Three Vs One

Now that he's surrounded, fighting was inevitable. He realized Casopi calculated this outcome from the start. 

And now, he's nowhere to be found. However, Hans knew he was watching this from afar. 

'Don't think about him first. The problem is how to defeat these guys.' Hans thought. His eyes darted at the three puppets. 

A monster that resembled a demon, an elf, and a human donned in armor. This human's armor was similar to the royal knights' back in the empire. If his hunch was on point, this should be the missing royal knight, Agni. 

However, Hans didn't plan on being merciful. Furthermore, this man was already dead. Saving him would have no merit either other than collecting his lifeless body. 

The three surrounded him in a triangular formation. Agni pulled out a shield and a sword, the elf loaded his bow with mana-conjured arrows, and the monster bared his fangs as sharp claws protruded on his fingers. 

Their guards went up as their pupils gleamed in the dark. 

In response to their actions, Hans raised his two swords and assumed a fighting stance. The atmosphere turned dreary and silence pervaded the air. 

Tension built up in the air as the mana of different kinds exploded. 

Hans cautiously observed their movements as he positioned his foot forward. 

At that moment, the elf glanced at him and released the string, firing three subsequent blue lightning arrows toward his face. 

A burst of air reverberated around the area. The arrows seemingly pierced the air as they traveled towards him.

Swish—! 

Its speed was already fast. But coupled with the lightning attribute, its speed accelerated even further. 

Hans smiled and dashed away, planning to take this battle much farther than the village. 

Swish—

In an instant, his figure blurred as he turned into afterimages. The arrows chased him like they were moths being drawn to the flame.

Hans twisted his body and launched quick slashes to fend off these arrows. 

Slash—

Seeing his arrows failed at their job, the elf pulled the string again and aimed at the target's head. However, the target was always far away. Having no option, the elf placed his bow to his back and chased after Hans. 

Agni and the monster didn't delay either and hurriedly followed their target. 

Swish—

The trees rustled. Four figures leaped through branches after branches and their movements were almost invisible. After a full five minutes of running, Hans stopped on mountain terrain as he waited for the three to arrive. 

Not long after, the three landed a few meters in front of him.

"Are you really planning to kill me?" Hans asked.

"Killing you? No. I'm going to turn you into my greatest masterpiece!" 

This time, the monster answered while the elf and Agni stood still behind. With the monster's rough and distorted tone, his voice became even more menacing. 

Hans took a defensive stance. 

"Why are you doing this?" 

"You don't have to know brat!" 

"Fine then…" 

At that moment, Hans moved. 

Baam—

Rather than the wind exploding with his speed, the ground beneath him shattered instead. 

Hans, who had narrowed the distance between the monster, raised his sword. 

[Constantine Sword Style: First Cut] 

Shing—

From the top, he slashed the sword vertically as if splitting the skies. 

Slash—

The monster immediately reacted but it was too late. 

The lightning particles in the air condensed in the tip of Hans's sword. 

[Weaving Thunder.]

Zaaaaap—! 

Hans slashed the monster's chest.

Clang—

Hans raised his head and saw his swords being blocked by a shield. Sparks manifested as they both pushed each other. 

'Shield?' 

The monster in front was now behind a man donned in a knight's armor. His eyes were staring fiercely at him. 

'As expected, it's not that easy.' Hans thought. 

Immediately, he leaped backwards. He shook his aching arms. Agni and the monster did not waste time and surrounded him, trying to go for a pincer attack. 

His head darted at the tree branch 5 meters away from his point. There, the elf glared at him with his arrows aimed in his direction.

Hans shifted his gaze towards Agni and the monster.

"This will be hard."

The elves were famed for their otherworldly flexibility and reflexes. For sure, this elf might not have the strongest means out of the three but once his arrows hit, it would be deadly.

As for these two, Agni was a typical warrior that uses a sword and a shield. But since he became a royal knight, his strength would be formidable for sure. 

Overall, he excelled in close combat fights. 

The monster is the only variable.

Aside from the claws attacks, Hans couldn't think of any specialty of this creature. 

'Let's see…' 

Whoosh—! 

[Wind Control] 

Hans coated his body with wind armor. Although its defense couldn't completely block an attack, it would reduce its damage at least. An additional advantage of this was the increased movement speed and a lighter body which will further advance his flexibility. 

Flame erupted on his blades, increasing their explosive power and enhancing their cutting effect while also adding a burning status to the targets. 

The color of the flame changed from red to orange, showcasing his proficiency with this skill.

'Here I come.'

Without hesitation, Hans leaped upward.

Swoosh—

He used [Emperor's Strides] to push himself even further. 

As soon as he reached a height of 10 meters from the ground, Hans unleashed numerous devastating slashes all aimed at the three. 

Slash—, slash—, slash—

The three reacted quickly. Using an ability of their own, they all evaded the slashes with their quick feet. 

