With Tian’s help, Ali monitored the movement of the Lightning Clan group at a safe distance. As seen in a couple of battles, this group was nearly unstoppable. What was terrifying was how easily the necromancer took in powerful corpses as his servants. With each successive battle, the necromancer grew stronger and stronger. Eventually, the Dark Cult members questioned if they should even mess with this group, fearing that some of them might become a servant forced to forever serve an evil master.

If only I had my trap ability. Then, defeating this necromancer will be so much easier.

Having seen the strength of the necromancer, Belen started a quick meeting so everyone could discuss the matter. There was a unanimous decision of not engaging the necromancer for the time being. Instead, they would track down the other Lightning Clan groups to weaken this group that had grown more powerful than they thought was possible. With the change of plan, the group headed away from the necromancer while Tian kept an eye on this dangerous foe. If the necromancer ever got close, Tian could alert Ali so he and the others could flee in time.

“Who should we target now?” asked Kurata. “The rest of us don’t have a suitable scout.”

Summonees weren’t rare within the Dark Cult but those that could conceal themselves like Tian were extremely rare. Without the concealment, summonees were very easy to spot, especially in a metropolis like Vliland. Lacking the air serpent meant the group had to accept a higher risk of being detected. This was sadly a risk they had to take to carry out their mission.

“That didn’t take long,” said Kamis before he got the attention of a new group of thugs.

The thugs were just finishing off some civilians when Kamis arrived. Without hesitation, they charged the bulky teenager who activated his defensive ability at once. The arrogant expressions of the thugs vanished very quickly when their attacks were completely halted in their tracks. Before the thugs could react to the situation, the Dark Cult members all unleashed their attacks, easily cutting down every single thug.

“Who dares to attack the Lightning Clan?” roared a man at the top of his lungs.

Ali was surprised when his body refused to move after the roar. His peripheral vision confirmed that many others were also rooted in place.

“Now die!” said the man as he charged towards the group.

Despite his struggles, Ali couldn’t free himself from whatever ability was used. He could only stare helplessly as the man closed the gap with a seemingly powerful charge ability. Kamis, being at the very front, would be the first to make contact with the ability.

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Damn it! Move!

No amount of internal shouting could make his body move. He could only watch the brute make contact with his companion. However, he couldn’t believe his eyes when the brute was not only stopped but the man was sent flying as though someone stronger opposed his charge. While the man was sent flying, Ali felt his body was under his control again and attacked. He watched as the others all focused their attacks on the man who was helpless in the air. They then waited for the smoke to clear but, to their horror, the man stood up without any signs of injury.

“Not bad,” the man said. “That actually tickled!”

“He has terrifying HP regen,” said one of the Dark Cult members. “We cannot give him a breather to recover.”

“You won’t get another chance!”

Like an angry bull, the man charged at them a second time. This time, the man was so fast that Ali had a harder time keeping up. Before he knew it, the man collided with Kamis defensive shield. Unlike the last time, the shield simply shattered, allowing the man to charge through the group like there were no obstructions. Ali just happened to be out of the path but even the draft sent him tumbling onto the ground. As soon as he got up, the teenager fired off as many air slashes as his MP allowed him. The attacks all landed but, as soon as his attacks ceased, the small wound healed up.

Now I see how this man earned his spot in the Lightning Clan. Hard to kill him if he could outheal any damage inflicted on him.

“We cannot afford to take another one of his charges,” exclaimed Belen who, like Ali, was fortunate to avoid a direct hit earlier.

A quick look around confirmed Ali’s worst fears. Many of those who took a direct hit remained down on the ground. some of whom weren't making any sound. Kamis boasted the best defense of them all and even he was badly bloodied from the single charge. With their foe readying himself for another charge, Kamis rushed to the front and activated his shield. However, it was clear that those hit by the earlier attack needed medical attention immediately. A quick glance revealed to Ali that the two healers in their group were thankfully still on their feet.

If only we can slow him down…but charge abilities usually have a way of dealing with slows. How about…redirecting the man so he misses us…

The teenager went through his abilities and the only one that might work would be his levitating walls. Before he could fully think through his strategy, the foe charged at them, giving him little time to strategize. Gambling everything on this attempt, Ali went with what came to his mind first. He purposely summoned a wall in a way that would make it a ramp in the path of the man. If the man’s ability resembled other charging abilities Ali had heard of, the man should not be able to stop mid-charge nor change directions quick enough to avoid the ramp. According to some sources, most individuals who possessed charge abilities couldn't even react to their own charges until the charge ended. He could only hope the ramp would send the man flying over their heads so they could avoid another direct hit.

Let’s see if my plan works…