As the number of Chimera Beasts seemed to get lower, fifteen Chimera Beasts with seemingly greater power began moving toward the army. They walked through the remaining horde, knocking aside or eating a few of the Chimera Beasts that stood in their way.
As they came closer, it became clear that they were on an entirely different level compared to the rest of the horde. And among those fifteen, four seemed to be on another level even compared to the other eleven.
Their aura. Their appearance. Everything about them told the army that these four were different. And then those four spoke as well.
Adrian had taken charge and split the army into groups to face the fifteen Chimera Beasts, while the rest of the army would continue fighting the remaining horde.
Now that the number of ordinary Chimera Beasts had been reduced, it wasn't as difficult for the rest of the army to handle them, even with many of the strongest fighters being occupied with the fifteen evolved Chimera Beasts.
Once again, the battlefield was split into many different battles. Fifteen smaller-scale battles were about to begin alongside the widespread battle against the remaining Chimera Beasts.
And these were those fifteen battles.
---
Battle 1
The first evolved Chimera Beast was a combination of lion, salamander and dragon.
It was a gigantic lion-like beast with black volcanic scales covering its torso and limbs. Cracks of glowing orange magma ran across its body. Its mane constantly burned like a furnace, while two short dragon horns curved backward from its skull. Its crocodilian-like jaws were lined with molten-red teeth.
Facing it were Quenlor, Fynris, Zerik, and Orin.
---
Battle 2
The second evolved Chimera Beast was a combination of eagle, wolf and manta ray. It was a massive wolf with four powerful legs and an elongated body. Huge eagle wings emerged from its shoulders, while manta-like membranes stretched between its forelegs and body. Its feathers were dark blue and constantly sparked with electricity. Its eyes glowed pale yellow whenever lightning gathered around it.
Facing it were Junith, Sylra, Doran, and Brian.
---
Battle 3
The third evolved Chimera Beast was a combination of serpent, owl and dragon.
It was a gigantic winged serpent with the face of an owl and two small dragon horns. Its scales were deep violet and covered in tiny glowing symbols. Four enormous feathered wings allowed it to hover without moving. Its eyes resembled spinning magical circles.
Facing it were Veynaris, Ysellia, and Zhyragos.
---
Battle 4
The fourth evolved Chimera Beast was a combination of polar bear, snow leopard and owl.
It was a hulking white predator with the muscular build of a polar bear and the spotted fur of a snow leopard. Its head resembled that of a massive owl, complete with rotating eyes and a hooked beak. Crystalline feathers grew around its shoulders and spine, while ice continuously formed around its claws.
Facing it were Carrick and Vera from Iron Squad.
Carrick was the leader of Iron Squad.
Alongside them stood Rook from Wave Crew and Lance from The Horizon.
---
Battle 5
The fifth evolved Chimera Beast was a combination of gorilla, rhinoceros and armadillo.
It was a gigantic quadrupedal beast that could stand upright like a gorilla. Its shoulders and arms were enormous, while thick overlapping plates covered its back like an armadillo. A massive rhinoceros horn grew from its forehead. The plates were actually compressed stone, constantly shedding small rocks whenever it moved.
Facing it were Darek, Carter, alongside Mordren, the leader of Deadwatch.
---
Battle 6
The sixth evolved Chimera Beast was a combination of mantis, cobra and scorpion.
It was a tall insectoid creature standing on six thin legs. Its upper body resembled a mantis, with two enormous curved blade-arms. A cobra hood surrounded its head, while a long segmented scorpion tail curled above its back. Several translucent green sacs containing venom were visible beneath its abdomen.
Facing it were Iria and Damon from Deadwatch, alongside Iria from The Coil, Orion, the leader of The Horizon, and Eris from Wild Slayers.
---
Battle 7
The seventh evolved Chimera Beast was a combination of crocodile, shark and anglerfish.
It was a long, heavily armored aquatic reptile with the jaws of a crocodile and rows of shark teeth. Its skin was dark blue-black and covered with fins along its back. A glowing lure hung from its forehead, illuminating an otherwise completely black face. Its four legs ended in webbed claws.
Facing it were Pierre, Cherry, and Alisha.
---
Battle 8
The eighth evolved Chimera Beast was a combination of boar, bombardier beetle and dragon.
