“Elius, I’ve located the Fake and his party against a very strong Tower creature. Proceeding to assassinate them.”
Haku’s targets were focused on the Tower Guardian. Prior to his encounter, he did some image training, attacking from different angles to test his odds of success. It would be easy to jump in and out, killing the Fake without the other two noticing.
His previous attempt failed because the limiter of his curse was restricted. With permission, he would not hesitate no longer.
“You are to be on standby.”
Haku ceased all movement, surprised by Elius’ command. He thought Elius would instigate an assassination against the Fake knowing the best chance to eliminate the enemy was now.
“The Fake may have discovered me once, but that was merely luck.”
“This is not the right time to eliminate the Fake.” Elius replied. “Do not act on your own accord.”
The voice sound defeated. Had he been captured? Or had he been met with a crushing defeat?
Haku continued observing the fight, counting how many missed opportunities presented to claim the Fake’s life.
“In my opinion now’s the best time to-.”
“We will dispose of the Fake. I have other means to keep him alive for now. The Acolyte is now our primary concern. Irvan’s heavily injured by it. I forbid you from harming the Fake until further notice.”
Not even Haku would think the Oracle would be among the first casualties of the party.
Irvan was not just talented, but also a skilled warrior. He could continuously hone and refine his skills in a duel, growing to new heights. To hear about his current state shook Haku’s resolve of how overwhelming the Acolyte’s strength was.
Was he about to dive into a fight with the Acolyte in it?
“What will we do?”
“We’ll temporarily make an alliance with the Scalemen to take it down. Buy time for Irvan to heal up then we’ll act. I have Lidian healing him right now.”
“And once the Oracle has recovered?”
“We will then slay the Acolyte and the Faker. The Crimson Dragon said whichever side conquers the Tower will have Stusis under their control.”
“Shall I retrieve Salith? She is a Hero supposedly to fight against the Towers.”
“Do it. If you encounter any Scalemen, relay my offer to them.”
“Understood.”
Haku obediently moved his head back behind the wall. He took out two of his dulled daggers, filling their sheaths with the ‘White Star’ solution. Though he was ordered to not harm the Fake, it couldn’t be helped if it was accidental.
After confirming the process was completed, he melded back into the shadows and travelled above ground for his search.
He discovered a few Scalemen setting a perimeter around Salith. The Rozzalian Hero was bounded to make sure she didn’t turn on them as they kept the area safe.
Haku felt his stomach churning at the mere thought of cooperating with the enemy. Nonetheless, to not invoke Elius’ wrath, he revealed himself to a group of Scalemen with his hands up.
“I have no intentions of fighting-.”
Haku calmly sidestepped an arrow launched by an archer. He then spotted a group of Lizardmen ambush him, hiding beneath rubble.
Miasma clouding around him shaped itself into a large hand, pressing his attackers against the floor.
“Do not interrupt me while I have come with no intentions of harming you. I have come to offer a temporarily alliance for the Dragonkins and Scalemen. For that, I need you to hand over that Rozzalian.”
“What makes you sure we would accept it!” Yizdra confronted Haku. “You tried to kill us earlier.”
“And I can kill everyone here if you refuse.”
“Release them!”
“Only if you inform of those in charge of Elius’ offer.” Haku drew a dagger, lifting a Lizardman’s chin with it. “You should be grateful this offer is made, but I will kill them if I must fulfill my duty. Free the Rozzalian now. She is needed to fight the Acolyte.”
----------------------------------------
The Tower was felled by the Shaman in one blow.
The infinitely long Tower that was said to have stretched into the unknown above was seen leaning over its side. The base of the Azure Tower cracked as it slid its entire weight over to one end, then its body bent as a thin tree would.
“The Tower’s coming down at us!” Lily warned.
A hand shoved her forward away from an explosion. Aten saw the Shaman hurl a javelin towards Lily, but he selflessly took the projectile in her stead.
