Chapter 61 – The White Colossus II

Shawn’s gaze hardened as he shifted into a defensive stance, summoning his weapon. Dark blue smoke coiled around his wrist, spiralling and taking the shape of a sword as he gripped it firmly. This battle demanded more than brute strength, and he couldn’t afford any mistakes.

Selena, watching from the sidelines, couldn’t hide the worry etched on her face. She had seen Shawn’s strength, but this… this was unlike anything they’d faced.

The colossal white elephant and Shawn stood locked in a deadly stare, each sizing up the other’s strength and intent. The beast’s eyes glinted with a primal intelligence, its ears flicking slightly as if to mark Shawn as a new kind of prey. Shawn tightened his grip on his sword, sensing the immense weight of the moment. Silence filled the arena, broken only by the faint sounds of Prince Enthril’s mocking laughter from above.

The elephant’s massive muscles coiled like springs ready to snap, and with a sudden, thunderous force, it barrelled forward, charging at Shawn with tusks sharp and gleaming like colossal spears. Shawn’s feet dug into the ground, bracing himself as he raised his sword, anticipating the brutal impact. But the elephant’s rush halted just a few feet before him, its beady eyes meeting his in an unsettling stillness.

For a split second, confusion flashed across Shawn’s face. ‘Why had it stopped?’ Before he could process it, an unseen force slammed into him, knocking him off his feet and sending him skidding across the ground. His shoulder carved a trench in the dirt, the impact reverberating painfully through his bones as he forced himself back to his feet, shaking off the haze. Dust coated his clothes as he looked up, shock plain in his gaze as he met the white giant’s unyielding stare.

Selena’s heart raced as she watched Shawn struggle to rise, momentarily shaken. She had seen Shawn face countless foes before, but never had she seen him stunned like this. Her hands clenched at her sides as he muttered, almost to himself, “What… just happened?” He rotated his shoulder, grimacing at the throbbing ache left by the blow he hadn’t seen coming.

Prince Enthril lay sprawled atop the white elephant, gazing skyward with a lazy, mocking smile. His laughter broke the silence, echoing through the arena in a way that made the hairs on the back of Shawn’s neck stand up. Prince Enthril leaned forward, peering down at Shawn with an infuriatingly smug grin, propping his chin on his hands. “Didn’t see that one coming, did you, little intruder?” he sneered, his voice thick with glee.

Prince Enthril turned his gaze to his mount, affectionately tapping the elephant’s massive forehead. “Allow me to enlighten you,” while he patted the beast’s head. “This isn’t just any elephant. Unlike the others…” his hand lingered as he smirked down at Shawn, relishing the moment, “…this white beast wields a core power. The longer it charges, the stronger the shockwave it generates, and when it stops—well, let’s say you felt it.” His grin widened as he added a crazy laugh, “HAHAHAAA!”

Shawn clenched his jaw, frustration smouldering in his eyes as he took a deep breath to steady himself. He knew now he couldn’t afford to meet the elephant’s charge head-on. Every step it took seemed to release an invisible force that would throw him back with an impact he couldn’t counter. He would need a new approach—a strategy that played to his strengths rather than the beast’s.

The elephant pawed at the ground again, preparing to charge, and Shawn darted forward, aiming to close the distance before it could build up its momentum. He lunged, sword at the ready, attempting to cut into the elephant’s flank and stall its advance. But the beast was quicker than he’d anticipated. With a single step to the side, it altered its stance, sending another blast of force that hurled Shawn backwards, skidding painfully across the sand.

Prince Enthril’s laugh boomed from atop the creature. “Oh, did I forget to mention, intruder?” he jeered, raising a mocking eyebrow. “Even a single step can knock you down! Hahaha!”

Gritting his teeth, Shawn pushed himself back to his feet. He realised he’d have to keep the beast from gaining any ground. Up close, if he could prevent it from advancing, he might have a chance to neutralise its destructive power. With a sharp motion, he sent a dash wave at an angle, striking the ground just inches from the white beast. Dust and sand erupted, forming a temporary smoke screen that startled the colossal creature. Shawn seized the moment, darting in from the side and striking before the beast could react. But when his blade met its massive form, the force of impact sent him sliding backwards.

He tried again, attacking from different angles before the white beast could adjust its course, only to have each strike repelled by its impenetrable hide. Still, he pressed on, charging relentlessly with unwavering focus, eyes sharp and unyielding, refusing to let the creature overtake him.

Selena watched, her pulse racing as Shawn closed in again and again, only to be thrown back with each clash. She saw his blade swing in carefully measured slashes, his every move calculated, but the elephant’s hide was like steel—impervious even to his most precise attacks. When Shawn managed to find an opening, attempting to slice into its thick hide, the blade barely left a scratch. Even his energy-laden strikes seemed to glance off the creature, ricocheting harmlessly into the pillars surrounding the arena.

Prince Enthril’s laughter grew louder, filling the arena as Shawn’s struggle continued. The prince smiled, brimming with smug satisfaction. “Come now, intruder! Is that really the best you’ve got?”

