Zayn gripped his sword tightly, his injured arm protesting as he swung —
Clang!
His blade met brittle bone, slicing one of the soldiers in half, but another was already there, lunging.
"Damn it — "
A skeletal knight landed on the griffin's back, claws digging into its hide.
The beast shrieked, thrashing violently, but the knight refused to let go.
Zayn spun his blade downward —
SHLNK!
The knight crumbled into dust, but two more took its place.
The griffin jerked suddenly, nearly throwing him off balance.
Zayn barely managed to keep hold of the reins as another skeletal soldier latched onto his leg, clawed fingers digging into his armor.
He had no time.
The core.
He still held it in his bloodied palm. If he didn't act now —
With a final push of strength, Zayn crushed the core in his grip.
CRACK!
A wave of golden energy exploded outward.
The skeletal dragon froze, its hollow sockets flaring brightly for a single moment before —
It shattered.
