"Oh, so they are just watching us? It's a bit problematic..."
One of the S-rank said with an amused expression while looking at the third evolution monsters that were observing them from afar.
Usually, monsters would simply charged at the culprit that made a mess in their territory. That's the habit of the monsters. They wouldn't just attack anyone except if they were hungry or someone disturb them.
But these two third evolution monsters were just observing them. They were assessing the situation and it means that they had intelligence.
Of course, there were exceptions to everything. Monsters like Trolls, Orcs, goblins, and any other humanoid-type monsters had higher intelligence than any other monsters. As most of the monsters only gained intelligence when they reached their third evolution.
And these two clearly had intelligence.
Fighting intelligent monsters was problematic as their movement wasn't predictable unlike the other monster who could only charge, bite, etc.
"We should eliminate them soon to avoid unnecessary events."
Two of the S-rank experts flashed and six A-rank experts followed them to eliminate the two third evolution monsters. With this formation, they could handle the problem. They just need to hold on until the monster used up the [Monster Orb Release] and these two would grow weaker.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
'They are making a move...'
Bryan thought as he saw two groups charged towards the direction of the monster.
Still, his situation didn't change at all. He still couldn't defeat this S-rank elf at all. He was getting desperate as he could feel the mana flow in the altar was getting heavier every second.
"Young man, there's no hope anymore for you..."
The S-rank elf didn't stop taunting Bryan. He was having fun but he didn't let his guard down because he knew that Bryan was a powerful A-rank that could even keep up with him.
'Is this his limit? His breathing is getting heavy and his hands are trembling...'
He thought while looking at Bryan's bloody figure. He still couldn't believe that there was an A-rank as strong as this young man. Even those geniuses in the royal academy wouldn't be a match for him.
'He's a barbarian and I could confirm it with his red crimson hair along with his unrivaled physical strength in the realm of liquefying mana. But I've fought barbarians in the past and they are not as strong as this one. His pure state is stronger than the pure state of a normal A-rank barbarian.'
Just who is this young man? The elf narrowed his eyes. He was curious about the identity of Bryan and he wanted to know it.
Also, he was sure that he could defeat this young man but it wouldn't be that easy. It would take a lot of effort before he could do that.
'It seems that he only knows the pure state of a barbarian. If he mastered the other state of barbarian then the difficulty would increase.'
The S-rank smiled. Barbarians weren't one of the most powerful humans for nothing. They were on par with the levels of witches and magical humans.
Huff... Huff... Huff...
Bryan gritted his teeth and tightly clenched his fist. He ignored the pain in his body and charged his mana on his hand. He was currently weaker than before as the [Dual Element Drive] has subsided. The flame spears on his back and the lightning blade on his wrist has also already disappeared.
But he still needed to go on. He couldn't back down right now. The lives of those women were at stake and he will try to save them no matter what happens.
Just keep on fighting...
Squeeze out more power...
Don't lose hope...
I will...
Red sparks flashed in Bryan's eyes as he glared at the elf. His will to fight was overflowing.
Suddenly, a voice sounded in the area...
"Oh, so you are a barbarian, Bryan. Eeew, look at how much you grow in the past few months that we haven't seen each other. It's amazing ufufufu... but my dear Souta is still better in every aspect. Aw! I wonder when would I see him again! Maybe, he's completely ripe and I can eat him."
"Who's that?!" The S-rank elf opened his eyes widely and shock filled his eyes. He looked around trying to find where the voice was coming from.
Bryan turned his head left and right. Then, he looked at the top of the tree thirty meters away from him and saw a group of people.
"Why are you all here?"
He asked when he saw them but he sighed in relief.
"Tch! That old man went to me and ask me to come here a few weeks ago! He said that I should help my dear Souta's friend if I want to see him again! Fuck that old man! Blackmailing me like this! I'm sure that I will destroy him one day!"
A beautiful woman with long lilac-colored her. Her two eyes were different in color, heterochromia. Her left eye was blue and her right eye was red. She was the strongest student of the Ladros Institute in history.
Her name is Yanagi Shina.
The people behind her were the members of Souta's Fan Union Club but now an official member of the Dark Oculus Legion.
"Can you still hold on, Bryan?" Jeanne approached Bryan and asked him. She then turned around and said, "Healer, come here and treat Bryan's wounds. Also, don't forget to give him health potion and mana potion."
"Thanks, Jeanne but..." Bryan looked at her in the eyes.
"I know... Since we are here. We'll try to help you as much as we can." Jeanne smiled as she understood Bryan's worry. She was the vice-president of the fan club.
The fan club was disbanded when they joined the legion. They just establish their own group in the legion and became one of the elite forces of the Dark Oculus Legion aside from the Deputies (The Core Members/Founding Members).
They were famous in the circle since all of their members were female. Some adventurers even called them Souta's harem but then those people got beaten up by Yanagi.
"Ufufu... It's been a while since I've fought someone. Well, this will be enough to satiate my boredom."
Yanagi said with a faint smile as she stepped forward while looking at the S-rank elf.
"Who are you?"
The S-rank elf asked with a wary expression. He didn't think that the young man has comrades.
The other elites of the Bentley Family couldn't stand watching this scene. They stepped up and stood beside him.
'What the hell? It gives me a creepy feeling just by looking at this girl...'
The elites could feel danger around Yanagi and they couldn't explain why. It feels like a predator was staring at him.
"Ufufu..."
Yanagi was fully prepared. There was another reason why she came here. Bargan told her that something will happen in the Eternal Empire and she needed to prepare herself if she were to go.
"They are strong so be careful. Also, we don't have much time. The ritual will be completed soon and the sacrifices will die." Bryan said while receiving a healing spell. He was also holding mana potions in his hand to recover some of his mana so that he could fight once again.
"Tch! Don't tell me what should I do! You got defeated by them so I don't need to follow you!"
Yanagi said as she glanced at Bryan. Then, she turned her attention back to the enemies in front of her.
"Ehe~"
A large amount of mana erupted out of her body and several circles of energy formed around her. The energy was white, flat, and it was spinning like a vortex in the water.
"You don't need to worry at all," Jeanne said while looking at Yanagi's back. "You haven't seen it yet, right?"
"What?" Bryan turned to look at Yanagi.
"You see..." A smile formed on Jeanne's face. "She's unpredictable but when she is on your side. There's no one more reliable than her."
Seven blades came out of the whirlpool of energy. It spun behind her as her body floated above the ground. Her cold eyes gazed at the enemies like they were dead people.
Each blade was oozing out a powerful aura. It was as if the blades were alive.
[Blade Dancer: Divine Blade Formation]!
All the blades that were floating on her back were orange grade and the one on her hand was a red grade just one grade below dark grade.
In the next moment, the atmosphere got heavier and her murderous aura flooded the entire area. The elites of the Bentley Family were shocked as their eyes opened widely.
"This power...?!"
"A shackled realm expert!!"
If Souta was here, he would recognize this technique. One of the signature techniques of Yanagi Shina in the game. He also wouldn't be surprised about her power level as he knew that she will reach godhood later in version 3. On that version, she established a name for herself as she slew one of the demon pillars of the Heavenly Demon Palace.
The Thousand Blades, Yanagi Shina.