Lucas continued to walk as if everything was normal.
Soon he reached the middle of the corridor, now the man in gold-rimmed glasses was just about an arm length distance from him. A good moment for sneak attack.
Lucas calmed his racing heart and readied himself.
Lucas gave the man in opposite of himself a brief but casual glance, the man similarly gave Lucas a casual look and with it a smile, a gentle and polite smile.
Lucas thought. 'Was I wrong? Was I thinking too much?'
Conforming Lucas's suspicions the man opposite him suddenly strikes out at Lucas. His strike was aimed at Lucas's solar plexus, if Lucas wasn't prepared, alert and was observing every move around him, he would have been totally clueless to what hit him.
Swish!
The swooshing sound produced by the sudden rush of air reminded Lucas of the power behind the strike.
Lucas's eyes narrowed, in a very practiced manner he gave slight twist to his body evading the incoming blow.
He slightly tilted his body to the side while leaned towards the blonde bespectacled man. The blow from the man only hit Lucas's outer wear as Lucas evaded the strike by a paper thin margin.
Lucas never thought that he would be using the fist and palm arts given by Steward Jacob this early. He only memorized the arts in his mind and he haven't even once practiced it.
Right now he could only use the remembered art and emulate some of the basic moves from the fist arts.
Without sufficient practice he wouldn't dare to use the martial art, because once he does the loopholes and flaws will be clear for experienced and veteran fighters.
So Lucas could only use his wit and basic moves to hope for a narrow escape.
While Lucas evaded the strike, with his left hand he retaliated with a punch, targeting the ribs of his opponent while simultaneously whipping out a sharp kick backwards.
The blonde haired man was surprised at Lucas's fast response, he never had thought that Lucas would evade from his surprise attack and even retaliate this fiercely, so for a moment his response was slow by a breath. But due to experience, ability or some instinct, he was still able to form a protective qi over the area where the punch was aimed to.
Lucas's strike quickly found his target, the strike easily broke through the thin hastily made protective qi and landed right on the opponent's right side.
Body Refining was always the top class in close combat. In the same realm and same stage they are almost invincible during close combat. Body Refining is hard from the start but the results are equally impressive when comparing with other practitioners in the same stage.
"U-ugh"
At the same time Lucas's kick to the back also connected.
THUMP
By the feeling transmitted from his legs and hearing the sound of collision Lucas quickly identified that the man behind him blocked his surprise attack.
Even though mildly surprised Lucas didn't have any change in his facial expression, his movement never stopped or hesitated. Various scenarios and actions flashed past his mind, Lucas spun around and summoned his mana towards his right hand while simultaneously taking a look at the man who blocked his attack.
Thump! Thump!
The man that was behind Lucas took two steps backward, his heavy steps unloaded the power surge from Lucas's strike. The man's hand was red as tomato and had his veins in his hand bulged, he was holding his hands crossed and guarded. Lucas gazed at the calm eyes of the man. He thought, 'He blocked? How? Experience? Luck? Or did he see-through?'
Without giving any further thought Lucas raised his hands, mana fluctuations emitted from his pale slender palm.
The middle-aged man opposite Lucas was wearing a messy but expensive mercenary outfit. The scars on his hands and the steady feeling he gave out only further displayed his veteran status. The moment Lucas's hand emitted mana fluctuations his left hand went to his dagger on the sides.
Lucas without any delay stepped backwards, he acted like the pale faced blonde haired man behind him didn't exist.
Even though it took a lot to explain, the battle happened in split seconds. Both the man in suit and the man in mercenary attire didn't thought the seemingly young man was this astute and sharp. An easy job turned to a quite difficult one. They didn't have time to waste, they had to take care of Lucas before any other interference or complications take place.
Lucas also knew that they won't wait, so he always tried to act in an unexpected and swift manner.
A crimson red fireball in the size of a tennis ball quickly formed in his hands, with one look the mercenary could identify that the fireball Lucas produced was different from other fireball spell common mages produce.
Even though in size, it was comparatively smaller, the man in the mercenary attire didn't doubt or looked down on its capability in causing destruction. He immediately got vigilant for any accidental surprises.
Lucas gave a small smile towards the man in mercenary clothes and threw the fireball towards the man in suit behind him.
The expression of the man in mercenary attire quickly changed and he loudly shouted, "Ault, Watch out."
Ault, the blonde haired man in suit was injured internally and blood was starting to drop one by one from the side of his mouth, biting down the growing pain the man was trying for a opportunity to strike at Lucas.
Even in anger and pain, his mind wasn't clouded. Without even the shout Ault could see the incoming small sized crimson fireball.
Ault instead of stepping back, he moved forward and faced the fireball while striking with his fist.
He gathered the qi to his hand and cried out loud, "Tidal Waves : 1st Wave."
Boom!
When Ault's fist and the fireball contacted each other, the fireball was easily popped like a balloon filled with water. The fireball after contacting the qi energy from Ault's fist expanded and covered Ault. Ault was frightened at the sudden change but soon calmed down when he didn't feel any damage from the spreading fire, only his vision was blocked for a second.
"Be careful." Once again hearing his associate's voice, Ault quickly got vigilant and heightened his senses but to his surprise nothing happened to him.
Next moment Ault realized his folly and released his qi and gave out a fist, in a split second all fog and smog cleared up. Looking at the front, he saw the man in mercenary attire was standing at the same place with a darkened face, where as Lucas was nowhere to be seen.
Ault face got paler by the second, slowly he turned around. Lucas was behind him, in a safe distance from him.
Lucas calmly faced both of them, he used the fireball as a distraction to escape from their encirclement. It was a modified form of fireball with low temperature and with comparatively larger area of influence.
During his time in lab, he was used to using different types of fires in different intensities in various process in refinement of ores and alchemy materials. So he was relatively very familiar to fire of different forms and different types.
Stalling for time was a good option, but for Lucas it was inevitably not a good choice. Too many variables to consider and luck being a crucial factor.
And Lucas knew about himself, even though he cultivated both mana and body he was only considered strong among inexperienced rookies. There was a low chance in success if he tried to stall for time against two of them.
Lucas calmly looked at them and gave a faint smile, "I don't know why you have attacked me. But I'm sure that you didn't do this because of your eagerness in testing my moves."
Lucas coldly smiled towards them and spoke with a equally cold voice, "You've really picked a wrong opponent this time."
Both Ault and the man in mercenary attire didn't speak, they coldly looked at Lucas.
Cough
Suddenly Ault coughed out blood, his injury was somewhat heavy. He with hatred filling his eyes, looked at Lucas.
Lucas in response smiled back at him and nodded, "It was a pleasure to meet you. It's getting late and I'm quite sleepy, so see you later."
Just as Lucas was going to turn around, he saw astonishment and delight in the eyes of both of the unknown men. Their widened eyes was filled with surprise and excitement.
Following their gaze, Lucas found that their gaze was directed to something or someone behind Lucas.
Lucas's mind chilled and his hair stood, suddenly he felt and heard the sound of wind slicing in air from behind his back.
Without having any time to react, Lucas felt a sharp sting of pain on back of his neck, like a sharp needle pricking in. The next moment Lucas started to loose his consciousness.
Thump
[Ding! Scanning…]
[Ding! Analyzing…]