CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The sound of metal striking metal erupted in a furious symphony as their weapons clashed hundreds of times in the span of a single second. In the past, the Head Butler had been there to keep the situation under control. But now, A natural disaster was imminent.
The nearby bandits, who had thought themselves safe in their numbers, were swept aside just from the shockwaves. Some were sent flying through the air, crashing violently into trees, rocks, and the hard earth. The sheer force of the impact was enough to snap bones and crush bodies, and many of the unfortunate souls were killed instantly, their lives snuffed out like a candle in the wind.
The winds, violent and relentless, surged from the point where their weapons met. The air itself seemed to tear at the surrounding trees, uprooting them, sending debris flying in every direction. The remnants of their aura—the ethereal energy that surrounded them like a storm—further compounded the devastation, pushing the bandits back with an unstoppable force.
And amidst the chaos, the Duchess lay motionless. Her body was sprawled on the ground, unnervingly close to the point where the two combatants clashed. She was safe because of the barrier that was activated around her.
The madman continued to channel the aura in the tip of his spear when the Duke’s voice cut through the tension "I will create an opening attack with your full force at that moment."
Without waiting for a response, one of the rings on the Duke’s fingers shined and he disappeared.
[BLINK]
A short-range spatial movement spell that was stored in the ring was used. In the next instant, he reappeared beside his wife next to the two Ascended.
The winds and shockwaves, fierce and relentless, surged toward the Duke, their violent force threatening to tear his body apart. But the moment his feet landed, he had torn open a scroll.
[Shield]
A blue-colored shield materialized around the Duke’s body. Then the rings on his fingers gleamed once more.
[Amplification Magic] X 5
[Reinforcement Magic] X 5
[Increased Cast]
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The air shimmered as multiple layers of magic wove into existence around him. Each successive layer was stacked on top of the other, forming a fortress of magical shields that cocooned the Duke. Five layers in total formed, each one reinforced and amplified, a protective barrier more formidable than the last. All the preparation to protect his body from the aftermath clash between the Ascended. The Duke bent down and scooped up the Duchess in a princess carry.
"You finally came… Darling," came the weak, breathless voice of the Duchess, her words fragile but filled with a quiet relief.
The Bandit King, his face twisted with fury, saw the Duke scoop the Duchess into his arms. Rage flared in his eyes, and with a guttural roar, he attempted to move toward them.
Dual Armed Style: Hundred Cuts
Yet, before he could make a single step, the force of the Mercenary Queen’s assault slammed into him like a tidal wave. She was upon him in an instant, her axes swirling through the air. Her movements were a blur of deadly precision, each strike coming faster than the last, a relentless barrage of blows aimed to overwhelm him.
The Bandit King gritted his teeth, his weapon raised to parry the continuous assault.
The Mercenary Queen’s fighting style was a testament to pure aggression - focused on killing techniques. She was not talented enough to learn the true style of her master and decided to create her own, mimicking the essence of her master’s technique. The style was further refined, during her countless battles in the dungeons, where a single moment of carelessness could lead to death.
Despite her battle-hardened instincts and the ferocity of her attacks, the Mercenary Queen wasn’t facing just any opponent. The Bandit King was also an Ascended. While her style was one of relentless aggression, it left small gaps and fleeting moments of vulnerability between her strikes.
The Bandit King, with his experience and his heightened senses, didn’t miss those openings. His blows landed, some grazing her skin, others cutting deeper. But none of the Bandit King’s strikes were critical.
In the midst of this intense clash, the Duke was running toward Cassius and the madman to escape this place.
Crimson Mountain Saber: Reverse Mountain
The saber in his hand, already infused with a deadly aura, erupted in a violent burst of energy. The sheer force of the blow seemed to distort the very air around it. With the power of an avalanche, the Bandit King swung the weapon sideways, aiming for the Mercenary Queen’s left hand, where she gripped the medium axe.
Reacting instinctively, the Mercenary Queen crossed both of her axes in front of her, bracing for the impact. The Bandit King’s body shifted in a fluid, predatory motion. He twisted his waist, channeling even more aura into the strike.
