I was looking at a serpent-like creature that was previously a manticore. Apparently, the manticore special ability was called [Evolve] in which the manticore is able to evolve its body rapidly.

For example, in order to fly swiftly with someone on top of it, it rapidly changes its whole body structure to that of a serpentine creature that had multiple wings.

But right now, it’s my time to shine.

When the manticore had took flight with Ghrukka on top of it, the enemies changed their target and was about to commence a barrage on them. Then I activated [Synikorvus].

The Eomancy circles didn’t break like the time with [Dexcrozus] but instead it was still activated but a swirling dot of white was in the middle of each of the Origin Circles, a sign that they were under my control.

[Synikorvus] can steal Eomancy circles.

I then activated the ones that I managed to steal. The amount was limited as I only took about ten Eomancies and even when activated, it doesn’t cause me any Overuse nor any strain from activating several Eomancies.

The barrages shot at the other casters that I wasn't able to steal as they stood confused looking at strangely at the stolen Eomancy Circles. They were done by the Eomancies of their fellow casters.

Seeing that, the hostage takers were gaping and tried to flee with the hostages but some of them were shot down by arrows from the tattooed elf. The ones that were shot down suddenly had red-like strings flowing from their bodies and into the air towards the tattooed elf.

It was probably his special ability but his marksmanship was extraordinary as he shoot all the arrows rapidly without any it missed.

The manticore descended near the hostages and Ghrukka uses their special ability.

It was called [Dimension].

They can establish and control a large area that can make anyone of their choosing incorporeal and anything tangible outside trying entering the area would be forced back. The hostages fall down as the incorporeal, bewildered terrorists had lost any physical connection to the world.

Now it was Amitva the basilisk turn.

Amitva special ability was called [Magnetize]. She can attract and repulse the targets of her choosing and pull or push them towards her.

All the hostages and Ghrukka was pulled in. Since there were it seems to stretch the limit of Amitva, it was a little slow but still progressing.

When [Dimension] ended in ten seconds, the terrorists tried to get back their hostages but were repulsed by the arrows of the tattooed elf and the manticore that was shooting nails like arrows upon them.

Alright, this side of the mission was completed, now the only thing to worry about is that dead living tree.

As all the hostages were rescued and secured, the guards are able to fight back with their own Eomancies.

“Erganisu, you should go and aid those that are fighting that monster.”

I went back to my side and I told that Erganisu who was in the state of [Indomitable]. He grunted and nodded as he strides towards the direction where the monster was.

It was a drawback of [Indomitable] that he cannot communicate verbally except by grunting.

“Ruigne, I believe with this, we can join in the suppression.”

Vefal who came at my side, said that to me. She had already ripped the robe that she wore, giving her better movement. It was the same for the rest of us except me. I'd realized I lack the battle-oriented mind that my fellow summoned has.

But there is something wrong. The fact was that they had lost the advantage of the hostages and now they are losing in the battle of attrition but they were still fighting back, maintaining their ground.

…

 I went into the centre of the blockades. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked around.

Some of the guards were-

!

I turned towards Kristalisha who was facing the canal alongside with her elder sister as she stood behind the guards. On her side, most of the terrorist had realized that their Eomancies were shut down by her special ability. They could only use ranged weapons like throwing knifes or bows but half of it were blocked by Stryklos and Kimiko special abilities.

“Vefal, tell Kristalisha to come here.”

She nodded quickly and in a single leap, she was beside Kristalisha. She was very surprised when Vefal had suddenly appeared beside her.

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Vefal whispered something to her and she took a glance at me. Then she nodded and walked towards me along with her elder sister.

When they had come near, I could see the elder sister displeased expression but I simply ignored her as she said something along the line of ‘Why are you bothering us’ or something. Time is of the essence.

“Kristalisha, can your special ability destroy Eomancies that are already in effect?”

“Y-yes, I think I can.”

“You heard something inside is telling you right?”

Her eyes went wide as though I exposed her secret. It was also the same as I suspected that her [Dexcrozus] was not only able to seal Eomancies but she is able to destroy the Circles themselves.

“Don’t worry about it. It was the same for me too. Anyway, I need you to look around and focus [Dexcrozus] on our surrounding.”

She hesitantly nodded. The three of them walked a little bit further into the centre, just a few distances away from me. She then hover her sight at the surrounding.

After a while, all around us, there were bursts of lightly coloured purple energy, revealing physically changed individuals amongs us.

