"You won," Hildegarde landed on his head and said. Although Mane was hurt, she had a small smile on her face knowing that it was all over.
"Yeah. This is one of the most difficult fights I've had to endure. And I was largely lucky." Mane smiled wryly and said. If the other Barbarian lady had stayed behind and Nasir was also included in this fight, Mane wouldn't have stood a chance being besieged on all sides since the transformed Camila was more than enough for him. The only thing he didn't quite understand was why Camila didn't use this form sooner. After all, although its aftereffects weren't pleasant, it was better than dying. And that was why Mane attributed the victory to luck. So many elements had gone in his favor in this battle.
"Something feels off," Hildegarde suddenly stated, her expression tense.
"Mane! Watch out!" she screamed.
But it was too late
*Puchi*
Mane's eyes travelled downwards and stopped at his chest. Lodged in his pectoral region was a long, thin rod that was pitch black in color. The rod was as narrow as a finger yet as long as a standing broom. It was stuck in his chest and lodged into the ground below him, his blood pouring out from that opening and staining the ground – and the rod. Mane felt his vision growing blurry. Yet his eyes tried to find the one responsible for his injury. In his state he was defenseless even against an Animal Hunter. So this person had chosen to strike at the right time.
Mane's senses picked up a familiar aura. It was the aura that belonged to a man he was exceedingly wary of. It was the aura of the one he knew as the Tattler. It was Ivor's aura! Mane heard the man's footsteps getting closer and closer until they stopped. His eyes could only see the boot of the Elemental who was responsible for his situation. Yet his ears could hear every single word that this traitor spoke.
"I must admit that you are far more powerful than I thought," Ivor remarked as he looked down on the young handsome teen he had reduced to such a state with very little emotion. As for the little that was, it was pity.
"I may not have been able to handle you on my own," Ivor admitted. He had seen the entire battle and had witnessed Mane's might. Ivor was powerful, but even he would have a hard time against Camila. Yet Camila was dead; dead at the hands of the boy who lay at helpless at his feet.
"Your greatest mistake was to get close to the Prince and Princess," Ivor squatted and whispered into Mane's ears.
Mane closed his eyes. The rod had missed his heart when it struck him. Not out of luck, but out of intention. Whatever Ivor wanted, he needed him alive. And he couldn't bear to look at the man's face. For right now there was nothing but rage boiling deep within his chest. And many things that didn't seem to make sense did now.
Mane had been confused when Ivor turned to him to find the Revival Grass. After all, the man was stronger at the time and knew Dark Valley better than Mane did. It would have been better for him to go. Yet he had chosen Mane for the task. Mane convinced himself that it was because Ivor had to protect Lam and that was why he had to stay behind. But what about Lily? Ivor had allowed the Elemental Princess to follow Mane pretty easily. It didn't take an awful lot of convincing to make up Ivor's mind concerning Lily's participation in the trip. And now it also made sense why the Barbarians knew so much about him.
They knew everything about him – from his hair color to his height and even his name. Oh how foolish he had been. How did he not realise that the only person who had something to gain from his downfall was Ivor. He was here, racking his mind, trying to come up with an inkling of thought concerning who might have been responsible. Yet he missed the most reasonable suspect the entire time!
"Lam is awake," Ivor suddenly added. It was almost as if he felt a bit of guilt for his actions. For he was literally dealing with a person he had no grudges with for very little reason. "I thought that you should know this," Ivor added before bending to pick up Mane who had realised by now that he had been played all along. Ivor didn't need a Revival Grass. All he probably needed to do was contact the Elementals and get some from their storage supplies. Mane kept his eyes shut and resigned himself to his fate. However, before Ivor had even walked a few meters away from the scene, a cold voice interrupted him.
"Leave the boy," came the voice that Mane had never heard before.
"Waska? What is the Barbarian Lord's aide doing all the way here?" Ivor remarked as his hold on Mane tightened. His brief statement enlightened Mane and exposed the identity of the newbie.
