I am an Eldritch Entity

Even though Eryndor made sure not to exceed his current distance, he still found plenty of herbs filled with Spiritual Energy in the area before the imaginary line he made which was not to be crossed.

However, it didn't mean his focus wasn't on the fight anymore. His attention was still partly occupied by it.

One disciple, specializing in traps, managed to plant a series of them around the first Stalker.

As it lumbered through, glowing chains of Qi erupted from the ground, temporarily holding its limbs.

"Now!" Commander Jacob yelled, charging forward, his Tower Shield ready.

Three other disciples, specialists in concentrated Qi attacks, channeled their energy into a combined Mountain Shatter Palm through the use of an array plate deployed by another disciple, aiming for the Stalker's head.

The massive impact finally caused the Stalker to stumble, a large crack appearing on its forehead.

But the reprieve was short-lived.

The second Stalker, seeing its mate in peril, charged with blinding speed, using Shadow Warp to bypass a defensive line.

It appeared directly behind the three Foundation Building disciples who had just unleashed their powerful attack, their attention momentarily on the first stalker. Before they could react, it bit down on one, severing them cleanly.

The other two barely scrambled away, their faces pale with horror.

Eryndor thought, while looking at their overall situation.

Their numbers are dwindling, seven have already fallen, and so many more are injured.

Even their Qi reserves should be running low by now even if we consider that the majority of them are from the 'resting' batch.

Even if we look at their morale, the seven deaths seemed to have affected them to a certain extent.

The morale wouldn't have been a problem if there was something to look forward to. But according to them, currently, they are fighting for nothing, since there seems to be nothing of worth in this space.

One also couldn't just run away.

As soon as one ran away, the group would quickly crumble as the rest would run away as well.

That way the stalkers, with their superior speed can simply take them out one by one unless they find an exit.

Sofie, the one with twin sabers, had a grim face, as she saw the hopelessness of others.

She changed her focus from offense to disruption.

She used Cyclone Slash not to attack, but to generate powerful gusts of wind around the Stalkers' heads, attempting to disorient them.

Another disciple, a healer named Mel, continuously cast Vigorous Qi Restoration on the most critical combatants, pushing her own Qi to the brink.

Commander Jacob, his shield dented and his armor scored, stood firm against the first Stalker.

He focused his Qi, activating his defensive art, Earthbind Manipulation, causing the very ground around him to harden and rise, forming a temporary fortress.

The Stalker slammed its head against it, but the structure held.

Suddenly, the second Stalker unleashed a powerful Rubble Roar, aiming not at the individuals, but to collapse the rock formation Commander Jacob was using as cover.

The ground groaned, cracks spider-webbing across the fortress.

Just as the structure threatened to crumble, a Qi Condensation disciple appeared from the shadows.

He had a small, shimmering Prism Lens in his hand.

With a desperate cry, he channeled his remaining Qi into it, aiming the lens at the precise point on the first Stalker's forehead where the crack had formed. A blinding beam of concentrated spiritual light erupted from the lens, striking the crack.

Eryndor's eyes twinkled as he looked at that. He recognised the cultivation art used.

Isn't that Light Amplification?

That was a rather ingenious way to use it.

This was the reason he didn't like missing out on fights. There was always something to learn.

Even now, just a simple item was able to amplify the effects of an already powerful cultivation art at an even higher level.

The Stalker shrieked, a sound of agony this time. The beam bored into the crack, causing it to spiderweb violently across its skull. The beast thrashed, its movements becoming erratic.

"Now! Focus fire on the damaged one!" Commander Jacob roared, abandoning his crumbling defense to lead the charge.

He slammed his Tower Shield into the reeling Stalker, using its immense momentum to create a larger opening.

The remaining disciples, seeing the crack, poured their last reserves into a coordinated barrage.

Sofie, abandoning caution, leaped onto the Stalker's back, her Cyclone Slash aimed precisely at the glowing fissure on its head.

Ren launched another Lightning Orb, this one crackling with more desperate power, directly into the crack.

The Stalker convulsed violently, its crimson eyes flickering.

With a final, ear-splitting shriek, it collapsed, its massive body shaking the very ground.

Only one Nightfang Stalker remained, and it was enraged.

Were they companions?

Eryndor thought.

It unleashed a continuous Rubble Roar, making the ground a chaotic landscape of bucking earth.

It then focused on the weakened disciples, using Shadow Warp to single out and mercilessly cut down anyone unable to quickly react. Two more fell in quick succession.

Only ten disciples remained, battered and exhausted.

Commander Jacob, Ren, Sofie, and Mel, the healer, were among them

"We have to finish it!"

Commander Jacob gasped, blood trickling from his nose.

"Target its head! That's the weak point!"

The final Stalker lunged at Mel, the healer.

Sofie intercepted, her sabers carving desperate, arcing slashes at its legs to distract it.

Jacob, mustering his last ounce of Qi, activated his Overbearing Charge, slamming his shield into the Stalker's flank, briefly staggering it.

Ren, despite his exhaustion, channeled his Qi.

He hurled three smaller, rapid-fire Lightning Shocks at the Stalker's eyes, momentarily blinding it.

As the Stalker roared in frustration, unable to see, Sofie saw her chance.

With a final, desperate Cyclone Slash, she aimed both sabers on its forehead, a precise, two-pronged attack.

The blades met, driven by her last reserves of Qi.

The Stalker shuddered, its limbs locking. A low growl turned into a death rattle.

Its colossal body swayed, then crashed to the ground with a final, echoing thud.

The ragged breathing of the surviving disciples was the only sound in the surroundings at that moment. They stood amidst the fallen, bruised, bleeding, and utterly exhausted.

The two Nightfang Stalkers lay motionless, their obsidian hides dull in the light.

Should I run away?