The cave trembled as the thunder bow materialized in Kael’s hands—its shape volatile, unstable, like a weapon carved out of a storm. Arcs of blue electricity crackled violently along its curved frame. The moment it formed, the air thickened, humming with dangerous power.
The first two Death Knights stood ahead, charred and staggering from the earlier clash, their armor cracked, their spectral eyes burning with fury. Behind them, the third Death Knight rose—a towering skeletal figure draped in shredded black plates, its helmet crowned with broken horns, its sword large enough to split the cavern.
The Dark Priest watched from the shadows, smirking.
“A bow of lightning?” she whispered, amused. “Show me, little rat… show me how you intend to survive.”
Kael didn’t answer.
He lifted the bowstring.
It felt heavier than iron.
He felt the recoil before he’d even released a shot—pure thunder coiling and gathering like a tidal wave waiting to break.
Behind him, Rachelle trembled on the ground, clutching her injured back, her breathing shallow but steady thanks to Lorian's potion. Lorian himself was still fighting off the remaining skeletons, his forehead drenched in sweat, lips pale.
They were both barely hanging on.
Kael inhaled sharply.
The bowstring crackled against his burned fingers.
The first Death Knight roared and charged.
Kael pulled.
His right shoulder twisted unnaturally from the force.
But he didn’t stop.
A volatile sphere of lightning condensed into a single arrow—bright, sharp, almost too heavy to hold.
The cavern shook.
Then—
THRUMMMM!!!
The arrow launched.
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Thunder exploded.
The entire cavern flashed blinding white as the arrow speared straight through the first Death Knight’s ribcage. The blast engulfed it in pure lightning, ripping through armor, bones, and the cursed energy animating it.
The Death Knight shrieked—
—a distorted, metallic howl—
—and then burst into dust.
Kael barely had time to breathe.
The recoil slammed through his right arm.
His wrist snapped.
His elbow seared with pain.
His shoulder dislocated with a loud, sickening CRACK.
His entire arm went numb.
He staggered forward, kneeling, gritting his teeth.
Lorain screamed, “KAIN!!”
But Kael didn’t fall.
He planted his left foot, grabbed the bowstring with his good hand, and forced his destroyed arm to move by sheer will, muscles trembling, heat rising from the burned flesh.
The second Death Knight was already sprinting toward him, sword raised high.
Kael’s vision blurred.
His ears rang.
But he drew the bowstring again.
This time, the lightning felt heavier… thicker… like the storm inside him was resisting, warning him.
Your body can’t contain this.
This will break you.
It will burn you from the inside out.
He ignored it.
He pulled.
Lightning spiraled violently into a second arrow, brighter and denser than the first.
The bow wavered in his shaking hand.
The Death Knight leapt—
—closing the distance—
—a shadow with a blade meant to cleave him in half.
Kael let go.
BOOOOOOOM!!!
The second arrow detonated point-blank.
The Death Knight disintegrated instantly—
—an explosion of shattered armor and crackling bones—
—its cursed skull flying back and smashing into a cavern wall before turning to ash.
The shockwave tore the floor apart and flung Kael backward, rolling him over jagged stone.
His right hand twisted grotesquely the wrong way.
The flesh around his forearm blistered.
Veins glowed faint blue from internal lightning burns.
He tried to lift the bow again—
—but his arm didn’t move.
It hung limp, useless.
His breath came ragged in short bursts, each inhale sharp and hot.
The cavern quieted.
Only the Dark Priest’s soft laughter echoed.
“You reckless little fool…” she cooed. “You’ve ruined yourself. Even your gift is eating you alive.”
Kael pushed himself to his feet. He staggered, but he stayed standing.
The Dark Priest raised her staff.
Shadows pooled at her feet.
Bones clicked in the darkness.
“I suppose I should thank you,” she said, her tone playful. “You’ve cleared my pets for me. Now all that remains is to bury you three here.”
Lorian yelled hoarsely, “How is this a C-rank mission?!”
She smiled sweetly.
“It wasn’t.”
From the circle of shadows behind her, a massive armored figure rose—much heavier, much larger, and radiating a killing aura far stronger than the previous two.
The third Death Knight emerged fully.
Its armor was pristine—not corroded like the others.
Its ribcage glowed faint green with necrotic flame.
Its sword scraped the floor, leaving gouges in pure stone.
Rachelle gasped, voice sharp with fear.
“That’s… that’s not possible…!”
Lorian shook his head in disbelief, stepping protectively in front of Rachelle
“A Death Knight of that tier is supposed to be part of an A-rank extermination!”
The Dark Priest giggled.
“Now you understand. C-rank? Oh no, little adventurers… you were simply chosen as sacrifices.”
The Death Knight took a step forward.
The air froze.
Kael couldn’t lift his spear.
His arm was ruined.
His body was screaming.
His power was unstable.
But he still stepped forward.
Lightning crawled weakly across his body—his remaining energy in shreds.
Rachelle whispered, “You can’t fight in that state…”
Kael didn’t answer.
He stood between them and the Death Knight.
Lorian swallowed hard, whispering shakily, “He’s going to die…”
The Dark Priest tilted her head. “Go on then, boy. Struggle. Entertain me before you fall.”
The Death Knight raised its giant sword aimed straight for Kael’s throat.
Kael inhaled once.
Deep.
Steady.
Lightning began to gather in his left hand.
Weak… flickering… but present.
Then—
A soft voice hissed against his ear.
A familiar coil shifted around his
neck.
M’varu.
The ancient, twelve-foot mamba snake tightened gently, its scales humming with dormant power.
Its voice echoed directly in Kael’s mind.
“Looks like you need my help.”
