Chapter 39: Chapter 39- Shifting
Chapter 39- Shifting
The man didn’t waste another second as he ignited his hands with all the essence he had left in his body. Then, he slammed them down with immense power. All the fire was injected into the ground in one split second. The sheer amount of energy that moved within that time frame was enough to crack the ground and spread rapidly, tearing it open as tongues of flame erupted everywhere around him.
The firewall rose several meters in the air all around him. Just as the two-sided attack came barreling toward him.
*BOOOM*
The fire ignited and flared wildly upon contact with the wood, and the lightning current slammed into it. However, neither was able to penetrate the wall of fire as it ate everything.
"This fire is really a problem. It is extremely strong and volatile." Cipha muttered as she watched the high wall of flames before her. "From what I heard, Nar Hunters are able to evolve their fire gradually, and each time, the fire will gain consciousness and power. There is the normal red, then there is blue, green, white, and eventually... Black."
Each ranking meant that the Hunter rose in the ranks of the Nar clan and got accepted into the grace of the Divine Fire. That was why the Nar clan was considered a pillar clan. Their fire was their entire identity, and if they didn’t have it, they were nothing. That was why they even worshipped that fire and considered it their overlord.
’We need to get him out of his shell.’
"Chief! Can you engage with him?! I will be behind you, backing you up! We can’t hit him from afar." Cipha said.
"Hm." The chief clenched his fists. "I do not usually trust your people. But, I have no other choice."
The chief knew that this situation was dire and that not using these two humans’ help would only make it worse. He had to swallow his bitter feelings and win this battle for his people.
With that, he channeled his energy and dashed forward. His steps left cracks in the ground as he rushed toward the fire. At the same time, he lifted his hand and, with a sway, swept the fire away to clear a small opening, barely enough for him to pass. Rushing through the flames, he found the Hunter standing inside with his body barely still.
He looked quite exhausted. However, seeing the chief rushing in, he clenched his sword and swung it violently. A flame sword slash flew toward him like a flash.
"You won’t." The chief extended his hand forward and sliced through the flames. Even though the heat burnt his skin slightly, he ignored the pain and reached his target. With his fists, he slammed down with all his power.
*CLING*
The Hunter could only lift his sword to intercept the attack. The two clashed for a second as sparks flew everywhere. The chief then pulled his fists away and slammed them down again. Each hit carried the weight of all his anger.
"You bastards..."
*CLING*
"Trying to ruin our lives!"
*CLING*
"Putting your greedy hands where they don’t belong!"
*CLING*
"And ruining everything beautiful that remains in this world! Die!!"
All the anger he had carried with him for years came down on the Hunter as he was rooted into the ground, defending against the Wood Man’s rampage. Each hit felt like a truck slamming into him, and all he could do was try to stop it.
’This bastard... Where did he get all that energy from?!’ He clenched his teeth as he tried to find a way out of this problem. His essence was running out rapidly after using that firewall. So, he had to be very wise and meticulous with his use.
The attacks didn’t stop for a second, and with each one, the man found himself sinking deeper into the ground as his defense waned and his arms grew weaker. He felt like he would give out at any given moment.
So, he clenched his teeth and decided to do something extremely risky. As the chief lifted his hands to slam them down again. The man suddenly dashed forward, using all the power he had left within him. He slashed with his sword at the chief’s leg, trying to make him fall. The chief quickly tried to step back and recover.
However, he was a split second too fast as the sword connected with his shin. The man groaned as he fell to his knees. Using that opportunity, the hunter tried to attack the chief’s neck with his fire.
’Now!’ His eyes lit up as he leaped in the air. ’I got you!’
He had won the fight. He could deliver the killing blow.
*SIZZLE*
At that moment, suddenly, his entire body froze as he felt a lightning strike hit his body from behind, messing with his entire momentum as he fell to the ground, rolling several times before he finally recovered to his feet.
"Tsk, that brat." He cursed under his breath. ’She knew to attack at the perfect time when I couldn’t dodge it. She’s not to be scoffed at.’
Staring at Cipha, who had her hand aimed at him. He could only curse his horrible luck.
Meanwhile, the chief slowly recovered from the hit and stood up. He stared at Cipha and nodded faintly before he turned around and stared at his enemy. The injury on his leg started healing almost instantly as the wood covered it.
"Haha, this is quite fun." The man smiled. "I didn’t think it would be this hard. But, I guess that’s the price I have to pay for being so strong. You two cannot fight me one on one. Isn’t that a bit shameless?"
"..."
"..."
"Tsk, alright, alright. That’s too much to ask, I guess. But, since you two decided to play unfairly. Don’t blame me for also playing unfairly. I didn’t want to use this now, as it was never intended to reach this point. But..." His smile vanished as a cold, menacing look appeared on his face. "You left me no choice."
Then, the man put his hand in his pocket and pulled something out of it. It was a small, shining orb. It was purely made out of glass with a weird, shining green light inside.
Then, he put the orb in his mouth, between his teeth, as he stared at the two coldly. "Burn, like the hell you raised upon yourselves."
*CRACK*
Then, he smashed the orb with his teeth as the bits flew everywhere and the light within exploded. The energy was so strong that it created a violent wind that threw everyone several feet back.
"What the hell is going on?" Cipha covered her face with her arms as she fought the wind back. ’That thing he cracked... could it be?’
Just as she had that thought, she saw the light descend down all around her like arrows. Each one would hit the ground and stop, then it would slowly reshape itself until it formed something.
A humanoid, made out of green fire with no facial or body features except for the arms, the legs, and two burning green eyes that had no emotions within them. All around her, these humanoids manifested one by one, growing in number rapidly.
"You have got to be kidding me..." Cipha muttered under her breath. The battle has shifted... again.
