Their gazes followed my every movement, but their bodies weren't able to catch up with my speed. Noticing this, I instead moved in a complicated pattern, fully making use of the three-dimensional structure of the cave and jumping from the ground to the walls, to the ceiling, and so on.
[Echoing Thunderclap] was supposed to be a static pathing skill, but it's actually possible to change my trajectory and perform minor adjustments. With my positions changing at all times, the enemies weren't able to lock onto me and attack.
Before they could get used to my movement, I entered their midst and swung the sword in my hand one, twice, three times, ten times, a hundred times, and up to thousands of times. I kept on bouncing around the cave until the walls were starting to crack from all the impact. However, as expected, their vitality wasn't one to underestimate. Despite having all their limbs cut off using several hundred strikes each, they were still alive and kicking!
As a finisher, I took one stab at their cores, crushing them and ending their lives instantly. It was wasteful, I know, but living through this encounter was our priority. Gaining loot is something we could still get sometime in the future.
After finishing the three on one side, I quickly turned the skill to the other two, who were already in the motion of shooting acid toward the girls. I focused all the energy in my legs and kicked off the ground, sending my body flying like a bullet straight for the other end of the passage.
Even in my own senses, I could say that I reached the two 9th-stage demons in an instant. Without wasting another moment, I quickly slammed the sword on their thorax, focusing on separating it from the rest of their body.
Like a pinball, once more, I kept on bouncing around, only targeting the said part. It didn't take long before it broke off, with acid splashing around in slow motion. I made sure to evade the potent acid that they released and continued to do the same thing as the previous demons, not wasting time to slowly cut their limbs off but instead going straight to smashing their essence crystals.
As soon as I finished the two off and made sure that I cracked their crystals cleanly, I landed on the ground. I wasn't even able to reach back to where the girls were and just landed between the last two demons and their position.
*BANG!* *BOOM!* *BANG!*
As soon as I was done, time started running at the normal pace once more, and explosions echoed all around. The entire cave shook as foot marks appeared all over the walls and ceiling before all five of the demons fell apart like a bugged 3D model that lost its skeleton.
"Argh!"
It wasn't all good, though, as soon after, the effects of simultaneously using [Lifeblood] and [Echoing Thunderclap], both at maximum output, hit my body. Not only was my skin burned off completely from air friction, but I think all the bones and muscles in my body were broken or snapped. I fell listlessly, face down on the ground, with only the endless pain reverberating in my mind.
Suddenly, my body released a golden glow. The System's Heavenly Halo activated automatically and healed all my injuries! Although it took quite a large chunk of my energy, it was still better than groaning and rolling around on the ground in pain.
"Master!"
"Leader!"
As soon as I sat up, Ember and Fang reached my side and quickly inspected my body. My clothes were all gone, so I quickly grabbed a robe from my storage and covered myself with it.
While the rest of them slowly approached, I hurriedly retrieved more backup clothes from my storage and wore them one after another. I guess I'm getting used to dressing up quickly, as I managed to finish before they all reached my side.
I wonder how, in anime, those protagonists who fight at speeds faster than sound or even light were able to keep their clothes in one piece. I guess their clothes were even tougher than their own bodies. That sounds ridiculous, but I somewhat want a set of clothes like that. Becoming naked after using my full power was fine when we were alone, but for times like this where an outsider was observing, it's a little awkward.
"Will... You were this powerful?"
Threya asked with a face full of surprise and doubt. It was reasonable, though, since I'm only around the 7th stage in terms of energy level. I must've looked like someone committing suicide as I, a 7th-stage tamer, rushed to meet five 9th-stage demons.
"Well, there are times when power alone can be overcome by techniques."
I just shrugged my shoulders at her question. Her brows furrowed even further, asking an additional question.
"You're just 18 right now, right? How did you even reach that level of skill?!"
Rather than pure curiosity, I guess the doubt in her gaze was more powerful. Was it that surprising to see a tamer reaching this level of skill in less than a year?
I wish I could tell her about the training I did under the five regressors, but that's not something I can randomly spout to anyone. At that moment, I recalled something that I could use as an excuse.
"You know the system's 20th function? I was stuck there for some time, so I managed to hone my skills to the limit."
"The 20th function...? That's only possible with an activated system."
Threya placed her hand on her chin as she thought hard.
"Don't tell me, the rumor that someone became an Administrator and was activating others' systems was true? Were you a part of the lucky ones who got their system activated?!"
"Well, technically, I was one of those who activated others' systems."
I was the first one to activate and pass admin rights to Zeshion too, but I better keep that part off-record. Noir was already targeting me for the Top Administrator privilege, not letting others know this was better.
"Th-Then...!"
Threya excitedly approached, placed her hand against my chest, and stared up at my face.
"Can you activate my system too?!"
"I can. No problem."
I didn't hesitate at all. It wasn't because she was a girl and that I didn't feel any resistance to placing my forehead against her's, but more on the fact that the more powerful our team is, the more chances we'll have of returning alive.
"Yes! Alright, please activate my system!"
Threya happily cheered as she danced around, waving her hands like a little girl who won a competition. However, she suddenly stopped, worry covering her face as she turned to face me once more.
"W-What's the price, by the way? I'm a little short of cash, after all..."
I turned to her, tilting my head as I scanned her from head to toe. Should I...?
"Ahem!"
Before I could continue my line of thought, Fatima's cough brought me back to reality. I raised my hand, denying whatever her accusing gaze was telling, and quickly explained.
"No, there's no payment. It's all free. This is a service for all the tamers."
I did activate Zeshion's system and even made him an administrator for free, after all. I have no idea, though, why Zeshion and the others weren't publicizing that they could now activate the taming system. They must have a plan of some sort, but activating one person's system shouldn't change much.
I pulled Threya closer, holding her shoulders as I slowly placed my forehead against hers. The pug in her embrace was growling in anger, though, but I ignored him. I'm not going to steal your tamer from you, little Puggie.
The process ended in an instant. As soon as I was done, I separated from her and watched as energy started swirling around her entire body. Not only her, but even the pug in her hand, and probably all the monsters she tamed and connected to her, released a blinding white light.
It was brief, but after it faded, the energy inside and around them was refined a step further. The pug, Peabody, for example, now had an energy level approaching the 9th stage! It was amazing how much their power increased by just activating their taming system.
Soon after, Threya's body was covered by the golden glow of the system's halo. I didn't realize that she had problems with her body, but after the Halo faded, Threya had tears falling from the corner of her eyes.
"I... I'm healed...! My heart is healed!"
She cheered as she placed both her palms over her chest, where her heart was. Gratitude overflowed from her in the form of the word "thanks," muttered over and over, tears falling down her cheeks nonstop.
I'm not sure what sort of injury her "heart" had, but it should be healed now. The System's Heavenly Halo was, as its name implied, heavenly, after all.
It was a touching scene, but our current location wasn't that forgiving to let us enjoy peace for too long.
*GRRROOOOOOOOWWWWLLLLLLLL!*
As if awoken by the sudden burst of Energy, a powerful presence appeared. Sweat started pouring down our faces like heavy rain just from hearing its loud roar. That sound, that force, and that energy level; the owner of the voice was definitely god-level!
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