hated the Centaur.
It didn't matter how much he wanted to tear it apart for what it did to Walker.
This wasn't about rage.
This was about survival.
If he rushed in blindly, he'd end up like Walker—another corpse, another stain on the battlefield.
He exhaled sharply, forcing his anger down.
"Then what do we do?" Hope asked, his voice low but steady. "This thing is stronger than we expected."
Kelvin straightened, lifting his broad sword, despite the cracks running along its surface. His shield was gone, shattered by the Centaur's raw strength. But he still stood.
"We fight together," Kelvin said. "I'll lead the attack. You attack from the side."
Hope nodded without hesitation.
There was no other choice.
They either won—or they died.
The Centaur Moves – A Predator Against Prey
The Centaur didn't wait.
It stomped the ground once—
Then charged.
The force of its movement shook the earth, cracks forming in its wake. Its spear gleamed, a blur of cold steel and unstoppable power as it aimed straight for Kelvin.
Kelvin braced himself, adjusting his stance, his sword positioned in a defensive angle.
Hope moved.
He didn't think—he acted.
As the Centaur rushed toward Kelvin, he darted to the side, circling around like a shadow, his twin daggers gleaming under the dim light.
The Centaur thrust its spear forward—
Kelvin parried, barely stopping the attack.
The impact sent him skidding backward, his boots dragging against the ground.
Hope saw his opening—
And struck.
He dashed forward, his body low, one dagger slashing for the Centaur's flank.
But—
The moment his blade touched its armor—
A sharp, grating sound filled the air.
Screech!
Hope's dagger skidded off, barely leaving a scratch.
> "Damn it—!"
The Centaur reacted instantly.
It twisted its massive body, one of its hooves swinging outward in a devastating kick.
Hope's instincts screamed at him—
He dropped low, barely avoiding the blow as the wind whistled above his head. The force of the attack was enough to split stone, sending a cloud of dust and debris flying.
"Its armor is too strong!" Hope shouted, rolling to the side, quickly regaining his footing.
"Then aim for the gaps!" Kelvin roared back, swinging his sword again. "It's strong, but it's not invincible!"
Hope's eyes flickered, scanning the Centaur's body.
Kelvin was right.
Its plated armor covered most of its body—but there were weak spots.
The joints.
The underbelly
The neck, right beneath its helmet.
Those were the targets.
A Coordinated Attack – Kelvin and Hope Strike Together
Kelvin moved first, his sword cutting a wide arc, aiming for the Centaur's head.
The Centaur blocked it with its spear, their weapons clashing in a blinding flurry of sparks.
But that was exactly what they wanted.
The moment its attention was on Kelvin—
Hope lunged.
He ducked beneath the spear's reach, his daggers flashing as he drove them toward the Centaur's exposed joints—
One dagger sank into the soft flesh of its front leg.
The Centaur snarled, twisting its body violently—
Hope was flung back, barely managing to roll and regain his stance.
But the damage was done.
Dark ichor dripped from the wound.
The Centaur had felt that.
"Good!" Kelvin yelled. "Again!"
Hope didn't need to be told twice.
The battle wasn't over.
But for the first time—
They had a chance.
And they weren't backing down.