Episode 6 - The Search (5)

They all lunged at me with all sorts of weapons in hand. From the looks of it, there were 5 commanders, including the smug boss who I sent flying with a chair, and 15 subordinates flooding in like vultures.

I didn't attack recklessly. I wasn't some wild beast swinging his sword blindly. I needed to gauge their power first to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed. All I wanted was to knock them out and get some information out of them. And besides, I felt something... off.

I weaved between strikes, parrying blades, deflecting spears with the flat of my sword, and pivoting just in time to evade an arrow that whistled past my ear. And yet, somehow, I was being pushed back.

I knew I'd gotten strong and could deal with ease. So why I am problems dealing with them?!

Their coordination was uncanny. Despite having a clear power difference among themselves, they were moving fluidly, covering one another's blind spots. The commanders hung back—calculating—like snakes waiting to strike once the prey was boxed in.

One of the subordinates, a swift swordmen with ask-grey eyes, lunged at me from left. I barely deflected her attack with a twist of my wrist, but at that moment, a commander behind her raised his hand.

Magic crackled. A streak of flame burst from beneath me, erupting in a blinding heatwave.

"Shit!" I dove sideways, rolling across the ground as the fire scorched the space I'd just been standing on.

[Leo Aries Voidwalker has used the skill: "Divine Dash".]

I vanished in a blur, skidding to a halt near the room's edge, my boots grinding against the stone. My coat singed at the edges, and the scent of burned leather clung to the air.

"He's not powerful as he looks!"

"Take him down before he does anything funny!"

I must take out the subordinates first, so I can focus on—!

"Don't get lost in thoughts, boy!"

Another commander launched a javelin of crackling lightning straight at me. I barely twisted in time, but the blast grazed my arm.

"Ghh!"

The electricity coursed down my right side. My muscles locking for a split second. I couldn't even retaliate!

Why I can't use my [Skills] like last night?! It's like the powers I'd last night have gotten weak!

My [Skills] felt heavier, slower, like my body was resisting me. Even my [Infinite Steps] wasn't clean as before. It was like I was shackled from inside out. My only chance to win against them is when I use my [Divine Skills]!

[Leo Aries Voidwalker has used the skill: "Infinite Steps Lv. 30".]

I flickered behind one of the subordinates. He was a lanky boy with twin daggers. I swung my sword across his shoulders. But... he ducked.

He motherfucking ducked?! He anticipated my attack?! This is very bad!

Before I could react, his knee rammed into my guts, knocking the wind out of my lungs. I staggered back, and right there, another attacker attacked me.

A mace slammed into my back. Pain exploded down my spine. My breath hitched, and blood burst from my mouth as I was sent tumbling forward, landing on my knees.

"What's wrong handsome?" One of them jeered. "Ran out of divine juice?"

Dammit! I gritted my teeth, and stood back up. My hands were trembling. Blood dripped feok my lip, and my right arm was already going numb.

I noticed a flicker of energy in the corner of my eye, and turned to it, just in time to see her.

The sadistic woman I'd sent flying with my [Divine Beam] was back. Alive. Smirking. Barely bruised.

I was sure she wouldn't be able to get up! So, how?!

"Did you miss me, handsome?" She purred, twirling a dagger in each hand. "I'm harder to break than your average toys, you see."

She lunged forward like a blur. Her blades danced in the arcs of silver. I barely blocked the first two slashes. The third scrapped across my chest, slicing my coat and skin beneath.

"Tch... Persistent witch."

"Oh, flattery~" She grinned, then spun into a heel kick at my jaw.

I brought up my arm just in time, but the force behind it sent me stumbling back again. I couldn't keep this up...

They were attacking me from all sides now like predators circling a wound beast.

[Leo Aries Voidwalker has used the skill: "Divine Barrier".]

A radiant dome, pulsing with holy energy, enveloped me. Arrows and spells crashed against it like hail, but gave me a moment—just a moment—to breathe.

My vision swam. My legs were trembling. There was blood running down my side, and gash on my left thigh. Still, I clenched my sword and held my ground.

"You're not killing me," I muttered, glaring at them through the barrier. "Not today."

I didn't know why, but the tables turned on me swiftly. I was sure that I would win against them, but now, here I am being pushed back by weaklings like them. Shit! Where did the powers I'd last night go?!

They began to regroup, readying another charge.

I've to get out of here!

But then, I felt it... A presence. Powerful. Heavy. Suffocating. He was back. The boss—the one I'd greeted with a chair earlier—walked towrads the fray, brushing dust from his shoulders. Crimson Magic swirled around his fists. He crackled his neck.

"That hurt," he said, casually flexing his knuckles. You got me good. But now..."

His gaze locked onto mine.

"...I'll return back the favor."

I instinctively summoned the void again, so that it could devour any kind of attack the bastard before was going to land on me.

[Leo Aries Voidwalker has used the skill: "Divine Void".]

The avoid materialized above my shoulder once again, swirling with black and gold energy.

But before I could give it a command, the boss vanished from sight.

BAM!

I didn't even see his fist coming. His punch landed on my chest with a force of falling mountain. My barrier shattered. My ribs screamed.

I was sent flying—through the crates, through the walls, through the darkness—and almost into unconsciousness.

Fuck! What should I do now?!