Four on the ground, one above. Simply doesn't have enough time to defeat them. Facing them one-on-one will be impossible since if I get too focused on a person, the rest will jump on me. I decide to use a hit-and-run strategy on each of them to make my way out of their formation, while keep watching out on their spells.
Starting with Richmond who is the closest and perhaps the toughest one, I wildly let out strong and quick slashes at him, which he deflected bit by bit while Castille moves to aid Richmond. Finished just like that, I dash at the next target: Castille. Instead of stepping towards him, I nimbly spring over him to land on the ground behind him. Off guard, I hit him hard on the head using my elbow.
Having dealt enough damage on the two of them, I move on to their rear. By moving this fast, Lunya will have a difficult time to aim at me precisely, especially in this dim-lit place. As I figured, their rear is using the same strategy. By the time, I got my eyes on them, they are currently focused in forming their magic sphere. Icy-blue colored energy have gathered on Roland's arm. Ice spell.
It's too late. The ice sphere has fully formed and all that is left is to release it. A burst of ice bolts are cast at me. I stop for a moment to cast a quick barrier to defend against them. By the time it has ceased, grounds where I am standing have encased and pinned down my feet, making it impossible to move around.
I failed to observe Dylan's magic sphere as I was busy on Roland. Dylan is an earth-wielder. All he needs is an opponent standing still on the appropriate range so he can commands the ground to lock the limbs and thus preventing him from moving again. A slight delighted expression can be seen on Dylan's face from his success.
Breathe. Concentrate. Focus.
Mirror Mode. Strengthening magic effect is quickly travelled to my feet. Now they are strong enough to break free from the grounds. First is the right foot, now the left one. Not wanting to be trapped by the same spell, my target priority is now Dylan.
I let out a single slash at Dylan, to which he parries. Roland rushes to help Dylan. He approaches me from the left side, his sword at ready to make its cut on me. Before that happen, I materialize a dagger quickly and hold it backhanded to intercept with Roland's attack. Two against one in this struggle of strength. I am practically using each arm's strength to parry on each opponent all in the same time.
Incoming projectiles from above. Two enemies presence from behind.
Momentarily during the struggle with the oncoming threats, I close my eyes. The curse's power. It is the only way for now. Only opening the left eye, I turn my head behind to face the threats. Although I know that only the left one is open, it slowly goes blind as the Ten-sided Star Seal appears and form a shield, large enough in size to cover my back from the dangers.
By listening to the sound it produced, ice arrows from Lunya are successfully blocked. Richmond and Castille's combined slashing attacks at the shield is also useless. I am starting to admire this seal's power. I turn my head forward as I close my eyelids to end the shield's active effect and restore my eyesight. All of them are surprised, I'm sure of it as both Roland and Dylan's parrying are weakened, finally giving me the chance to break free of this strength struggle by pushing them forcefully out of my way.
As if everything are going in slow-motion, after breaking free from the parrying struggle, I cast a wind spell, Wind Accel, channeled on my arms and legs. Swiftly, I side-stepped to Roland's right and letting out a swift and long horizontal slash, cutting at Roland and Dylan's abdomens as I side-stepped again to Dylan's left which is off guard and become my way out from this fight.
Shocked from the sudden counter-attack, Roland and Dylan staggers a bit for now. Still in the spell's buffs, I can run twice the normal speed. But, a small part inside me telling that I should deal with them a little more. I decided to play along for a little while, as I return to see that Richmond and Castille are approaching me. Amid the shadow, I can see that Lunya is ready to shoot her arrows. Best be swift then.
