Warlock of Oceans: My Poseidon System

"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. Just as the onslaught seemed manageable, one of the eldritch Winter Deers raised its monstrous head, antlers shimmering with dark energy as it unleashed a wave of illusion that pressed down on their minds with a suffocating force. Cyrus gritted his teeth, his vision wavering as colors distorted and sounds echoed unnaturally. But he held his ground, forcing another burst of aether from his core, the energy radiating outward and clearing his vision. "I'll cover you," Sylus said sharply, stepping forward to shield them as the two briefly steadied themselves. He raised his blade, letting it glow with aetheric energy, and slashed through a new line of Winter Deers that closed in around them. Each swing carried enough force to push back the horde, buying precious seconds. Cyrus and Athena surged back into the fight, their movements sharp and synchronized. Athena ducked as Cyrus leapt over her, his aetheric blade slicing downward to split a Deer in half. Athena rolled to the side, summoning a wave of ice that erupted from the ground, skewering several Deers in one swift movement. As she rose, she punched forward, and a blast of compressed air shot from her fist, knocking back another group before they could overwhelm her position. Meanwhile, Sylus faced one of the colossal Eldritch Deers, its eyes transfixed on him. He could feel a twisting sensation in his mind as it tried to plunge him into another illusion. But he fought back, channeling aether into his senses, sharpening his focus as he leapt upward. With a twist in the air, he brought his sword down on the creature's skull, aether pulsing through the blade and searing through its dark, icy flesh. The Deer screeched, pulling back momentarily, and Sylus landed, bracing himself as he prepared for its next strike. A second Eldritch Deer lunged from behind, antlers aimed like spears at Athena. Cyrus reacted instantly, planting himself between her and the beast, his arms braced as he summoned a barrier of aether that shimmered against the dark assault. The impact jarred his stance, but he held firm, giving Athena the chance to gather her magic and send a focused blast of fire directly at the creature's chest, forcing it back. But their breaths grew labored, their aether reserves dwindling under the constant barrage of attacks and illusions. Every move demanded their utmost focus as the Deers swarmed from every side, pressing them into a tight circle. Even the air felt heavier, thick with the strange magic of the eldritch beasts whose eyes followed their every movement. Yet, they did not yield, each strike a testament to their resilience as they continued their fight against the never-ending horde, determined to survive even as the odds stacked higher against them. The battle continued, unrelenting and brutal. Cyrus, Athena, and Sylus found themselves in a perpetual storm of violence and illusions, each move calculated to keep them one step ahead of the countless Winter Deers and the crushing mental weight projected by the four Eldritch Deers that lurked, sinister and watchful. Cyrus pivoted on his heel, meeting the rush of a Winter Deer head-on as it lunged with gaping jaws. He shifted his grip, holding his blade with both hands and slashing upward in a powerful arc that tore through the creature's torso, splitting it apart as it crumbled to the ground. Even as he killed one, another was upon him, aiming a heavy hoof at his side. Cyrus twisted his body, sidestepping just as the attack brushed past him. He seized the opening to lash out, his sword slicing cleanly through the deer's leg, destabilizing it as he plunged his blade into its neck. He barely had time to withdraw his blade when the oppressive chill of an illusion crept into his mind, twisting his vision as the trees blurred and warped around him. "Not this time," he gritted, releasing a controlled pulse of aether from his core. The burst shattered the illusion, and as his vision returned, he saw another Winter Deer charging at him. Thinking quickly, he ducked low and swept his blade out in a wide arc, catching the creature in the legs, sending it toppling forward. Cyrus spun sharply, plunging his sword downward and silencing it before it could rise again. Nearby, Athena stood her ground, her fingers crackling with mana as she launched spheres of compressed ice toward the advancing Deers. The frozen blasts hit like hammer blows, sending creatures sprawling as they shattered against the cold ground. But the relentless press of enemies meant that Athena couldn't remain stationary; with each spell cast, she quickly changed position, slipping through gaps in the oncoming swarm to avoid getting boxed in. She summoned a spiraling shield of frost around herself, the glimmering cold reflecting the chaotic scene, before letting it explode outward in sharp, icy shards that drove several Deers back, buying her a brief reprieve. The ground trembled under the stomping hooves of another Eldritch Deer, its antlers glowing as another barrage of illusions surged toward Athena. This time, the illusion was accompanied by an eerie echoing hum that penetrated her mind, disorienting her as her spells flickered and wavered. Her vision darkened, the forest seeming to twist in on itself as her head spun. Gritting her teeth, she focused inward, calling on the last of her reserves. With a guttural shout, she channeled aether through her body, forcing the illusions back and clearing her mind just as a Deer lunged toward her. She ducked under its reach, slamming her fist into its side and releasing a pulse of ice magic that froze the creature from the inside out, its body cracking as it fell. Sylus, meanwhile, wove through the battlefield with brutal efficiency, his movements a symphony of precise strikes and controlled bursts of aether. He faced two Winter Deers simultaneously, his blade flashing as he brought it down on one in a powerful, downward strike, severing it from shoulder to hip. He immediately pivoted, thrusting his elbow into the chest of the second Deer before following up with a lightning-fast slash that ended it. The ethereal light from his blade blazed as he spun around, narrowly avoiding a charging Eldritch Deer as it thundered past, grazing his shoulder with an antler. The creature's antlers pulsed with malevolent energy, and he could feel the illusionary magic pressing against his mind with an iron grip. Sylus closed his eyes for a brief moment, channeling his inner reserves as he sent a pulse of aether through his body. It radiated outward, dispersing the magic and pushing back the illusion's grasp. His eyes snapped open just as the creature reared back, preparing for another charge. He sidestepped, sweeping his blade in a low arc across its legs, destabilizing it before driving his sword deep into its neck with a fierce thrust, causing it to fall with a shudder. "Watch your left!" Sylus called to Cyrus, who immediately spun, his blade meeting the outstretched claws of a lunging Deer. He parried the blow, pivoting to the side as he grabbed the creature by the neck, wrenching it down and using his sword to drive it into the ground. But even as he ended one, another was already upon him, claws swiping at his torso. He barely managed to twist away, but the attack grazed his side, tearing through his armor. Ignoring the pain, he retaliated with a swift upward slash, carving through the creature's torso before delivering a powerful kick to its chest, sending it tumbling back into the advancing horde.