Chapter 26: True Strength
The Punisher was shocked to discover that the woman's energy level had increased.
From Epic level 3...4...5...6...7...
All the way to level 10!
Epic level Peak Tier! Half a step into the Legendary level! His eyes widened.
This was no mere power boost. Jumping all the way from the Epic level Low Tier all the way into the Peak Tier. Few known techniques could be able to raise someone's power level like that!
Those that were known, we're firmly grasped by the hands of a select few, available only by years of contribution. Who is this woman? What is the purpose of their organization? What do they want? How do they have so many strange Spirit Arts? Chaotic thoughts ran through his mind.
As the woman's pale face came into view, Markov and the boy's eyes were mesmerized by her appearance.
Her face was even more beautiful; with her chiseled jaw and her long eyelashes. Coupled with her two eyes which had turned into a golden color and had slits like a snake, along with her cherry red lips and the partial scales which covered the right side of her face, her appearance was utterly mesmerizing to the eyes.
"What the hell is with that form? I can't sense her mana fluctuations anymore!" The boy trembled.
When magic users are separated by an unusually large margin, it would be a piece of cake for the mage of higher level to conceal his aura and mana fluctuations from the one with a lower power level.
"She's at the Legendary level Middle Tier." Markov hinted.
"Legendary level? Middle Tier?" The boy whimpered.
This was bad. With the way things were going, this woman would probably kill them before the reinforcements could arrive. Although the battle here must have attracted their attention, who's to say that they'd be able to make it here in time? The Punisher might not be able to hold her off until then. He might be killed! If only my arm... Markov pondered deeply.
The Punisher looked at the woman coldly as her eyes scanned the three of them.
"This game has gone on long enough. So long then." The woman blew gently, causing a freezing white mist to shoot out of her mouth.
Just as the mist was about to envelop the three in an AOE attack, a bright fireball falling down from the sky collided with it fiercely.
Boom!
An explosion reverberated in the area, causing the four people to turn towards the direction which it was shot. The sounds of flames flickering could be heard as the air rose in temperature.
A hundred meters in the air, a young looking man could be seen wearing the same Punisher outfit as the one on the ground, but with some slight differences.
There was a red signet ring on his left index finger that shone like a polished ruby and he wore an auburn overcoat over his Punisher's outfit. His raven black hair and eyes glanced coldly at the woman.
"Commander Vermillion!" The cloaked Punisher said with astonishment. What was the commander of one of the Imperial Court Guards doing here?
"Is it you that caused all this commotion?" He inquired as he crossed his arms.
"Who are you, another one of those Punishers?" The woman asked a question of her own.
"I'll take it as a yes then." The young man stated plainly.
Offensive Art: Lightning Style — Lightning Spear!
A thick spear made of concentrated lightning bolts shot forward at the speed of light and impaled the woman like a kebab.
Splash! Drip! Drop!
The sound of blood gushing out if the woman's abdomen and crashing on the ground reverberated in everyone's ears.
The woman's eyes widened considerably.
"How...how...the...hell...can...you...possibly...beat me?" The woman was horror-stricken.
"Simple. You were not a match for me. That is all. Explode." The young man answered casually.
The thick spear of lightning exploded in the woman's body, creating a loud bang.
A bright flash of light shone with a destructive glow, lasting for about five seconds. When the explosion cleared, all Markov, the boy and the cloaked Punisher could see was a beautiful woman with a gaping hole in her chest. Her face was covered in blood as she fell onto the cold hard ground, invoking a deep sense of pity for anyone who saw her.
The sounds of faint breathing could be heard from the lady, proof that she hadn't died yet.
"You sure are tough. I couldn't kill you even with that attack." The young looking man glanced at her body.
The next second, a huge fireball crashed towards the lady's body.
Boom!
"I can still feel your life force. There's no way you could survive that attack. Then that must mean—" The young man mumbled slightly.
Pointing his finger at a direction behind him, a beam of lightning flew forward, crashing the air with a quiet bang.
A silhouette gradually revealed itself to the four.
