Celerion was unlike any Guardian we had faced before.

Dangerous. Cunning. A monster forged from shadow and silence.

We didn't stumble into this fight. This time, we hunted it. In broad daylight.

Celerion was a nocturnal predator, a creature of the shadows. If we faced it at night, we wouldn't stand a chance.

Its attacks were both blindingly fast and devastatingly powerful. Apart from Muradin and me, the rest of the team wouldn't survive a direct hit.

"I don't like this plan," Muradin muttered, adjusting the strap on his dented shoulder guard.

"Left side!" Elena's voice cut through the tension.

Muradin moved to raise his shield, too late.

SHK!

Celerion's claws raked across his arm, slicing deep. Blood splattered against his armor like dark paint.

"Damn it!" he hissed, stumbling back. "That thing nearly took my arm off!"

"If you hadn't twisted, it would've," Elena snapped, loosing an arrow. It missed, but it forced the beast back into the underbrush.

Celerion vanished like smoke. And that was how this fight went.

Elena, with her keen reflexes and sharp instincts, called out warnings from a distance, giving Muradin mere moments to react and block each lethal strike Both of them kept on defensive mode.

Then, for the first time, the attack came from the front.

This time, Muradin was ready. His shield glowed faintly as he raised it before Elena could even shout.

[Bastion Strike cast]

"Gotcha, you bastard," Muradin growled, his shield exploding with brilliant light. The forest lit up in searing white.

But… nothing.

No shriek. No blood. No Celerion.

"…Where the hell did it go?" Muradin muttered, squinting. "I hit it. I swear I—"

"Muradin, behind you!" Elena screamed.

Claws plunged into Muradin's thigh. He let out a choked growl and slammed his shield backward.

BANG!

Shield Bash struck Celerion's skull with a thud. It staggered, snarling, eyes glowing with savage amusement.

Then, like before, it vanished.

Elena fired twice more. Glancing hits. Not enough.

"This thing's making us look like amateurs," Muradin grunted, leaning on his shield. "We're barely scratching it."

"We hold it off. They still need more time." Elena replied calmly.

Muradin let out a dry laugh. "Better be. Running on empty here."

Time blurred. Minutes, bled together in a storm of blood, exhaustion, and pain. Muradin's shield was shredded. His armor looked like it had been through a meat grinder.

Then, Celerion struck again.

Muradin barely had time to react before the beast crashed into him, claws driving straight into his chest.

CRACK!

Celerion rammed into him, claws slamming into Muradin's chest.

"Grrragh—!"

Metal folded like paper. Blood spurted. But somehow, Muradin stayed standing.

In the last possible second, he had activated Bulwark of Defiance. His thickened armor absorbed just enough of the impact to keep him standing."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

But he was barely conscious.

"Damn it!" Muradin staggered back, spitting red. "How long do I have to be this thing's punching bag?!"

"Just a little longer!" Darwyn called out from the trees. "I'm almost ready!"

"I'll help," I growled while dashing forward.

Celerion's razor-sharp claws struck Muradin's shield again with a force that sent a jarring vibration through the air. Seizing the moment, I swung my warhammer with all my strength. At the same time, Muradin activated Shield Bash, slamming his shield into the beast's head.

"Turn off your passive and get the hell out!" I barked.

For once, Muradin didn't argue. He gritted his teeth and staggered backward, retreating without protest.

Now, Celerion's attention was on me.

It lunged.

I met its strikes head-on, blocking and dodging as I slowly backed away. My muscles screamed in protest, but I couldn't let my guard down. Unfortunately, Elena couldn't help me. She had fallen back to a safe spot, nowhere to be seen.

SLASH!

"Gah!" My thigh. Deep, muscle-splitting.

Then, another hit. Right shoulder.

I dropped my warhammer.

"Argh, darn it!"

I couldn't even imagine how Muradin had survived this monster for over an hour.

I had barely lasted ten minutes, and already, my body felt like it was shutting down. My limbs were trembling, my head heavy, my vision hazy. Too much blood loss.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted movement. Elena.

Arrow drawn, waiting for Celerion to step into her range.

Just hold on a little longer.

I stepped back, slowly, luring Celerion closer.

SLASH!

Claws went for my gut. I threw up my arm, felt them pierce clean through.

Swoosh.

THUD.

An arrow struck Celerion in the ribs.

It screeched, retreating, but not for long.

"Finally," I exhaled sharply, gripping the potion in my trembling hand. Without hesitation, I downed it in one gulp. A cold sensation spread through my body as the potion took effect, and within moments, my form began to shimmer and fade.

Invisibility.

I froze. Not a breath. Not a twitch. Any movement could break the illusion.

Seconds passed.

Then, a blur of darkness.

Celerion lunged again.

But not at me.

SLASH!

A sickening sound filled the air as Celerion's claws struck Elena's head with brutal force.

The beast let out a low, satisfied growl, its glowing yellow eyes narrowing.

But instead of flesh, the blow tore through her form like cutting through silk. Her body unraveling into strands of webbing, scattering into the air like wisps of smoke.

RRRRAAAAAAGGHHHH!

A furious roar echoed through the forest as thick, sticky webbing wrapped around Celerion's body, binding its limbs. The more it struggled, the tighter the web constricted, holding it fast.

And that wasn't all.

Its four legs sank into the thick, murky swamp below. The Guardian flailed, muscles bulging, mud sucking its legs under.

A Frostbound Flask whizzed through the air and shattered against Celerion's hide. A blast of ice spread instantly, encasing the beast's body in a layer of thick frost. Elena managed to throw it with great precision.

CLANG! A steel net dropped from above, pinning the frozen creature.

Celerion's body trembled. Its eyes flared with rage.

Then, with a snarl, it shattered everything.

Too late.

A low hum built in the air.

Orin's Mana Bomb whistled toward the Guardian, trailing light.

"Eat this," Orin hissed, and the bomb struck

BLAAAAAR!

A flash of pure blue light swallowed the clearing.

THWIP THWIP THWIP! BOOOOM!

Explosive arrows followed.

The air became fire and shrapnel. Celerion roared in agony.

The smoke hadn't even cleared when Muradin returned, his axes glowing.

"Payback time," he snarled, and slammed both weapons into Celerion's chest with a roar that shook the forest. Thunderstrike Slam.

The beast collapsed.

Still twitching.

Not dead.

"Darwyn, finish it!"

Darwyn unleashed Lightning Bolt, the electric arc striking Celerion with pinpoint accuracy. He then activated Piercing Arrow, followed up with relentless shots that sliced clean through the Guardian's body.

"Orin!" Darwyn shouted.

"Already on it!"

Orin's Electroflask shattered across Celerion's head.

BZZZZZZZT!

Electricity surged through the beast's body, its limbs convulsing violently before its movements slowed… then stopped entirely.

A moment of silence.

Then, a soft glow radiated from Celerion's fading form.

Its body disintegrated into a swirl of white light before vanishing completely.

"Wait… am I seeing things?" Elena's voice suddenly cut through the lingering tension.

All of us turned to look in the same direction, our eyes widening in shock. Whatever she had seen, we saw it too. And it was impossible to ignore.

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