Garden Of The Abyss

"Watch out–!" He yelled out.

The moment his warning came, a flash of immense magical pressure emitted from the Orc God in the form of overwhelmingly bitter ice propelled outwards in a shock wave, quenching the flames with an immediate, cold arm.

As the apex of heat and the zenith of cold met so abruptly, a reaction came from the rapidly expanding particles within the air, knocking everyone back.

Almost seemingly out of spite, the Orc God leapt up, catching the draconic, fire-spewing man and slamming him to the ground, kicking his chest, before attempting to stomp him, only saved by a blast of wind from Elena that knocked Akanni out of the way.

"Ghh…!" Akanni let out.

He knew by watching the way Akanni drew rugged breaths that the man was likely out of the battle after a blow like that.

Catching himself by landing on his feet, he checked side-to-side, noticing everyone else finding themselves on their feet after the sudden explosion.

Now coating the summit, a layer of frost clung to it, with particles of snow hanging in the air as if winter abruptly, and abrasively, swept through.

"What the hell…" Samfrey grunted.

"Ice magic? Wasn't it using fire earlier?" Memo spoke his thoughts out loud.

"Yeah, about that," he explained, "this guy seems to have a crazy variety of magic at his disposal."

Without noticing, Calytrix appeared at his side, prompting him to flinch slightly at her sudden existence by him, holding the same, cheeky smile she usually did.

"I have a theory of my own on this development," Calytrix said.

"We're all ears," he said to her.

At about the same time, Iris came to his side, huffing after the display of magecraft she just ushered against the orc as she wiped sweat from her cheek.

"You alright?" He asked her.

"I'm fine," Iris smiled, nodding, "...this is the last lacyrie?"

He nodded, "That's our obligatory boss fight, yup. You were saying, Calytrix?"

For once, the small-of-stature, black-haired girl seemed annoyed after having been ignored by him for a few moments, but alas, she explained while the others listened.

"It's not for certain, but I believe the Orc God has gained the abilities of those he consumed," Calytrix explained, watching with the others as the orc straightened itself out after the barrage of attacks it endured, "it would explain its variety of different elements."

"...That makes a whole lotta' sense," Samfrey muttered.

"And we have no clue what or who he's eaten," Memo huffed.

After a few more moments, they watched in preparation as the Orc God seemed to recover fully from the flurry of attacks previously launched against it, setting its eyes on them once more.

"...Once more into the fray," Archard said aloud.

"Let's hope it's only once more," he replied.

All at once, they set out, meeting the orc halfway on the large, flat summit now flooded with ice whilst Calytrix and Iris stayed in the back to support them with magic, and Felix to focus on casting his miracles.

Amidst all of their attacks, launched in unison, the Orc God stampeded through them as if gnats pelting against his immutable flesh. It grabbed onto Samfrey's wrist, catching the man whilst he was traveling as lightning, lifting up and slamming him into the ground with a cratering impact–letting go as he intercepted an incoming strike of Memo's greatsword by clotheslining the adventurer with his large arm.

Samfrey struggled to pick himself up, having been embedded in the stone ground below, while Memo sat on his knees for a moment, holding his face as blood spurted from his now bruised nose.

"Look out–!"

–The yell sounded from both Ren and Akanni, though Memo didn't recognize what was going on around him as his head was dazed from the blow.

Only once he looked up, did he see the unstoppable orc, unaffected by the strikes of those behind him, rearing back an axe formed of coalesced darkness.

His eyes widened, though as he tried to stand, the dazed nature of his body led to imbalance as he struggled to move in time.

–CLANG.

Intercepting the dark axe, a presence stood in front of him after he had flinched, accepting his fate in that moment.

Looking up, he saw one man, clad in old, silver armor, blocking the large, powerful axe of darkness with a sword enveloped in light.

"Old man…?" Memo muttered out.

"Stand, Guillermo!" Archard yelled out.

The veteran adventurer was visibly trembling, his knees wobbling and his arms struggling as his entire body seemed to struggle to hold back the overwhelming strength of the Orc God.

He finally found himself, bringing himself back to his feet, "It's Memo!"

The cardinal-haired man yelled out as he assisted the wizened man in armor, swinging his steel greatsword against the colossal axe alongside Archard.

Together, they yelled out as Memo's wordless will brought flames across his blade, pushing alongside the veteran as they repelled the orc's axe.

In that moment, they both fell to their knees, exhausted, but it was a moment of opportunity opened to the others.

Samfrey managed to pick himself up, bleeding from his nose, mouth, and ears, struggling to do so as he gripped his daggers in his cut and calloused hands.

"...Nzazi…: Seven-Pointed Tower of The Storm!"

Just as he spurted the incantation from his cut lips, Samfrey stabbed his daggers into the ground to trigger the magecraft, causing a seven-pointed barrier of lightning-imbued seals around the Orc God.

"Let him have it…!" Samfrey shouted out from the top of his lungs.

It was then, all at once, did an unspoken plan both wove itself, and manifested into reality: each member capable–Ren, Iris, Calytrix, and Felix worked in unison, combining each of their great magics and miracles to form an ultimate force against the Orc God.

"In the depths of darkness, this world was forged. With complete authority, this world's light only persists because of its darkness. It is your authority that makes so; listen and grant my will, and wither my foe to nothingness! Nyx: Anti-Life Rebirth!"