Everything happened within a fraction of a second, too fast for even legendary reflexes to fully process and respond to effectively.
Within a fraction of a second, the Winter Beast regained his composure and recognised the immediate danger. Arthur was positioned directly in front of him with a pseudo-legendary weapon aimed at his torso, while something currently unidentifiable but clearly dangerous was attacking from above.
Both attacks landed on the Winter Beast with devastating power. Arthur’s katana found its mark just as Aether’s dimensional attack tore through space above the creature’s head, creating a coordinated assault that exceeded the sum of its individual components.
Although the Winter Beast managed to create a last-second ice shield around the targeted areas, the defensive barrier proved insufficient against the combined power of Arthur’s enhanced weapon and Aether’s spatial manipulation. Both attacks broke through his hastily constructed protection and landed on his legendary hide, dealing substantial damage that would have been impossible without the Unlucky debuff reducing his defensive capabilities.
After confirming their attacks had connected successfully, Arthur immediately retreated alongside Aether, using spatial manipulation to create distance before the Winter Beast could mount effective retaliation.
And indeed, the Winter beast sent hundreds of ice spears from his body towards all directions. Then, the Winter Beast staggered from the impacts, his consciousness reeling from wounds that shouldn’t have been possible to inflict within his own domain. But more disturbing than the physical damage was the sudden appearance of an entity he couldn’t immediately categorise.
"Impossible..." the Winter Beast muttered as his mind struggled to process what he had just witnessed. "Dragons don’t exist in this world. Dragons are higher existences; why would they follow a human? This must be a drake or some similar lesser creature with diluted dragon blood."
But even as he attempted to rationalise the encounter, his tactical assessment painted a disturbing picture. The creature was incredibly powerful despite its size, and it could also control space with precision that rivalled Arthur’s own abilities.
"Just what kind of freaks comprise this group?" the Winter Beast thought to himself with growing unease.
The battle had just escalated beyond anything he had anticipated, and for the first time since the battle started, the Winter Beast began to question whether his domain advantages would be sufficient to guarantee victory against the human before him.
Aether remained in his compact form, his void-black scales gleaming with residual energy from his recent attack. The decision to maintain his smaller size was tactical—it made him a more difficult target for the Winter Beast’s increasingly aggressive counterattacks while preserving his mobility advantages.
"Master, this beast is quite powerful," Aether observed with a growing frown that creased his draconic features. "My dimensional slash, which could normally kill legendary-rank creatures outright, was only able to injure it slightly."
The young dragon’s voice carried genuine concern and self-doubt that Arthur rarely heard from his usually confident companion. Aether had never encountered such a resilient opponent since Arthur had first summoned him, and the experience was challenging his understanding of his own capabilities.
"Master..." Aether’s voice dropped to barely above a whisper, carrying the weight of perceived failure. "I’m sorry. I’m not good enough. Aether will do better!"
Arthur quickly reassured his companion while keeping his attention focused on the Winter Beast, who was already preparing his next assault. "You’re doing perfectly, Aether. This enemy is just exceptionally powerful. Let’s kill this big bad guy together, okay?"
Aether’s spirits lifted immediately at his master’s confidence, his doubt replaced by determination. "Yes, Master!"
The battle resumed with Arthur and Aether coordinating their spatial manipulation abilities to create a two-front assault that pushed the Winter Beast’s defensive capabilities to their limits. With two teleporting entities attacking from unpredictable angles, the massive creature began struggling to maintain effective defensive positioning.
Time continued passing slowly and relentlessly, and the Unlucky debuff remained active, but Arthur could feel the precious seconds slipping away. The curse wouldn’t last forever, and once it expired, their tactical advantage would disappear entirely.
Arthur grew slightly more desperate as the countdown continued, but he maintained his composure despite the mounting pressure. He was seeking the perfect opportunity for a decisive strike that would end the confrontation before their advantages evaporated.
The confined hundred-meter space was becoming increasingly dangerous as the Winter Beast abandoned all restraint. Powerful ice shards filled the air constantly, creating a three-dimensional maze of deadly projectiles that made teleportation increasingly risky.
Arthur would teleport to avoid one attack, only to find himself forced to physically block another with his katana, then immediately dodge a third that came from an unexpected angle. The same pattern affected Aether—constant movement, desperate blocks, and accumulating injuries from the Winter Beast’s overwhelming offensive power.
Blood began flowing from wounds on both Arthur’s and Aether’s bodies. The confined space made complete evasion impossible, and the Winter Beast’s relentless assault ensured that even their enhanced reflexes couldn’t avoid every attack entirely.
But they weren’t going to surrender. Not when Charlotte’s life hung in the balance.
Arthur whispered through his mental connection to the Cackle Queen, preparing for another psychological assault. But before giving the signal, he decided to ensure perfect timing for what would likely be their most important attack.
His mana began building as his Living Shadow had entered the domain. His shadow merged with him, returning as part of him instead of an independent entity. His shadow was now here, ready to participate in their most desperate gambit.
Arthur whispered instructions to Aether through their mental link. "Use Space Lock when I give the order."
He also prepared the Cackle Queen for her final psychological assault, coordinating three different stunning abilities that would need to land simultaneously for maximum effect.
Arthur himself readied his Shadow Bind skill, his enhanced mana reserves sufficient for the legendary-rank ability before exhaustion became a serious concern.
Time was running out. With only five seconds remaining on the Unlucky debuff, they had to deal massive damage immediately or face the Winter Beast at full defensive capability.