'I knew it!' I silently cursed as the flames singed my skin, 'He's mimicking Caelum!'
I hastily retreated with light footsteps. Sylfie's defence was better than mine, saving her from the burning flames. But I had the power of regeneration on my side. The blood that sprouted from my opponent's wounds allowed my body to heal at a rapid pace.
Retreat, however, seemed to be my mistake.
"Ah!" A dainty yelp was birthed from Sylfie's lips.
The hammer that struck me had smashed into her side, pushing straight into her ribs. She was then sent flying before a cone of fire bloomed once more.
"No!" I roared, "Sylfie!"
BOOM—!
Devoured by the flames, Slyfie's scream shook my heart. I could feel my eyes dilate in shock as the scene before me unfolded. A charred body fell to the ground in the next moment, quivering in pain.
The world seemed to freeze at this very moment. I noticed Syflie's weak breaths and the whimper that escaped her lips. Blood flowed from her melted skin, supplying me with powers that I did not want. Her skin was charred black in many places and her clothes had been devoured by the high temperatures.
This scene...
It was familiar, and one I did not wish to recall.
"You!" I glared daggers into Jiontar's form.
Memories resurfaced in my mind. The sound of an explosion, the roaring flames, and the deaths of many of my friends. Their charred, mangled corpses came back to haunt me like ghosts. They gripped at my conscience like hungry wraiths.
My eyes turned red with rage as I was reminded of that day. I could not allow the same thing to occur to what remained of my companions.
The image of that wretched mage overlapped with Jiontar's derision-filled form. The fireball that he had shot out was eerily reminiscent of the explosions that Jiontar created.
To kill!
That was what I wished to do. And so, I sprung forward with all my strength. I dragged my battleaxe through the bodies of Jiontar's lackeys, creating gashes the size of canyons on their bodies. Blood splattered across the pavement, smeared upon tree bark, and sprayed onto the bushes.
In my rage, I felt lightheaded. Explosions flashed against my body as Jiontar seemed to utter a few words.
I could not hear it though, as all I desired now was violence.
Jiontar's lackeys collapsed at my feet, feeding me with the power of their blood. I felt my muscles bulge as they were granted with power beyond their usual capabilities. The explosions were ticklish now, incapable of bringing me any pain.
I could not be bothered with my melting skin and flesh, nor could I care about my hair as they burned like candles aplenty.
I simply charged forth, watching with relish as Jiontar's expression changed. He summoned his hammers back and met my battleaxe with all his insufficient strength.
BOOM—!
The flames consumed us both, forcing me back momentarily. I slammed my foot into the ground and swung once more. I delivered every kilogram of strength I could muster when I smashed down, aiming straight for the neck.
CLANG—!
CLANG—!
Jiontar had to use both his hammers, one after the other, just to block my attack. His javelin bore a hole into my chest, but I still did not care.
With a thought, I wrenched the javelin out of my body and used it to stab Jiontar as he tried to back away. My attack did not hit its mark. Jiontar had exerted his control over his own weapon at the last second.
But I successfully diverted his attention.
Slash—!
"Sh*t!" Jiontar screamed, "You're crazy!"
He was clutching his chest as blood flowed like a river, dying his robes crimson. I couldn't help but grin.
Yes...
This was what he deserved. This was what that scoundrel of a mage deserved!
I struck with rabid rage, using my battleaxe to the best of my ability. The wind whistled with this strike as another scream pierced through the sky.
A limb flew through the air—it was Jiontar's leg. I took one glance at its trajectory and sprung towards it.
I cut the severed limb into bits and pieces. There was no healing for Jiontar now. And I was consumed by the blazing sensation of vengeance.
The feeling of finally achieving retribution brought me ecstasy. Now, all I had to do was finish the job.
I rushed towards Jiontar, uncaring of the consequences of what I was going to do. I hacked down, and my battleaxe turned into a guillotine.
Crack—!
But the beheading did not occur. A Mana Shield appeared, protecting Jiontar from my lethal strike.
I looked over to where the mana had originated, and there I spotted Sylfie. Her breaths were faint, but she still had her hand out, pouring mana into her spell.
"Young master Virion... don't... kill him..." Her weak voice woke me up from my all-encompassing rage.
"Please... control yourself..." She said as her body became limp and she fell face-first back into the pavement.
"Sylfie!" I ignored Jiontar's wails and stepped over his lackeys who were all bleeding out. I rushed to Sylfie's side and fed her the only healing potion I had on myself at this moment.
After a few seconds, her condition stabilised and I heaved a sigh of relief. A piercing pain then assaulted me at that moment. I clutched my chest as tremours of suffering pulsed throughout my body.
"My wound...!" I coughed out black blood.
My eyes drifted towards Jiontar's javelin. I realised that some kind of malicious energy emanated from it. Was this the way Jiontar attempted to mimic the poison on Caelum's dagger?
I cursed. It seemed like I had been careless in that fight.
I could only drag myself towards the nearest infirmary with Sylfie's unconscious body at my side. Jiontar's wails continued to plague my ears, but they eventually faded into the distance.