Contrary to what one might assume, the Rage Knights were not shaken by the sudden change which had gripped their foes.
Evidently, they were well versed in whatever power or Skill they had used, which not only imbued them with extra strength, but also inflicted a curse of frenzied rage on their opponents, robbing them of any strategic capabilities.
All the Rage Knights had to do was survive the intense onslaught, and use the Rime Hounds' intelligence against them. And based on the set of their shoulders and how calm their movements were, Alden understood that it wasn't the first time the Guild had enacted that strategy.
In fact, with how seamlessly each Rage Knight assumed their role, it seemed like it was the main one they used against the Defiled.
The tallest Rage Knight blocked the harrowing claws of a Rime Hound, the ground beneath their feet splintering at the force. They staggered a half-step back, and what Alden thought was a moment of weakness, turned out to be a masterful calculation.
His gaze turned sharp.
There, weaving beneath the guard of the wolf was a second Rage Knight - the one who's muscles had compressed, their height becoming shorter in return for a bulkier and stockier frame. A lightning-quick strike followed, the back end of their blade impacting against the Rime Hound's neck.
The wolf promptly collapsed.
Taking the place of their teammate, the Rage Knight shrouded in the thin, blood-red film faced off against the remaining lupine Rime Hound. The wolf snarled and leapt at them, fury adding a savage air to their lithe and extremely agile movements.
Undettered, the warrior clad in fiery armour shifted slightly, the crimson layer flowing onto the blade. In the next moment, a greatsword bit deep into the Rime Hound's shoulder.
The wolf released an agonised howl.
A gust of wind slammed into the Rage Knight from the force of their cry.
Thanks to the pain, however, the frenzied haze which had taken hold of the creature seemed to dissipate, if only slightly. That change was enough for it to snap back to its senses. It released an angry cry - different from the forced fury -, its fur glowing with a brilliant light.
The Rage Knight tried to take an urgent step back, but it was too late.
A shower of frozen shards burst from the Rime Hound, blasting the fiery shield which their opponent had hastily erected.
Mist seethed and boiled.
Just then, a tremor shook the ground of the arena.
Alden's good eye glowed for a moment, understanding its source after augmenting his sight. Another explosion rocked the dusty earth of the Theatre, before some of the dirt cleared, heralding the sight of the two Rage Knights on the other end frozen stiff courtesy of the archer's gelid arrow.
Ice slowly made a chilling canvas of them, turning their bodies blue.
Flames burned and hissed, resisting the frosty invasion, but the Rage Knights had been slowed, and that was all that mattered. Even if it was the result of an accidental hit - the archer was not striking with any real sort of accuracy.
Instead of taking advantage of the sudden opening, the remaining wolf spun, barreling towards the sharpshooter. A heartbeat later, they lunged at their teammate, carefully snapping their jaw around the archer's pale-white leather armour instead of their body.
The Rime Hound shook the other Rime Hound furiously.
The sharpshooter attempted to fight back, before the rage that consumed them faded out. They blinked, and the wolf growled. Somehow, they understood each other.
The archer's expression turned grim, nodding.
Without any hesitation, they jumped on their fellow Rime Hound's back, stowing their bow in favour for a chilling lance. Even from a good distance away, Alden could sense just how cold that weapon was.
He internally shuddered, the spear catching the light like polished glass.
With a quick howl, the wolf leapt into action, its speed seemingly unaffected by the large gash on its shoulder. Only a barely discernible limp indicated otherwise.
By now, the tall and stocky Rage Knights had escaped their gelid bindings, their movements still a little sluggish from the cold. The third Rage Knight staggered towards their teammates, a dozen different shallow wounds littering their frame from the jagged shards which had bypassed the fiery shield.
Alden internally winced.
He recalled his painful encounter with the Expert Dark Elf - each of his limbs skewered from a gelid lance - and felt some sympathy for the fiery warrior. Uncaring for Alden's commiseration, though, the Rime Hounds, archer and wolf, dove into the fray.
The sharpshooter's expression was taut, the desire to avenge their fallen comrade apparent in their stern gaze.
A second later, the Guilds collided.
The sound of cracking ice and metal striking claws resounded.
A cloud of dust obscured the combatants, flashes of fire and ice dancing within, like a magical play. When it settled, Alden saw the Rime Hound had received a few more wounds, blood matting its once pristine grey-white fur. The archer was unharmed, largely thanks to the reach of their frozen spear.
Snarling, the wolf growled at its opponents.
From a glance, the Rage Knight's strategy was clear - they intended to use their numerical advantage to tire the lupine creature and its rider out, before swooping in to deal the final blow. The Rime Hound's seemed to register that at the same time Alden did, for their movements had turned more cautious and deliberate, doubtless unwilling to expend what little energy they had left in a mad dash.
However, just then, the wolf seemed to sway from the loss of blood, and everyone in the stadium knew that the Rime Hound's were on their last legs. The Rage Knights seemed to sense that too, closing in on their opponents in a loose circle.
Anticipation coursed through the crowd, tension crackling like lightning in the air.
The sharpshooter gritted their teeth as they swivelled on the wolf's back, thrusting with their icy spear whenever a fiery warrior got too close. Things continued like that briefly, before suddenly, and without warning, both sides erupted in a flurry of chaotic movement.
Fire and ice flashed again.
The wolf tanked two blows, while the archer's lance lashed out, sweeping out a wave of icy fire. The Rage Knights shrugged off the icy wave, converging on them in a whirlwind of molten, fiery steel.
…Very soon, the battle was over.
The Rime Hounds stood no chance.
The Rage Knights had won the first clash.