When I had observed earlier, I noticed some of the guards weren’t alerted at all and they were acting agitated even though they were not longer under barrages. Not only that but instead of looking at the enemies, I caught some of them were staring dagger at their fellow guards.

A suspicion was born after analysing and I considered that the ranks of the guards were infiltrated and the real ones were probably killed and replaced by the terrorists specifically on this day. They’re aim wasn’t just causing terrorism to send a message or anything but it was to eliminate the newly arrived Tenth Summoned.

It was something of ‘a sure to succeed’ sort of a plan if everything else had failed. Perhaps they were waiting for their signal and after receiving it, they probably would’ve attack us after everyone here was thrown into chaos.

I think they also expected that they would be discovered but not this soon. At least I threw a wrench in their plan.

After their masquerading disguises were forcibly shattered, they quickly tried to attack their fellow guards or ran towards the summoned.

There were about two dozen or more of them and all of them dropped their shield and use only the halberd as only their physical appearance had change.

Two of them had attacked Vefal as she defended Kristalisha and Annastasha while her [Shadow] was sent near Krolve fighting against assailants targeting him as Krolve looked helplessly at his surroundings.

The rest of the guards, seeing that the enemies were amidst them, quickly defended themselves. The other summoned although shocked, was also quick to act as they hurriedly gathered near each other.

On my right side, one of the revealed enemies was running towards me with the halberd pointed at me.

I tried unsheathing my sword but before I could, I was within the attack range of the halberd.

I was struck down… or so I thought I was when I saw the halberd that had descended on my left shoulder but instead of cleaving me into half, the halberd had landed with a strange sound as though it was hitting diamond.

He and I were both confused but it was the same for others. No matter what anyone was doing, they couldn’t harm each other.

Then I saw the source of it. It was the fair-skinned elf girl from the elf-majority group. She was radiating sun-like light from her entire being. If I have to guess, her special ability was something that prevents violence in an area around her.

Still like any special ability, it has it’s time limit.

I unsheathed my sword again and ran towards where Vefal and the other were while my opponent was wondering what was happening. The other summoned and our guards, noticing this, quickly reform and took advantageous position.

As of now, our circle was smaller but at least the enemies had lost their element of surprise and every ally is on this side. I guess no matter how meticulously had they planned, they should have known the wild card of the summoned special abilities.

But the thing was, more enemies from across the canals had join in the assault and we were actually even in numbers so regardless, everyone had to fend for themselves.

The one who had attacked me was charging towards me with bloodlust strongly reflected in his eyes. Perhaps he had thought he was made a fool by me as he was showing such a frenzy expression.

Once again, he brought down the halberd but I managed to block it.

Kuh!

I felt my hands slightly numbed even though I was holding the sword with both hands. He then jumped back and proceeded to attack in the same manner. Since the space around us was limited, he could only rain down a downward attack on me but it was pretty effective on someone like me.

At this point, I will be overwhelmed and that would be the end of me.

Oh ye gods, please, just please, I made it this far, I haven’t had the pleasure to go on a date with Vefal and enjoyed my new life, so please, send a miracle.

...

And so it did happen.

At my right side, on the corner of my eyes, I saw one of the enemies was trying to cast an Eomancy of Red. Truly foolish but I really, really wanted to thank that guy. Using [Synikorvus], I stole it and mentally command it to aim at the right arm of the man who is about to kill me.

It was a luck equalling a miracle or maybe it’s the other way around.

An orb of red fire was hurled towards us and the man with a vicious grin thinking that it was the final nail in the coffin was scalded by the sudden Eomancy and he was groaning in pain.

Taking this opportunity, I then stabbed forward and slid the sword under his throat. It went in with sickening sound.

……

I felt my ears deafening from the sound of fighting around me and my mind had spun.

I had killed someone to save myself. Throughout the adrenaline and the primal instinct of wanting to survive, I had willingly killed someone. My first kill and I felt emotionally taut as no words and thoughts cannot described my current state.

“Ruigne are you alright?”

Vefal was running towards me. Looking around, there were lesser enemies than before.

It seems that we had successfully caused them to retreat as most of them were running away from us, showing their back. Majority of the ones who thought the summoned were easy pickings and decided to assault them were dead, killed by the summoned themselves.

“Reinforcement has arrived, just hold on!”

I heard one of the guards shouted this.

I turned towards Vefal and tried to fake a smile of ‘I’m okay’.

“I’m fin-”