The ground was sliced before it shattered due to the explosive effect those sword energies contained. 

Agni raised his shield to block the flying rubbles while the elf walked in the air. On the other hand, the monster summoned a pair of wings behind him and flew directly in his direction. 

Swish—

As the monster quickly narrowed the distance, Hans brandished his swords. 

Clang—

With his two swords locked in between the monster's claws, the elf released the string and fired multiple arrows toward Hans. 

Shu—, shu—, shu—

Hans kicked the monster and grabbed his weapons back before he cut the arrows in half.

 However, due to the consumption of mana he needed to maintain his aerial skill, he descended to the ground. 

Unfortunately, the trio took advantage of this short vulnerability and attacked him at all sides. 

Swooosh—

Agni charged ahead and competed in a sword fight. 

Slash—, slash—

Hans fought him with ease. 

Only… 

Clang—

Hans blocked Agni's sword after he sensed the monster prowling behind him. 

Growl—!

He twisted his body and launched a [Dragon Kick] onto the monster's head. However, as his foot reached its head, Hans hurriedly pulled it back as he noticed three lightning arrows fired toward his foot. 

Shu—, shu—, shu—

'That was close.'

However, he didn't have time to think as Agni already cast one of his skills. 

[You have been hit by the 'Solar Cry'] 

[Your stamina consumption increased by twofold.]

'Fuck.' Hans could only curse in misfortune. 

But his troubles didn't end there as the monster also cast a debuff skill. 

[You have been hit by the 'Chained Halo'] 

[Your movement speed decreased by 10%.]

Hans clenched his teeth and retracted both of his swords before he jumped.

Shu—

 He brought down his swords towards the monster's exposed neck but several arrows already came his way. 

In the end, he had no option but to abandon the idea. 

Shu—! 

Hans dodged the arrows. 

Shu—, shu—, shu—

He leaped. 

He tumbled. 

He rolled. 

With his skillful body control, none of the arrows hit him. 

Some of them penetrated countless trees while a few dissipated after being hit by his swords. Fortunately, their destructive power wasn't strong.

'But their piercing power is deadly.'

Hans jumped onto a giant tree before landing on one of its branches. He turned back to look at the three puppets but they only stared at him in response. 

They didn't even bother to initiate an attack. 

'Hang on…' Hans' eyes narrowed. 

The puppets seemed heavily dependent on control. Casopi should have a strong multitasking ability if he could achieve multiple puppet controlling feats. 

So how can he disrupt that? 

These puppets weren't even fighting seriously. Rather, they were gauging his strength and weakness. Hans could vaguely sense that fact. 

However, a puppeteer couldn't just control someone without a control medium like strings, remote and etcetera. The strings were already crossed out because Hans couldn't see anything around these puppets. 

It might be remote but these puppets had no mechanical device planted inside them when he probed their bodies. 

Now, the question is, what did he use to control these puppets? 

'If I could disrupt that, I can win.'

It's a guaranteed win if he could take away the control from the puppeteer or kill the puppeteer himself. 

He's certain that Casopi is weaker than him which was why he used his puppets to deal with him instead. Killing him would be easy but finding him would be tough. 

What's more, that guy seemed adept at hiding and escaping perceptions.

[Draw him out.] 

'That's right!' 

Although Casopi seemed invincible, there must be a limit on the distance he could maintain the control. Unless he has infinite mana, his distance would not be far from his puppets. 

Otherwise, he'll lose control. 

"This is a good plan." 

However, to do that, he would have to let loose.  Fortunately, this distance was just enough. 

Hans sighed. 'In the end, I have no other choice.'

He raised his head and glared at the trio. 

His eyes sharpened. As he took a sword stance, Hans activated one of his trump cards. 

[Empyrean Aurae.]

At that moment, a bright golden aura burst out of his body. 

Since he's like a mouse, it's time to destroy his house. 

......….. 

10 miles away from the battle, Casopi hid under an underground base he created. The walls were powered by mana making it harder to detect. 

The base wasn't spacious as he also left whenever Hans went away. To control his puppets completely, he had to be on a certain range otherwise the core or the puppets wouldn't detect his orders. 

His legs intertwined with each other as he sat on the floor. On his hand, he gripped the staff tightly which was also the medium to control his puppets. 

"Hehehe~, now what would you do?" 

Seeing Hans struggle fighting his puppets, Casopi sneered. Although he's weak physically, he had his puppets with him. As long as the enemy wouldn't be able to find him, he's safe. 

What's more, Hans missed all his attacks. This strengthened his confidence. 

"Will you escape again? I wonder…" 

However, at that moment… 

Boooooom—

The ground trembled and bits of rocks fell to his face. Casopi hastily stood up and empowered the walls once again. 

Only… 

Boooom—! 

The ceiling burst open. 

"It took me time to find you, stupid mouse."

A figure walked out of the whirling dust and descended to his base.