Chapter 120: Jude's Secret part 3
Whoosh!
A huge sword wave traveled in a straight line toward the few incoming melee combatants.
"Shit!
"Defense!"
"Turn around!"
All of them made various different reactions after seeing the dangerous attack coming to them.
Boom!
Bang!
"Argh!"
The Guardians and those Knights that were able to execute a sword wave of their own in time were able to protect themselves. Though some were quite unlucky since they happened to be right in front of the Guardians, thus they got caught in the sword wave before they can do anything to save their lives.
As soon as Kayn released a sword wave, he didn't stay a single second more and quickly made a run to the forest behind him.
He isn't a fool to believe that he can pull off the same stunt to the close-range combatants, especially with their leader present.
However, before Kayn completely disappeared, he heard a familiar scream behind him, prompting him to look back.
"Argh!"
The leader of their enemy squad was able to stab the heart of the second Knight of Jude's party with the assistance of the assassin that sneaked to the side and launched an attack.
Kayn could only shake his head, feeling slightly guilty about the fact that if only he took care of the assassin back then, he could have done something to change that man's fate. On second thought, the leader of their enemy squad might do something else to achieve the same result.
"He got careless," Natas can't help saying after noticing the look on Kayn's face. "He went far ahead of the Guardian. So, the latter wasn't able to block the assassin's surprise attack,"
"I understand," Regardless of whether that is true or it's just Natas' way of comforting him, he quickly put the thought to the back of his head. He had experienced far too many deaths in the past. So, seeing another death today merely surprised him, that's all.
He continued running to the forest.
As he traveled using the cover of the greeneries around him, he continues to observe the situation with Jude's party.
With the absence of one Knight, Jude's party's defense and assault noticeably decreased by a huge margin.
Right now, the Guardian positioned himself in front, while Charles help to defend his side. Also, with an open angle, Jude could finally lend some assistance without affecting his teammates.
"I have to get there fast!" Kayn muttered to himself.
"No," Natas suddenly blocked Kayn's way.
"What are you doing?"
"I am afraid to say this, but you have to let fate take its course this time,"
"Is there something wrong with your mind right now?"
"I understand how you feel, but I can't help but feel that something crucial for the growth of Jude is about to happen soon. If you do anything else, it might prevent him from achieving a critical part of his life,"
"Who cares about that?! I am looking at someone that needs saving, and I am going to save that person!"
Although he got betrayed in the past, it doesn't necessarily mean that he would do the same to others as well.
In that case, what's the difference between him and those people that betrayed him?
And what rights does he have to enjoy living a third life if he turns out to become just the same as his enemies?
"Sometimes, a sacrifice must take place in order for a greater good to happen,"
"If that sacrifice can be prevented…"
"It can't," Natas shook his head. He might not have known what exactly happened here, but he is fully aware of the cards hidden under Jude's sleeve. And he believes that he got one of those cards from the event that's about to happen today.
"If what I am assuming is the truth, then you'll stand to benefit something from this,"
"Don't tell me," Kayn turns his head in the direction of the lake.
"It's just an assumption,"
"Still," Kayn looks at the Guardian, Charles, and the Priest beside Jude. "Do they really have to die for this?"
"If only you were strong enough, then there might be a chance to do so," Natas looks at Kayn from head to toe. "But with your current state right now, even if you can defeat all the close-range combatants beside the leader, you still won't be able to defeat the latter, even with Jude's party's help,"
"Moreover, Jude would still have to make use of whatever secret he is hiding,"
"At least the others would have a fighting chance to survive if I go and help!"
"What if it's their deaths that would make Jude use his secret?"
Kayn instantly turns silent. In most cases, it's the death of someone that will awaken something deep inside of them.
"I fucking hate this!" Kayn clinches his fist in unwillingness. He seriously doesn't want to witness again another death from Jude's party. But he also can't cause a major effect on the natural flow of time in the third life.
Bang!
Kayn punches the tree beside him in irritation.
With Natas' warning, Kayn decided to crouch down and continue to watch the fight.
