"Sky Punch!!!"
Faust launched his ultra-fast fist and executed a left uppercut on Michael. Being fueled by rage after seeing all his moves were ineffective against Michael, he did not think twice and unleashed his most powerful technique in his arsenal.
It was his ace move that had one of the greatest knockback effects among Close Quarter Combat techniques. One punch from it could send its target flying for hundreds of meters if it were to survive the initial damage.
That sheer power was coming directly toward Michael. He was personally surprised that someone was capable enough to perform a Level 9 technique. Even though his body could not catch up, his presence of mind could see the incoming fist and make an instant response.
Whoosh!
Strong turbulence of air burst on the spot after the Sky Punch of Faust was executed. The wind pressure was so intense that it almost created a tornado in the area. The people who watched the fight even covered their eyes to protect them from the rapidly flying debris.
But even with those tempestuous outcomes, the fist hit nothing but empty and miraculously missed its designated target. Realizing he did not feel anything on his fist, Faust turned around and saw his opponent standing still and unscathed.
"You are able to avoid that?!"
"...I would not be able to if I did not react immediately."
What Michael just did in order to avoid that destructive fist was reflexively activate Instantaneous Movement, a Level 8 Martial Art technique. He did it in just a split second and succeeded in avoiding the fist; he would become mincemeat if he did not.
"I intended to end this fight without using any technique, but I have to. I am praising you for pushing me to do so; I give you that."
"How dare you fool me around—Nhh—?!"
It was too late for Faust to realize that during the entirety of their fight. He never saw his opponent use any technique or skill. The more he thought about it, his wrath over the feeling of being played like a child grew even further.
Succumbed by humiliation once again, Faust attempted to attack Michael. No matter how furious and angry he was, the damages and side effects of his last move painfully affected his whole body.
His muscles tore, and some of his bones broke. His strong tolerance for pain could not contain the agony he was feeling. In an attempt to take a step forward, he put himself on his knees instead.
"It seems like you cannot move yourself anymore. It makes my job even easier."
"Hmph! No matter how strong you are, you will never be able to defeat our boss! Even in your dreams!"
"Okay." Michael flatly replied before he raised his sword. "It is now your time to sleep."
"Ugh—!"
Michael swung his saber down and brought it toward the nape of Faust, which put him down for the count. He just hit him with the blunt side of his sword since he wanted him alive so that the knights could extract information from him.
"Well then," Michael sheathed back his sword and then took a glance at the healed knights around the area. "Can someone please cuff him?"
None of them reacted to what he said and just stared at Faust back and forth. Some of them fully witnessed the battle between Michael and Faust, and they were awestruck by it.
Faust was a powerful individual who could take multiple knights and still win. He even killed a few of them. Each of his punches was destructive and certainly powerful, and even the powerful knights assigned at the maximum security could not stop him from his rampage.
But after watching the fight, they realized that his opponent, Michael, was only on a different level. He could fight toe-to-toe with a Level 500 opponent with minimal usage of his abilities, even though he was only Level 300 in their eyes.
Seeing him in action made some of the knights doubt themselves, wondering if they were worthy of their titles. But they could not just drag themselves down and fill themselves with humiliation and inferiority. They had to do something else as well.
"Y-yes, sir."
A knight finally corresponded with his request and approached the knocked-out Faust to apply handcuffs to his wrists. Then two knights walked toward Michael and talked with him.
"Umm... Thank you for saving us, Mr..."
"Michael, an adventurer of the empire. And we are sorry that we cannot save some of your friends."
Michael then turned his gaze somewhere, ignoring the shacked and unconscious culprits, and glanced at the line of corpses nearby.
"Even so," The other knight said. "If it were not for your assistance, we would be joining them right now."
After Michael engaged in a fight with Faust, Gabrielle and Uriel started casting their magic to heal the wounded knights. Some of them gained consciousness and witnessed the fight between Michael and Faust.
"Well, we are just passing by and doing what is the right thing to do."
"But we owe you our lives. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask us."
"I will keep that in mind."
As soon as he said that, Gabrielle and Uriel reached the spot where Michael was. Their level of beauty captivated every knight in the vicinity, of course.
A few of them recognized who they were since their party was quite popular in the city. But they were still in their minds not to disturb their saviors.
"Most of the injured ones have been healed up." Said Uriel. "But some of them need to rest for quite some time."
"Good job, everyone."
"But they told us that there were other infiltrators inside." Noted Gabrielle. "The two of you must go ahead and stop them. I will stay here to tend to the wounded."
"Hmm. Alright." Michael uttered it and then looked at the knights. "Actually, we entered the Imperial Prison without any permission. Can you help us with that if anything happens?"
"Of course, Mr. Michael," the knight said, then put his fist over his chest plate. "That is nothing compared to what your party has done to us."
"Thank you, then."
"And we think that we are not strong enough to stop the ones inside. So we are sorry again for letting you carry the burden."
"It is not a problem, and we will promise to stop them at all costs. Let's go, Uriel."
"Understood."
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