"As expected of a Commander. Hoping to hide from your senses is a bit overkill." A man dressed in a purple kimono with various colours of flowers patterned embroidery lined all over its surface smiled gently. He had long purple hair braided into a fine ponytail and captivating purple eyes that gave off a starry glow. His face was enchanting, looking no older than 25, and a sharp jawline. His handsome face looked casual as he walked towards the Commander of Squad 2.
"Are you the one that saved that woman?" The young looking Punisher cocked his head slightly.
"I'm sorry about that. You see, she has to face a bit of a punishment from my master, so...I can't really let you kill her. Sorry about that." The purple haired man said with an honest smile, throwing everyone else off guard.
Who is this guy? Why the hell is he so weird? Shouldn't they have already begun to fight by now? Why the hell is he acting like a kid?
"You don't get to make that decision." The latter replied icily.
"I know, I know. But I'm under orders so I'm afraid I'll have to disagree." The purple haired man waved his hands.
His figure started to dissipate like the wind shortly after.
The Raven haired Punisher slashed his hand towards the man, and a crescent wave of fire shot at full speed in his direction. But before the attack could connect, the man had already disappeared, leaving zero traces of his existence.
The young looking man walked towards them, his feet gently landing on the ground soundlessly.
"Caleb Dreylar. That is you, right?" He inquired as he looked at the flamboyantly dressed young man.
"Y...yes." The boy answered shakily.
"The Head of the Dreylar Family asked that I keep you safe." The Commander stated plainly.
"Ok." The boy just nodded but was secretly surprised.
That uncle of mine asked that the Commander of Squad 2 keep me safe? Did he know this might happen?
Passing by the cloaked Punisher, the Commander stood before the injured Markov.
"Take this." He passed him a bottle filled with a bright red liquid that looked a lot like blood.
Markov seemed to recognize the liquid as he unhesitatingly downed the liquid, to the very last drop. A second later, his arm regenerated at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Stretching his newly grown arm that had a paler shade of skin compared to the rest of his body, Markov looked at the Commander of Squad 2 with undisguised gratitude.
"Thank you so much sir! I am truly indebted to your generosity." He bowed deeply.
"Alright. You don't have to pay me back. The Healing Potion was just a mere trifle." The latter nodded.
"Even then, I am truly grateful." Markov eyes shone. It was understandable though, as a Healing Potion, and one with such high efficacy would cost at least 10000 Star Coins. To most people, this was enough to feed them for several generations.
"Mm. Let's go." The Commander surveyed the area, which had turned into a wasteland. Although high level Wood Magic could salvage this situation, this was truly troubling. He'd have to discuss this with the Head Commander.
Taking out a hexagonal shaped medallion and infusing a bit of mana into it, he threw it a few feet away. Not long after, a portal about 10 meters in diameter appeared in the air.
Walking into the portal, their figures gradually disappeared from vision, leaving a decaying wasteland filled with purple frost.
***
In one part of the dungeon, a strange scene could be seen.
Tens of strange looking insectoids gritted their teeth as they circled a kneeling figure with bright silver hair. A grim looking female banshee stood behind them like a war general surveying a battlefield. But strangely enough, the place was still.
The insectoids dared not move because a scary aura that posed a fatal threat to their existence emanated from the silver haired figure.
The kneeling figure raised his head to the sky and let out a heart wrenching scream, revealing a handsome face with icy blue eyes that radiated a dark red glow before disappearing shortly.
"Why did you have to make me go through all that again? I thought...I thought I had moved on...from her death, and the pain it caused. I never thought that going through that memory would cause me...so...much...pain." The boy cried.
There was a brief silence. And then a berating voice spoke.
"People die. Are you going to let their deaths get to you? Are you going to continuously revel in the joyful moments you shared? That would only make you weaker than you already are. Strength is not just about the mana you have, or the power that you can wield. Strength means having the courage to move forward in the face of adversity. So...what are you going to do?" The berating voice spoke sharply.
"I...am...not...going...to...give...up. I never have, I never will." Skye's voice was melancholic.
"Good. You have the conviction. Now you must have actual strength. You must have gained something from peering into the secrets of the universe." The voice encouraged.
"I've always wanted to know something." Skye put forth a question that took the voice by storm.
"Go on." The voice was surprised. But chose to see what this was all about.
"What...am...I? Am...I even...human?" Skye questioned confusedly.