Charles and the Guardian beside him continued to retreat farther and farther to the back. Eventually, they retreated to the initial location of Jude and the Priest.
"Where the heck is Kayn?" The Priest, whose name is Ivan, can't help exclaiming.
"He might have run out of stamina already," Jude assumed. "After all, he killed all of their long-range combatants,"
"I know… It's just… I don't want to die!"
"No one is going to die anymore!" Jude tried to reassure them.
"Are you sure?" Ivan looked at Jude solemnly.
"I'll make sure of that,"
All of a sudden, the Priest smiled.
"Ivan?"
"Sorry Jude, but I was offered something greater in exchange for doing this,"
"What are you doing?!"
Ivan suddenly pulled out a dagger from his Storage Ring.
"I am just doing what I believe could change my life forever," Ivan brandished his dagger to Jude, who is right beside him.
"Arg!" Jude instantly got cut on his right arm. "Don't do this, Ivan!"
"It's useless. I've already made up my mind in the past seven days," Ivan slowly approaches Jude as he continued to brandish his dagger in the latter's direction.
"What did he offer you?"
"A life where I don't have to constantly work hard in order to survive in 'The Bridge',"
"You are aware that such a thing is too good to be true, right?"
"A chance… that is what I am trying to fight for. And as a matter of fact, that man already gave me a downpayment which allowed me to have a taste of such a life,"
"Since when?" Jude is having trouble believing that one of his friends is trying to kill him right now.
"Ever since our sixth member died,"
Unwanted memories suddenly flowed into Jude's mind. "He did what he has to do. He sacrificed himself so that all of us can survive,"
"I know, and that's exactly what I am doing — trying to survive,"
"Argh!" Jude received another injury to his right arm.
"Fighting every single day, constantly trying to earn money so we can eat and take care of our daily lives, and finding a way to get out of this god-forsaken place. Aren't you tired of that, Jude?"
Jude lowered his head down.
Seeing that, Ivan stopped. "Because I am! Instead of trying to find a way to leave 'The Bridge', I have decided to instead find a way to live in this place and accept the fact that we will grow old in here,"
"I have now accepted the fact that there is no hope in getting out of this place,"
"Please understand Jude. All I want is to find a way to live. Unfortunately, to achieve that, you have to die!" Ivan brandished his dagger at Jude.
Clang!
Unexpectedly, a shield blocked the dagger that was about to reach Jude.
"Bryan?" Jude looked at Bryan in surprise.
"I was supposed to be the one dying at that time, but Anjo pushed me away. This time, I finally have the chance to repay his favor,"
"Bryan, nooo!"
Because Bryan turned around, he left his back wide open to the enemy leader.
"What a touching moment. Too bad, I have to do what I have to do," The leader brandished his sword at Bryan's back.
"No, you don't!" Charles tried to reach the leader's sword with his sword so that he can protect Bryan.
Whoosh!
Clang!
Unfortunately, the leader releases a sword wave, thus Charles' sword simply broke in half, completely unable to defend against the attack and allowing it to continue to its target.
Splat!
Bryan's body was cut in a half.
Right after killing Bryan, the leader immediately turned his attention to Charles' whose weapon had been broken.
"Too bad," The leader brandished his sword in Charles' direction.
Clang!
However, a sword suddenly blocked the incoming sword.
"You…!" The leader immediately recognizes Kayn as the person that killed all the long-distance combatants of his squad.
"I can't let you do that," Kayn stared at the leader.
"Let's see about that!"
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Kayn and the leader started exchanging blow after blow with their swords.
Unfortunately, Kayn is slowly being pushed back to a corner, evidently showing that he is much weaker compared to the leader.
"Do something!" Kayn exclaimed to Charles and Jude. He didn't go against Natas' intention just to get himself killed here.
"Idiot! I told you to stay put!" Natas felt annoyed at Kayn for not listening.
"Shut up!" Kayn responded.
"Who are you talking to?"
"My fucking subconsciousness!"
"Oh, that's nice! You are already doing something that a dead person would do,"
Kayn ignored the leader's words as he focuses his attention on defending against his attacks. He can't afford to get distracted unlike the latter.
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