CHAPTER 310: BACKLINE BLITZ

Skeroth moved fast and quietly like a shadow.

His red threads slithered from his fingers and wrapped around the weakest part of Hiera’s glowing barrier.

He pulled once.

Snap!

The barrier cracked.

Another pull.

Shatter.

The glowing shield broke apart into flickering sparks.

Hiera turned her head sharply. "What—?!"

But before she could react, Skeroth’s tail lashed forward with a flash of red light.

It wasn’t just a strike, as it carried something dangerous.

Skeroth whispered, "[Trial Formula X]."

His tail glowed with twisted energy, running with strange colors like corrupted flame.

He grinned. "Let’s see what kind of mutation you get."

Hiera’s eyes widened.

She stepped back, raising one arm to block even without a shield.

"Damn it," she muttered. "There’s another one?!"

She looked around and spotted him for real now.

"You were hiding the whole time..."

Skeroth crouched low, grinning like a mad scientist.

"I prefer to enter when things are... vulnerable."

He took another step forward, tail ready to strike again.

"You support types fall apart the fastest."

Hiera gritted her teeth. "You wish."

But her stance was open, her guard low.

The hit was coming—

Until a flaming barrier dropped between them.

BOOM!

A glowing ember ring flared around her.

Varnus stepped in with a heavy step, sword drawn.

"Not today."

[Knight’s Ember Ring] activated around him and Hiera, forming a bright circle of ember light.

The ring flared with [Ashguard Spark], creating a burst of flame that blocked Skeroth’s attack.

At the same time, [Radiance Brace] activated around Hiera.

A warm aura surrounded her, letting her recover her breath and resist the heat better.

Skeroth narrowed his eyes. "Tch. Annoying."

He clicked his tongue as the flames from [Ashguard Spark] still lingered in the air.

"To think there was another one hiding nearby..." he muttered.

He stepped back fast, his red threads retreating into his sleeves as he moved toward Malka’s position.

Malka turned her head, glaring at him with a sharp look. "You ruined it."

Skeroth raised an eyebrow. "Ruined what?"

"You cut the barrier too early and missed the finish. I had her."

Skeroth smirked. "And yet, she’s still standing. You sure you had her?"

Malka growled low. "Don’t test me, thread freak."

Skeroth chuckled under his breath.

"Relax, Wolf Matriarch. The enemies are two now. We both have to deal with them."

He glanced toward Varnus and Hiera, who now stood close together, firelight glowing from their position.

"If we fight alone, we waste energy."

Malka crossed her arms, annoyed. "I don’t like sharing prey."

"Then think of it as survival," Skeroth said with a grin. "Unless you want to lose in front of everyone."

Malka snorted. "Fine. But don’t get in my way again."

Skeroth nodded. "No promises."

They both turned toward the heroes again, ready to strike together.

Then suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the air.

A blur shot down from above.

"Above you!" Hiera shouted.

It was Quavira.

She appeared in a blink, moving like a blur of feathers and wind.

With [Feather Flash Step], she blinked into their range, her figure almost invisible as she danced through the air.

The wind around them roared as she activated [Hawkzone Pressure], expanding her aerial zone to cover the whole battlefield.

Her body shimmered, becoming harder to follow with the eyes, while the heroes below started to feel slower.

With a flap of her wings, she launched [Sky Whirl Wind], clearing the burning embers and broken flames left by earlier attacks.

The battlefield became clearer but also more dangerous.

"Now!" she shouted, wings slicing the air.

Her talons flashed with light as she struck forward using [Talon Slice], aiming straight at Varnus’s defense.

"Brace!" Varnus shouted, pulling Hiera closer.

Malka moved instantly.

She activated [Pack Pulse], a wild shockwave of beast energy that made Varnus’s footing stumble for half a second.

That was enough.

With a roar, Malka jumped forward, swinging down with [Jawbreak Slash], her claws aimed to crush through armor.

Skeroth followed right behind her.

He pulled out another vial and stabbed it into his neck.

His body jerked slightly, then steadied.

"[Reflex Vial]. Let’s see you keep up now," he muttered, a twisted grin forming.

With speed boosted, he unleashed [Thread Snare], trying to tangle the heroes in his threads and pull them out of position.

Everything happened at once.

But so did the counter.

From behind the flame-covered ridge, Hextor appeared like a wall of steel and fire.

He activated [Plasma Barrier Skin], and plasma energy wrapped around him like armor.

As he jumped between the enemy and his team, the threads bounced off the glowing surface.

He raised his hand.

[Unbreakable Command] activated.

A deep red glow pulsed from his body, and suddenly, Hextor became immovable.

No knockbacks. No stuns. He stood like a fortress.

"You want to break through me?" he said in a cold voice. "Try."

Varnus didn’t waste the moment. He stepped back and called his flame to his blade.

"[Flame Flow Edge]," he muttered.

His sword lit up with slow-burning heat.

He slashed toward the three enemies, sending out arcs of burning ether.

These waves weren’t meant to hurt but to make them flinch, slow, or lose focus.

Malka growled. "Still standing?"

Skeroth hissed, threads twitching around his arms. "They’re harder than they look."

Quavira hovered above them, eyes sharp. "Then hit harder. Or get out of the way."

Malka clicked her claws. "Don’t tell me what to do."

"Focus," Skeroth snapped. "There’s no time to argue!"

Meanwhile, the heroes regrouped.

Hiera raised her voice. "Protect me for now. I’ll empower both of you."

Varnus turned to her. "You sure you can handle this?"

Hiera nodded. "Yes. Just hold them back a little. I’ll make us stronger."

Hextor stepped forward, tightening his fists. "Then let’s make it count."

Hiera took a deep breath and placed her hands together.

A soft light began to form around her.

"It’s time to take this to the next level," she said.

Both Varnus and Hextor stood in front of her, ready to defend.