It pierced his carapace and pinned him on the side of a building.
“Aten!”
“G…go!” The Insectoid waved them away.
“Give me an arm! We’ll come back and dig you out afterwards!” Kihet shouted.
Knowing his immortal friend would survive, this was the best option Kihet desperately thought of. After they lose the Shaman pursuing them, the severed arm would guide them to find Aten’s body below all the debris.
Aten unsheathed a knife and quickly severed one of his arms before his curse could stop him. He tossed it to Kihet and gave them a thumbs up.
Kihet stuck the arm into his bag and carried Lily. He flung his [Chain] onto buildings, swinging above the roads as fragments from the toppling Tower began to rain down on them.
“Kihet, turn left!”
“Is the Acolyte still after us?”
“En, it is-. Watch out! It’s preparing another throw!”
Kihet yanked himself to the ground, his feet glided over the surface of the road. He could feel the rushing wind pass by as a missile flew over him and disappeared into the horizon.
He swerved in between buildings, dodging a hail of boulders. He would cast [Repulsion] and [Quagmire Sphere] to buy time whenever he couldn’t dodge.
The Shaman followed closely. It destroyed every obstacle in its way, sometimes snatching a large stone and hurling it aimlessly at Kihet.
“I’m going airborne. Get ready to pull out your bow.”
“En!”
Kihet found a window to toss themselves into the air, turning Lily around with her bow drawn taut.
Lily released her arrows. Orbs scattered throughout the air swallowed and spat her projectiles in different directions, weaving through debris dropping all around them. Shooting star like projectiles interrupted the Shaman from jumping after them. She continued to pepper the Acolyte until Kihet was forced to land and ski out of the impact zone.
A rush of wind carrying dust and pebbles expanded outwards after the Tower collapsed. Kihet held Lily close and put his arm over her head. The shockwave swept their feet off the ground and sucked them up into the sky.
Once he registered the lightness of his body, he opened his eyes to find the Shaman had flown up after them.
“Shit!”
A tall stalagmite suddenly erected underneath the Shaman. Although it didn’t pierce its abdomen, the spell fulfilled its purpose to separate it from Kihet.
“Oracle, hurry! Thisss way!” Hilaqi hissed. “Krullu, now!”
“Fire away!” At Krullu’s signal, a barrage of explosives rained down at the Shaman.
Cannon fire continued. Kihet and Lily retreated behind their allies to catch a breath when suddenly, a spear pierced through three Tortoise Defenders standing behind one another and destroyed two of the cannons.
“It’s not working!”
The Shaman was spotted at the end of the street, sprinting towards them. Seemingly, any and all damage inflicted upon it from when it stepped onto the battlefield were rendered ineffective.
Kihet gulped, doubting the collective strength of the Scalemen to bring down the Acolyte. If it didn’t budge even against the Oracle’s flames, his only option was to rely on Heroes to take it down. He only knew of two. Lily and Salith.
But Salith had gone missing. Ainig who Kihet hoped would awaken as a hero was absent. Lily was their current hope.
“Regroup and don’t attack it head on. I’ll buy some time. Krullu, I need you to get a team together to find Aten.” Kihet tossed Aten’s severed hand to the Chameleon.
“Right-! Hey! What is this?!”
“That arm will guide you to his location. Hurry and dig him out.”
Kihet casted [Kerse Armament] with the effect of [Repulsion] over himself. He raced ahead to meet the Shaman head on, hoping his magic would be enough repel the first onslaught of the Shaman’s fury.
He anchored his [Chain] at his opponent to rob it of its weight. Once the Shaman became weightless, power transferred through its attacks would reduce, making defending and parrying less difficult.
Lily struck arrows into it, but she was being ignored despite landing headshots and at the enemy’s vitals.
Kihet deflected the first attack, but he had to muster every ounce of strength to stop the axe. Although he reduced his opponent’s strength, every blow he received felt like the weight of a moving carriage ramming into him. After the fourth clash, Kihet found himself desperately gasping for air. His arms trembled.