It was a stocky, heavily armored boar-like creature with black metallic plates covering its body. Small dragon wings sat uselessly along its back, while two enormous curved tusks protruded from its jaws. Glowing orange chambers could be seen beneath its armor, constantly building pressure.
Facing it was Lila, accompanied by Altheria, the leader of Divatrix, another member of Divatrix named Delyra, and Lyss, a member of The Horizon.
---
Battle 9
The ninth evolved Chimera Beast was a combination of cheetah, falcon and deer.
It was a sleek four-legged predator with the body of a cheetah, the head and wings of a falcon, and branching antlers like a stag. Its fur was pale silver and constantly flowed as though caught in an invisible wind. Its feet barely touched the ground whenever it ran.
Facing it were the members of Divatrix, Gaelra, Eryndra, and Brynna, alongside Silas from Iron Squad.
---
Battle 10
The tenth evolved Chimera Beast was a combination of bear, wolf and treant.
It was a massive bear-like creature whose flesh was partially replaced by bark. Wolf-like facial features sat beneath a crown of twisted wooden horns. Thick vines grew from its back and limbs, ending in thorn-covered tendrils. Mushrooms and small flowers grew across its shoulders.
Facing it were Cairn from Deadwatch, Ronan, and Kaizen from Prime Heroes.
---
Battle 11
The eleventh evolved Chimera Beast was a combination of lion, hyena and bat.
It was a large lion-like predator with an elongated hyena-like jaw and enormous bat wings. Its mane appeared to be made from living black smoke rather than fur. Parts of its body constantly faded into darkness, making its exact position difficult to determine.
Facing it were Varla, Ruvan, Qura, and Hira.
---
And finally came the battles involving the four stronger Chimera Beasts.
These four were different. Their presence alone made the surrounding battlefield feel heavier.
---
Battle 12: Velglor, The Infernal.
Velglor was a combination of dragon, demon and lion.
He was a towering humanoid standing well over seven feet tall. Dark crimson scales covered his arms, shoulders, chest, and legs, while parts of his body remained almost human. Two massive black horns curved backward from his forehead. A long dragon tail extended behind him, while burning cracks ran across his chest like a volcanic core. Fragments of black armor covered parts of his body.
His weapon was a greatsword.
Facing Velglor were Cyrus, Kael, Alex, and Aren, the leader of Prime Heroes.
---
Battle 13: Marvon, The Abyssal.
Marvon was a combination of serpent, spider and human.
He was a tall, unnaturally thin humanoid with four arms. Black scales covered his chest and limbs, while his face was almost completely human except for completely white eyes and an elongated jaw. Four spider-like appendages extended from his back, allowing him to crawl across walls and ceilings. A black cloak-like membrane hung from his shoulders.
Facing Marvon were Solreth, Drakar, Raedon, and Ragnar, the leader of Wild Slayers.
---
Battle 14: Sehpa, The Tempest.
Sehpa was a combination of eagle, human, dragon.
She was a tall humanoid woman with long silver hair and pale blue eyes. Large white wings extended from her back, but the feathers were constantly surrounded by tiny arcs of electricity. Her arms and legs had patches of blue-white scales. Thin golden markings ran across her skin like lightning scars.
Facing her were Darius, Hex, Xelvaris, and Nox, the leader of The Coil.
---
Battle 15: Eyelry, The Verdurous Queen.
Eyelry was a combination of deer, demon and treant.
She was a humanoid woman with long dark-green hair and golden eyes. Elegant antler-like horns grew from her head. Her skin had subtle bark-like patterns around her shoulders, arms, and legs. A layer of living vines formed natural armor around her body, while small flowers bloomed across her hair and shoulders. Behind her floated a circular arrangement of wooden roots resembling a halo.
Her weapon was a staff.
Facing Eyelry were Adrian, Arak, Indigo, and Sir Corvin.
Sir Corvin was a veteran and an instructor of the royal army. He had trained every Prince, including Adrian.
---
And this was only the situation in the Kingdom of Cero.
Similar situations were taking place all over the world.
Every kingdom had their own battles.
Every battlefield had its own monsters.
The war that had already seemed endless was now becoming something far greater.
The stakes continued to rise as time passed.
And now, the real battle was about to begin.