Jumpings

"Y-yes, sir." Ginsu lowered his head, his elbow accidentally bumping into Elise.

"Of course, sir." She responded, quickly stepping away to leave the two superior Dreamweavers to their own devices.

Between the two Rank Threes, it was nearly impossible to determine who was stronger. However, given how calm and composed his red-haired enemy remained, Yavon had no illusions—this man was no weakling.

Orion abruptly pushed off from where he had been leaning, prompting the nearby soldiers to instinctively step back. "Oh my? Has the cult fallen so low that they no longer train their initiates properly? Tsk, calling your reputation barbaric is an understatement."

His words were a clear provocation, yet Yavon paid them no mind. "I'm glad you're so energetic." He raised his arms, spreading them horizontally. "But in case you haven't noticed, you're outnumbered." His eyes narrowed dangerously.

Orion smirked. "Me? I simply got lost on the road of life… How fortunate that I ran into you."

"A fool who wishes for death? So be it." Yavon took a cautious step forward. Then another. His every movement measured, watching for traps.

Grrrr!

Tamiel stepped in front of Orion, his body coiled, ready to strike.

"Sir! Do you want us to assist?" Elise asked respectfully.

Before she could get an answer, manic laughter erupted from their seemingly ignorant enemy.

"Hahaha!" Orion tilted his head toward the trees. "Little girl! You have your own problems!"

Whoosh!

Elise's pupils dilated. The world slowed as an overwhelming force crashed against her senses. She struggled to lift her head, but the sheer shock paralyzed her. It was the raw terror of prey caught in the sights of a predator.

At the same time, Orion vanished from his spot, appearing directly in front of Yavon. Their blades clashed with such force that the trees on either side of the road were ripped from the earth, a shocking display of their raw strength.

Ginsu, standing close to Elise, felt his heartbeat pound like a war drum. His gaze snapped upward, spotting a figure above his companion—a young boy in white robes, his face obscured by a haunting crow-like mask. The glowing yellow lenses of the mask locked onto Elise's neck with ruthless focus.

The entire battle had turned on its head in an instant.

His friend was about to be assassinated before the fight had even truly begun.

"Shit! I have to use it in time!" Ginsu's thoughts raced as his mouth opened, power surging through his throat. The strain was immense, but he had no choice. His eyes locked onto Elise.

"MOVE!"

The word carried weight beyond sound. Reality itself bent to his command, forcing its way into Elise's mind.

"Ahhh!"

Her body contorted violently, twisting at unnatural angles. Agonizing pain shot through her limbs as Ginsu's technique wrenched her out of the way—just enough to avoid the decapitating strike aimed at her neck.

But she couldn't escape unscathed.

"Regrettable." Cypher's voice remained eerily calm, even as she dodged. His dagger sliced through the air, tearing into her shoulder.

First, her skin split. Then, muscle ripped apart. Finally, bone shattered as the limb was severed completely.

Cypher landed with a heavy stomp, the sheer force sending both Ginsu and Elise tumbling backward, ragdolling across the dirt.

"W-what?"

Elise's vision blurred. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. Red liquid spurted from her shoulder in torrents, drenching the ground. Her gaze darted to where her arm should have been.

But there was nothing. Only a bleeding stump.

Her breath hitched, but her expression remained eerily calm, as if her mind had yet to fully process the loss. Then—

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD! MY ARM!"

---

Further down the road, Orion and Yavon moved farther from the caravan, ensuring their battle didn't obliterate their own allies in the crossfire.

Orion bent backward, narrowly dodging a longsword slicing cleanly through the air above his head. His grin stretched ear to ear.

He flipped mid-air, his boot catching Yavon's chin and launching him back several feet.

"You hear that?" Orion taunted. "Sounds like your juniors are struggling. Haha!"

He stretched out his hand, a crackling stream of lightning bursting toward his opponent.

The bolt met an invisible barrier—Yavon's forcefield absorbed the impact effortlessly.

"Arrogance!" Yavon's forcefield remained intact as he charged forward, each step shaking the ground like a minor earthquake.

Boom!

Their blades clashed again. But this time, an unseen force surrounded Yavon's sword, reinforcing it. The invisible barrier that had shielded him now enveloped his weapon, making it stronger—more durable.

"What an interesting technique." Orion grunted, barely blocking a vicious side swing.

He analyzed Yavon carefully. Did the barrier negate all damage? Impossible. No ability had infinite energy.

His gaze flickered downward—to Yavon's feet.

'How is he standing if there's a barrier between him and the ground? Shouldn't the lack of friction cause him to slip?'

A grin stretched across Orion's face as he narrowly dodged another strike, the blade nicking his cheek.

Silently, he signaled to Tamiel, who was feasting on mortal soldiers nearby. "Find a container of water. I have a surprise for our friend."

Electricity arced off Orion's body. His speed skyrocketed.

His sword flashed like lightning, slashing at Yavon an untold number of times, each strike chipping away at his armor.

Around them, trees were cleaved in half. The ground lay scarred with deep trenches. The sheer devastation was a testament to the might of Rank Threes.

ZAP!

Orion ended his assault with a massive surge of electricity, the blast striking Yavon dead-on and sending him crashing into a tree. The trunk snapped under his weight, collapsing in a plume of dust and debris.

Smoke swirled around Yavon's figure as he rose from the wreckage. His barrier armor knit itself back together, seamlessly repairing the damage.

"I'll admit, you're the strongest opponent I've faced." Yavon's voice carried a tinge of melancholy.

Orion smirked. "I could say the same." Not that he actually cared about giving praise, but if stalling bought Tamiel more time, so be it.

Yavon's eyes glinted with intrigue. "I'm curious. What makes you think that boy can win against two of our Weavers?"

His tone was doubtful. From what he had glimpsed during the ambush, Cypher was young—a rarity among battlefield-hardened Weavers. Most were between fifteen and twenty, and nearly all were much larger than him.

Orion chuckled. "Him? Heh, he never starts a fight without an advantage."

He paused, then added, "Some people are born monsters—the prince of the Empire, the daughter of King Nova… and Cypher Ren. If he were to die here, I imagine he'd claw his way back from the underworld in embarrassment."

His words, though spoken lightly, carried a deep truth.

Silence stretched between them.

Then, Yavon smirked. "So… if I win, I get to kill a prodigy." His body shivered with anticipation. "A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

He raised his hand, and his barrier fully repaired itself. Reaching into his waist, he pulled out five intricate pocket watches. Each was masterfully crafted, their gears exposed in delicate precision.

But what stood out most was the glowing red stone embedded in each—throbbing with barely contained power.

Orion's expression darkened. He recognized them immediately.

Each one was capable of leveling an entire building with ease. Carefully crafted by the cult's alchemists.

And in the hands of someone like Yavon, who could shield himself from the blast…

It was far more dangerous than any blade.