Trump Card

A part of Jules faltered as he listened to Ryan, who seemed to have gotten invested in their 'act.'

He could tell Ryan was mostly talking about the original Jules, but the words dug deeper than they should have.

After all, his true intentions were to survive, escape the clan's issues, and find somewhere safe to stay beyond this land.

But that was exactly it—running.

If he ran from something as small as the clan's struggles, what would he do when the real dangers came? When the world began to descend into true chaos?

Running would not only strip him of the chance to grow stronger faster, but it would also leave him vulnerable to the unknown chain reactions of major events.

After years of isolation in his previous world, Jules was excited at the idea of living before he was brought to this world.

Did he just revert to the state he so much despised?

'Am I this much of a scaredy-cat?'

His steps slowed. The battle, the trees, the distant shouts–everything blurred as the weight of his choices crashed down on him.

Alas, he didn't have much time to wallow. 

"Blegh!"

Jules heard a gagging from behind him, turning to look at Ryan who was on his knees, his skin pale as it covered a web of darkened veins underneath it.

Jules didn't even have time to process anything, a flicker of mana flashing in the corner of his eyes.

He felt an indescribable pain as an arrow buried itself deep in his shoulder.

"Arghh!" He let out, almost crumbling to the floor.

"Young...mast...er..." 

Jules spared a glance to see Ryan calling out to him.

Jules's breath hitched as he fully took in Ryan's state.

Ryan was crying black tears with multiple arrows shot into his back, blood forming a pool beneath him.

'I was this consumed in my thoughts?'

Jules reached for a potion with his uninjured hand, but before he could uncork it, an arrow shattered the vial mid-air.

The last potion... gone.

Jules's face twisted into a frown as he watched Ryan slowly get back on his feet, gloom shadowing his expression.

"You... need to survive. R-Run…" Ryan gasped, legs trembling beneath him.

Before Jules could think of his next course of action, he heard a voice.

"Dumbasses! Why did you even stop in the first place?" 

Attracting their attention was Joel's mocking voice.

Joel walked at a moderate pace from the direction of the battlefield, parts of his clothes burned and patches of his skin darkened like charcoal.

One hand was at his back while the other was raised, instructing the other four that surrounded to halt.

Jules stared at Joel bitterly, casting five Water Bullet spells and firing them at him.

Joel used a barrier to block, but it shattered under Jules's spell, causing him to tilt his head a bit to avoid.

"Young master, isn't it your nature to cower in fear?" Joel smirked, his eyes gleaming as he added, "Could you make things a little easier and just do that?

"I had to leave the concluding show with the Ol' Captain to catch up to you!"

Jules gritted his teeth, his fingers almost digging into his palm.

"I know you like running, but please don't do that. I might actually kill you."

Joel followed that with a hand gesture, causing the others to move.

Three of the dark green-clad attackers lunged at Jules and Ryan, while an archer stayed back and released a shot aimed at Ryan.

Using his shortsword, Jules managed to block the dagger of his sole assailant, while Ryan, having regained the light in his eyes, jumped back.

Jules struggled to keep up with his opponent at close range, especially due to his shoulder injury, causing him to sustain more cuts.

Looking at the attacker's weapon, it appeared to be coated in poison–likely of the paralysis type.

Jules forced himself to not think, paying utmost attention to his fight while staying aware of his surroundings.

Not far from Jules, Ryan's speed and strength were increasing as his body began to glow.

He positioned himself in a way that made it difficult for the archer to shoot freely, but it was still hard because unlike Jules, these people were aiming for a kill.

With each passing second, Ryan grew stronger, his mana circuits becoming more visible and overshadowing the dark veins beneath his skin.

This extended throughout his body, including his face.

Joel, who was clearly recovering mana, saw this and asked bitterly, "Ryan, what are you doing?"

Ryan smiled. "Guess!" He yelled.

At the same time, he manipulated the sound wave, disorienting his two attackers.

Their weapons struck, but Ryan twisted just enough to ensure they avoided his vitals, exactly as planned. 

The archer saw this opportunity and released an arrow packed with mana.

He grabbed one of the attackers, his muscles surging with power as he moved the man into the arrow's path.

Without decreasing his speed of motion, he slammed the attacker into the floor, digging his arm into the attacker's chest, leaving room for organs and blood to pour out.

Although his ears were still ringing, the urgency of the situation moved the second attacker who was positioned to Ryan's free side.

But with Ryan's oppressive strength, he was stabbed deeply in the side, releasing a gush of blood and entrails.

Ryan didn't even look towards this person as he sent the person flying towards a tree with a back heel kick.

Ryan was smiling, but his body was in a terrible state, red and black blood leaking from the corners of his eyes, nose, and mouth.

Next, he darted to support Jules, who could barely move one of his arms at this point and had his movements slowing, but Joel was forced to enter the fight, obstructing his path.

"Get out of my way!" Ryan said, increasing the sound Joel perceived and stunning him.

A punch to Ryan's gut followed, but a hastily formed barrier absorbed some of the impact. 

Even Joel who was a stage above Ryan couldn't contend with him in strength at the moment.

The archer and Jules's opponent noticed the change of situation and changed their priority from capture to kill the heir.

Ryan couldn't have that.

Ignoring Joel, Ryan closed the distance between him and Jules in a few steps.

Ryan blocked a thrust aimed at Jules's body, while Jules had the opportunity to create a few tier 2 barriers to block the archer's barrage of shots.

Jules then looked up at Ryan.

Ryan's body was glowing even brighter, the circuits becoming less visible as if they were now non-existent. 

The arrows from earlier were still stuck to his back, just like the one stuck to Jules's shoulder.

Coughing up a mouthful of blood and pushing his opponent back, Ryan said, "Cid has fallen. The survivors are coming. You need to escape now."

Clenching his hands into fists, Jules immediately replied, "So this was your so-called trump card, Mana Overload?"

"Yes. Why do you think I focused on increasing my core size? It was for this moment!"

"If you keep going, it won't just end with destroyed circuits–you'll die!"

"I know!" Ryan yelled, a wave of oppressive aura extending from his body. "I'll distract the rest, you escape."

Not giving Jules time to reply, he added, "Don't give me any crap. I'm already as good as dead, so just make my sacrifice count!

"Go back to the clan and tell my parents how I sacrificed to save the clan's heir."

"Damn you, Ryan! Damn you!"

"Stop whining and close your ears! I'll soon lose complete control over my mana."

Jules lingered for a moment before struggling to cover his ears.

Then Ryan shouted!

"Hey, Joel! Guess what, your mission is going to fail! Hahahahaa!"