It was a strange sensation – I was still fully aware of my actions, yet, as further suggested by Sebastian’s belated cry, it was truly as if my body executed the Skill out of pure instinct, even though such an instinct had no right to exist.
However, by the ti I was in the air, my other instincts, those honed by many deadly battles and countless hours of training, took hold. Whatever happened before could be dealt with later.
‘Fuck.’
As ti slowed down, that was my honest assessnt.
It was too late to lower my sword and choose a different tactic – I was all-in. However, judging by the creature’s earlier deanor, it would answer aggression with aggression.
As it stood, unless the demon suddenly decided to dodge, the following events would take place – I’d reach the range of its arms, swinging my sword. I would be able to reach its head, however, two of its arms would swing at my torso, while the other two would swing at my legs.
There was a chance I could survive that – however, I’d be left with grave injuries, lying amidst four bloodthirsty cultists, who, by my earlier assessnt, were low-level Path-bearers, with their leader likely being around level 3 or 4.
Regardless, there was no other way now – I had to make this strike count. However…
As I was halfway through my aerial arc, I sohow noticed the demon’s expression change, even though it had no visible expression.
Where before was fierce, uncontainable bloodlust, now was... Hesitation? Confusion?
Whether its survival instincts suddenly kicked in, dictating that dying to my strike wasn’t worth its life, or due to another, unknown reason, it suddenly brought up all four arms, the forearms of which were covered by a thin carapace - akin to bracers - to protect its head.
[Arc… Slash] !!!
If it was just a week earlier, this kind of maneuver would be impossible. However, by now, I had sufficient mastery over [Arc Slash] to execute even its ‘modified’ version mid-air, bringing the sword down upon the crossed arms with all my strength.
CRACK!
Splinters of chitin and putrid, mud-like blood sprayed onto my face, as the sword cut through two forearms, sending them flying in different directions, and finally stopping at the bone of the third one.
THUD!
Even though I braced my stomach a mont earlier, I still felt the air leave my lungs, and my insides shake, as the fourth arm swung right at my torso with superhuman strength, sending flying towards the wall in the direction I ca from.
Even through my daze, feeling the taste of blood and bile rise up to my mouth, I could still hear the cultist’s belated reactions, all raising their voice at the sa ti.
“Intruder!”
“It broke free!”
“Regroup at the ramp!”
“Above! Look out!”
The slowest cultist to recoil earlier was the woman – a fact Hilda clearly picked up on, based on the two crossbow bolts simultaneously flying towards her head in a synchronized spiraling motion, air faintly shimring with dim light around each projectile.
The cloaked woman quickly raised her hands, a shield of fla forming in front of them. However, the Skill pierced the half-ford barrier with ease.
Crack!
The bone mask on her face cracked, as did her actual skull, with the two bolts lodging themselves sowhere inside her brain.
“Gah…”
anwhile, I was rolling on the floor, with my back finally hitting the hard stone of the wall just now.
I could feel my legs hit sothing softer, and moist, but I really didn't want to think about it, forcibly ignoring the putrid sll yet again.
As the remaining cultists began their retreat, the demon, its ferocity renewed, set its sights on once more.
“URWAAAAA!”
It was clear the creature had no interest in its summoners, focusing its full attention on .
Earlier, when falling, I extended my hands forward, as not to stab myself with my own blade during the roll. Now, I quickly pushed myself up, using the sa free hand to reach for my potion case, enduring the pulsating pain in my chest and torso.
As I spit out the rancid mix of liquids building up in my throat, the demon was already soaring towards with surprising speed, at least for its size.
[Charge] ~
I tried to use the most ‘moderate’ version of my skill, managing to limit my movent to roughly 5 ters, moving along the wall which the four-ard creature slamd into, using its healthy arm to help halt its montum.
Actually, the two wounds from the severed forearms had already closed, and the injured arm was slowly repairing itself in real ti.
As I gulped down ⅖ of my high-grade healing potion, instantly feeling the 60 gold's worth of liquid prompting the rapid recovery of my insides, I took a mont to assess the situation.
The Demolisher would resu its attack in about two seconds. It seed like it would continue lunging at , at least for now.
The three remaining cultists were grouped near the start of the sloped ledge, ascending in a half-spiral towards where Hilda was.
