As the sharp edge of the large axe split the air, Kade struggled to break the infliction. His Log recorded ‘Willpower Check’ again and again, as time seemed to slow down.
Just before the axe impacted his face:
Infliction -- Resisted
Stiffness Removed
Kade’s rich experience, and willpower, saved his life--his body reacting before his mind registered what his Log said; twisting to the side, dodging the mortal blow.
Boom!
Diapheis clearly put his entire strength behind the blow and was unable to stop the axe from cleaving deeply into the dirt ground.
A cloud of dust was raised.
Using the chance, he spun, swinging his sword at Diapheis’ exposed neck.
With fear visible in his eyes, Diapheis released the handle of his axe and jerked back. Kade’s sword grazed the skin of his neck, leaving a wound. The wound bled, but it was far from mortal.
Kade knew that he had to take advantage of the 2nd Rank Barbarian’s lack of a weapon to push his advantage. His attack wasn’t over, Kade pivoted his body around and slashed diagonally back up, his sword easily cutting the Barbarian’s leather armour and barely missing his spine.
“Argh!” Diapheis couldn’t help but let out a scream as quite a few of his muscles were severed, his left arm falling useless by his side.
Letting out a deep growl, his face screwing up and his eyes reddening, Diapheis kicked at the handle of his axe--the massive blade pulled from the ground with a shrieking noise. Grasping the weapon in one hand, the Barbarian turned and faced Kade.
The Elite Team standing by the side, felt trembles run down their spines, the cold rush of fear filled their heads. This was a fight between a 2nd Ranker and a very experienced 1st Ranker, something which seemed inhuman.
The way that the massive Barbarian suffered from the rapid attacks of a smaller and lower-leveled foe, it demonstrated that the masked stranger had natural skill and instinct, tempered from the experience of many battles.
***
But Kade didn’t have the chance to care about the spectators, because his beginning attacks hadn’t been able to kill Diapheis.
Still moving automatically, slipping the blows from the injured Barbarian, Kade noticed that there was no Critical Hits, which was regretful, since he had hit Diapheis’ unarmoured throat.
He had used a lot of Stamina--before he had the time to build it back to the massive inhuman levels that he used to have in Feinan--so he couldn’t fight for long periods of time.
Diapheis had lost more than 3/4th of his HP, and was bleeding badly, one of his arms was completely useless, but he was still alive. He was panting, the massive wound on his back was constantly draining his HP and Stamina.
“Damned Fighter!” He cursed through gritted teeth, displaying his abnormal willpower. He braced and swung his great axe in a powerful low sweep.
Kade couldn’t help but grin, this was a bad choice; he quickly jumped as the blade swung under his feet, landing on the metal, jerking the weapon from Diapheis’ hands. But the Barbarian had learned his lesson, as this time he didn’t give Kade any opportunities.
However, Kade couldn’t completely dodge every hit--he had rips in his clothing, blood leaking from him too. It was a bitter struggle, this was a competition of Willpower.
The two were relying on willpower and instincts to fight, the situation became a deadlock. With a quick look at each other, the remaining five Elite members moved forwards to surround Kade.
Isabelle, who was still hiding in the corner and watching intently, began to lose hope.
Dealing with Diapheis’ axe already drained a lot of Kade’s Stamina--if the other five were to attack now, they would certainly be able to defeat Kade. No matter how strong someone is, if they run out of Stamina, they couldn’t do anything.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Kade asked the men, while sliding a step to the side, dodging another of Diapheis’ attacks, “Could it be that you all want to die?”
“He is all talk!” One of the Thieves said, “Let’s surround him, if we work together, the boss will be able to dispose of him!”
There were now enemies on both sides.
“Quickly, escape!” Isabelle couldn’t help but rush out from her corner. As soon as the words escaped her lips, she saw Kade turn his head and his eyes crinkled as he smiled under his mask.
The next second, Kade suddenly dashed towards the five weaker people. They immediately became nervous, holding their weapons defensively. But Kade didn’t attack them, instead he used a crate to leap over them.
“He is trying to run!”
“Quick, grab him!”
“Idiots, chase him, he is almost out of energy!” Diapheis cursed at the five Thieves, and the six of them fanned out and partially encircled Kade.
Isabelle took a quick glance around, before darting over and stood in front of Kade. She was holding the dagger that he had given her, a look of determination on her face.
She and Kade would live or die together!
“Thank you, Isabelle.” Kade switched his sword into a one-handed grip and patted the girl’s head.
“This is the only thing I can do.” Her voice was firm, though her body trembled, “Mister Mask…can I call you that?”
“Of course.” Kade smiled.
The little girl then closed her eyes. She could face death head on, but she didn’t want to feel the terror of watching the axe or sword approaching her.
Kade clenched his right hand into a fist, pointing it at the approaching people.
“Vs’bon!” He suddenly shouted a strange word, one which echoed like thunder around the courtyard.
This word was in the Ancient Language of the Fairies, there were less than fifty people who were proficient in that language, who weren’t Ancient Fairies, in the entire world of Feinan--more than half of them had the Title of Great Wizard, and were Legendary Ranked.
A bright, seven-coloured halo appeared around Kade’s finger.
The change in light caused Isabelle to opening her eyes, only to see a continuous flow of rainbow light gushing from Kade’s raised fist.
While it was beautiful, it was also exceptionally cruel.
This was one of the most frightening Magics, Rainbow Jet.
The six advancing people were all under the area of effect of Rainbow Jet. The five 1st Ranked Thieves’ bodies were hit by the rainbow coloured ray, causing them to crystallize. Their flesh turned into seven-coloured crystal, and in an instant these pillars of stone shattered into pieces of solidified blood and bone fragments--flying in all directions.
Only Diapheis managed to escape this fate because he had retreated, only his armoured chest was hit by the rainbow ray. Despite that, his armour shattered and the skin of his chest became crystal, without breaking; his HP dropped to 30/197.
“No!” Diapheis screamed in sorrow, both his hands were beginning to crystallize and he gradually lost the ability to swing his axe.
“Lend me your dagger.” Kade spoke kindly towards Isabelle.
The girl immediately handed it over.
Quickly weighing the weapon, Kade threw it.
Diapheis’ eyes were wide open, disbelief and fear on his face as his axe fell from his limp hand. The handle of the dagger sprouted from his forehead, and the Barbarian collapsed.
“Did you find this scary?” Kade looked down at Isabelle, they were the last two left alive in the courtyard.
She tilted her head to one side, a smile appeared on her face, “Very beautiful.”
“Remember not to touch them. People hit by Rainbow Jet will still be contaminated by the crystal energy for around two hours, and has the chance of effecting others.” Kade warned the girl.
“Mister Mask, are you a Wizard?”
“No, I am a Fighter,” Kade said, “But, Magic is the most powerful tool for killing nowadays.”
He quietly continued in his thoughts, ‘Only for the next half a year.’
After that great calamity, a considerable number of Wizards die from exploding, because they accidentally absorb too much of the Mana that flows through the world; while others were forced to drop a Rank…others still turned into Monsters due to the overly chaotic Mana.
This was a terrible calamity, the fourth Wizard Era ended disastrously in a short time. It was only after a long period of time, mankind’s wisest were able to relearn how to use Magic, but it was a totally new kind of Magic System.
“Let’s go to the basement.” Kade said, taking Isabelle’s hand.
They entered the tunnel with Kade in the lead.
Thanks for the chapter