Dangerous Attack - 705

The Imperial Scholar nodded and spoke. "We simply wish to find out who are enemies, who are neutral, and who are friends."

The Emperor nodded. "Although I have mostly come to a decision on the matter, please explain to me the pros and cons of each choice."

The Imperial Scholar spoke. "If we are enemies, then the Faceless Empire will do everything in its power to wipe the Natural Empire and all knowledge of its existence away from the world. If you are neutral, then you will not be involved at all. If we are friends, then the benefits will far exceed any other choice."

"You make a good case, Imperial Scholar." The Emperor said. "However, from what I understand, the main adversary of the Faceless Empire is none other than the Ancient Empire. Although the Faceless Empire is powerful, I can't see any hope as to how you could possibly outdo the Ancient Empire."

"Of course, risks and rewards are a part of everything. Yet, we would not be facing the Ancient Empire if we were not confident in winning."

"Which is why a full on war has not started yet." The Emperor said.

The Imperial Scholar didn't move for a moment, before nodding his head. "Indeed. However, it won't be long before we can confidently move into a war phase."

The Emperor had his hand on his head, clearly hesitating to make a difficult decision. 

As silence fell, the Imperial Scholar had a bad feeling. In the same fashion, Skymender and Skybelle had a similar feeling. They looked at each other, recognizing that they had the same feeling. 

"Alas, the decision is out of my hands. But I suppose regardless, the Ancient Empire is the inevitable victor."

Skybelle's hair stood on end as she pulled her sword out of her sheath at a speed Skymender could not see. 

At the same time, a figure flew across the room, slashing upwards, Skybelle was sent flying, crashing into the wall. Among all of the figures present in the room, around half were shocked, while the others were not.

Skybelle shot forward, but before she could take a step, a figure appeared in front of her, slashing again. She went flying through the wall, into the throne room. 

Skymender reached into his backpack, almost instantly equipping a bow and a quiver of arrows. He jumped through the hole in the wall, carrying the Imperial Scholar. 

Skybelle couldn't react to the figure's speed. In just a few seconds, she had cuts on her body, and she was on the verge of losing.

Clearly, this was not the Sword Master of the Natural Empire, who was merely a fourth rank Sword Master. This was someone far more powerful. 

Skymender looked at Skybelle for a moment before running out of the throne room. He kicked open a random door and placed the Imperial Scholar inside. 

"Go help your sister. If she dies, we are doomed." The Imperial Scholar said, his face twisted with rage. If he was just a few tens of years younger, Skymender wouldn't have had to waste time getting him to safety.

Skymender didn't even nod, running out of the room at an incredible speed. He had only left for a total of twenty seconds, but Skybelle was far worse than before, her left arm nearly severed.

Skymender shot forward, his enhanced body showing its usefulness.

From the hole in the wall, another figure emerged.

Skymender saw him out of the corner of his eye. He nocked an arrow on the bow and quickly shot it at the person attacking Skybelle.

The attacker was surprised, but quickly cut the arrow. However, at the tip of that arrow was a vial, and as the arrow broke and the vial shattered, a mist hit the attackers face.

He began to cough as Skybelle seized the opportunity to attack. Skymender turned his attention to the person coming towards him. He knocked an arrow, but this person had clearly just seen what happened to the other person. He dodged, causing a mist to spring up where the arrow landed.

Skymender retreated as the person in front of him, who he recognized as the Natural Empire's Sword Master, closed in on him with murderous intent.

As he got closer, and Skymender continuously retreated, the Natural Empire's Sword Master slashed out. Skymender ducked, unsheathing a sword from his waist and slashing upwards.

The Sword Master snorted, blocking the slash and cutting Skymender's arm in a quick movement.

But Skymender was close, and in his mouth was a vial. He bit down and spit at the unprepared Sword Master.

What he spit hit the man in the chest, causing smoke to rise up as his chest was rapidly corroded. At the same time, Skymender felt as though his mouth was melting. He ignored it, however, and released an arrow from close up into the Sword Master's skull. 

The Sword Master saw it just as it approached, but due to the pain of the corrosion poison, failed to properly react. 

He moved to the side slightly, but the arrow embedded itself in his head, just barely missing the brain. And yet, coated on that arrow was a paralysis poison. 

On a Sword Master, it would only last a few moments, but that was all Skymender needed.

As the Sword Master fell to the ground, his chest being corroded, pain and shock visible on his face, Skymender released three arrows in succession. One pierced his heart, one pierced his eye, and another pierced his forehead.

Skymender, breathing heavily, turned to the side and began to release arrows. He had killed a Sword Master, but it was just one of the lowest rank. A true threat was in front of them. 

He had already shaken off the effects of the mist poison, now with a slightly dry and closed in throat. It was as expected of a Sword Master, whose body was honed to an almost unnatural degree. It was especially so for one this powerful.

Skybelle was once again in a disadvantageous position, but the Sword Master attacking her was clearly distracted after seeing Skymender efficiently kill a Sword Master so quickly, even if it was one of the lowest rank.

Skymender's arrows interrupted his fight, making him back off at times or dodge every now and then.

It ruined his tempo, giving Skybelle a chance to survive for a bit longer.

However, the Sword Master had not sustained a single injury from Skybelle, while Skybelle was bleeding profusely and cut up in almost every part of her body.