He retreated with [Crescent Moon Dash] but regretted it when the Shaman caught him in the middle of his movement with a kick into his side. Thanks to [Kerse Armament] providing an extra layer of defense over his armor, he managed to scrape by without any broken bones.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
“Ack!”
Kihet flew into a building with the Shaman jumping after him. He could hear Lily shouting for him, rushing to his aid.
“[Rolling Crown]!”
A Lycanthrope suddenly dropped from the top of a building slamming his weapon at the Shaman.
“Found ya, Oracle! I came ta help!”
“Don’t take your eyes off it!”
They briefly locked weapons before Rogus was quickly overwhelmed by the vast difference in strength. The Shaman shoved him down and wind up its axe. It hacked the ground, finding Rogus fished away by Kihet’s [Chain].
“Da hell?!”
“Don’t attack it head on. None of us can afford to take a hit from it.”
“I dun mean dat. I couldn’t sense any bloodlust. It’s treatin’ us like playthings!” Rogus growled. “Can’t ya hit it with the Oracle’s light of yers?”
Kihet’s arm suddenly combusted with silver flames, hurling a massive fireball at the Shaman to show Rogus’ suggestion was ineffective.
The miasma masking the enemy quickly extinguished the Oracle’s flames.
“See? No effect on the Acolyte.”
“Dat didn’t even do a thing.” Rogus swapped to his steel claws. “So, we hit fast and don’t get caught.”
“That’s the plan. Say, you were with Draigh. What happened to him?”
“Yer pal’s fightin’ Alc’Bruk. I dunno what’s the result is, but his sides gone quiet.”
“He’ll pull through.”
“I hope yer right.”
“For now, let’s keep fighting until we find its weakness.”
Kihet swabbed his firelance, skillfully loading new cartridges in it. As soon as the Shaman showed signs of diving at them, he fired shrapnel and a puff of smokescreen at it.
“Alright! Lemme at et!”
Rogus’ swift movement after swapping to his claws gave himself speed advantage to expertly perform hit and run tactics.
While it was pinned in place, Kihet drew his sword and swung by with [Waxing Moon, Falling Petals]. Small cuts appeared on the Shaman’s arms, burning off little bits of miasma before they were smothered.
He then spotted Lily perched on rooftops with her bow drawn.
“Lily, aim at different spots to see if there are any changes to its behavior!”
“En! I heard you!”
The Shaman stormed through her arrows as they were a light drizzle. It sprinted at Kihet, attacking with unrefined yet powerful movements.
The earth trembled as the road was paved with deep scars. Obstacles standing in the way of its axe collapsed as if they were a set of child’s building blocks.
“Sei, Pik, Dupil, Holl, Nalus, Jeltz!”
Dozens of fiery stars flickering underneath the dull clouds. [Fireballs] filled up the sky and after a gesture was made to release them, the flurry of magic bombarded the Shaman.
“Ank, Maks, Dupil, Holl, Merdil, Jeltz!”
More projectile of the light elemental replaced the number of [Fireballs] and rained upon the Shaman.
“Justiva!” Lidian signaled.
A figure of light in a set of heavy armor landed in front of the Shaman and thrust her lance.
The Shaman caught the astral lance, flinging the Alven Crusader out of its path before targeting Elius and Lidian.
“You will not reach them while I am present!”
Justiva’s [Phantom Step] teleported her in front of the Shaman to block its axe. Her shield glowed then released a shockwave, to interrupt the momentum of its charge.
“Fake, we realize the threat this thing poses a greater threat onto both our armies. We’ll lend a hand, for now.” Elius announced.
“What about Irvan?”
“He is recovering as we speak. He should be able to wake up and rejoin the battle in time.”
Kihet and Lily shot each other a quick look. The two agreed it was impossible to defeat the Shaman with their strength alone.
