Above the canopy, the harpies flapped in wide, spiraling circles—mocking, chittering in strange, garbled noises that sounded like a mix of laughter and squawks.
"We've got one of them! Hahaha!"
"We're gonna have another one of usss!"
Their words were incomprehensible to anyone but them—grunts and hisses and clicks—but somehow, the meaning landed. Like a nightmare that spoke to the gut instead of the ears.
Then it happened.
The Harpy Queen raised one taloned hand—and slashed across her forearm.
Thin rivulets of brown-red blood coiled down her wrist like writhing snakes, glowing faintly with unnatural power.
The harpy holding Jenna turned her body upward—forcing her slack face to face the Queen.
"No!" Han shouted.
With slow, ceremonial grace, the Queen extended her bleeding limb to Jenna's lips. Her claws hooked beneath Jenna's jaw, forcing it open. Blood dripped onto her tongue.
Gulp.
Gulp.
"Rrrahaha!" the harpies cried in triumph.
"Jenna!!" Tess screamed, voice raw. She hurled her spear upward with all her strength.
[Tess (☆☆)'s Spear Throw has raised to level 8!]
The weapon sang through the air like a bolt of fury, aimed straight for the Queen's throat.
But a harpy swooped in from the side—slamming its wing into the spear mid-flight, sending it spiraling off into the trees.
"Skreeeh! Don't disturb our Queen!" the creature snarled, its voice warped and guttural.
Up above, the Queen tilted her head back with satisfaction—forcing more blood into Jenna's mouth.
Han clenched his fists.
Tess's eyes were wide with fear. "Han—what do we do?!" Her voice cracked. "She's my friend—I can't lose her!"
Han's mind raced. Jenna had been their plan—his plan. She was the key to countering the aerial advantage, her arrows meant to clip wings and open up targets.
But now she was out of reach… and turning.
He turned to Raphtalia, gaze sharp. "Raphtalia. How well can you use Lunar Energy?"
She blinked. "Uhh… well—it's complicated. I'm still learning how to shape it, and—"
"You said you could make things with it," Han interrupted. "Tangible things. Platforms, weapons. Could you create steps—floating platforms—for us to reach them?"
Raphtalia hesitated for only a second—then clenched her fists. "I don't know… but I'll try!"
Her blade shimmered with a silvery light as she raised it to the sky.
"I will try!"
Han raised both of his swords, the moonlight catching along the edges with a glint of deadly resolve.
"Tess… Shay," he said, voice low but steady. "Let's get their asses."
Shay smirked and raised her sword. Tess had already recovered her weapon, gripping her spear with both hands.
Raphtalia stood at the edge of the treetops, her blade pointed upward, eyes narrowed with intense focus.
"Moonveil Arts…" she whispered, the energy around her beginning to swirl.
Lunar light gathered around her blade like a silken ribbon being pulled from the sky. Her brow furrowed, sweat beading on her temple. It was more than just magic—it was will forcing shape onto raw energy, her very soul reaching for form in the night.
"Creation of the Moon."
The white light condensed, shimmering into shape—a series of faintly glowing, imperfect platforms materialized in front of Han, Shay, and Tess. They hovered in the air like fragments of moonlight torn loose from the sky.
[Raphtalia (☆☆☆☆)'s Moonveil Art has risen to level 3!]
"Yes! I did it!" Raphtalia cried, her eyes gleaming.
Without hesitation, Han, Shay, and Tess dashed forward, boots thudding onto the glowing steps as they launched upward.
"Solemn Blade: King's Judgment!" Shay roared as she leapt at the nearest harpy.
The beast shrieked in surprise—too slow. Her sword arced down in a silver flash.
The blade sliced clean through its neck.
The harpy's head fell spinning, and its body followed, limp.
[Shay (☆☆☆☆)'s Intermediate Swordsmanship has raised to level 3!]
[Shay (☆☆☆☆)'s Sword Grace has raised to level 5!]
[Shay (☆☆☆☆)'s Knight Determination has raised to level 2!]
"Spear Drill!!" Tess shouted next, her Warrior's Mark bursting into glowing lines across her skin.
She spun into a whirlwind, her spear whirring like a vortex of death, crashing into a harpy's skull. A sickening crunch—and the harpy collapsed, a hole bored clean through its head.
[Skill awakening!]
[The hero, Tess (☆☆), has awakened the skill: Spear Drill!]
"Twin Fang: Double Fang Slash!" Han followed, both swords slashing down diagonally in perfect harmony.
The harpy barely had time to shriek before its head was cleaved from its shoulders, the twin arcs leaving a bloody X in the air.
[Han (★)'s Intermediate Swordsmanship has raised to level 2!]
[Han (★)'s Dual Wielding has raised to level 8!]
In moments, three harpies dropped lifelessly from the sky, crashing through the trees below.
Now, Han, Tess, and Shay stood shoulder to shoulder on Raphtalia's glowing platform, high above the battlefield. Wind whipped around them, carrying the scent of blood and feathers.
Han's eyes locked onto the Harpy Queen, fury burning in his chest.
"Shay, Tess… you take the little one," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll take the Queen!"
Without waiting for a response, he dashed forward, blades at the ready.
Shay and Tess exchanged a quick, fierce nod—and launched after the smaller harpy that hovered protectively beside the Queen.
"Twin Fang: Converging Blades!" Han roared.
He crossed both swords in an X, then lunged forward like a missile—both blades aimed at a single point, the Queen's heart.
But the Harpy Queen didn't flinch. She barely even looked at him.
Her focus was solely on Jenna, still held in her claws.
The guardian harpy screeched and moved to intercept—but Shay and Tess were already on it.
"Solemn Blade: Rending Cleave!"
"Spear Drill!"
Their voices echoed in unison as they struck—their combined assault forcing the harpy into a desperate defense. Steel clashed with claw and wing, sending feathers flying in all directions.
The Harpy Queen finally clicked her tongue in frustration. "Tch… useless."
She released Jenna from her grasp, letting the girl fall so she could finally raise her claws in defense.
Jenna's body dropped—but didn't crash.
A shimmering glow caught her just in time. Raphtalia, standing below, focused her blade with trembling hands.
A soft cushion of Lunar Energy appeared beneath Jenna, cradling her gently.
"Got you…" Raphtalia muttered in relief, though worry darkened her eyes.
Jenna lay unconscious, sweat starting to bead across her forehead. Her face twitched. Something was changing inside her.
Meanwhile, Han's blades found their mark—slamming into the Harpy Queen's chest.
Or so he thought.
The Queen barely winced. The attack dug in—but it was like stabbing into dense, rubbery flesh. Her skin didn't split; it pushed back. Her muscles absorbed the impact.
She smiled coldly.
Like a mosquito bite.
Han's eyes widened. "So her skin is even tougher than her claws…?"
The Queen's claws flexed.
And then—she struck.
To be continued...
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