Even the humans who fought back were very surprised by the strength that they were showing at the moment! They knew that it wasn't their strength! Instead, they were using the strength of these Swords which seemed to increase their strength. The Sword also had some divine power.
Caen watched the unfolding spectacle with mild amusement. He marveled at how these mortals, who moments ago were living their mundane lives, had now been thrust into a life-or-death battle against a creature from the Abyss.
To make this battle more fun, they had even given some Divine Swords to these people so the battle wasn't too boring. Unfortunately, most of them people chose to escape with the swords or it would've been even more fun.
"If they all fought together, they had a chance of surviving ten minutes. But now... The outcome is already clear. What a pity," one of the young gods shook his head.
As the minutes passed, some of the mortals' attacks began to find their marks. They tried to attack different places, in an effort to find weak points in the Nightmare Beast's defenses and exploited them to inflict minor injuries.
Their courage sparked a glimmer of interest within Caen's heart. Unfortunately, they were still too weak.
Even though he had chosen the weakest nightmare beast, these people were still unable to harm it, even with Divine Swords. Instead, one after another, they kept dying.
Fortunay, observing the spectacle with a mix of curiosity and satisfaction, decided to intervene. He used his godly powers to create illusions around some of the mortals, providing them with the temporary appearance of greater strength and speed. The illusions also boosted their morale, urging them to fight even harder.
These empowered mortals felt the surge of newfound strength and used it to their advantage. They coordinated their attacks, distracting the Nightmare Beast while others struck from behind. The creature roared in anger. Their attack hadn't hurt it much.
Elysia, too, joined the fray in her own way. She used her abilities to create protective barriers around some of the mortals, shielding them from the Nightmare Beast's more devastating attacks. Elysia knew that she couldn't let them die too quickly; or it was going to be too boring
The battle raged on, and time seemed to stretch infinitely for the mortals fighting for their lives. Every second felt like an eternity, and yet, they persevered. They refused to succumb to fear and despair, fueled by the belief that they could overcome the impossible, thanks to the manipulation of Elysia.
"We can't let the cowards have a fun time either. I'll take care of them in the meantime." Caen created a new portal, calling a second nightmare beast.
The powers who were fighting the first nightmare beasts were scared. It was already hard to hold back the first, but the second meant certain death.
However, to their surprise, the second nightmare beast didn't attack them at all. Instead, he rushed in a different direction.
The Second Nightmares Beast ran in the direction that others had run to.
It seemed that the second Nightmare Beast had a different target in mind. It sprinted through the streets, its monstrous form causing panic and chaos among the fleeing mortals. The ones who had chosen to run and hide suddenly found themselves face to face with an even deadlier threat.
The game of hide and seek had begun with the second nightmare beast... A game which was filled with blood.
The sound of screams filled the air as the Nightmare Beast pounced on its unsuspecting prey.
Its claws tore through flesh and its fangs sank deep into the unfortunate souls who had sought refuge. The mortals fought desperately, but their resistance was futile against such overwhelming power.
Caen and the Young Gods observed the unfolding chaos with a mix of amusement and satisfaction. The battle between the remaining mortals and the first Nightmare Beast continued, their numbers dwindling as the creature struck them down one by one.
Those who had initially shown bravery now faced an even more daunting challenge as the second Nightmare Beast rampaged through the streets.
Fortunay couldn't help but laugh at the spectacle. "Oh, this is getting interesting! Let's see if any of them can survive this double onslaught."
Elysia focused her attention on providing what limited aid she could to make it more interesting, reinforcing the mental fortitude of the people who were attacking.
As the battle raged on, the mortals fought with every ounce of strength and determination they possessed. Their bodies bore the wounds of their efforts, but they refused to back down. Some managed to strike small blows against the creatures, drawing blood and eliciting roars of pain.
Unfortunately, after the five minute mark passed, the Fierce Nightmare Beast attacked even more fiercely and strongly, as if it was hiding its strength before.
Their hope of survival that they had gained previously was destroyed instantly. It was clear that they were being toyed with! They were intentionally given hope, only for it to be taken away later.
Minutes turned into what felt like hours, and the mortals' numbers continued to dwindle. But amidst the chaos and despair, a glimmer of hope emerged.
A group of individuals amongst the people who had run away, bound by their shared will to survive, banded together to form a united front against the Nightmare Beasts.
Their coordinated attacks and strategic maneuvers caught the attention of Caen and the Young Gods. They watched intently as this small group utilized their individual strengths and the divine power of the swords to their advantage. The mortals' efforts were far from perfect, but they displayed a resilience and ingenuity that was admirable.
Elysia's expression softened as she witnessed the mortals' determination.
"Perhaps it's not the end here," she murmured, her voice filled with a mix of astonishment and admiration.
Fortunay's grin widened. "I must say, they're putting up quite the show. It seems they're not as pathetic as we initially thought."
