One piece: Without a system, I have to survive!

The air was thick with dust and the scent of burning stone as I dashed toward the glowing runes. My heart pounded in my chest, every instinct screaming at me to turn back—but I knew this was the only way. If we didn't sever the king's connection to this place, we had no chance of winning.

Behind me, Shira and Vex continued their assault. Shira moved like a phantom, her blade flashing with deadly precision as she kept the Forsaken King occupied. Vex, ever the opportunist, struck at every opening he found, but even he struggled against the sheer speed and power of the undead monarch.

I reached the first rune.

It pulsed with an eerie, golden light, etched deep into the ancient stone. The closer I got, the more I could feel its energy—a raw, unyielding force binding the king to this battlefield.

I gripped my sword and slashed.

CRACK!

The rune shattered instantly, sending a ripple of energy through the ground. The Forsaken King staggered, its movement faltering for the first time since the battle began.

It worked.

"Keep going!" I yelled, already sprinting toward the next rune.

Shira saw what happened and wasted no time—she redirected her attacks, forcing the king back and away from me. Vex disappeared again into the shadows, his next target already in sight.

The king let out a deep, guttural roar.

Blue flames erupted from its body as it lunged toward Shira, its sword descending with devastating force. She barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the ground exploded beneath the impact.

Vex took the opportunity to strike, slamming his dagger into another rune.

BOOM!

Another wave of energy burst outward, and the king dropped to one knee, its armor cracking at the seams.

It was working—but we weren't done yet.

I spotted the final rune across the battlefield, glowing brighter than the others. The heart of the spell.

I clenched my fists.

This is it.

With everything I had left, I ran.

The king must have sensed what I was trying to do because it suddenly turned toward me, its burning blue eyes locking onto my movement.

It knew.

And it wasn't going to let me win.

A pulse of dark energy surged from its body, warping the air around it. The battlefield itself began to shift, stone rising and twisting as if reality was unraveling.

I grit my teeth.

No matter what—it had to end here.