“I’ll bite, but I’ll be watching you. Just so you know, I won’t show my back to you. Whatever happens to you guys don’t matter to me.”
“We will look after ourselves.”
“Good. Now hold out your weapons. This is only time you get my help.”
Elius and Lidian’s weapon shined silver. Though they rather cast spells from afar, they would draw their weapons once they expended all their catalyst.
“Hey, no hard feelings.” Lidian shot Lily a smile.
“I don’t like you.”
“I share the same sentiment, but I will cooperate as long as Elius wishes it.”
The two expressed their discontent for one another but quickly averted their attention back on the fight. With Lidian and Elius providing magic support, Justiva to reinforce the vanguard, Lily set her aim to the Acolyte’s vitals to probe for a weakness.
“Elius, glad ya got some sense in ya.” Rogus waved.
“Silence, defector. You abandoned us.”
“Because I’m doubting if Irvan is truly da Oracle. This one has proof I can see while da only proof ya gave me are stories when I wasn’t there!”
Elius couldn’t object as he watched Kihet hurl a silver fireball at the Acolyte. He ignored Rogus’ complaints and returned his duty of hurling spells at the Shaman.
He was conflicted. Perhaps he unknowingly made a mistake from the beginning.
“No. I’m not wrong…”
His was suddenly stung by a headache. As one hand grabbed the side of his head to stop the throbbing, the other unconsciously floated up, drawing magic symbols not of primary attributes but of compound attributes.
Doram, Pik and Brac.
A thin arc of electricity jumped from the tip of his finger to the ground.
“This is my body! Get out of here!”
His finger moved again, adding to the forming magic spell.
Doram, Pik, Brac, Holk, Duph, Jeltz.
“Oracle, Elius is casting a spell at ya!” Rogus warned.
Lightning sparked from Elius’ finger and branched towards Kihet. Lightning travelled fast, but as everyone thought it would hit the Oracle, the spell scraped the area around Kihet. Arcs of electricity slashed at the Shaman and one more unexpected assailant.
Kaz’Bruk’s magical glaive cut the jolt of lightning and leaped on top of a nearby building.
“I knew better than to believe the Oracle and his companions. You are all Heretics!”
“That wasn’t me…!” Elius shouted.
-That proves someone did possess Elius. Just now, he’s trying to take back his body. Dammit, I can’t help him now. There’s too many distractions.- Kihet thought. He then called out. “Hilaqi, you’re up! Keep Kaz’Bruk out of this fight! Rogus, go help him!”
“Why me?” The Lycanthrope asked.
“That Dragonkin’s only going to make the situation worst. While I’m buying time for reinforcements, you’re the only one I can count on to take Kaz’Bruk down.”
“Grr… fine! I hated dat Lizard anyways.”
On Kihet’s signal, the Naga who was delaying his spell rapidly completed his chant.
“KAZ’BRUK!” Hilaqi bellowed. “I will take revenge for the Azure Dragon’s Valiant!”
Earthen spikes shaped like ribcages stretched into the sky. Kaz’Bruk instantly turned to the skies to escape but found Rogus falling at him. The Lycanthrope swiped his steel claws, dragging the Dragonkin downwards where Hilaqi’s spell pierced one of his wings.
“Heretic, know your place! Stusis is the Dragon’s domain!”
“That is falssse!” Hilaqi thrust his spear. “Stusis is not only of your kind, but also home to many othersss!”
Kaz’Bruk parried the attack. As the Dragonkin stepped in for a counter, his Glaive struck the broad back of a greatsword.
“Tell ya what. We don’t like each other.” Rogus unchained his named weapon, [Rolling Crown], off his back. “Sorry, snake person. I don’t know Scylanis, but yer face looks like ya also want to kill him. I’ve got good news. I do know how ta share a kill.”
----------------------------------------
The Shaman hoisted a javelin and preparing a throw at Elius’ group.
