Chapter 47 Chapter47-Counterstrike, Theatrics
As the two guards hesitated, Howard immediately sensed something amiss.
From behind, the trio of guards advanced, effectively cutting off his retreat.
Yet, Howard's expression remained stoic, nonchalantly inquiring, "Why have you stopped?"
"Continue?" The two guards exchanged glances, then one sneered, "Rest assured, we'll be sending you on your way soon enough. Safe travels!"
Hearing these ominous words, realization struck Howard.
So that's why Carlos Bartel invited him to join the leveling group.
The plan was to lure him into the dungeon and strike once they were separated from the main force.
Five seasoned guards, each at Level 30, against a recent awakened – by most calculations, there shouldn't have been any issues.
Unfortunately for them, Howard possessed supreme talent.
Though recently awakened, his power already rivaled that of a Level 50 awakened.
These five Level 30 guards were hardly a match for him!
"Enough talk!" one barked.
"The young master wants him dead. Let's get on with it!" Another chimed in.
Without further ado, the guards, faces contorted with menace, lunged at Howard, their weapons gleaming in varying hues.
Yet, before they could land a blow, a surge of lightning burst forth from within Howard.
The thundering roar filled the air, the brilliant white arc lighting up the entire corridor, engulfing Howard entirely.
As weapons and fists descended upon him, the lightning traced back along their paths, coursing through their arms and consuming the attackers.
In an instant, all five guards were shocked, their hair standing on end.
Enveloped in lightning, Howard merely waved his wand, sending another bolt of electricity streaking into the guards, cascading over them.
Each jolt inflicted significant damage.
Their eyes widened in terror, unable to fathom the immense power of the so-called 'waste' the young master had spoken of.
By the time they realized their predicament, it was already too late.
"-1782!"
"-2209!"
Even with several pieces of Epic equipment, Howard's HP barely surpassed 4,000.
The guards fared far worse; struck by the lightning, their HP plummeted, the light in their eyes gradually dimming.
By the time they fell, their skin was charred black, all signs of life extinguished.
"Such a waste of my Mighty Thunder skill," Howard muttered, shaking his head regretfully. "Fortunately, the level of this dungeon is relatively low. Even without that skill, I could've breezed through."
Without sparing a glance at the fallen bodies, Howard continued in the direction of a narrow bridge.
Loot the bodies?
What a joke.
They were just five guards; what treasures could they possibly possess?
That'd just be a waste of time!
The glow of the lightning was sufficient to light his path, rendering torches unnecessary.
However, the brilliance also attracted bats.
These newly-emerging creatures had larger wings and sharper talons.
They swooped down, claws extended, aiming straight for Howard.
Alas, the presence of Mighty Thunder ensured their fate mirrored the guards'.
Before they could touch Howard, a simple wave of his wand let loose the electric fury, sending them spiraling into an abyss.
The bridge wasn't particularly long.
Under the illumination of the lightning, Howard crossed it in just over thirty seconds, once again standing on solid ground.
As the Mighty Thunder's duration ended, Howard retrieved a torch from his storage pouch.
With a simple fireball spell, he ignited it and proceeded onward.
He knew that even if Carlos Bartel wanted him dead, opportunities would be limited.
Howard was sure that the earlier talks weren't a ruse.
Beyond the bridge, they would regroup.
And sure enough, after a short while, Howard emerged from the passage.
Looking back, he noticed seven identical tunnels.
However, the rest of the students, including Abby, seemed slower in their progress.
Howard wasn't surprised; his speed was unparalleled since he effortlessly vanquished every obstructing bat.
He waited for nearly a quarter of an hour before the familiar sounds of footsteps and chatter reached his ears.
Looking up, students streamed out from the six tunnels.
"Oh, Howard, you're already out?" one remarked.
"Hahaha, Howard, you're so lucky! With five of Bartel family's guards protecting you, no wonder you were so fast," another laughed.
The sight of Howard caught the group off guard, prompting jests and playful taunts.
Seeing Carlos Bartel's apparent favoritism towards Howard, none dared to openly mock him.
However, it didn't take long for one of the students to sense that something was amiss.
"Howard, where are the guards? Why are you alone?" they asked in astonishment.
As the words hung in the air, Abby and Carlos Bartel emerged from the last passage.
"You..."
Upon seeing Howard, Carlos Bartel was taken aback, his pupils constricting sharply.
He couldn't fathom how Howard had survived and reached this place.
Those were five Level 30 veteran Awakeneds!
And given the circumstances at the bridge, how could Howard possibly have made it alive?
In his disbelief, Carlos was momentarily at a loss for words, failing even to notice the absence of his family's guards.
The remaining five guards continuously scanned the area, searching for their missing companions.
Abby, her face brightening with joy, approached Howard and cheerfully exclaimed, "Howard, while battling those bats earlier, I got another B-level skill book as loot! You can have it!"
"Really? My dear Abby is quite the lucky one, then." Howard playfully ruffled Abby's hair and then turned to Carlos Bartel, feigning sadness. "Carlos, I'm sorry. In order to protect me, your family's guards... all of them fell into the abyss."
Hearing this, the other guards looked up in shock, their gazes fixed on Howard, their eyes full of astonishment.
"This..."
Carlos Bartel was dumbfounded.
Fall into the abyss to protect him?
Who was he trying to fool?
Their mission was to eliminate him!
Carlos wasn't naive; he quickly realized that his family's guards had been bested by Howard.
Though he couldn't comprehend how Howard had managed it, he begrudgingly accepted the reality.
Just as Howard had offered an excuse, they were still classmates after all; things shouldn't escalate too far.
Otherwise, word would spread of students turning on one another, jeopardizing any chance of getting into a reputable academy.
The Alliance had always emphasized that humanity's only enemy was the monsters.
Unity was paramount; infighting was strictly forbidden.
"Damn it, it's impossible! My elder brother and the rest would never sacrifice themselves for you!" one of the guards exclaimed.
"You must've been the one who killed my brother!" another shouted.
However, while Carlos Bartel could restrain himself, his five guards couldn't.
Their eyes red with fury, they brandished their weapons, ready to charge at Howard.
The terrifying surge of strength startled the students around them.
Yet, Abby's eyes turned cold.
Holding her gold longbow, she positioned herself protectively in front of Howard.
"Enough!"
Just as the guards were about to reach Abby, Carlos Bartel roared, "What do you think you're doing? Have you forgotten who you serve?"
At his words, the guards froze, the corners of their mouths twitching violently.
They yearned for revenge for their fallen comrades, but a thought held them back.
Their families were all under the Bartel family's protection.
To defy Carlos Bartel would endanger them all.
Reluctantly, they lowered their weapons.
However, their eyes, filled with rage, remained fixed on Howard.
They too had received Carlos Bartel's orders, knowing their mission was to eliminate Howard, but without letting the other students find out.
That's why Carlos Bartel had led the students to the Bat Cave, hoping to use the solitude of the bridge to assassinate Howard secretly.
Little did they expect, the outcome was far from their original plan.
The other students looked on, bewildered.
They glanced between Howard and Carlos Bartel, uncertain of the unfolding drama.
In their eyes, Carlos Bartel was kind-hearted and would never harm anyone, and Howard, with his modest strength, likewise seemed incapable of harm.
It just showed that even among fellow students, there was a vast gap in talent and wit.
They couldn't see that Howard and Carlos Bartel were merely putting on a performance for each other.
"Though my heart aches for the loss of our five brethren in the dungeon," Carlos Bartel cast a glance at the remaining guards, his voice laced with bitterness, "we mustn't direct our anger at our allies. Let's press on, fighting relentlessly, avenging our brothers!"
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