Chapter 1855 Doubt
Many of the dark elves possessed similar shadow and dagger techniques, but this particular dark elf had caught Emery off guard with a powerful strike that exceeded his expectations. Hearing the familiar voices of the dark elves, Emery reacted swiftly by channeling his Khaos energy into a powerful [Repulsion] spell, sending the culprits and any nearby dark elves flying away.
Realizing that the dagger that had stabbed him was a significant threat, Emery quickly retrieved his [Rampant Staff] and summoned thick roots to cover the area, creating a protective barrier with his [Nature Protection] spell. This provided him with the time he needed to remove the toxin from the dagger.
As the situation unfolded, the Khan found it quite amusing. He called his comrades over and ordered them to burn away the roots. While the roots smoldered and cleared, the Khan approached the dark elf who had managed to harm Emery and inquired,
"What is your name, Drow?"
With a respectful gesture, the dark elf introduced himself, saying, "Great Khan, I am Kieran, just a humble drow with a history with that magus."
The Khan recognized Kieran and made him an offer, "Help me kill this human, and you shall receive a reward from my clan as well."
Kieran accepted the Khan's request, and in that brief respite, the dark elves managed to burn most of Emery's plant-based defenses. The previously wounded five dark elves had also regained some of their strength and were ready to join the fight.
As they closed in on Emery, he realized the situation had taken a dangerous turn. Facing the 15 dark elves alone was challenging enough, but now he had to contend with this devious drow. What concerned him even more was not his hidden attacks or poison but the fact that he could sense the energy of Khaos from Kieran's powerful blow.
Emery quickly deduced the reason for this alarming revelation. He muttered under his breath,
"Dammit!! He took Tarrasque from Ezzekiel!!"
Unfortunately, Emery had neither Chutulu nor Killgragah to confirm or assist him. Although the power of the Khaos Guardians was restrained within these ruins, Emery could truly have used their guidance.
The last remnants of his nature protection spell finally dissipated, revealing Emery in full health. Despite the immediate threat, he decided to employ a different tactic to level the playing field.
Instead of directly fighting, he gave the draw a friendly greeting.
"Kieran! It's good to see you again, my friend," He glanced at the Khan before continuing, "I see you're still as cunning as ever. Tell me, how long did you serve the last Khan before you killed him?"
Having extracted information from the dark elves' souls he took from Demon's Pit, Emery possessed a wealth of knowledge about Kieran. The Drow had been responsible for the deaths of at least three of his previous leaders, and Emery intended to use this information to quickly disrupt their cooperation.
As expected, the dark elves were easily prone to suspicion. "What is he saying, Drow?!" said the Khan
"Don't listen to this honorless half-blood, my Khan. He was the reason our last Khan perished," Kieran retorted.
Emery couldn't help but let out a mirthful chuckle. "Yes, by your very hand!" With an abrupt change in his focus, he addressed the Khan directly once more. "I must caution you, my Khan, that the enforcers could descend upon us at any moment. Are you absolutely certain that you wish to linger here and confront them head-on?"
Emery's stratagem was carefully crafted to sow discord among the dark elves, disrupting their cooperation and shattering their concentration. He didn't require spirit reading to discern that his words were taking root. "Do not heed his words; let's end him now!" one of the dark elves cried, a fervent determination echoing in his voice.
Kieran sprang into action, launching an attack with his drow dagger. Emery promptly met the assault with his razor-sharp claws. The clash resulted in a brief but intense struggle, with Emery eventually giving ground, propelled backward by the force of Kieran's [Gravity Strike].
The fact that Kieran wielded Ezzekiel's mastered skill, a technique that was casually used by him, added a layer of mystery and danger to the situation. Emery realized he needed to neutralize this threat as quickly as possible.
Despite the setback, a wry grin remained on Emery's face, for none of the other dark elves came to Kieran's aid.
