Things seemed grim. He could hear shouts all around him, carried over deceptively upon the mist to surround his senses and throw him off. He can't divide his attention, especially with this monstrous hobgoblin rising up right now to fight him once more. He could hear a woman cry, Astrea, a boy's shouts, Valentine's. He hoped that they would be safe and alive after this ordeal is over. A cold killing calm flooded his being now. Fury and frustration tempered by vengeful retribution as he laid spiteful eyes upon the misshapen creature. He kicked the hobgoblin in the back of the knees, forcing him to collapse into a kneeling position as he raised his sword at the ready to slice his head apart. The sword swung down and one could perhaps call it luck or even just some sick form of providence pertaining to goblin mythology but the sword never connected as a spark flew off the blade. Something blasted his sword to the side and knocked him off balance in a split second.<br/><br/>He whirled around to face the direction of the projectile only to narrowly dodge the second one as it singed the side of his head. He knew of the goblin shaman but judging by what he heard it would have been dead now? His brow furrowed. A second shaman, cackling loudly as it flung a third spell at him but this time he deflected it with his sword. So much happening at once,<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(235, 107, 86)">what the hell is up with this level of coordination?</span><br/><br/>He levelled his sword at the goblin and prepared to shoot his own magic spell before his carelessness cost him. Momentarily forgetting the threat of the hobgoblin, it was too late to dodge as the monster swung it's war club at Dayyan and he tried to block it with his sword but the angle was too awkward and the timing was too late. He took the blow squarely against his left arm and the force carried him off towards a nearby tree, crashing against it. He let out an involuntary groan as he winced in pain. He was lucky he was enhanced, that blow would have decimated half his body at best or could have killed him out right at worst. His arm was leaden and heavy all of a sudden. He suspected a fracture but now was not the time to assess the damage, he needed to get rid of both chieftain and shaman at once and catch up with the rest and clean out the remaining enemies.<br/><br/>He had a sense of urgency about him now, he was angry with everything that has transpired so far. To be taken by surprise so casually, to have these students suffer, bright minds and innocent in the way of the world to have their first foreign experience be......this. What has he trained for? Studied hard to succeed for? It was as if all his effort and years spent in White Castle where for naught. Magical energy began to flare up within him, his core worked overtime to infuse his limbs with an extra dosage of power. Everything became so clear, so vivid, the feeling was all-powerful, intoxicating. He needed to remind himself not to revel in it and forget himself, clearing his focus, he charged at the hobgoblin in a burst of blinding speed, spells were slung and a goblin cried out in panic but the hobgoblin could not react nor could the spells catch him at his current speed. Sword in his right hand, he dashed right under the hobgoblin's panicked swing and with a thrust upward, penetrated the monster's skull. The creature lurched dead upon him and he used the corpse to block the next three spells he could sense coming for him before flinging the corpse to the side and making a mad dash for the shaman.<br/><br/>It readied a huge green fireball but before he could launch it, Dayyan closed the distance, ignoring the mounting ache in his limbs at having to move at these unnatural speeds, and slashed at the fireball. The sword devoured the magic upon touching it, siphoning it to it's purple core before Dayyan slashed downwards through the shaman's shoulder all the way down to the groin before the sword stuck. Blood and viscera showered from the gaping wound as Dayyan wrenched his sword free, releasing the extra magic and feeling the rushing onset of heat and heaviness in his limbs as his body caught up with the ramifications of his little stunt. He staggered for a second before righting himself and making sure there are no more nasty surprises before he finally began to make his way back. Every step sent a thousand needles stabbing against his legs and joints but he still had magic, he could still fight, he just hoped he would not need to do what he just did once more. He cannot be useless, he will not be useless. Ian did his best but was now incapacitated, Mystera was on the brink of death and he could only assume the other students came out of this fight relatively unscathed. He said Ian was the last line of defense but he knew the professor expended everything in the beginning. He cannot overburden him anymore, Dayyan was truly the last line here, if he fell, then there is no telling what fate might befall the rest of the group.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(235, 107, 86)">Absolutely not!</span><br/><br/>He passed by the moaning chieftain, arms outstretched as it wandered aimlessly crying in pain and fear. What a pathetic sight to behold. He approached him and in a swift motion, slashed his neck and left him to choke and die alone. Soon enough he could hear the voices clearer, there was still some fighting to be had but it was just the small goblins. Valentine did a great job in defending the camp, not to take the credit from the two girls, their work was evident in many of the lying corpses around him. He dispatched the remaining few goblins that were busy harrassing the guards before he well and truly saw that the coast was finally clear. Only then did he release a heavy sigh he did not he held at all, his body threatened to release all it's tension at once and collapse but he held himself up and forged onwards toward Mystera. He spotted Ian and Valentine kneeling beside her, Valentine's back was shredded and bloodied but despite his harrowing experience, the boy was still trying to help the professor with magic. If anything, he was proud of the effort the boy put forth.<br/><br/>He put a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder to grab his attention.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(235, 107, 86)">"You did great kid, let me take over from here."</span>He instructed him.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(235, 107, 86)">"See to the rest of your friends, and regroup."</span>Assuming the boy would heed his words, he would kneel in his place and look upon Mystera, deathly pale but still laborious in her breathing.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(235, 107, 86)">"Tell me we can save her if I give you whatever magic I got left? I still got some juice left in the tank."</span>He addressed his professor, also noticing his haggard look, and the shade of the twin girl. After Ian would answer, he would address her next.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(235, 107, 86)">"Thank you for your help, help us help her please, you've done enough. Let her recuperate her energy."</span>