Shawn ignored the prince’s taunts, his focus locked solely on the beast before him. He lunged forward, leaping towards the elephant, and at the moment of clash, he feinted to the side, aiming a swift strike at its underbelly. His blade, however, skidded uselessly across its skin; the creature’s impenetrable armour deflected even his sharpest blows. The elephant retaliated, reaching for Shawn with its trunk, but he slipped away, evading its grasp. The white elephant stood like an indomitable fortress, its chest rising and falling steadily, undaunted by Shawn’s efforts.

Selena bit her lip, pain, frustration, and worry gnawing at her. From the back of the arena, watching Shawn struggle alone tore at her. She wanted to help him, but her leg injury left her unable to move freely. Yet, her mind raced, analysing the elephant, searching desperately for a weakness. She knew its outer skin was invulnerable, but maybe something inside. The realisation hit her suddenly, and with renewed determination, she gripped her Atlantean weapon nearby and slowly pushed herself up, balancing on her good leg, determination hardening in her gaze.

“There has to be a way in…” she murmured, scanning the creature’s form. Then, she saw it: during each clash with Shawn, the elephant tried to catch him with its trunk. The trunk—its inside was the exposed soft part of the creature, unprotected by its hardened hide. Her grip tightened on her weapon, and she twisted the centre, transforming it into a double-edged spear. Despite the pain in her ankle, she steadied herself, gathering her strength and focusing her energy.

“Shawn!” Selena called out, catching his attention between clashes. He glanced back at her and quickly understood—she had a plan. Realisation dawned on him, and he nodded, shifting his stance. Dodging the creature’s swinging tusks, its grasping trunk, and its enormous stomping feet, he manoeuvred carefully, crawling beneath the elephant’s belly to position it just right for Selena.

Selena steadied her breathing, her muscles tensing as she aimed her spear. She had only one chance, and she couldn’t afford to miss. Murmuring to herself as she closed her eyes, she breathed in, then out, calming herself. “My name is Selena, I am the princess of Atlantis, and my aim….never misses.” She drew back and hurled her weapon with all her might, timing her throw perfectly as Shawn angled the elephant’s trunk towards her as she fell to the ground.

To create the best opening, Shawn adjusted his angle of approach, dashing at the elephant repeatedly until he had it positioned for her. Finally, with Selena ready to throw, Shawn leapt against the elephant, making it focus solely on him. He dashed forward, covering the beast’s vision and ensuring its full attention was on him. His leap was faster than before, clashing with the elephant’s tusk and forcing the creature to jerk its head back. As its trunk flew into the air, the elephant briefly glimpsed Selena in the distance, aiming her spear. But the sudden impact left it vulnerable, unable to react as Selena’s spear hurtled through the air.

The spear sailed spinning through the air with unerring precision, a silver streak against the dusty backdrop. It struck true, plunging into the inside of the elephant’s trunk, penetrating the soft tissue before tearing upwards into its skull and out. The beast let out an ear-splitting trumpet of pain, blood pouring from its trunk as it staggered, the force of the throw sending shockwaves through its massive body.

As the spear emerged top of the elephant’s skull from the inside, as Prince Enthril was caught off guard, jolted back, eyes widening as the spear narrowly missed him, leaving him with a cut on his face just below his eyes on the right side, before travelling and embedding itself into one of the arena’s stone walls.

The white elephant, mortally wounded and staggering around, as its eyes went white, the weight of its enormous body swaying as blood poured freely from its trunk. Slowly, it toppled forward just before Shawn, the earth shuddering beneath it as it collapsed, its life ebbing away.

Shawn exhaled deeply, watching as the massive creature fell, blood pooling around its fallen form. Selena’s spear had done the impossible, piercing through the impenetrable beast and bringing it down. He turned to Selena, who had slumped onto the ground, exhausted but satisfied, a faint smile of relief on her face. He gave her a quick, approving nod, lifting his hand.

The arena was silent as the dust settled. As the dust settled from the fallen elephant, Shawn took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the battle ease slightly.

“Good throw,” he called with a slight grin.

She managed a faint smile in return from the ground, but her expression changed abruptly as her eyes widened in alarm.

Before Shawn could turn to follow her gaze, the faintest glint of steel sliced through the haze behind him. Shawn’s power sensed the approaching threat, and his body reacted on its own, lifting his blade just in time to intercept a powerful strike. Metal crashed against metal with a deafening clang, the impact sending shockwaves up his arm and hurling him sideways into the air. He crashed into the sand, rolling before coming to a stop. With a sharp intake of breath, Shawn pushed himself to his feet, his grip tightening around his sword as his eyes darted toward what had struck him.

From the settling dust, Prince Enthril’s smile emerged, a twisted echo of his former self.

“Well, well…” he sneered, his tone both condescending and sinisterly entertained. “I thought I’d catch you off guard, intruder.”

His voice trailed into a soft, unsettling chuckle, his face twisted in a way that belied a barely contained mania. He let out a low, eerie laugh that reverberated around the arena.

“You bested my beasts…” Prince Enthril paused, narrowing his gaze and leaning forward with a predatory intensity. “…Now, let’s see how you fare against me,” he murmured, his voice dripping with cold arrogance and menace.