Amatsuki Toki's chest heaved violently. Blood had yet to dry, trickling down her jaw, but she had no time to spare for it.
She slowly raised her hand, her blood-red fingertips still pointing at the struggling Dark Giant.
The monster roared, each movement like a mountain collapsing. It tore apart not only space, but seemingly the last shreds of composure in everyone's hearts.
The instant the ice dragon shattered, a thunderous crash shook the land, as though countless panes of glass had broken at once. Amid the spray of blood-red ice crystals, a cold gleam reflected across her pale face.
Amatsuki Toki swayed, but kept her back straight. Her cold, fierce gaze seemed to pierce the snow and dense fog, locking firmly onto the giant's figure.
She knew she had to hold it back.
Her breathing grew heavier, the energy within her churning like surging waves, as though every heartbeat strained to burn through her life.
Yet her resolve never wavered.
She feared neither pain nor death.
What she feared was-forcing Jin An to bear even more.
"Come on..."
She murmured to herself, her voice quiet but clear, like the last war drum in the bitter wind.
The sky behind her seemed frozen in place. Countless figures hung in the air, their fighting spirit churning like flames.
Amid lightning, blades hummed; beneath the storm, spear silhouettes flickered. Heat and cold, light and darkness intertwined into countless attacks, all aimed ahead.
Some gripped their weapons tightly, eyes bloodshot and veins bulging on their foreheads; some prayed under their breath, pouring their resolve into the techniques in their hands; others were already drenched in blood, yet still stood firm as mountains.
They had not retreated a single step.
They were not born heroes, but at this moment, they donned the battle robes