After teleporting, the view that spread before our eyes was an intense battle beyond our level. Two small figures were flying around at a rapid pace, continuously exchanging places with their enemies as they exchanged blows.
The ones who were fighting were a blue-haired man and a small girl with black hair, Zeshion and Alpha, respectively.
“Wait, we’re in their range!”
Belatedly realizing this, the four contenders approached our spot, destruction following them along. The forest below them became level with every blow they exchanged. If they were to do that right above us, then I, Minerva, and Hekate would definitely be flattened like pancakes!
“…!”
I felt a gaze, and suddenly, the fighters moved toward a different direction, avoiding us entirely. Either Zeshion or Alpha must’ve noticed us. But if the allies did see us, then…
“Die!”
As expected, the enemies did too. Two figures clad in black hoods flew down from the back of the giant Zombie Dragons, the god-level demons on this battlefield.
The two figures were most likely aiming to eliminate us, a variable on this delicately balanced battlefield. However, we wouldn’t be going down that easily.
“Sir Will, let me handle the defense!”
Minerva took a step forward and waved her hand. As she did, a transparent barrier covered us immediately. The barrier didn’t last long, however, as she was simply at the 7th stage, while the enemies were 9th-stage demon tamers.
Their rapier and chopper came down on us after breaking the barrier, but the short instant that the barrier stopped them was enough for me to finish my preparations.
*SHING!* *CLANG!* 𝒍𝓲𝒃𝙧𝙖.𝓬𝙤𝓶
With a single swipe of my sword, their weapons were sent swerving largely to the right, missing. Of course, the reason I was able to overpower them was Lifeblood, which gave me bonus strength and speed. I activated it at a moderate level, enough that no significant aftereffects would be left.
“Kuh! What a powerful strike!”
One of the two, the one that was a bit slender and holding the rapier, gritted his teeth as he struggled to return to his previous stance. Of course, I didn’t miss the chance and took a step forward, stamping his face with the soles of my feet.
*BAM!*
With an exaggerated motion, he went flying like a bullet, vanishing from sight in but a moment. The one with the cleaver, a buff-looking male the complete opposite of the other one, quickly waved his weapon against me.
“You think something that slow would reach me?”
With a simple half-step to the side, I evaded his vertical slash. However, the path of the cleaver seemed to blur for a moment, and before I realized it, the blade was right before my eyes.
“…!”
I waved my sword in panic, deflecting the attack, but it still managed to graze my left arm, causing it to bleed lightly.
“You’re just an 8th-stage! You can’t overcome the difference in power!”
Feeling like he had the advantage after injuring me, a wicked smile covered his lips, the only thing visible from his face. Well, I did underestimate him… I guess gaining strength made me arrogant or something.
“Minerva, Hekate… let’s do this.”
Right, I was never alone in the first place.
As soon as I called them, the two’s expressions changed from worry to a smile. Being relied upon made them feel that they’re needed, which in turn made them feel happy inside.
Hekate quickly started, applying one buff after another to me while Minerva was setting up invisible blocks all over the place. Looking at the complex setup, they must be there to impede the enemy’s movements.
‘It’s invisible, so they shouldn’t be able to see it. But my eyes are able to see them as clearly as day.’
It was perfect for a battle like this, where a single mistake could be fatal.
“Sh*t…”
Feeling that my power was now greater than his, the bulky, hooded man took a careful step back. As he did, the small, invisible, and stationary barrier that Minerva set poked him from the back. In a panic, the fat man took a half-step forward, turned around, and swung his cleaver down. However, nothing was there—only empty air.
“Are you fighting ghosts now?”
I whispered as my sword pierced his side, causing quite a significant wound to him. Surprised by the sudden pain, he jumped forward, pulling my sword out of his body and taking distance from me.
However, as he was doing so, he bumped against another invisible barrier, interrupting his movements. He didn’t turn around completely but rather simply turned his head around, checking. Still, that small delay made me able to reach him.
I raised my sword and lowered it, aiming for his head, but as if reading my intention, he inched backward a little, making my sword cut empty air. Taking advantage of my carelessness, he swung his cleaver, aiming for my neck.
*CLANG!*
However, his attack didn’t connect, as there were several layers of barriers set up right before my neck. It was there beforehand; after all, I just took advantage of it.
With the unexpected blockage of his attack, it was his time to become open for attacks one more time. I moved without wasting a single moment, thrusting my sword forward where his eye was. At that moment, I felt a chill run down my spine.
Trusting my instincts, I halted my attack and took three steps to the side. As soon as I did, a large crater appeared at the spot where I was before. There, the lean man had his rapier pierced deep into the ground.
‘If I didn’t move, then that’d be embedded in my head and not the ground!’
The thought caused me to have goosebumps, but nevertheless, the battle was now back to 2-v-3. However, both of them weren’t at full strength anymore but were battered.
One had a bloody nose, while the other had a hole in his side. If they continue this fight, then it should be obvious that they’d be on the losing end, even if they have the upper hand in terms of level.
“Leo! Let’s do this!”
The thin man shouted, taking out a black pill from his breast pocket. As soon as the object in his hands entered my vision, I felt my heart beat rapidly. This… Is instinctive fear something telling me that that pill is dangerous!
“Tsk! No choice!”
The man with the cleaver did the same and took out a black pill from his pocket. As the two were moving, about to pop the capsule into their mouths, a figure appeared behind the two, right between them.
“And that’s it.”
The figure, Zeshion, clapped his hand after sending a chop to their heads. The chop was so powerful that the two’s necks vanished… Literally. Are they still alive?
Zeshion, who appeared without warning, quickly turned around while leaving a few words.
“Extract information from them, Will! I’m counting on you!”
Information? Like, what, and how? By interrogating them? They’re dead (I think) now, you b*stard!
Just as I was cursing in my mind, Minerva pulled my clothes a little and asked.
“Master, I can read their memories using my powers… Should I?”
“You can do that to corpses?”
I was a little taken aback, not imagining that she had that ability. However, Minerva quickly shook her head.
“No, I can’t. It’s only applicable to those still alive. These two are still alive, barely, so we could technically extract information from them now.”
“Alright, do it before it’s too late!”
After receiving my permission, Minerva kneeled before the two fallen figures and placed one hand on their heads.
I could see her energy surge around, gathering at each hand and intruding into their heads. After only a few seconds, Minerva quickly pulled her hands away and sighed.
“It’s completed, Sir Will.”
“Great. Then relay that information to Zeshion later.”
As I mentioned his name, I also turned to their battle up in the sky. As usual, their speed was out of this world, making me feel like I was watching a video that was played at 10x speed.
However, as the two god-level zombie dragons lost the support of the two Zodiacs, they were now getting pushed into a corner. The battle looked chaotic at first, but it was obvious that Alpha had their entire movement captured already. Not a single one of their attacks could even touch Alpha’s or Zeshion’s shadows, while the pair’s attacks never missed.
The Zombie Dragons, feeling that their end was near, went for a do-or-die attack. They fired their poisonous-looking breath randomly, essentially filling the entire sky with it. The two vanished within the purple fog, hidden. However, this was completely useless against an enemy with foresight.
“To your right.”
“Roger!”
With a simple command, Zeshion swung his new sword to the right.
*GROOOOOOOWL!*
A howl of pain echoed as one of the two dragons fell. One of its wings was falling down a little behind it, completely detached from its body.
One of the two zombie dragons was already incapacitated!