Two of them maintained so kind of fiery barrier, akin to the one almost erected by the female cultist. Together with their leader, they slowly ascended the slope, and would reach Hilda in less than half a minute.
Their leader, whose hands were free, had just shot a bolt of fire - similar to the one I've been trying to learn, but fiercer - at where Hilda was, causing her to retreat from the ledge, judging by the sound of her steps.
And, judging by the simultaneous sound of her reloading her crossbows, she must've fired another two shots by now, which had been blocked by that combined ‘firewall’.
[Charge] !
As the CR 2 demon charged at once more, I did the sa thing towards the cultists.
‘If I can break through, I can get to higher ground. I don’t know how they planned to get this thing out. Maybe it could climb with 4 arms, but not like this.’
By now, I switched back to my Arcane Sense, and sprinted towards the ramp.
The creature behind must have realized that charging at would yield the sa unsatisfactory result, and begun ‘running’ normally – that is, normally for sothing its size, with its inhuman legs. It was faster than , but I was close enough to the ‘exit’ to outrun it.
Unfortunately, the cultists have already advanced past the initial ramp, so reaching them directly was impossible. Still, if I cou-
[Charge] !
I instantly charged to the side, as a massive burst of fla flew past , the hot air scorching the skin on the right side of my face.
The cultist leader clearly hadn’t forgotten about . In fact, after witnessing my initial aerial attack, he must have categorized as the highest threat in this fight, and decided to deny any chance to ascend the spiraling slope.
The fla hit the monster behind , but it rely gave off an angry growl, before leaping towards , its lower right arm - the healthy one - swinging back…
[Thrust] !
It’s been a while since I’ve used this skill, but it felt like the best response to the giant fist hurling towards .
Crack!
The impact would have torn the sword from my hands, or at least sent tumbling backwards, had I not already prepared to leap backwards with it. The fist was deflected, with at least one of the creature’s bones cracking inside.
Despite that, letting its left hand dangle backwards, it leapt after ! A mont later, it had already swung the other hand, which had healed sufficiently for such an attack.
Out of pure instinct, I let go of the hilt with my right hand, attempting to ‘swat’ the giant fist with my shield.
This might have succeeded, to so degree, had the massive creature not opened its hand, grappling my forearm with its giant fingers.
‘Shit!’
A mont later, the second hand ca flying back for another strike. Unable to dodge, I had no choice but to raise my left arm, and the creature decided to abort its strike, grabbing it as well.
“Gruuuuuaaa!”
I could feel the disgusting sulfur-filled breath as the creature roared, filled with fury.
I saw its stubs flap around, likely by instinct, as it must’ve been used to tearing its prey with one set of hands while holding it with the other.
Regardless, I was nowhere near safe. It took every bit of strength to keep my arms from getting ripped off, as the creature must have been near peak of the 2nd Strength realm, not to ntion its muscle mass was far above mine.
Taken from , this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
As the gears in my head were spinning overti, the creature lifted above the ground.
“Raaa!”
Its double jaws opened up, revealing multiple rows of sharp, crooked teeth. It brought its head back, ready to thrust it forward, as I was desperately trying to twist my body, still looking for any opportunity to break free sohow.
C-crack!
Almost simultaneously, a ‘twin spiral shot’ connected with the exoskeleton protecting its head from the upper-left side. It failed to penetrate it, but the cracks that appeared were a clear indication of the attack’s effectiveness.
“Uuu!..”
The demon’s montary daze was enough for to twist my body, and…
Power Kick!
It was not Skill, of course, but a full-power kick from sobody in the 2nd Strength realm was no joke… Especially considering the fact that my heavy leather boots had a thick tal strip protecting the front of their toe-box – sothing which would be considered a stylistic choice on Earth, but was quite practical in this world.
Thud!
The ‘uppercut’, perford with my leg, connected straight at the point between the two jaw-lines, seemingly dislocating them.
As the Demolisher’s head shot backwards, I felt a stinging numbness in my toe, which was likely dislocated as well. Regardless, I paid it no mind for now, using every bit of strength to try and break free.
My left arm, the one holding the sword, was still firmly within the demon’s iron grip. However, perhaps due to the injury, my right arm managed to break the hold, with its claws scraping over my chainmail and the sides of my arm shield.
Rather than try and escape, I released the grip on my sword, watching it fall in slow motion.. as my right hand soared to catch it.