The dark elf Khan sent two of his men to check the portal and confirm Emery's claims. Observing Kieran's expression, he decided, "You can engage him first, young Drow. Let me witness your power."
Emery chuckled in response and saw an opportunity he didn't want to waste. He retrieved his [Savage Sword] and prepared for another round of combat.
Kieran wasted no time, immediately launching himself at Emery with astonishing speed and agility. Their fight was a blur of motion and skill, the drow dagger gleamed wickedly as he aimed for Emery's throat. Emery expertly parried the attack, the blades clashing with a metallic ring.
Despite Kieran's powerful strike, his poisonous dagger proved no match for Emery's Tier 6 sword. Emery skillfully pressured Kieran into using another of his unique abilities, which manifested as a glowing light blade extending from his arm. It was?a skill that was distinctly at odds with his dark elf heritage. The Khan's suspicion deepened, and he watched the battle with a keen and wary eye.
Emery relentlessly pressed his advantage against Kieran, utilizing his sword skills and spells to their fullest. The combination of [Jade Roots] and [Shadow Edge] showcased Emery's superiority in combat. Their duel raged on, both combatants showcasing their skills and abilities. Kieran's movements became more erratic, and Emery could sense his growing desperation.
The Khaos guardian did boost his confidence, but Kieran was unaware that Emery had improved even more since their last meeting.
Realizing that he couldn't overcome Emery in a one-on-one confrontation, Kieran opted to retreat once more toward the Khan. With determination, he knelt before his leader, submitting himself to the dark elf Khan's authority.
"Yes, my Khan, I am a dark elf fugitive. I haven't fully paid for my crimes, and I am hoping that killing him will do just that. Please help me!" Kieran's words were effective, striking a chord with the Khan. He nodded in agreement, and with a determined expression, he ordered all his men to attack Emery.
"Let's fight then!" Emery declared with determination, fully aware of the overwhelming odds stacked against him.
It was now a 14 vs 1 battle, with Emery bravely accepting the challenge. Apart from the Khan, who was a full moon magus, and Kieran, the rest of the dark elves posed little trouble for him. Emery seized every opportunity to take them down one by one, employing his skills and spells to gain the upper hand.
Despite his best efforts, Emery found himself getting hit more often by the Khan and Kieran, whose formidable abilities made them formidable adversaries. But Emery pressed on, determined to fight until the end.
Suddenly, the Khan's attention was diverted by an unexpected development. A message or signal of some sort had reached him, causing him to pause with an annoyed look on his face, leaving Emery to wonder what had transpired.
"He really has backup coming!" the Khan muttered, clearly frustrated by this unforeseen turn of events.
Kieran, desperate to see Emery defeated, continued to implore the Khan to prioritize their battle. However, the dark elf leader had made his decision.
"I will see you again at a deeper layer," the Khan declared, his voice laced with annoyance and determination. With that, he and his dark elf followers retreated, leaving Emery behind for now.
As soon as the Khan gave the order, he led his men away, and Kieran, not willing to stay behind, attempted to make his escape. However, Emery swiftly blocked his path with determination in his eyes.
"You are not going anywhere!" Emery declared firmly.
Kieran, displaying his cunning and agility, attempted to use his shadow skills to slip past Emery, but Emery managed to anticipate his move and thwarted his escape attempt. Desperate to get away, Kieran resorted to a special skill that allowed him to boost his speed to the maximum. But Emery, having encountered this skill before, was ready. He used his spell [Attraction] to slow down Kieran's movements and then pulled him back into the room.
"Like I said, you are not going anywhere," Emery reaffirmed.
Despite the dire situation, the dark elf remained confident and calmly remarked, "Let's speak later in that place instead."
Emery suddenly realized that with the Khan's departure, the spatial distortion effect had dissipated. In that brief moment of realization, Kieran activated another lifesaving skill, teleporting himself away.
"Dammit!" Emery cursed, frustrated by the drow's escape.
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