It only took a few seconds for the beast to understand the source of its pain, and while trying to resist it, it stretched its arms around in an attempt to reach the disks.
In response, Calon jumped back and mentally controlled the disks to move around, while keeping it aimed at the Earthly Brute.
'Guess they have that under control.'
Mares thought to himself as he avoided another punch from one of the Void beasts. He did try to use his powers through his weapon in the arm as he noticed a chance, but he only managed to crack a portion of armor and not injure the beast further.
'Fuck, there is too much of a difference from these guys to the ones at the coliseum!'
He mentally complained while successfully avoiding a series of attacks from the two.
'As to be expected, since these are the proper ones… Mars, considering that the Void Beast behind all this is at the peak of rank five…'
'I know.'
Esen started talking, but stopped midway, as she knew exactly what Mares was thinking and what he would still do.
She couldn't help but sigh, even if a small smile formed on her face.
'Yeah, as to be expected of my Mars…'
The difference in power did not stop the silver-eyed at all. But, he wasn't stupid, contrary to the two beasts. Even if they belonged to the third rank, they only had some limited capacity for rationalization and intellect.
Every time they attacked, Mares would either dodge or attack back, but always aiming at the same spot, again and again. It wasn't easy considering the two Earthly Brutes' monstrous strength. Whenever they even scratched him, Mares would greatly feel the impact.
The things that kept him on his feet were Esen in his head, always cheering for him, his constitution, which was way more monstrous than that of the Void Beasts, and his regeneration abilities that were working at full gear.
And his efforts were given fruits, as the spots he constantly attacked showed wider and wider cracks. Plus, the two Earthly Brutes were starting to show signs of tiredness as they started to paint.
'It takes a huge toll to use a Void Armor for third-ranked beasts. If you keep resisting you might win just by endurance!'
Esen explained, to make Mares aware that his chances of victory were better than he originally thought to be.
While this all happened, Calon was still distracting the Earthly Brute.
On the ground, five small orbs were making hologram projections of Calon himself, all of which were running and floating around, even the original did so by the use of some gravitational projectors.
Even if he seemed to lack the means to injure the beast, he was doing enough to hinder it.
"Why he didn't do that before?"
The question came from Lhian. She didn't want to jump to conclusions and assume Calon simply stayed still because he didn't feel like helping.
The one who answered was Luo.
"Look at those six disks. Even if they float, there is a limit to it, and those six are the only ones he has. With how many of them there were before, they wouldn't have too much effect and would probably be destroyed."
The blue-haired finally nodded, in understanding. Considering how resourceful Calon seemed to be, she imagined he had much more tricks on his sleeve, which doesn't seem to be true.
"Also, the only reason he couldn't make more of those is because the Academy didn't give him enough budget."
Clest said, smuggling. It was somewhat satisfying for her to get the chance to show that they had potential the academy just ignored. The fact that she was rubbing this on Lhian's face made it a little bit more fun.
Lhian frowned at that commentary.
"If-, when we get back, I will talk with my teacher about it."
That surprised the group, as they didn't expect Clest's random remark to maybe help their friend in the future. If they survive this situation.
At the moment, Winna was almost ready, she was on the final bits of her spell.
The wind around them was wild. The solid trees that had been standing for centuries seemed as if they could fall by the sheer power of the wind.
Any void beast that was not the three Earthy Brutes was gone already, not being able to withstand that environment. Even the Earthly Brutes noticed something was wrong, but Mares and Calon managed to keep the beasts' attention on them.
However, it was very clear the spell takes a huge toll on Winna. Her arms were trembling, her body covered with thick layers of sweat and it appeared like she could barely stand for longer.
Luo was next to her, ready to hold her at any moment when necessary, even if she failed the spell. However, the green-haired was not willing to fail.
'Keeping this thing's attention is getting harder and harder.'
Calon thought to himself, as he jumped around, avoiding the raging beast.
'Next one it is, then.'
He thought smiling, as he took three small spheres from his spatial ring, and proceeded to throw them on the ground, around the beast.
In the following moment, three projections of him were formed, all floating around and making noise, once more taking the Earthly Brute's whole attention.
Lhian was amazed by Calon's inventions, while Venissimo and Clest were smug about it. Winna and Luo would be as well, if not for her being totally focused on the spell and he paying attention to her state.
'He has quite the tricks, huh.'