I felt the grip on the other hand begin to tighten farther, as the creature’s daze began to recede.
‘I have to try it!’
I’ve already tried sothing similar during training, but the results have been inconsistent. However, there was no denying the fact that neither of my offensive Skills were strictly two-handed.
[Thrust] !!!
Sohow, I managed to handle the giant sword, the tip of which was already near the demon’s head, and thrust it forward with every bit of strength I had.
The blade penetrated the maw, as well as so inner bone, piercing through its whole elongated head, coming out cleanly through the other side.
At that mont, I felt a powerful impact on the right side of my ribcage, as the dying creature unleashed one last attack with its dying breath.
I couldn’t help but let go of my sword, as the impact sent my tumbling to the floor, rolling a few tis before I ca to a stop.
Thump
anwhile, the massive body fell on the ground, lifeless, with my Adamantium Arm still stuck inside its skull.
Before I could assess the situation, I felt a fluctuation in the Tides, as ‘vibrant-red’ energy gathered at the cultist leader’s palm.
This felt exactly like the fire burst he unleashed earlier.
In my current position, there was no way for to dodge, and he knew it.
‘This!.. Has to work!..’
In a last ditch effort, I raised my left hand, the one I’ve been using to ceaselessly practice a certain set of sigils.
The red streams of arcane energy condensed into a small point.
‘Co on!’
The tides were slightly more ‘excited’ than usual. However, at this mont, nothing existed in my mind, except for my fingers, ‘slowly’ forming the sigils while sohow keeping the ‘canvas’ stable, and the burst of fla, erupting from above with similar speed.
Even through my closed eyelids, I felt the brightness, as the wall of fla…
‘Yes!’
Partially broke upon the fluctuating barrier in front of .
It wasn’t a complete deflection, as I felt the sides of my arms and shoulders getting scorched, yet the lethal portion of the spell was diverted to my sides, hitting the ground behind .
I couldn’t see any expressions with my Arcane Sense, let alone through the cult leader’s mask, yet his pause was evidence of his surprise.
Of course, I wouldn’t waste this opportunity. Despite the minor damage, and my arcane reserve depleting by a large percentage, I jumped to my feet, while drawing the second sword from its sheath.
Opening my eyes, I saw the trio of cultists were already halfway through to the cavern’s exit – however, in front of them, liquid fla was slowly spilling down from the ledge, likely a remnant of Hilde's Alchemist’s Fla. The flas obstructed their passage, at least for a few seconds.
“Stop! We can make a deal!”
As I rushed towards the slope once more, the cultist leader decided the situation wasn’t in their favor. However, even if they haven’t witnessed my true Path, I had no intentions of letting them live.
Seeing rush upwards, the cultist raised his hand again. One of the other cultists aborted his ‘Fla Barrier’ spell, intending to launch a Fire Bolt at , as well.
I was already preparing another Elental (Fla) Ward, when suddenly, a tiny vial flew through the air.
With the cultist closest to releasing his barrier, their defenses beca incomplete. From the corner of his eye, the cultist leader noticed it as well, turning his hand…
Phwooof!
“Aaaaa!”
A fiery explosion, likely from a higher-tier Alchemist’s Fire than my own, washed the first cultist in a shower of liquid fla.
The cult leader invoked a barrier of his own, which deflected the conflagration, as his presud subordinate fell down into the pit, engulfed in flas.
By now, less than 6 ters separated us. Although the path was angled, the angle wasn’t that sharp, which prompted to…
[Charge Thrust] !!!
For a mont, my feet floated above the pit, but soon returned to the ground, as my recently acquired sword broke through the cult leader’s defensive spell, and then through his ribcage, reaching his heart.
“Eat shit and die.”
This was the only deal I would offer this type of scum.
“P-please! I didn’t want to do this! I was forced-”
As his leader’s dying body followed that of his immolated peer, the last remaining mber of their small group turned to , pleading for his life. However, a bolt to the side of his skull quickly ended his words.
With a thump, the last enemy hit the ground of the pit.
“Huff.. Huff…”
I took a few seconds to breathe, leaning against the cold stone. As I downed another ⅕ of my high-grade potion, to compensate for the internal damage from that last strike, I heard Hilde’s steps, hastily descending down the narrow path.
By the ti I gulped down half of my last remaining stamina potion, she was right in front of .
“Tha-”
Tcha!
