Hero of Darkness

As the rest of the group engaged in a concerted effort to divert Sylvana's attention, Kahn silently vanished from the battlefield, his movements shrouded in a cloak of stealth.

"You leave me no choice." spoke Maximus in his titanic form.

Slash!

A resounding slash echoed as Kahn swung his greatsword, aimed at severing Sylvana's right arm. However, his strike only managed to graze her, a testament to her formidable defensive capabilities.

Dhang!

With unwavering determination, Maximus sprang into action. He lunged forward, using his shield as a battering ram to propel the colossal dryad summoner nearly 20 meters away with a powerful crash.

BOOM!!

BOOM!!

Explosions of fireballs erupted from behind as Speki's fiery projectiles found their mark, scorching Sylvana's form. Simultaneously, Vikaat's raven-like metal claws, honed to a lethal edge, tore into and sliced across her left thigh.

From the ground, Borat and the others joined the fray, their concerted strikes adding to the onslaught. Maximus, unrelenting, continued to land fatal blows in rapid succession.

However…

Yet, in the midst of this ferocious battle, Sylvana's resilience proved astonishing. Despite the onslaught of attacks, her severed limbs and arms swiftly regenerated and reattached themselves, akin to veins reweaving into her form. The forested surroundings, rich with vitality, provided her an ample wellspring of resources. Drawing sustenance from the very trees to which she was bound, Sylvana bolstered her strength, healed her wounds, and regenerated her body.

In essence, unless confronted by a genuine Saint or a Legendary Rank monster, Sylvana's assured victory remained unchallenged.

"You can't defeat me with your weak strength and skills." declared Svana with a grin.

Bang!

This time, Maximus crashed against Sylvana with his shield again but for the first time… the dryad did not budge a bit or was even slightly moved from her place.

[Dammit! Has she already become a Saint-level being? Even a 1st Stage saint will have a problem facing me when I'm using Inazami's Champion as a semi-saint.

Yet she seems completely unaffected.] spoke Maximus to his team members.

"Give up, Hero of nature. I'm invincible in these lands." spoke Sylvana with unadulterated confidence.

Swoosh! 

In a sudden burst of blue light, a diminutive figure caught Sylvana's attention—an agile wolfkin, standing at a mere three meters in height, soared into the air with remarkable speed.

Kahn, who had momentarily vanished from the battlefield, had now reappeared. Positioned strategically behind Maximus's towering shield, he obscured Sylvana's line of sight. Seizing the opportunity, Atreus swiftly descended from above, his form now adorned with the fierce visage of a wolf's head.

"Fenrir's Rage!" Kahn's voice resonated with unwavering determination as he uttered the incantation.

In a breathtaking display, a colossal wolf head, formed of unyielding permafrost, materialized directly above Sylvana, its immense form spanning an astonishing twenty meters in height.

The appearance of the colossal wolf head was a manifestation of one of Kahn's rarely used Brawler class warrior skills—a technique he had learned long ago but had refrained from deploying, even during the Tribal Tourney where its one-shot potential could have been advantageous.

Its drawback was the extended charging time, leaving Kahn vulnerable to interruption.

Yet, this moment was different. Hiding behind the imposing shield held by Maximus, Kahn had seized the perfect opportunity.

Maximus had engaged Sylvana in battle, ensuring her focus remained elsewhere, allowing Atreus to approach undetected.

The immense, cerulean wolf head, its red eyes radiating a chilling aura of bloodlust, materialized before Sylvana with an astonishing impact.

The sheer sight of it was enough to paralyze her, an overwhelming surge of terror coursing through her being.

Frozen in place, Sylvana was gripped by the visceral dread that emanated from Kahn's formidable killing intent, her ability to react or defend herself stifled by the sheer intensity of the moment.

SNAP!!

With a resounding finality, the colossal wolf head descended upon Sylvana, its massive jaws snapping shut and severing her head from her body.

The once formidable dryad summoner met her end in a swift and gruesome manner, her reign of terror abruptly concluded.

BANG!!

As the lifeless body of Sylvana collapsed to the ground, the thousands of trees that had been a part of her titanic form toppled and fell, their connection severed as her skill was destroyed.

No longer bound by her influence, the forest regained its natural state.

In the aftermath of the battle, Sylvana's true form was revealed, her once-imposing stature reduced to her original size.

She lay vulnerable and defeated before the Hero's Party, the culmination of their strategic efforts and unwavering determination.

Unlike before when the battle began and Sylvana had the upper hand…

Now, she was at the mercy of Hero's Party.

----------------

Kahn and Maximus exchanged a significant glance, their curiosity piqued by Sylvana's existence. Eager to uncover more about the Gods Domain and its enigmatic protectors, they decided to confront her about it.

"You mentioned that you're one of the guardians. How many guardians are there?" Maximus inquired, his voice laced with a mixture of determination and intrigue.

Sylvana's response was defiant, her resolve unshaken even in the face of defeat.

"I won't talk, even if you resort to threats or violence."

A cold smile played at the corners of Maximus's lips, his tone taking on a more ominous edge.

"Who said anything about killing you? There are other ways to make you talk."

He leaned closer, his gaze unwavering as he continued...

"We could simply subject you to a little... persuasion. We have time on our hands, and trust me, we won't hesitate to use it."

Sylvana's defiance did not waver, her resolute demeanor holding firm.

"Try as you might, I will never reveal anything, no matter the methods you employ."

Maximus's expression remained stoic, his response calculated.

"Very well, if that's your choice."

With those words, his attention shifted to a particular member of their party, one whose reputation for sadistic tendencies was well-known. Glowing tattoos and icicles adorned this individual, and the mere anticipation of their involvement sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.

The Hero's Party collectively averted their gazes, their unspoken acknowledgment of the impending ordeal casting a somber shadow over the scene.

At this moment...

The entire Hero's Party averted their gazes towards a certain sadist psychopath.