Fury of Reckoning

With dust settling slowly, it was Alex standing tall, barely unscathed from the snake's attack.

Alex took a slow breath, his gaze fixed on her. His eyes were calmer than usual, as if the weight of waking up from a long exhaustion had never occurred at all in the first place.

Retracting her tail, she swings it back in a vertical line mid-air, aiming for Alex's head in that brief moment.

"Quick Dash" Alex dodges the incoming attack and gets close to her.

He tightens his grip. 

[Strength : 49.7]

Alex could manifest the power imbuding in his fingertips, with full force he swung it all towards Ayesha. 

__________

Half an hour ago.

"Ferases Enzi Nor Paragus."

Upon Aprielle's words, light green mana began to emit from her hands, it was Healing Magic.

Alex barely opened his eyes, observing it all. Golden light was slightly glowing from Alex. It was Sage Vision. 

Alex barely opened his eyes and observed it all. A golden light faintly glowed from him. It was Sage Vision.

Sage Vision could trace some of the mana flowing from Aprielle as she cast it on Katie. For some reason, Alex felt familiar with the mana. This was the first time he had felt this way. After carefully observing how she cast the healing spell, Alex had an idea.

Fully focused, Alex was unintentionally falling into the state of pure concentration. 

Laying down like dead on the ground, he just casually closed his eyes and was now slowly able to feel the mana more clearly within his body. 

His mana flowed slowly and with stillness. It wasn't connecting to his core and was spread around unorganised, full of mess. 

For the next few minutes, he tried connecting the dots, until he saw a mysterious aura coming from the bottom of his core. As he slowly moved deeper, he found stars all around, as if he were staring at a night sky.

Alex tried to follow the path where the largest star was coming from. It was dark and intimidating, but for some reason, Alex felt that it wasn't harmful to him. Instead, it felt like a part of him that would help him grow stronger.

Following the path of the star for as long as he could, suddenly a strange energy erupted from the star, and in an instant, Alex snapped back to reality.

He shrugged. It felt as though the mana was about to attack Alex.

But after calming down for a while, he could feel mana flowing from his body. It was too little for others to notice, but since it was his own body, he could sense it. And thanks to his Sage Eyes, he could reaffirm it.

[Mana : 17.8]

With mana improved, Alex felt his mind more clearer.

With his mana improved, Alex felt his mind much more clearer.

Ever since he came to this unknown world, he had felt his mind being suppressed, weaker concentration, weaker memory, duller consciousness, and low self-awareness.

This was the first time he felt a sense of clarity in his mind.

"I've never felt like myself since I came here."

Suddenly, Audrey panicked, terrified by an unknown energy that even Alex couldn't sense. Carter quickly picked up Alex, and they began to run desperately.

....

When Ayesha sent Carter flying from her attack, Alex caught him to safety and swiftly ran back to rescue Audrey. But since she was quite far, Alex made a last-ditch effort, quickly dashed close to Ayesha to block her attacks.

"I have never felt like I'd ever lose in a race, you know?"

_______

[Strength : 49.7]

Alex's punch sent Ayesha flying a few meters into the air. This was the first time Alex had dealt a powerful blow.

"You guys should run now, while you have the chance."

Audrey looked at Alex, who had just been unconscious, now trying to sacrifice himself. "No, let me support you. I can help."

"Look around you. Your friends are in dire situations. Take them and run." Looking at Alex's serious face, she hesitated, but ultimately acknowledged his reasoning and carried Aprille.

Carter also slowly came, with slight blood leaking from his head, he was carrying Apprille.

"Get as far as you can"

'The thing is, I can't have burdens right now. That snake, she is a sly that would do anything that would help her win. I can't afford to play a hostage game.' 

 [Quick Dash] Instantly closing the gap between Ayesha in mid air, Alex quickly clasped both his hands and landed a strong strike, hitting Ayesha on the ground. The ground shook violently, and the shockwave could be felt from 100 meters away.

[Vitality : (78/815)]

'I have to end this fight soon before my Vitality runs out. If I get hit by her, even once, then I'm as good as dead.'

Alex rubs the dust in his face as he stares at Ayesha, dead focused. "I have to go all out"

Furious, Ayesha stood up as if nothing had happened. Despite the attack, she only had a few scratches on her face. She opened her mouth wide, revealing sharp teeth that could tear Alex apart in an instant. With rage in her eyes, she shouted at him, her voice filled with fury, her gaze locked on him as if he would bleed.

She whipped her tails on Alex, but Alex was so fast that he effortlessly dodged it and jumped to the other side. 

Another whip comes right after, but Alex dodges that too. After each and every strike, Alex could see the intensity of her attacks slowing down. 

For the next five minutes, he only dodged her attacks, doing nothing more. What else could she do anyway? Poison wasn't effective on him, and her superhuman strength was useless if she couldn't hit him in the first place.

"Who really is the coward now, bastard!" she cursed, her voice barely holding any breath.

The moment her speed slowed down, Alex firmly grabbed her tail and started swinging her around. She was extremely heavy, so Alex had to muster all his strength before finally throwing her far away.

Like lightning, he moved quickly toward her, clenching his fist once again. This time, he was determined to deliver the final blow, regardless of whether it meant breaking his hand as a result.

Boom. 

The adventurers had gotten far enough, but even they could hear the sound of the impact. 

"Huff Huff"

Alex was breathing heavily, already nearing his limits. With a rough, tired face and worn hands, he stared at the ground.

"Did I make it?" 

Ayesha lied on the ground unconscious.

After seeing her eyes close, Alex finally allowed himself to rest, kneeling on the ground as he stared up at the sky.

But Ayesha suddenly opened her eyes wide open lying on the ground, and turned her eyeballs at Alex.