My head jerked left from the force of the slap, the sound of which reverberated through the cavern.
“You suicidal #$@#$% @$#@#$.”
Her voice radiated cold rage. I didn’t quite catch the last words, which Sebastian didn’t know to begin with, but I was fairly certain it was about performing so act on so creature’s feces.
“What the fuck were you thinking?”
“I didn’t a- I couldn’t resist!”
Seeing her hand rise again, I quickly rephrased my words, only to realize that must’ve sounded even worse.
“Could... Resist?!..”
“I literally couldn’t!”
Before her hand surged into motion once more, I tried to explain the situation.
“What do you an?”
She narrowed her eyes, her hand still at the ready.
“You saw it! That.. thing. It raised its head, to look at ! And then… it was like…”
Failing to find the words, I tried to think back to that very instant.
What I found in my mories was…
I shuddered.
Hatred. Wrath. So absolute that their mory alone sent chills through my body even now. It was as if that demon was an anathema to my very existence.
‘But.. why?’
The most confusing part was the fact I never even felt the usual chance to resist, like I did with the Druidess’s soul-targeting ability / spell, or the Druid’s fear.
The second suspicious thing was the sudden change in its behavior, if only for a mont. No, actually, the fact I could sohow sense its ‘expression’ was strange, in and of itself.
“I.. see.”
I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I hadn’t even looked at Hilda, whose voice was suddenly much quieter than usual. Raising my eyes, even under the faint illumination of the light orb, her cheeks were unusually red.
My confused expression must have cleared my na in her eyes, at least in this specific instance.
“I need to get my sword. Search those guys, then we go back.”
Without waiting for a reply, refusing to waste any more ti, I jumped down. 4 ters were nothing with my current physical Attributes.
Although I’ve spent 90 gold just on the healing potion, and my potion fatigue wasn’t far off, at the very least, my injuries seed to have healed, and no short-term damage to my organs or bones was evident.
As I approached the demon, hearing Hilda land on the ground behind , I took one last glance at the thing.
‘Hmm.. wouldn’t hurt to try.’
After extracting my sword, I decided to cut off its already-dislocated jaws. I had no idea which part of this creature counted towards a bounty, but maybe those teeth could at least sell as materials. Honestly, I was certain at least its scaly skin, as well as the carapace, could be sold for good coin, as well, but there wasn’t anywhere near enough ti to properly dismantle it.
“If you find any sacks on them, give one.”
I cut off the trophy using my adamantium sword – it wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t too difficult, either.
The mud-like blood did sll like sulfur, but, at least, it didn’t feel acidic to my touch.
“There you go. Besides their masks, there were a few empty pouches on their leader. Probably for this ritual. Four daggers, and also those.”
Giving a large empty sack, which, by the traces of hair on it, likely used to cover the dead woman’s head, Hilda also handed four strange dallions. They were seemingly made of silver, or another silver-looking tal, and the symbol engraved into them was an eye surrounded with teeth.
“Thanks.”
I threw the demon’s jaws into the sack, and tied the dallions to my belt, strapping them firmly and separately by their thick chains, so that none of them would accidentally produce a sound while I walked.
I tied the sack behind my back, between the sheathes, where my usual backpack would be. Thankfully, it didn’t feel like it’d constrict my movents in combat.
“If that’s all, let’s hurry. We need to reconvene with the others.”
“Yeah, let’s get out of here.”
As I nodded to Hilda’s suggestion, I paused for a mont. The slender woman, already near the slope, halted her steps, as well, turning her head.
“Sebastian?”
“Please – no word to the others. Not yet, at least.”
A few seconds passed as we looked at each-other in silence.
“So it really was magic?”
“If I end up joining you, I’ll tell Bern myself. If not, it won’t make any difference, would it?”
Another few seconds of silence had passed. Hilda let out a soft sigh.
“Alright.”
Satisfied with her word, I stepped forward as well, beginning to trail her on the path to the exit.
“Good job… Even if the Inquisition would end up on their trail, there is no telling what letting them get away with a summoning would incur.”
“Yeah. I know.”
After a few monts of climbing, I spoke once again.
“Thanks for coming, too. If it weren’t for you…”
“Don’t ntion it. We’re a team, after all.”
“Yeah…”
My final reply was probably too faint for Hilda to hear.
But, still…
‘Maybe a team isn't so bad, after all.’
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