Just as it fell into its stance, arrows struck its throwing arm trying to disarm it.
Sensing an opportunity, Kihet dove in and plunged his spiked firelance at its back. An explosion erupted from all three barrels and the recoil sent him flying.
The Shaman redirected its aim onto him and pierced through the smokescreen. It shattered a stack of barriers Lidian materialized in front of Kihet, but it bought him time to deflect it with [Full Moon, High Tide].
“Don’t think I’ve got an unlimited supply of catalyst. Have you got a plan?” Lidian asked.
“We just got to hit it until there’s a reaction. They might be immortal, but not invincible. Lily, can you try replicating the attack you used to drive the Acolyte from Vivrus away?”
“En! I’ll need a second.”
“I’ll keep the enemy busy!” Justiva declared. The Alven Crusader [Phantom Step] shifted her projection before the Shaman and bashed her shield at it. “Chancellor, Lidian, please support me!”
Elius and Lidian channeled their magic, mixing several elementals for a powerful spell.
Justiva lunged at the Shaman, striking the shaft of the axe.
“Don’t break its weapon!” Kihet scolded. “It’s a seal and I don’t want to find out what it does!”
As Kihet put out a warning, Lily shoved her whole hand into an orb storing all her arrows. She slowly pulled out an enlarged bolt of light granted by the power of her Hero’s crest and drew her bow.
She pulled the bowstring as far back as the bow allowed her to. Once her aim was set, she made her final calculations before loosening it aimed at the back of the Shaman’s neck.
To her surprise, this was the first time the Shaman reacted. The Shaman firmly held its axe in both hands and batted the arrow of light.
It turned to Lily. As opposed to its careless behavior of tanking her projectiles earlier, the Shaman’s guard was now up.
“Kihet, something’s wrong! I aimed at its neck, and it blocked that!” Lily warned. “It’s acting differently-!”
“Now, there’s a chance!”
Justiva heard their conversation and charged in. Thinking the opponent was careless to ignore her, she rushed in with her lance leading a powerful charge.
In a blink of an eye, the earth violently quaked as the Alven Crusader found her view split in half. The Shaman’s axe severed her body into two halves vertically. Not even her trusty shield was able to save her.
“Did she just mindlessly charge in?!” Kihet clicked his tongue.
Killing Justiva in a projected form ended her [Astral Body], returning her consciousness to her real body. She remained alive thanks to her proxy magic, leaving Kihet to be the only fighter to confront the Shaman.
The Shaman held its axe at the very end and hurled it at him. [Repulsion] slightly shifted the trajectory. The spinning weapon chopped down buildings like a saw blade flying through a forest, leveling everything in its view.
Kihet and Lily fell from the collapsing structures. His [Quagmire Sphere] slowed their descent as they watched a burning star casted by Elius and Lidian fall towards the Shaman.
The star hit its target but exploded before crushing everything below it.
The Shaman emerged unscathed as the attack to repel massive quantity of magic power was a simple punch. It then stabbed its fingers into the ground and unearthed a wave of rubbles. Debris, stone and boulders flipped into the air and more continuously flew up, rushing straight at Elius and Lidian.
Before the wave swallowed Elius and Lidian, a magical dome surrounded them. Whether their magic dome protected them in time or not, Kihet did not have the luxury to find out.
“Lily, what happened?”
“I aimed for the neck. I hit the same spot from before and it ignored me then. Was it because I used an empowered arrow?”
“It could be. Try again. I’ll distract it.”
Kihet paired his leaf bladed knife with a sword, rushing to intercept the Shaman in the middle of the field. His [Chain] shot backwards, anchoring away from the battlefield to act as his only lifeline.
Kihet prepared his fiery enchanted weapons, plunging the knife into one of its arms knowing the enemy was unable to retaliate.
