The Game's Extra:Azhrael's Odyssey

Seeing the child for whom they had risked everything, the assailants instantly prepared to strike with their full power, their auras flaring dangerously.

Yet, in the next moment, they faltered, their aggression replaced with shock as they sensed a sudden, drastic shift in the air around the couple.

A surge of mana exploded from Xavian and his wife, swirling like a storm of celestial energy. The ground beneath them trembled, and the surrounding atmosphere crackled with raw power. The once-dim aura around the couple now burned fiercely, brighter than any star.

Nathan's green eyes widened in realization, his face pale as he stepped back instinctively. "They... They are burning their mana cores," he muttered, disbelief and unease dripping from his voice.

Burning one's mana core was the ultimate sacrifice—a forbidden act that granted unimaginable power for a fleeting moment at the cost of the user's life.

The mana, once carefully stored within their cores, now raged unchecked, surging through their veins like an unstoppable flood. Their bodies, once weakened and near collapse, were now brimming with strength, but the price was clear.

The black-haired woman clenched her fists, her confident smirk replaced by a grimace. "Fools! Do you think this desperate act will change anything? You're only hastening your end!"

Xavian and his wife paid no heed to the words of their enemies. The pain of their burning mana cores was excruciating, their very essence being consumed in the process. Their veins felt like they were on fire, their bodies on the verge of tearing apart, but their expressions remained resolute.

For their child—this tiny, fragile life that carried their hopes—they would endure any torment. They would give their lives a hundred times over if it meant granting him a chance at survival.

Xavian's grey eyes locked onto Nathan, blazing with an intensity that made even the blonde man, confident in his superiority, take another step back.

"You will not lay a hand on my son," Xavian growled, his voice carrying the weight of his determination.

From the corner of his eye, Xavian caught a glimpse of his wife. She was already chanting, her hands glowing faintly with magic as her spell began to take shape.

They locked eyes for a brief moment, and in that silent exchange, they both knew their roles. With a resolute nod, Xavian stepped onto the battlefield, his body a blur of motion, while Cassandra poured her focus into the intricate spell she was weaving.

The air grew heavier, crackling with tension. The overwhelming power radiating from the couple had clearly unsettled their enemies.

They exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating only briefly before steeling themselves. Nathan, Lia, and the rest of their group knew they couldn't afford to hesitate any longer.

Every second they delayed gave Cassandra time to complete her spell, and they couldn't allow that to happen.

With a roar, Nathan and Lia surged forward, their weapons blazing with energy. In an instant, the group was upon Xavian, their strikes aimed to overwhelm him.

Yet with a simple wave of his hand, a shockwave of mana burst forth from him, extinguishing their auras like candles in a storm.

Nathan's eyes narrowed, but he didn't falter. He and the others shifted tactics, unleashing their elemental magic. Blazing fireballs, sharp wind blades, shards of stone, and tendrils of lightning streaked through the air, hurtling toward Xavian at terrifying speed.

"Ice Wall," Xavian muttered, his voice calm and commanding.

A massive wall of shimmering blue ice erupted before him, its surface glistening with frost as it absorbed the oncoming attacks.

Before they could recover, Xavian dashed forward, his speed leaving afterimages in his wake. In the blink of an eye, he was at the center of the battlefield, his sword glowing with icy mana. He moved like a force of nature—unrelenting and precise.

His eyes flicked to the black-robed man making a beeline for Cassandra. Power surged within him, and without hesitation, he thrust his sword forward. The blade cut through the air with deadly intent, its frosty edge aimed directly at the man's heart.

The black-robed man barely had time to react, his instincts screaming at him to dodge. He twisted his body to the side, but the blade still caught him, slicing through his side.

A pained grunt escaped his lips as blood splattered onto the ground, freezing the moment it touched the icy floor.

Xavian didn't pause, his movements relentless and calculated, fueled by sheer determination. His blade gleamed with frost as it closed the distance to the black-robed man, the tip just inches from his throat, ready to claim his life.

But just as it was about to pierce through, a fiery whip snapped out, colliding with his sword and diverting it off course. Lia stood a few steps away, her black hair billowing wildly as she wielded her flaming weapon with precision. Her lips curled into a smirk as she locked eyes with Xavian, her malice evident.

"Forgot, you are still poisoned," she taunted, her voice dripping with malice.

Xavian's gaze hardened, his grip on the hilt tightening as he adjusted his stance. He barely had time to react as, from behind, Nathan closed in with blinding speed.

His blade, glowing with a golden hue, sliced through the air, aiming for Xavian's unguarded back.

A quick sidestep saved Xavian from a fatal strike, but the blade grazed his side, leaving a burning wound that sent searing pain through his body. He gritted his teeth, refusing to let the pain distract him.

"You're outnumbered, Xavian," Nathan growled, circling him like a predator stalking its prey. "Even with your last burst of strength, you can't win this fight."

Xavian ignored him, his focus razor-sharp as he calculated his next move. His mana surged again, the icy aura around him intensifying as frost began to spread across the ground.

"If I can't win, then I'll make sure none of you leave here alive," Xavian replied coldly, his voice a chilling promise.

With a roar, he swung his blade in a wide arc, unleashing a wave of frost that forced Lia and Nathan to retreat momentarily.