Gods and Mortals

#24: The Victor

The dynamics of the entire match underwent an abrupt transformation as Link dropped to his knees, symbolically submitting to Rose's influence.

Klaus and Lance both shifted their attention to the unfolding scene, recognizing that Rose's ability had indeed taken effect.

"It worked," Klaus acknowledged inwardly as he made his way toward them.

Lance, rather than showing any eagerness to defend his fallen teammate or continue attacking, displayed a keen interest in the unfolding events. His demeanor conveyed that he was intrigued by what might transpire next.

"What will you do next, Klaus Walker?" Lance contemplated as Klaus approached Rose.

Rose greeted Klaus with a smile, elated that their plan and her ability had proven successful. She acknowledged that their decision to deploy this risky strategy had paid off, particularly considering the uncertainty surrounding Link's susceptibility to it.

"Quick, let's eliminate him before Lance intervenes," Rose urged, her tone laced with urgency, as Link rose from his kneeling stance, exposing the entirety of his lifeline—an opportunity for Rose to strike.

Klaus, however, intervened, prompting Rose to halt in confusion. "Wait," he called.

Baffled, Rose questioned, "What's wrong? We need to eliminate him quickly to gain the upper hand."

Klaus countered her rush, "No, we don't."

Rose's bewilderment lingered, but Klaus explained his rationale: "Since he's under the influence of your ability, we can turn him into an ally against Lance instead of eliminating him outright."

Klaus's proposition made sense. Given that Rose's ability didn't demand as much energy from her, they could strategically enlist Link's support and together challenge Lance. This shift from a two-on-one to a three-on-one scenario was a shrewd tactical maneuver.

"You're right," Rose concurred, comprehending the strategic advantage Klaus was proposing.

Meanwhile, Lance smiled, audibly catching their conversation as he observed their exchange.

The momentum of the battle was perceptibly changing, favoring them due to their numerical advantage.

"So, the battle now evolves into a three-on-one confrontation," Lance declared, addressing them. "So be it."

As he concluded, Lance raised both his hands, conjuring two identical staffs, albeit slightly shorter than the ones he previously wielded.

"I'm not certain this is a fair fight anymore," Lance quipped, his comment hinting at the complexity of the situation.

With that, he surged toward them, prompting Rose to command Link to target Lance's lifeline. But the implication of his previous statement was becoming clear.

With astonishing precision and grace, Lance maneuvered his weapons, effortlessly evading all incoming attacks from his opponents. His counterattacks were equally daunting, often catching them off guard. His movements flowed like water, executed with ease and a subtle smile.

Klaus couldn't hide his frustration as he realized that the current situation resembled their earlier defeat. 

"We're still no match for him," he silently acknowledged.

As they persisted in their efforts to find an opening, Lance's expression shifted from a smile to a stern focus, causing Klaus to sense an impending change.

"This is becoming repetitive," Lance commented before discarding both of his weapons, which promptly dematerialized. Immediately, he conjured a long spear, adopting a lethal stance with its pointed end slanted slightly toward the ground.