The Mercenary Queen’s feet scraped along the ground as the Bandit King’s saber continued its relentless push. He pushed her body in the opposite direction of the Duke. Then, without hesitation, the Bandit King exploded his own weapon with an unrelenting surge of aura and sent her hurling away in the sky.
Seizing the opportunity, the Bandit King quickly summoned another saber from his storage ring, he bolted towards the Duke, who had just leaped from the cliff, the distance between them closing in the blink of an eye.
The Bandit King stood at the edge of the cliff and raised his saber above his head.
Crimson Mountain Saber: Mountain Cleave
But as his blade began to descend, he saw two attacks heading in his way.
Meteor Spear
Raijin’s Draw Fourth Form: Thunder Point
In that split second, the Bandit King’s mind raced at a pace, he knew that if he fended off both attacks then Duke would get the chance to escape and the Mercenary Queen would catch up to him.
On the other hand, if he aimed directly for the Duke, the Bandit King knew that the chances of succeeding in breaking through those shields were sixty-forty at best. However, by focusing solely on the Duke, he would be leaving himself completely exposed to the two incoming attacks. Even an Ascended, would receive grave injuries if struck by the combined force of an SSS-Ranker and an SS-Ranker, without any form of defense.
Without hesitation, he tilted his raised saber slightly mid way and swung it with all the force of his aura, unleashing a sharp aura blade. The aura blade meets Meteor Spear head-on shattering the projectile mid-flight and heading for the Duke.
The Bandit King made a calculated choice, dealing with the larger incoming threat and focusing his attack on the Duke. While simultaneously taking Cassius’s attack on his shoulder. But the attack caught him by surprise. The Thunder Element surged through his body, sending an electric jolt that coursed through his muscles, forcing his body into temporary paralysis. Without hesitation, the Bandit King channeled his aura internally, focusing on breaking the paralysis.
However, that precious milliseconds of delay had consequences.
The Bandit King caught off guard, failed to evade the incoming attack.
SWOOSH
"ARGH!" A blood-curdling scream tore from the Bandit King’s throat as a medium axe embedded itself into the back of his right shoulder, the blade sinking deep into muscle and bone.
The Mercenary Queen had launched her axe from a distance, as she rushed in his direction. The axe was lodged deep in the Bandit King’s body, and with such a critical factor now in play, the Mercenary Queen knew that winning against him would not be hard.
As the Bandit King struggled, Cassius appeared behind the Duke, his entire form crackling with thunderous energy. Giving everything, he countered the incoming aura blade.
Raijin’s Draw Third From: Thunder Fall
Cassius’s blade crackled with violent electric energy as it clashed against the aura blade. The Duke, running ahead, cast a single glance over his shoulder, his eyes briefly locking on the scene unfolding behind him. He saw Cassius, giving his all, pushing against the overwhelming might of an Ascended’s attack. The Duke’s gaze hardened, but he quickly refocused and turned his attention back to the path ahead.
Cassius’s arms were beginning to give way, his bones fracturing under the relentless pressure of the clash. With each passing moment, the pain intensified, the damage accumulating rapidly, but he refused to let go of his sword. His mind had long since abandoned thoughts of his own survival. His sole purpose now was to protect the Duke and the Duchess.
Just when it seemed as though his arms would finally give way, a spear struck the aura blade from the side. The force of the strike sent the energy of the clash careening off course, redirecting the blade’s deadly path away from Cassius and towards the cliffside.
The Aura Blade struck the cliff with immense force, cleaving right through the solid rock as if it were mere paper.
"Wow, you truly are a fool, playing hero and taking the attack of an Ascended head-on instead of deflecting it. You must be trying to act cool," the madman sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "It’s fine, I understand. I’ve seen people with fetishes like yours." and dashed towards the bandits on the opposite cliff.
Cassius’ face flushed a shade of crimson, the sting of the madman’s words digging into his pride. His gaze fell on his sword, its once smooth surface now marred by deep cracks though still hanging. He then turned in the direction of the Duke and ran after him, killing any bandit that came in his sight.