Chapter 40: The Diamond Guardian 3
The blonde warrior's hands shook slightly while his hands remained partially frozen from the diamond mushroom's destructive beam attack. His grip on his sword tightened as his face became stern. The priestess standing next to him showed signs of recovery after using her immense power to protect them from death.
But even after all that.
They were still here.
And worse.
They weren't backing down.
The sunglasses covering its playful blue eyes emitted a dim light while the creature raised its head to soak in the sun's rays. The creature used this time to recover its power before launching another destructive assault.
The warrior struggled to draw breath.
His hands… his sword…
The transformation had progressed so far that they were unrecognizable.
His heart sank with deep terror.
Did he possess enough strength to battle anymore?
Did this mark the end of his existence?
The battlefield became completely still. The battlefield remained silent after the diamond mushroom finished its destructive assault. The warriors remained motionless while tension weighed down the air which pressed heavily against their bodies as they struggled to comprehend the recent events.
The former battlefield transformed from its grooved terrain into a sparkling mineral waste after attack. The ground beneath them transformed into a shimmering sea of pure unbreakable diamond instead of stone or dirt. The battlefield emitted a disturbing yet beautiful energy which no one present could find any value in.
Because the fight wasn't over.
The diamond mushroom stood tall with its blue eyes concealed by its characteristic sunglasses. The diamond mushroom rested its head back to soak up sunlight while appearing to have endless time on its hands. The contrast was infuriating.
The diamond mushroom had nearly transformed everyone into statues yet it now chose to relax.
The warrior's chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. His vision blurred slightly, but he forced himself to stay focused. He looked down at his hands his fingers were no longer flesh.
From his fingertips to his wrists, his hands had been completely transformed into crystal. The creeping affliction didn't stop there his forearms shimmered under the dim light, a silent reminder of how close he had been to becoming a permanent part of this battlefield.
The realization sent a chill down his spine.
He had almost died.
The sword in his grip was no better. The once gleaming blade was now fractured and riddled with glowing cracks, as if at any moment, it would shatter into a million diamond shards. His strength was fading.
A voice broke through the silence.
"Your hands…"
It was the tamer. She stood close, her voice filled with concern as she stared at the damage he had taken. Unlike the others, she hadn't been in direct contact with the attack, so she was the only one able to move freely.
The warrior let out a slow breath. "They're still attached, aren't they?" He attempted a smirk, but even that took effort.
She didn't laugh.
Instead, she furrowed her brows, stepping closer. "That's not the point. You can't fight like this. If we don't fix this now, you"
She stopped mid-sentence.
A presence had appeared beside them.
Soft footsteps pressed against the diamond-covered ground, and in the next moment, the priestess knelt beside him.
She didn't speak.
Instead, she placed her hands over his damaged ones. A soft, golden glow pulsed from her fingertips, enveloping his crystallized limbs. Her wings, usually small and delicate, expanded behind her, growing larger feathers raining from them in a slow, mesmerizing dance.
A spell was being cast.
The warrior could feel it a warmth, gentle yet firm, spreading through his veins, pushing back the unnatural crystallization.
Then, without warning.
Her lips brushed against the diamond that had formed over his hands.
It was soft. Featherlight.
A whisper of warmth against the cold, lifeless crystal.
And then.
Crack.
A tiny fracture formed on the surface of his hand.
Then another.
And another.
Slowly, the crystalline shell encasing his fingers began to break apart, flaking away like delicate glass. The warrior stared in shock as his own skin reappeared, the hardened diamond disintegrating into glowing dust. His strength returned.
He clenched his fists.
His hands were his again.
His sword once thought to be beyond saving followed suit. The cracks that had formed across its surface repaired themselves, and the once-damaged steel regained its original luster.
The ninja, who had been watching from a distance, let out a low whistle. "Damn… I knew S-rank priestesses were strong, but that's some next-level healing."
The warrior flexed his fingers, testing his restored grip. "I feel even stronger than before…"
The priestess finally opened her eyes, exhaling softly. "You should. My blessing doesn't just heal, it strengthens."
But their relief was short-lived.
Boom.
A single gunshot rang out across the battlefield.
And it was heading straight for them.
The warrior reacted instantly. He spun his sword in a tight arc.
Clang!
The bullet was destroyed mid-air.
But before they could even process what had just happened, the shooter's voice rang out.
"They're already here."
A chilling realization settled over them.
They weren't alone anymore.
And their enemies had already taken their positions.
A deadly silence spread across the battlefield as the last echoes of gunfire faded into the distance. The warriors of the Mushroom Kingdom stood firm, their eyes locked on the enemy before them.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
👑 Bo
🏅 One of the Four Great Mushroom Generals
Class: gunslinger
🌑 KAGE
🏅 One of the Four Great Mushroom Generals
Class: samurai
🛡️ GARROD
🏅 One of the Four Great Mushroom Generals
Class: mage
🛡️ LENS
🏅 One of the Four Great Mushroom Generals
Class: diamond mushroom
The diamond mushroom tilted its head back, absorbing the remaining light from the sky. The brilliant glow in its eyes faded behind the dark tint of its sunglasses as it adjusted its posture. Though its expression remained unreadable, the warriors could sense its silent confidence.
Across the battlefield, the humans had survived.