Jahi PoV


    A tearing sound rippled through the air, emanating from the center of the throne room, right above the original contact point.


    Anput shot off of myp and readied her de, wide awake at the sudden noise, only to freeze as she stared at the widening tear in space in front of us.


    Floating above the contact point was a rippling green strand of energy that was slowly growing wider and wider with each passing moment, creating a perfect circle.


    A Gate was forming directly in front of our very eyes.


    And standing right beneath it was Leone and Kolia.


    Before I could even trulyprehend what was happening, I had shot out of my seat and shed forwards, Light Mana coursing through my veins as I tackled the two women away from the Gate, just in time as arge, dark silver taloned foot mmed down, cracking the marble tile.


    I spun around and reached for my great sword, only to curse as I realized it was still resting beside the seat I had been upying earlier.


    Thankfully, Anput managed to shake herself out of her stupor and slide the sword towards me, the dual metal de shining under the now multicolored light of the Gate.


    None of us remained motionless as the creature took a step from the Gate, taking the opportunity to buff ourselves with spells beforeunching a probing attack at it, getting a gauge of its defensive capabilities.


    What stepped out of the Gate was a hulking canine like skeletal creature made covered in a dark silver metal.


    Razor sharp talons, fangs, and tail spikes adorned the creature, while its lean frame was built for speed.


    Mom was the first to react, her ymore slicing through the air as she sent a crescent of condensed Fire Mana towards the creatures skull, which it shook as it stepped free.


    As her attack was flying forwards, I summoned three Light Discs and began to will them forwards, while Nirinia added some Wind Mana to Mom''s sh, causing it to explode on the creatures skull.


    Adelina began to shout orders out the door, remaining where she stood as she waited to assist where she was needed.


    Arcs of azure lightning crashed into the bony chest of the creature, alongside giant metal spikes that tried to pierce its armored flesh - though they did attract the lightning and amplify the strikes.


    Finally, anotherrge, superheated bolt of mes collided with the creatures leg, trying to melt and break the appendage to give us an advantage.


    The creature was shrouded in sts of mana that impacted its skeletal like body, and we all began charging up a second barrage of attacks, all while the room was lit up by the myriad of colors spilling from the Gate.


    An unearthly shriek that sounded like knives grinding together echoed from the creaturesrge maw, and it growled as its head swung towards Mom.


    Empty sockets flooded with rainbow light sparked with hate as the creature''s jaw hung from its head, barely attached.


    As for the rest of its body, my Light Discs left deep gouges in its metal like scales, while the Lightning Strikes seared and burnt the creature - though the metal spikes barely managed to leave scratches.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The leg that Leone had aimed for was bent, the force from the st shattering the bone while also partially melting off the creatures scales, revealing the grey flesh that was hidden underneath.


    Before any of us could capitalize on the creatures injuries, it screeched again and pulsed with oceanic blue mana, its wounds healing in a heartbeat.


    My eyes widened in horror as I watched the tworgest spots of damage - its jaw and its leg - regrow and reattach with such insane speed, leaving the creature as good as new.


    "Watch out for its tail!"


    Mom''s shout echoed through the chamber, and I hastily erected a dome of Light Mana around Leone, Kolia and I, shielding us from the swift strike that was aimed for Leone''s skull.


    It growled in annoyance as its tail mmed into a barrier instead of her head, and it peered over its shoulder to re at us, those multicolored ''eyes'' shining.


    "Over here!"


    Another crescent sh impacted the creatures skull, and it shrieked as Mom''s scarlet mes exploded against its cheekbone, showering its head in potent mes.


    Using that momentary distraction, Niriniaunched herself forwards and shed her Dadao across its hind leg before jumping back, staring at the small gash she had inflicted.


    I heard Kolia mutter something to herself before turning to Leone, asking her something.


    "Jahi! Keep the barrier up and active! Give us ten seconds!"


    Instead of replying verbally, I just nodded my head as I traced out runes to strengthen the barrier, all while my free hand grabbed a few mana potions.


    Adelina slipped inside and joined me, adding her mana to mine as she bolstered the barrier as best she could, her golden eyes fixated on the roaring creature.


    Mom remained in front of it, Nirinia joining her as they both grabbed the creatures attention, their des coated in scarlet and green mana respectively.


    Thest person to move was Anput, and she swiftly erected a barrier of her own when the creatures tail swung out towards her, its spikes screeching against the Metal Mana sphere around her.


    My heart lurched as I saw the spikes leaving visible cuts on her barrier, the creature straining to puncture the sphere and skewer the Jackalkin inside.


    Silver mana pulsed from its tail, and the spikes grew ever closer to breaching her barrier, only for the creature to once more shriek in agony as anotherbined crescent sh mmed into its skull, distracting it.


    Anput made her move as it turned back towards the two Knights, slipping under the creatures tail and entering the dome with the rest of us, adding her own mana to it as she gave me a small smile.


    "You two good back there?! It''s ten seconds now!"