Nova dashed through the trees while huffing. It was the first time she made so many clones at once.
'Tsk. He destroyed them'
She felt the clones holding the man back were all destroyed. To add on, Alder's other soldiers hunted most of the clones that escaped. She was the only one left.
Nova felt desperate. She could tell that the man from before was extremely strong. To add on she only had a flimsy wooden sword in her hand. It was only a matter of time before she was surrounded. She cursed under her breath and continued to run further. If she stopped, she was dead.
ZAP
A high-pitched whistle brushed under her foot. A thick line of white electricity burnt the branch Nova was on.
While the 6 elements of Est are the most popular, it was not uncommon for people to have deviations that allow other elements to manifest.
'I see this is a reoccurring trend,' Nova sighed internally as she fell. However, she landed straight up this time.
Before she could run, figures also in black suits surrounded her.
"You guys don't think it's unfair 12 adults are surrounding a tiny girl like me," Nova forced a chuckle out.
"It's a sign of respect since you are Sir Lewis's child. An elite force for an elite target." The same man from before stepped out. His suit only had a few wrinkles from his skirmish with Nova's clones.
Nova scrunched her nose "Target?" her voice echoed through the empty forest.
'Didn't that old man also say dad was suspected of murder?' She subconsciously took a skeptical stance, but that could be because she never could imagine her father capable of murder.
"This is why Sir Alden never lets you lead," a slightly more feminine voice responded. "We just do our job, so stop playing around." The lady stepped forward and grabbed the man's shoulder.
"Don't touch me," he flung the woman's hand off of him.
"She's about to die anyway. Why are you so uptight," he growled.
Nova snapped out of her thoughts at the mention of death. These people weren't on her side.
Silently she took a stance with her wooden sword. Nova slowly resolved herself. The chances of her surviving were so improbable, she gave up on getting out alive. At least she would die fighting.
'I'll show you the efforts of my year of training.' She squeezed whatever Est she could muster and put on a brave smile.
***
Nova coated her wooden sword in the yellow Est and dashed forward. She raised her sword and slammed down with all her weight.
CLANG
"You're not bad for a kid," the same man easily blocked her attack. Nova placed one foot down and twirled to kick his stomach.
He slid back and smiled. Nova thought her foot was probably in more pain than he was.
'It's impossible,' she slowly felt her morale slipping away in fear. She shook her head to rid herself of useless thoughts.
Nova prepared to move again but was kicked in the back. The pain was so unbearable that she almost blacked out.
"I hate people like you the most. Know when to give up." The same lady suddenly appeared behind Nova.
Laying on the floor, Nova coughed up blood. She wanted to stay there. Let them kill her and end her pain quickly.
However, she still got up.
'I can't die yet. Father is fighting too. How could I give up when he's waiting for me?'
She staggered and readied herself again.
"I love this," the man screamed out while laughing. "I love it!" He repeated and smiled sadistically. "Let me crush that fire in your eyes." He licked his lips and moved forward.
HAAP
With a short scream, Nova slammed her sword into the ground.
"Earth shatter"
She forcibly pumped Est into the ground. The floor cracked and shook like a terrible earthquake. Alden's soldiers lost their footing. Quickly, Nova dashed away to escape.
Suddenly the ground stopped shaking.
"Unfortunate luck for you little one," a low but strong voice echoed through the silent forest. Nova's eyes locked onto a big muscular man. He stood with crossed arms with a stoic expression. 'An earth Affinity?'
Her brain went into overdrive to think of another trick. Suddenly she felt blood trickle down her lip. A sharp pain spread from her abdomen. She looked down and found a large ice stick skewered her.
"Get back here," the original lady called out coldly. Several more spears flew toward Nova, forcing her to be surrounded again.
DING DING
A harmonic chine echoed through the forest. The man with the daggers looked down at the glowing white ring on his fingers.
"Sir Alden must be done," he giggled. He double-tapped the ring and raised it forward to Nova.
CLICK
"BASTARD" a deathly scream rang out from the watch. Even the man with the daggers flinched.
"That- Number 1 what is your status." Alden tried to calm down, but there was rage still hidden in his voice.
"… Almost done sir." Number 1 took a small pause to respond.
"You incompetent filth. Finish now. I'm going to head back right away. The bastard took off my arm, so I need treatment right away." His voice was hurried and tired.
"Even in death he haunts me," he added.
Nova paused. "Dead? Have you gone senile old man?" she chuckled out loud. There was no way her father was dead.
A long silence fell. A murderous aura spilled from the ring.
"You're laughing?" Alden's voice was monotone yet ice cold.
"Number 1 keep her alive and bring her to me. She will pay what her father cannot." The ring dimmed down as Alden ended the call.
"You should've kept quiet girl. Sir Alden is a real sick man," Number 1 scratched his head
"Cease your impertinence," the woman quickly added.
"Whatever. Let's wrap this up." For the first time, the man did not smile leisurely. A serious aura spilled outward.
However, Nova stood still. Her eyes were unfocused and her head tilted at a weird angle.
"He's not dead you know," she whispered to herself.
BOOM
Nova's body folded on itself and slammed into a tree. Her body was still, but her mouth kept moving.
"He's not dead." Even as blood gushed out of her, she kept repeating the same words.
The man with the daggers walked up silently to Nova and grabbed her collar. He stared into her unfocused eyes for a moment. Suddenly he raised his daggers.
"Number 1 stop," the lady grabbed his arm "Sir Alden said to bring her alive."
"And I said don't touch me," a deathly aura spilled out as he locked eyes with the woman.
"I think you have forgotten your place Number 2." He slammed his fist into her stomach, sending her back several meters.
"I am in charge," he got up. Number 2 glared hatefully at him while grabbing her stomach. "The girl is better off dead," his voice was cold and emotionless. The others stared indifferently at the situation, some even bored.
WHOOSH
A strong wind cut through the forest
A deep distorted laughter echoed through the forest. All the soldiers instinctively whipped their heads to Nova who laid half dead on the floor.