He leaned back from a high kick aimed at his face. He used [Waning Moon, Falling Petals] to slash as he moved and plucked his knife free. In his new position, he hit the Shaman with [Waxing Moon, Sparking Steel].
He unleashed continuous flurries of [Blooming Petals], each time using the technique, inflicting four slashes simultaneously.
Without its weapon, the Shaman nimbly dodged each set of [Blooming Petals]. It weaved and ducked, until it pulled back.
“Kihet, I’ve prepared the next arrows! Get out of there!”
With impeccable timing, Kihet dropped [Quagmire Sphere]. The [Chain] attached to his back reeled him away from the Acolyte as Lily released a bolt of light.
The Shaman’s movement was hindered by Kihet’s spell, but not vulnerable. It held out both hands, catching the magical bolt mid flight.
Lily knew her first strike would be intercepted. She drew her bow with great haste, launching a second one. The shooting star darted through the air, leaving a trail of light as it travelled in between orbs scattered throughout the field.
Finally, Lily released the arrow from its perpetual flight and directed its trajectory at its collar. The Shaman’s feral instincts helped determine the general angle of Lily’s [Trick Orb].
“It could do that?!”
Lily’s arrow was caught in between the Berserk’s teeth. Under the slowness of Kihet’s slow field, it hurled the two arrows back at Lily.
The orbs shielded her, swallowing the projectiles back to her magical arrow storage.
Suddenly, the Shaman darted off into a different direction. At first it appeared as if the enemy was fleeing, but then Lily remembered something.
“It’s going to fetch its axe!” Lily warned.
Kihet anchored his chain next to the Shaman, pulling himself to catch up to it. He led his attack with [Single Flash].
He immediately followed up with [Tree Feller]. His blade suddenly felt lighter mid swing. The Shaman crushed the tip of his sword by stamping his blade between its knee and elbow. It then landed a spinning side kick into Kihet’s side.
“Kihet!”
“Urk…! Keep shooting! We can’t let it get to its axe!”
The Shaman was hit with more arrows. It ignored Lily like it usually did, scrambling to retrieve its axe.
A spear from nowhere sniped its thigh. Whereas light projectiles were rendered useless, this spear wreathed in silver light was launched by a larger figure. The pinned Shaman ripped the spear off its thigh, but an X suddenly carved at its chest.
The assassin in light eastern armor tugged at the air, revealing thin strings holding the enemy.
Though Haku’s appearance triggered many negative emotions welling within Kihet, he couldn’t afford to lose his composure in front of the Shaman. The same couldn’t be said for Lily. Kihet immediately held out his hand to stop Lily from loosening arrows at Haku.
Never once had he saw a furious look on her face. He also wanted to avenge Shiba’s death, but the situation at the moment would not let them.
“Fake, where is Elius?”
“The Acolyte buried him under the field of rubbles with the Fairy. You should probably dig them out before they suffocate.”
Haku averted his glaring look and tugged at his invisible strings. The Shaman’s durable body resisted being shred and instead reeled him in. He flipped midair, vanishing before he was struck. Patches of cuts drawn over the enemy’s arm then he reappeared behind it.
From what Kihet remembered his time spent training the Lunar Blade form from the Hallow, he recognized the technique as [Waxing Moon, Concealing Light].
However, Haku wasn’t able to keep dodging the enemy’s blows for long. Without its axe, the Shaman changed from a heavy axe wielder to a nimble agile brawler. Its speed doubled, narrowly catching Haku.
“Salith!”
Haku’s body emitted a flash of light.
A rectangular screen blocked the Shaman’s attack. The new challenger emerged with a mace, crushing the outstretched arm and bent it the wrong direction. She used her shield to push it back.
“Don’t think you’re off the hook, Haku. If you lie about Carmyn, I’ll tear your head and shove it up your ass.” The Rozzalian then turned to Kihet. “Sup. Heard you need a reliable frontline, Kihet. I’ll draw the Acolyte’s attention.”