It took a few seconds to locate Mikangleo when I started looking for him. He was unconscious, but fortunately, he was still breathing. The man was in terrible shape, and I knew that looking at him, I would have to use more of my mana to heal him. Cursing myself for the situation, I poured some stockpiled mana into the man to heal some of his injuries. I could only spare a small amount, but I think the amount I've spared was enough to prevent anything too significant.
The loud sounds of battle erupted behind us as I attempted to pull the man onto his feet. It wasn't easy, but I managed to pull his arm over my shoulder and dragged him back toward the road. When I arrived, I noticed several pockets of splintered roots sticking out of the ground. Likely, Marktavious attempted to bind The Ravager again but was only met with failure each time. Several slabs of the earth stuck out from the ground, many of them from various angles.
"Is this all you have, Mr. God? Your movements have slowed down considerably. Don't tell me you are now regretting your decision to be a noble's lap dog?" The Ravager taunted.
The massive figure of The Ravager was littered with blood and scratches. He was standing firm despite the nasty gash cutting across his arm. His nose was also leaking blood, but he didn't seem to mind it in the slightest. On the other hand, Marktavious was in terrible shape. Despite his best attempt to stand firm, he was hunched over, clenching a nasty wouldn't on his forearm. He had regained Catayalst, and the spear dangled loosely in his grasp. The culprit was that menacing black dagger that was leaking blood in The Ravager's hand.
"You keep running your mouth like you've won. Your goal is to kill me, and as you can tell, I'm very much alive. You're the one who has his time running out." Marktavious remarked with a mischievous grin.
The overbearing gaze of The Ravager washed over my body with the pressure of a landslide. He seemed to contemplate something before his gaze hardened.
"The schemes of the nobility are despicable."
The man turned his body toward me before lifting his hand towards us. With Mikangleo's weight holding me down, it would be impossible to avoid the incoming attack.
"Stone Barrage!" The Ravager growled.
Several fist-sized rocks hovered from his fingertips and soared in our direction. I watched with complete horror as the distance between us quickly became zero.
"Stone Pillar!" The Ravager called out.
Marktavious moved to intercept the stone fragments, but a large stone pillar intercepted him first. This left me with only one option.
'Sorry for this...'
I would use Mikangleo's body as a shield, protecting myself from the spell's assault. In response to that, I would have to use more of my swindling stockpiled mana to keep the man alive with my healing magic. It would not be a pleasant experience for him, but I'll have to make it up to him later. For now, I'll have to stay on goal.
'I don't have much mana left...'
To withstand the barrage and keep Mikangleo alive with my healing magic required about half of my stockpiled mana. It left me with barely a quarter of my usual mana reserves. I could feel the jitters and shakes of the early stages of mana fatigue hit my body like a war hammer, but I had to remain resolute.
The barrage lasted for several seconds until Marktavious's arrival rescued us from the onslaught. He twirled Catalyst with incredible vigor, blocking the stone fragments with efficiency.
"He isn't dead, right?" Marktavious asked. His voice was hoarse, and I noticed that his body was drenched in both sweat and blood.
"I had to use some of my mana to keep him alive, but I might be unable to heal everything. We need to do something. I'm nearly out."
The look on his face told me that he was, as well. He frowned at my response, but I don't think the content upset him. Our hands were forced, and he didn't like that at all.
"Fawkes, if you can hear me, then we're doing it, no rebuttals." He said as he repelled the last of the Stone Barrage. The foxel collapsed to a knee, and his arms flinched from the pain.
"Fawkes?" I asked, but there was no response. He seemed lost in thought.
"I'm going to buy you ten seconds. No more, no less. Channel what you can and blast this motherfucker. I'll get us out of here after that."
"I-"
There was a stir in Mikangleo's movement as the man fell off my shoulder onto the ground. He held his back and refused my help to get back up.
"I'll help you..." He said, his voice more of a grunt than anything.
"I'm counting on it. This is the deciding moment. Let's make it matter.", Marktavious said as he willed himself to stand straight.
I nodded along to his words and began channeling my mana once again. The Ravager began approaching us, but he was notably slower and more patient. Looking at the state of our party, it was obvious that we were on our last legs. Marktavious was right; this was our final chance to do something meaningful. Had I not been weak-willed at the beginning, then perhaps things would have been different.
Marktavious matched well against him, and when he needed our help, we did fold as he said. It was embarrassing to think about. I want to save Astana, but it seems that I still lack the toughness to do so. I can't allow Marktavious to die because of my mistake, and even more so since he's placed his trust in me. It was then that I resolved to go all out, consequences be damned.
Marktavious brandished his spear before launching himself through the air to face down with The Ravager. Their weapons clashed with equal fervor, but the winner would be decided. If this continues, The Ravager's durability and power will overwhelm the foxel despite the range advantage Catalyst provided him.
"I don't want to collapse from mana exhaustion, but I might have to if the spell will have any tangible effect. I'm willing to put my trust in you, Mikangleo, just as Mark has done. Take care of my body until he returns."
Mikangleo looked at me blankly, but I didn't bother searching for a response. I closed my eyes and pulled on every drop of mana I had left. This will be my ultimate attack. The clash of metal filled my ears until a loud grunt drew my eyes back open, and what I saw stunned me.
Marktavious has pierced The Ravager in his shoulder with Catalyst, but in return, The Ravager pierced his stomach with his dagger. The foxel chuckled as blood spilled from his lips and pushed the man backward with his spear shaft.
"Got ya' bitch." Markavious grinned as The Ravager jumped back to prevent his arm from being cleaved off his body by the foxel's thrust. With the dagger lodged in his stomach, Marktavious violently clasped his hands together and interlocked his fingers. "Now, Vine Bind; Burial!"
Upon his command, the roots that The Ravger previously severed sprung to life. They hurriedly moved, wrapping around the now-injured Ravager before pulling him toward the ground. Without his dagger and with his injured shoulder, the man hardly put up a fight. These vines were thicker and faster than any prior ones, which surprised me as much as The Ravager. They dragged him away from Marktavious's location, which gave me ample space to utilize my spell.
I hesitated momentarily when I noticed the pressure of Marktavious's aura hit me with force. The air around me whipped up in a frenzy as I focused my remaining mana into the ring he had gifted me. This would be it. If this failed, then my journey to locate my mother and save Astana would come to an unceremonious end.
"Your crusade against my family ends today, Ravager!" I declared to the man. He stopped fighting against the roots to look at me with wide eyes.
However, I didn't allow him the opportunity to escape.
"Titan Wind Storm!"
As I called out the name of the spell, I felt darkness grapple my mind. I had no idea what transpired or what changed, but I could only hope that my spell achieved our desired results.