Mares said, at the same time he used his sword to parry a punch from the Void Beast and attack the same spot he had been constantly focusing on.
His mask was still fine, but other than that, most of his cloth were ragged, showing his well-toned body that was covered in blood. Fortunately, his insane regeneration had taken care of most of his injuries already, and it made his physical strength soar even more. He no longer felt like his arms would break when he received a punch from the Earthly Brutes.
And with his improved strength, plus the damage he had already done to the beast's armor previously, he finally managed to land a critical hit.
An attack with his physical strength, the air rings, and a raw energy projection of Astral Energy landed on the area of the Earthly Brute armor that already had enough cracks. The result was Mares' attack passing through the beast's arm, creating a huge hole in it. But it didn't stop there.
The silver-eyed turned the multi-weapon into a sword, and holding the hilt with his two hands while the blade was still in the beast's arm, he slashed it forward.
A slash of air and energy went through inside the Earthly Brute's arm, going to his chest, neck, and head. The armor cracked from the inside out as a gush of blood spilled from the beast, who fell to his knees.
Mares once more changed his weapon to a spear, and jumped to the Earthly Brute's right shoulder, trusting his spear in opening the head. Then he created a huge air ring from inside out, splitting the beast in half, and as he jumped off the falling upper part, he grabbed the core that was falling after the void beast was cut into two.
'Mars, she is ready!'
The moment the gladiator put his feet on the ground, Esen warned him that Winna's spell was ready.
The wind around them had gotten to its peak, it seemed like a tornado was about to start.
'And so am I.'
With all that wind Calon's gadgets could no longer stay still and were blown away, so he couldn't hide from or disturb the Earthly Brute, that had blood veins in his eyes.
The second one Mares was fighting before was in a similar state, seeing that his companion was taken down. Both were ready for blood. Unfortunately for them, the group wasn't staying much longer.
GRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAA
With one scream, the beast moved his arm down to take Calon's life. The gray one closed his eyes. He didn't have the speed to run or the power to resist. Without his gadgets, he was done for.
But, instead of the massive and sharp claws splitting him into various pieces, he suddenly felt someone grabbing his arm as he was pulled back.
In a single jump Mares went in Calon's direction and grabbed his arm, as he moved forward to the group. When Calon opened his eyes again, they were already between everyone, just as Winna's finished the inscript.
A wave of energy covered the group as they were surrounded by a sphere of wind that started to levitate. The remaining Earthly Brutes screamed and tried to go in their direction, but before they even manage to scratch the sphere, it was thrown dozens of meters in the air, in an arc format.
The beasts could only look in the direction they were going to. For a moment they considered going after the group, but suddenly, they felt a chill going down their spines, and looked back, in the direction of the deeper parts of the forest. Without making much noise they went in that direction, seeming to be following orders.
[…]
Mares counted and they had stayed exactly fifty-nine seconds in the air. It didn't seem like a lot, but the distance they covered in this short time was quite a lot.
The group's fall had been anything but peaceful or smooth. Mares managed to adjust himself, falling upwards, and Lhian had enough energy to create rocks that she used to hold herself in a tree by her hands, before jumping to the ground.
The delinquent group was less successful. Luo used his body to defend Winna, that was unconscious, as the two hit a large rock, breaking it in half. Callon had fallen in a branch and was trying to keep his equilibrium so that he didn't fall with his face on the floor, and Venissino hit a trunk before falling on the ground.
Clest at least managed to hold a branch and redirect herself, also falling in an upward manner like Mares. If it wasn't for the fact that her best friend is passed down to make that spell, she would have a smile on her face, celebrating her skills.
"Is she going to be, ok?"
Mares asked as he approached Luo and Winna, holding the wolf by his shoulder and helping him to stand. Truth be told, though he had hit a rock while protecting someone else, except for some large scratches and the fact that he was feeling some pain, Luo seemed fine.
"She exhausted herself, but I can provide help. Can I?"
Lhian told the long-haired, before turning to Luo. Her arms were stretched as she asked him to pass Winna.
For a moment it was possible to see a protective, but caring, light in Luo's eyes before he gently passed Winna to Lhian.
A scream is heard behind them, and the four look around to see that Callon had finally reached the ground. He rapidly got up as if nothing had happened and coughed his embarrassment out. Then, he asked the same question all of them had.
"So, what's next?