Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

Asher's heart dropped as he saw Evelina fall to her knees, blood trickling down her temple from the blow. Rage surged through him, a fire igniting within as he steadied himself, ignoring his own exhaustion. He reached out, catching her before she fully collapsed, his hand cradling her face. Her eyes fluttered, but her fierce determination was still visible, even through the pain.

"Evelina, stay with me," he whispered, trying to keep his voice steady despite the fear tightening his throat.

The commander let out a menacing laugh, stepping closer with his weapon raised, blood from his wounded eye staining his armor. "Fools. You thought you could interfere with my plans and live?" he sneered, looming over them like a dark storm.

Asher's grip on Evelina tightened, his jaw clenching as he shifted to shield her with his own body. His eyes met the commander's, defiant. "You'll regret laying a hand on her," he spat, his voice low and deadly.

Just then, a roar erupted from behind them. Rey and the others had reached the scene, their faces set with a mix of determination and fury. Matthew led the charge, his shield sparking with residual energy from his previous attack. Aiden held his weapon ready, his gaze locked onto the commander.

"Finally caught up," Rey muttered under his breath, casting a glance at the bleeding commander. "I take it that's our main target?"

The commander scowled, realizing the tide had turned against him. But before he could retreat, Finn, despite his injuries, raised his weapon with a grin. "You're not going anywhere, big guy."

As the commander prepared to swing his weapon again, Rosa reached Evelina's side, her healing magic weaving into Evelina's wound, gently closing it. Evelina blinked, her strength slowly returning as she took in the sight of her friends rallying around them.

With a newfound resolve, she reached for Asher's hand, giving him a faint smile. "Let's finish this together."

Asher nodded, helping her up as they both turned to face the commander, the rest of their team standing by their side, ready for the final showdown. The commander, now cornered and desperate, bared his teeth in rage as the group closed in, each prepared to unleash their remaining strength to end the battle once and for all.

Evelina's vision slowly blurred, her surroundings shifting in and out of focus as she felt herself sway. Just as she was about to fall, Asher reached out, steadying her with a firm grip. "You better sit this one out, okay?" he said softly, concern woven through his voice.

She pressed a hand to her throbbing head, managing a small nod. "Ugh… my head. Alright, sure." She grinned weakly up at him. "Just make sure you put in one good hit for me, alright?"

Asher smirked, nodding. "Damn right I will."

With that, he handed her carefully over to Rosa and Marcella, who moved her to a safer spot. They began to heal her, Rosa's hands glowing softly as she worked to mend Evelina's wounds. Marcella watched over them, her gaze sweeping the battlefield to ensure no threats approached.

The commander sneered at the sight, his face twisted in disgust and bitter envy. "Look at you two," he spat, disdain dripping from his words. "Acting all lovey-dovey in the middle of a battle. Pathetic. Love is nothing but a distraction, a weakness. Maybe if I'd ever lowered myself to such drivel, I'd understand. But now, you'll understand my power, because when I'm finished with you…"

"Shut up, old man," Asher cut him off coldly, turning his head to give the commander a menacing look that made the air around him feel heavier. His voice dropped, carrying a dreadful promise. "When I'm done with you, even your own mother won't know which part of your face to love or fear."

The commander's face flushed with rage, his fists tightening around his weapon. "What did you just say?!"

Asher began to step forward, slow and deliberate, his movements carrying a terrifying aura. Each step echoed with a quiet threat, as though he were a storm gathering right before the strike.

"Wait… Asher!" Rey called, concerned by the chilling intensity radiating from him.

Asher paused, glancing back at Rey with a smirk. "You don't need to worry." He then turned his attention back to the commander. "You're lucky we can't afford to kill you right now. But still…

The commander's face twisted in rage, his voice now a thunderous roar. "What did you say!?"

He advanced, the deadly promise in his eyes enough to make even the commander falter, as he readied himself to deliver a blow that would ensure the commander felt every ounce of his fury.

Asher smirked, taunting him further. "Why don't you come closer so I can say it again?"

Without hesitation, the commander activated his full arsenal of power.

"[Boost]… [Rush]… [Full Berserk]!"

Fueled by raw fury, he closed the distance in an instant, gripping Asher by the face and slamming him forcefully into the ground. The impact sent a tremor through the area, dust and debris scattering as Asher was forced down.

But before the commander could continue his assault, the rest of everyone rushed forward to help. They coordinated their attacks, each landing blows from different directions, yet the commander held his ground. He fought them off with ferocious strength, tossing each of them aside with powerful strikes.

"Hah… I told you, you're no match for me!" the commander boasted, his laughter echoing as he regained his composure.

Through the dust, Asher began to rise, chuckling softly under his breath. It was a low, unsettling sound that caught the commander off guard. "Isn't that obvious?"

The commander's smirk wavered, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face. "What's so funny?"

Asher's eyes gleamed with menace. At that moment, the commander's vision began to blur, his muscles feeling heavier, as if they were betraying him. A cold sweat prickled down his spine, and his knees wobbled ever so slightly.

"Ah, I see it just kicked in," Asher said, his tone cold and unyielding. "Payback time, big guy."

A flash of panic crossed the commander's eyes. "What… What did you do to me?" he demanded, his voice unsteady.

"You've got a little poison in your system," Asher replied, his smirk widening. "Don't worry, it's not lethal. Just strong enough for me to beat the crap out of you."

With renewed energy, Asher launched himself at the commander, landing a series of swift, brutal blows. The commander staggered, attempting to hold his ground, but his body betrayed him as he stumbled back, each punch and kick adding to his agony. He tried to swing back, but his coordination faltered, his strength slipping with each second.

Finally, the commander, desperation evident on his face, activated his last line of defense.

[Iron Body]!

His muscles hardened, his skin taking on an impenetrable sheen as his body became immune to attacks. He straightened, the effects of the poison slowly diminishing, strength returning as he stood tall once more.

Asher noticed the change, realizing that his usual attacks wouldn't work. He was down to just one dagger, but with a determined glare, he charged forward, aiming to stab it through the commander's guard. Yet the commander had regained enough control to catch Asher's hand, stopping him mid-strike.

"It's over, kid. Give up," the commander said in a steady voice, tightening his grip.

"Hell yeah it is!" Asher yelled. He released his hold on the dagger, letting it drop momentarily, then caught it with his other hand as he twisted his body to strike again.

The commander growled, a mixture of frustration and disbelief crossing his face. "You can't damage me in this state! No matter how skilled you are!"

Asher's grin only widened, his movements becoming more elusive.

[Phantom Step]

In a flash, he phased right through the commander, leaving him stunned. As the skill ended, the dagger re-materialized inside the commander's arm, buried deep in muscle, sending waves of searing pain through him.

"AHHHH!" The commander let out a pained roar as Asher twisted the dagger with a wicked smirk.

"Even a tortoise has meat under the shell," he taunted, pulling the blade free and watching as the commander staggered back, clutching his injured arm in a mix of shock and fury.

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He's not playing ༼⁰o⁰;༽