Warlock of Oceans: My Poseidon System

Athena, moving close by, reacted to another Deer lunging at her. She pivoted on her heel, her momentum flowing smoothly as she drove her knee into the creature's side. The impact was brutal, a sickening crack filling the air as its ribs gave way. Using the creature's weight against it, she pushed it back, simultaneously swinging her hand to release a mana-infused wave that ricocheted off the ground, slamming into a Deer that had attempted to flank her from behind. The mana erupted on contact, leaving scorch marks as it tore through the Deer's flesh. The Deers regrouped, their numbers seemingly infinite as they surrounded them, sensing weakness. Sylus moved to intercept, his body a blur as he flowed between the creatures with deadly precision. He parried one bite with the flat of his blade, then shifted his stance and pivoted backward, slashing through another creature's hind leg. His movements formed a web of defense around Cyrus and Athena, holding the line against the horde. "Back-to-back," Cyrus barked, seeing the gap created by Sylus's swift maneuvers. He and Athena moved instantly, pressing their backs together, each covering the other's blind spots. It was a shield formation they could maintain while using each other's movements to enhance their reach. As another wave surged forward, Athena conjured a barrier of mana in front of them, absorbing the impact of the first few Deers before it shattered under the sheer force of their assault. Taking advantage of the momentary reprieve, Cyrus brought his sword up, energy flickering as he focused his strength into a single, sweeping arc. The blade cut through the air, ripping into the front line of Deers and sending a cascade of ethereal light through the darkness. Athena didn't waste a second. She crouched low, ducking beneath Cyrus's blade, and extended her palm. She whispered a spell, releasing a concentrated stream of mana that tore through the Deers charging toward her. They flinched back, bodies crumpling as her magic exploded upon impact, but the brief opening was soon swallowed by the next wave of attackers. One of the Deers leaped high, claws stretched out to reach Athena's face. Sylus reacted instantly, his sword flashing up in an arc to intercept it in midair. The creature's body fell in two pieces, splattering the ground, but he barely had time to pull his sword back before another snapped at his leg. Sylus pivoted, his foot slamming down to stomp on the creature's head, crushing it beneath his heel with brutal efficiency. He spun around, positioning himself in a way that forced the Deers to approach from only one angle. Another group of Deers coordinated a simultaneous attack on Cyrus. Two from his left and one from the right surged forward with frightening speed. Cyrus angled his blade horizontally to block the ones on his left, bracing himself as the weight of their bodies pushed him back a step. As they snapped at him, he gritted his teeth, using his momentum to roll over one of the Deers' backs, flipping behind them and using the motion to drive his blade down through their exposed spines. They fell in a heap, and Cyrus quickly pulled his sword free, ready for the next onslaught. Athena, meanwhile, was enveloped in her own intense rhythm. She conjured shards of ice with a wave of her hand, the crystals sharp and deadly as they flew outward like shrapnel. Each shard hit its mark, embedding into the deer that dared to come close, freezing them in place. A creature lunged through the ice barrier she'd created, its claws outstretched to rake her arm, but Athena dodged just in time, spinning on her heel and releasing a burst of energy that sent it spiraling back. Sweat dripped down their faces as the endless assault wore on. Cyrus's muscles burned with every swing, but his mind was focused, calculating each move. He and Athena moved in perfect tandem, every shift, every dodge, executed to keep the Deers from overwhelming them. At that moment, Sylus took a deep breath, calling on his aether reserves for one decisive move. He drove his sword into the ground, and a shockwave of aether spread outward, forcing back a handful of Deers, disorienting them momentarily. "Now!" he shouted. With the momentary reprieve, Athena channeled her mana into one powerful blast, her palms glowing as she conjured a swirling vortex of energy that she hurled at the line of Deers. The impact was explosive, a searing light tearing through the horde and sending debris and bodies flying in every direction. Cyrus didn't miss the opening. He rushed forward, his blade cutting through the retreating creatures, his strikes precise and merciless as he pushed deeper into the pack. Behind him, Athena kept pace, her magic surging around them like a protective barrier, blasting back any creature that tried to flank them. For a moment, it seemed they had control. But more Winter Deers closed in, their endless numbers pressing in like a rising tide. Yet, despite the odds, the three of them fought on, relentlessly, their bodies and minds operating on sheer will as they pushed through the horde, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Realization settled in like a cold weight as the three fought on, recognizing a grim truth: no matter how many Winter Deers they felled, more kept coming. Their numbers were limitless, filling every gap in the forest as quickly as they were cut down. Sylus's gaze narrowed, catching the unnaturally seamless respawns of the creatures, their movements looping as if bound to an unseen rhythm. Unlike the mutated frogs they'd fought before, these Deers moved like shadows cast by something else entirely. Sylus, steady in the chaos, called out, "We're in an illusion. Pour every drop of aether you've got into breaking it." Understanding washed over Cyrus and Athena, and without hesitation, they centered their strength, gathering raw aether within. Energy crackled around them, expanding in radiant waves. All at once, they unleashed their power, the combined force of their aether striking outward, shattering the illusion like fractured glass. The forest twisted and trembled, the colors fading into blinding light as the false reality disintegrated. And then, with brutal suddenness, they were back in the forest—but it was no longer the same forest. The Winter Deers surrounded them, unmoving yet imposing, their vacant eyes watching from all sides. Even as Cyrus caught his breath, his gaze was drawn to four massive figures positioned at each cardinal direction. These Winter Deers dwarfed the rest, their eldritch forms twisted beyond comprehension. Antlers branched outward in impossible fractals, covered in eyes that seemed to observe their every move with eerie intensity. The air grew thick, heavy with the raw weight of these eldritch beings, each exuding an aura of deep, ancient malevolence. Cyrus clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay focused as he noticed a sudden shift. The smaller Winter Deers, alerted to their broken illusions, charged all at once, a tidal wave of bodies hurtling toward them. He saw the unmistakable shimmer in their eyes—a signal that another illusion was being conjured. "Stay sharp!" Sylus warned, his voice steady and commanding, and without a second's hesitation, they surged into action. Cyrus pivoted to face the oncoming horde, aether radiating from his blade as he dashed forward. He ducked under the claws of the first Deer, bringing his sword up in a fluid arc that severed its throat before turning his blade sharply to slice into the side of another. A sudden flash of shimmering air signaled an illusion forming around him. With a grunt, he released a controlled burst of aether, its golden energy dispersing the enchantment before it could fully take hold. Each swing of his blade carried intent, each movement precise as he maintained his balance amidst the chaos. Athena stayed close by, her mana gathering into her palms as she conjured a series of flaming orbs that rotated around her in a defensive ring. With a swift command, she directed them outward, each one locking onto a different target. The blasts tore through the Winter Deers, leaving a trail of burning embers in their wake. But as she steadied herself to release another round, she felt an unfamiliar haze creep into her mind. Her vision blurred momentarily, shadows shifting unnaturally around her. "Aether pulse, now!" she muttered to herself, releasing a wave of energy that shattered the illusion creeping over her. The fog dissipated, leaving her senses sharper than before, and she returned to the fray, her strikes landing with renewed focus. Sylus moved like a phantom, every step deliberate and powerful as he wove between the encroaching Deers. His blade carved through them in broad, controlled arcs, his strikes bolstered by controlled bursts of aether that broke through the layers of illusions threatening to surround him. When a Deer charged at him from the side, he sidestepped at the last moment, pivoting on his heel and driving his sword into its side before twisting around to engage the next. He kept close to Cyrus and Athena, their tight formation providing them cover as they countered each new wave with brutal efficiency.