"You think we don't understand how crafty you are?" Waska replied as he moved to intercept Ivor, standing right between the large man and the black hole Ivor had used to get here. Before Waska Ivor didn't seem so large anymore, and the aura of control that he had all this while was shaken by the appearance of this one man.
"Rasa was unconvinced by the Lord's decision to send only Nightmare Level teams for this task. So he asked me to follow. Unfortunately my journey was delayed because I had a few orders to accomplish – orders given by my Lord." Waska responded coolly.
"In the end Rasa was right. Hand over the boy," Waska coldly ordered as he stood in Ivor's path.
"Mane! Mane! Are you okay?! Say something!" Hildegarde flew around Mane's head and screamed at the boy who was slung over Ivor's shoulder like a trophy with the black rod still stuck in his chest.
"The rod missed my heart Hilde. But I can't gather Edict. Whatever this rod is made of is preventing me from even using Devour. My senses are also greatly disoriented. He came prepared." Mane responded through Lock-On. Since Ivor was an Elemental, it was safe to assume that he had a couple of instruments that could prevent Elementals from gathering Edict. And this rod was one of such instruments. Mane felt his body gradually losing strength, and even Devour was inaccessible to him.
"There must be something I can do!" Hildegarde stated resolutely as Edict began to gather around her small frame.
"Don't be foolish. The fact that he wants to capture me and not kill me means that I still have a chance. The punishment for you using your power in a test is too severe. Unless it's the last resort, do no such thing." Mane coldly ordered, and Hildegarde unwillingly stopped what she was doing.
In the end, Mane was right in saying what he said. If she interfered, she will be withdrawn from the trial and imprisoned. As for the exact details of the imprisonment, not even Hildegarde was aware. Mane didn't want her to take such a risk when nothing was set in stone yet. It was at this moment that a loud roar which shook the eardrums of all three – Barbarian, Elemental and Godling – rang out.
Mane's hazy senses picked up a powerful aura. Even with his senses clouded he could never ignore the ferocity of the aura that was approaching. It was the aura of a Sacred Beast, and one at the peak!
"This…" Ivor's expression changed for the worst, and so did Waska's. The Barbarian man immediately went into battle mode, pulling the long handled axe strapped to his back and deftly shifting the weapon to his dominant left hand. Once his weapon was held in his left hand, the aura of a Pseudo Phenom challenged the powerful presence which was approaching. Ivor immediately darted to the side without looking back. He was no match for the beast which was coming and he knew that.
"A Sacred Beast and a Pseudo Phenom!" Mane mumbled. He could feel the haste behind Ivor's movements. This sneaky man was actually seeking for a place to hide!
Soon a large golden lion with beautiful yellow wings landed before Waska. Its eyes were filled with rage when it gazed at Ivor, and the man felt his blood grow cold. "That's a Heavenly Nether Beast!" he realised quickly. Without any hesitation Ivor tossed Mane far away. He was quick to realise that the beast was here for Mane and made the wisest decision of abandoning the boy.
*Bang*
Mane coughed out a few balls of blood as two more of his ribs shattered. He gritted his teeth in pain and helplessness, whilst promising himself to deal gravely with Ivor if he made it out of this alive.
Sure enough, once Ivor threw Mane off his shoulder, the large lion's eyes left his figure and it moved towards Mane.
"Not so fast!" Waska exclaimed and charged at the beast, stopping its charge, an action it didn't take kindly to.
*Roar*
With a mighty roar the struggle between Barbarian and Beast began. As for Ivor, he jumped straight into the black hole once Waska moved away from it. It was almost as if he had forgotten that his Princess was in the valley right next to the battlefield.
"It's here for me?" Mane couldn't feel any animosity from the Heavenly Nether Beast. He might be bleeding, battered and bruised, but the most recent events had left his brain sharper than ever. He understood that the beast was here for him. Not to capture him for some twisted scheme, but to protect him.
"Let's hope it wins then," Hildegarde stated. Mane couldn't nod or move any part of his body for that matter. So all he could do was grunt painfully in reply.