ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

Chapter 118 LIVES ON A THREAD

Sofia stifled a gasp, her eyes wide in disbelief. "It's... it's supposed to be extinct," she whispered, barely able to contain her awe and fear.

Ethan, his face pale, nodded slowly. "That's the Dark Griffin. Legends say it once ruled the skies before disappearing centuries ago."

Kaelen gestured for them to continue moving, his heart racing. Every step felt heavier, the weight of their silence more precarious with each inch they covered. For a moment, it seemed like they would make it past the creature unnoticed, the soft sound of their footfalls blending into the Griffin's steady breathing.

But then, disaster struck.

Morris, in his cautious attempt to step over a loose rock, accidentally kicked it, sending the stone skittering across the cave floor. The sound echoed ominously, bouncing off the walls like a thousand bells ringing at once.

The Dark Griffin stirred.

'Oh sh*t, this is bad'

Kaelen froze as he thought, his breath catching in his throat. His companions halted in fear, their eyes locked on the slumbering beast as its wings twitched. The Griffin's eyes, dark as the abyss, snapped open, glowing faintly in the dim light. A low growl rumbled from its throat, and the cave seemed to tremble with the sheer weight of its power.

"We need to move—now!" Kaelen hissed, already stepping back, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Roar!!!!

Rumble!!!!

Before they could retreat, the Dark Griffin let out a deafening roar, shaking the cave to its core. The ground beneath them trembled as the beast rose to its full height, towering over them, wings unfurling and blocking the cave's entrance entirely. The temperature seemed to drop as the Griffin's dark aura enveloped the group, a primal fear settling into their bones.

"Brace yourselves!" Kaelen shouted, unsheathing his sword as the others prepared for what seemed like an impossible battle.

The Dark Griffin, fully awake and enraged, lunged forward with terrifying speed, its talons slicing through the air as it prepared to strike.

"Move!!!!" Kealen yelled with all his might when he could feel death looming over him as the Dark Griffin got closer.

Not giving it even a second for second thoughts, Kaelen and his companions bolted out of the cave, their hearts pounding in their chests as the ground shook beneath the enraged Dark Griffin's powerful strides. The beast's deafening roar echoed behind them, a terrifying reminder of how close they were to death.

Each of them could feel the Griffin's hot breath as it chased them relentlessly, its massive wings flapping, causing gusts of wind that nearly knocked them off their feet.

"We need to split up!" Kaelen shouted, his voice strained as he tried to keep his balance. He knew they couldn't outrun it forever. "Guinevere, Morris, head for the trees! Ethan, Sofia, flank left!"

His companions didn't argue—they scattered in different directions, hoping to confuse the Griffin. But the beast was faster than they anticipated. It lifted off the ground, its massive wings creating a whirlwind as it soared above, easily tracking their movements from the sky.

"It's too fast!" Sofia yelled, fear gripping her as she glanced back at the pursuing beast. "We can't keep running like this!"

Morris was the first to act. He slammed his scepter into the ground, his eyes glowing with power as he summoned his multicolored mana. "This is for Eldoria!" he yelled, launching a swirling, radiant blast toward the Dark Griffin. The attack hit the beast with a blinding explosion of energy, forcing it to screech in agony, its massive body jerking back in surprise.

"Time to show you what real firepower looks like!" Guinevere shouted, her eyes blazing with determination. She called upon her rare, ferocious blue flame, channeling her prodigious talent as a fire mage. The flame coiled and surged from her hands like a raging inferno, engulfing the Griffin's left wing. The beast roared, thrashing as the searing heat threatened to burn through its mighty feathers.

Eldric stepped forward, his sword crackling with tribulation lightning. "Let's end this!" He swung his sword in a deadly arc, the lightning coiling around the blade like a serpent. The strike connected with the Griffin's other wing, sending jolts of pure energy coursing through the creature's body. The Dark Griffin screamed in fury, its massive wings struggling to keep it airborne.

Ethan darted in next, his twin daggers shimmering with a strange, smoke-like mana. He moved with lightning speed, slashing at the beast's legs and torso with precision. His strikes were quick and deadly, his smoke-like mana leaving trails of shadow behind. The Griffin snarled, its focus divided as it tried to fend off the relentless assault.

Sofia's Sacred Golden mana lit up the battlefield next. Her attack was both menacing and radiant, as though divine judgment itself was coming down upon the Dark Griffin. "Let this be your end!" she cried, releasing a concentrated beam of golden energy that pierced through the Griffin's chest.

The creature's pained screech echoed across the cliffs, its body visibly weakening under the relentless assault.

Finally, Kaelen stepped forward, his eyes locked onto the creature. His armor, the Eternal Guardian, glowed with the Sacred Light, illuminating the battlefield. In his hands, his sword shimmered with the newly unlocked move, Sword Constellation. He raised his sword high, the stars themselves seeming to gather in the blade.

With a final cry, he swung down with all his might, the Sacred Light and Sword Constellation merging into a brilliant, otherworldly slash.

The air hummed with power as the strike connected. Stars exploded from the blade, each one finding its mark on the Griffin's body. The beast let out one last roar of defiance, but it was too late. The combined force of all their attacks overwhelmed it. Kaelen's sword slashed through the Griffin's heart, the Sacred Light burning through its core.

The Dark Griffin let out a final, pitiful cry before collapsing on the cliff's edge, its massive form shaking the ground one last time. Bloodied and exhausted, the group watched in awe as the ferocious beast, once thought to be unstoppable, lay dead before them.

**Dark Griffin defeated!!**

**Quest Completed!!**

**Rewards granted!!**

**Title: Griffin Slayer recieved!! (150% extra damage on Hybrid Ferocious beast)**

Silence filled the air, broken only by the sound of their heavy breathing and the monotonous voice inwhich only Kaelen could hear

"We... we did it," Morris said, his voice trembling with disbelief.

Kaelen, still holding his glowing sword, nodded slowly. "Yeah... it's over."

Guinevere wiped sweat from her brow, her blue flames dying out. "That was insane. I didn't think we'd survive."

Sofia glanced at the fallen creature, her Sacred Golden mana still flickering faintly. "But we did."

As the adrenaline began to fade, the group gathered around Kaelen, who had dealt the final blow. They exchanged tired smiles, knowing that, together, they had accomplished the impossible.