"Arghhh!"
"Ahhhhhhh!"
"Kyakk!"
"What's that?"
Letting out a cry of panic, everyone ran around looking for cover. Splinters of fire rained after them one after another without a break.
The torrential attacks would halt for a second or two, then resume again with increased ferocity.
Zack, who had guided his class here, felt his heart sink. The fleeting feeling of loss lasted only momentarily and he relayed his order.
"Don't run. Crawl onto the ground and crouch towards cover. The hunter is targeting those who are standing. Also, don't stay rooted and try to make as much movement as possible."
While Jack's command manages to prevent the loss of lives in his class others weren't faring better.
As Ezekiel writhed in pain and dizziness swept him due to being carried by the water current, the rest of the people's bodies were battered and they fell with a hole in their head.
Fortunately, Sheldon reacted in time and covered him with his shield.
TANG!TANG!TANG!TANG!
Bullet bounced off after hitting the shield.
Taking his opportunity, they retreated to the ground looking for cover.
Meanwhile, others searched for cover around them. Some heard loud blasting sounds and froze in pairs, cuddled hugging their knees and gasping heavily in fear.
"Retreat!"
Jenny, seeing her class, bit her lips in anger and ordered them to escape and flew away. As they moved, walking became difficult due to the silting ground and mud.
"Kyakkk!"
"What's this?"
Jenny frowned, hearing a loud and looking around, he saw one of her classmates who had fallen into a pit, raising his arm and holding a small orb that was ringing with a soft tune while emitting a reddish glint.
Jenny's eyes widened and as he focused around, under the heavy blasting sound of bullets, she heard a beeping sound.
Having a sudden realisation, her face became pale and she screamed "Throw it away."
"Don't go for cover. These things have been planted there."
Startled, the boy threw it away. However, if only she knew that throwing one wasn't going to make any difference cause all of them had already fallen into the trap.
Under chaos, it was a common mindset to look for covers, so many of the minesweepers were hidden there.
KABOOM!
Beneath their very feet, a sudden thunderous explosion erupted from the bombs planted by Lucas.
The force of the blast was so intense that the ground beneath them shook violently and was blasted open plunging everyone above the ground into fire and smoke.
The one who took cover behind trees or protruding stones bore the full brunt of the explosion.
A chain of explosions crackled one after another creating an atmosphere of terror and panic.
As the trail of smoke dissipated, Ezekiel's body was enveloped by a round barrier that subsided and he looked around letting out a short breath.
All he saw was the gruesome sight of corpses of friends and foes burning by flames. Their limbs were torn, chests had been burst open, and some had their intestines spilled out. All of them let out a cry of agony and writhed in pain trying to extinguish the burning fire over them.
For Ezekiel, this was the first time he had an experience like this. He had only killed monsters. Neither he had killed any human this brutally before nor did he see them dying before his eyes.
The hymns of pain momentarily made his vision blank. This scene was beyond disgusting. It was just a few moments ago, he stood tall and mighty but now everything around him had been reduced to dust.
The previous explosion almost took three-fifth of the people present out here.
For a few moments, only a shrill sound rang in their eardrums. Many even lost their sense of hearing for a few minutes.
"So, you have a protective 3-Star artifact, huh!"
Ezekiel's body tensed up on hearing an icy cold voice. On looking up, he saw a man walking forward with a black gun in his hand.
His expression distorted seeing the other two people before him.
"Charles, Frederick and Lucas," Ezekiel muttered in disbelief, giving him a hateful gaze.
"Is this what were you aiming for from the beginning? Did you plan all this shit?"He shouted.
Lucas tilted his head with an innocent smile"Didn't I tell you that I will show you the reason why I was chosen instead of you?"
Lucas's eyes turned cold and pointing his hand at Ezekiel, beckoned him"Come at me. I will show you."
"Lucas, will you be alright?"Frederick asked worriedly.
"He is a difficult man to deal with but he is too short-sighted. If I require help I will call you."Lucas whispered and he darted his eyes around, he was baffled seeing a certain someone.
"You!" Ezekiel gritted his teeth as there is no way he can deal with the three.
"Captain, leave the two to us."
From behind Sheldon emerged holding his shield. Using his shield protective function, he saved Jenette and a few others.
"Let's finish this."As soon as Lucas's words fall, everyone in their class who could fight appears.
"Everyone go all out.No need to conserve your strength. The mock battle is going to be over," Lucas shouted after looking at the time and with a stomp he lunged forward towards Ezekiel.
Frederick and Charles also followed behind him.
Sidestepping Frederick thrust his spear towards Sheldon while Charles chooses to attack Jenette.
Halting his steps, Charles waved his hand sending pieces of rocks flying in the air.
"It's useless."Jenette shrieked, waving her whip and slashing it, destroying all the rocks in the air.
Frowning, Charles pulled out his sword and coating it with a layer of rocks, charged towards Jenette.
....
Meanwhile, Lucas kept on mocking Ezekiel once again.
"Hey, if you want to win, use your real weapon. Don't play that hiding power bullshit with me."
In the blink of an eye, Lucas appeared right before Ezekiel startling him.
"Shut up!"Screaming at the top of his lungs, he smashed his fist towards Lucas.
BOOM!
A dense pressure erupted from his fist blowing the layer of dirt on the ground. However, the scene of Lucas getting knocked out that he expected didn't occur.
In fact, there was no one before him.
"What the?"
Before he could think of anything, he was hit on his back.
"Ahhh!"
Letting out a high-pitched roar, he stumbled towards the front for a few steps. His senses kicked and feeling another attack coming at him, without looking back he swung his gauntlet towards the back.
Swish!
The sound of tearing the air bellowed again but his fist met empty air again.
"Cowards stop playing hide and see--Aarghhh!''
BANG!
From his back, something slammed against his waist. The force pushed him away a few metres as he was dragged against the ground.
Using shadow steps, Lucas played with Ezekiel hitting him from the back.
Holding his aching waist, Ezekiel let out a groan and stared at Lucas taking a horse stance.
"Stop wasting time and pull out your dual blade. I know your proficiency lies in a sword, not in a fist so bring it out."
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel