"His health isn't decreasing!" Steel shouted.
Storm stopped attacking. "My bullets are bouncing off him!"
Shadow silently glided toward the edge of the platform. With Mur-Azar's attention focused on those in front, this was the perfect opportunity.
Moving through the shadows, Boran and Steel fought with remarkable synchronization. Boran blocked attacks with his shield while Steel struck with his sword at every opening. They made a perfect duo for distracting the Guardian.
"This is it..." Shadow whispered as he examined the massive opponent's back, searching for weaknesses in the armor's joints and seams. Then he saw it—something unexpected.
In the middle of the Guardian's back plates gaped a hole, as if something had forcefully burst out from within. Its edges curved inward and outward, pale light seeping through. This wasn't natural. Shadow's instincts told him this was a crucial weak point.
"Keep up your attacks!" Boran's voice echoed in the chamber. This was exactly what Shadow needed—more distraction.
He had one chance and needed to use it well. Taking a deep breath, he relaxed his muscles.
As Mur-Azar moved to strike Boran, Shadow sprang into action. Leaping from the shadows, he launched himself toward the Guardian's back. Gripping his dagger with both hands, he plunged it into the hole with all his might.
A moment of silence.
Then an ear-shattering explosion erupted from Mur-Azar's body. The golden energy suddenly extinguished. The massive body staggered, falling to its knees. The platform trembled. The hole in its back burst outward, revealing the energy within.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Mur-Azar roared, his voice cracking with pain and rage. "MY BACK... YOU... HOW?"
Shadow twisted his dagger, pushing it deeper. "Even the strongest armor has a weak point," he said coolly. "And I'm good at finding weak points."
Waves of energy radiated from the Guardian's body. The light bursting from the hole grew more intense. Shadow jumped back just in time—another explosion erupted from the hole in Mur-Azar's back.
"His health is almost gone! One more time, Shadow!" Storm shouted.
"I can't get close! My health drops when I approach the energy in his back! Can't you shoot at the hole?"
"I'm out of mana! Without my Concentrated Shot, I can't hit a target that small!"
At that moment, Boran ran to Steel's side.
"How's your health?"
"Almost maximum, what's up?"
"I'll distract him. When he attacks me, climb onto his back and create as big a hole as you can for the others."
"I can do that... But who are you?" Steel asked.
"A helper. Now get to work."
Boran stepped forward, lowering his shield. "Hey, stone head!" he called out, his voice tinged with mockery. "You said my punishment would be death? But I'm still alive!"
Mur-Azar's eyes flickered wildly with energy. "YOU... INSOLENT... WILL DIE!"
This was exactly the reaction Boran wanted. As the Guardian lunged at him in fury, Boran sidestepped. "Too slow! You must have been better at this thousands of years ago!"
Steel seized this opportunity. While Mur-Azar's attention was fixed on Boran, he started running. One eye on Boran, who noticed this and charged at Mur-Azar, shouting "SSB!"
As the shield struck his leg, Mur-Azar dropped to his knees for half a second—enough time for Steel. He quickly threw himself onto the Guardian's back.
Shadow had also sprung into action. He began climbing up the other side of Mur-Azar. When both reached the hole in the back, Steel gave a signal with his head.
"NOW!" Steel shouted, driving his sword into the hole and pulling with all his might to the side. Shadow pushed his dagger in the opposite direction.
Mur-Azar roared in pain, trying to shake them off, but Boran's constant taunts were driving him mad. "Come on! Is this your best? A statue would be more dangerous right now!"
The hole widened gradually. The energy inside fluctuated wildly, trying to escape. Steel and Shadow pulled with one final effort, and the hole gave way—nearly doubling in size.
"Fire! NOW!" Steel shouted, throwing himself to the side. Shadow jumped to the other side.
Fire took a deep breath. She had focused all her concentration on this single strike. Her staff held five bluish magic missiles above it. Her eyes were glowing.
"This... is... your... END!" Fire cried out and launched the spell.
The missiles cut through the air, merging into a single large projectile before reaching their target. It found its mark perfectly—the enlarged hole in Mur-Azar's back. A moment of silence, then an explosion erupted from within the Guardian.
"NO! THIS... CANNOT BE! I AM... ETERNAL! I—"
Mur-Azar's body began cracking from the inside out. Golden energy burst from every crack. With one final roar, the massive body shattered, and stone fragments filled the chamber.