The wyvern, engulfed in flames, writhed in agony and could no longer fly. Seizing the moment, the team swiftly adjusted their positions while the Nameless King, forced to abandon his unruly mount, stepped aside temporarily to avoid being caught in its thrashing.
The team remained focused, prioritizing the dragon over attacking the Nameless King himself. Finally, Ais plunged her weapon through the wyvern's eye and into its brain, ending its life.
"Great! Now that we've killed the wyvern, things will be much easier without aerial attacks. With him grounded, he's no longer a serious threat. Everyone, stay coordinated and take him down!"
The members of the Loki Familia were thrilled, as they had neutralized a major problem, and now the ground battle would be more manageable.
"What a pity! The dragon looked impressive. Since he could ride one, could we try to capture one too?"
Tiona exclaimed excitedly. The thought of having a flying mount intrigued everyone, though taming one was likely a daunting task, given how wild and untamable most creatures in this world were.
Just as the team entertained the idea, a golden bolt of lightning struck near them, forcing them back. The Nameless King summoned the lightning to clear space around himself, allowing him to approach his fallen dragon, now a scorched corpse.
" Apologies, I got a bit carried away and forgot he was still here," Someone muttered, but their confidence quickly wavered as they noticed the Nameless King's actions.
He raised his weapon, aiming it not at them, but at his slain wyvern. The team watched in shock, trying to comprehend why he would strike down his own mount, especially when it was already dead.
Without warning, the Nameless King thrust his spear into the wyvern's body, and a massive golden lightning bolt surged through his weapon, enveloping both him and the dragon. An intense flash obscured their vision, and when the mist cleared, Riveria dispersed it to reveal the scene.
The dragon's body had vanished, while the Nameless King was now shrouded in an intense, golden lightning aura, far more powerful and menacing than before.
"Where did the wyvern go? Did he absorb it somehow?" The group looked on, horrified. What they had assumed to be a simple mount or combat companion turned out to be a source of power. Even in death, the wyvern had strengthened him.
Now, the Nameless King's power was visibly amplified, his body radiating with terrifying golden lightning that stung their eyes just to look at.
Without wasting a moment, he raised his weapon and charged forward at a blinding speed, moving so fast that the team barely had time to react.
Fortunately, Riveria, noticing the Nameless King's terrifying power, had quickly cast a barrier spell just in time.
As an adventurer at Level 6, this spell would have required significant time to chant, but now, with her newfound strength as a Level 8, she managed to deploy it rapidly, creating a shield that intercepted the Nameless King's assault.
However, it was only a temporary defense; the barrier began to crack almost immediately under the pressure. The Nameless King's strength rivaled that of a Lord of Cinder, suggesting he was at least Level 9, perhaps even more formidable.
Although Riveria's barrier couldn't completely stop him, it created a brief delay, giving everyone enough time to dodge his attack.
"He's unbelievably fast! I couldn't even see what was happening," Tiona said with a shiver. "If Riveria hadn't cast that barrier, one of us would've been hit for sure. And whoever got hit might not have survived!"
"Lefiya and I will keep him slowed with magic," Riveria directed. "Ais, your agility is unmatched, find a way to keep him occupied. Gareth, stay alert for his attacks, and shield us if we can't react in timeus!"
Riveria's strategic order had Gareth protect her and Lefiya not out of fear, but because the two of them were crucial for sustaining the entangling spells needed to restrict the Nameless King's movements.
By slowing him down, Ais would have a chance to engage him, giving the rest of the group an opening to support her. However, during chanting, they'd have no defensive capabilities, so Gareth's protection was essential.
Understanding her role, Gareth raised his Yhorm's Shiled, and stood watch in front of the two mages, prepared to guard them against any threats.
Seeing their coordinated effort, the Nameless King realized their plan and charged toward Riveria and Lefiya. But before Gareth had to intercept, Ais cast a wind spell to counter his approach, forcing him to halt. Simultaneously, Tiona and Tione released a barrage of dragon-hunting arrows, their shots aimed to halt his advance.
Soon, Riveria and Lefiya completed their entangling magic. Thick vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Nameless King, impeding him while leaving Ais and her allies unaffected.
Although he quickly shattered the bindings, this brief pause was all Ais and the Amazonian sisters needed to close in and encircle him.
Though the sisters wielded bows, they were also adept at close combat. Bete, too, joined the fray, switching between ranged and close-quarters strikes, preventing the Nameless King from gaining any advantage. Despite his immense power, he struggled to escape their relentless teamwork and coordination.