" So what's it going to be old man?" Mera repeated herself. Everyone could feel her domineering presence while seeing the Flame Emperor rooted in dilemma.
" Why are you calling him old man? He is flame emperor if we are trying to negotiate at least give him some respect. What if he shot down the village in anger?" One of the villager whispered. Mera could clearly hear him but refrained from engaging.
She was worried about that outcome too, of all the stories that persisted over time about his feats one thing always stayed the same. It's about his ruthlessness, she didn't want to tick him off but when they have the upper hand why should they cower in fear beside they also have Noah with them for some reason she fully trusted him to resist his attacks if situation arises.
" Don't overthink it. You are doing great." Alastair tapped her shoulders to let her know that he was here. She could see it in his eyes that he was proud of her. It meant a lot to her but she wasn't going to show any emotion because she was still mad at her father for leaving her!
Noah on the other hand was leaning awkwardly while Tang, the little girl tended to his wounds. There was major cuts all over his body but what's worrisome was his fractured arms. With adrenalin receding, he could feel excruciating amount of pain that was enough to make him pass out again. Only through his sheer will was he able to stand on his legs making his presence as a deterrence for the enemy.
" It's worse than I thought. If we don't stop the bleeding you will die." Tang hurriedly moved her hands trying to do the best she could.
" I will live, little Tang. It's not as bad when I first got injured but I think you should tend to them first." He lifted his hands weakly pointed toward the two people groaning in front of them.
" Why?"
" Kids shouldn't ask questions. Just do as I say." Noah wasn't in the mood to explain himself. He was more keen about the development at the front.
He heard Mera threaten again and from the looks of it, he shouldn't be getting into any more fights again. This Flame emperor was a tough opponent even for him, he only had one slot left for his summoning, it would be best if he could use that for more medicine.
He could have found cleaver way to deal with his flames if he was unhurt with all his slots intact but right now it wasn't looking too good for him. The only advantage he had right now against him was that he didn't know about Noah's limit.
" Ow! Watch it!" Tang pulled tightened the bandages to make him yelp.
" Humph, since I am a kid I don't know about treating people." She gave him an angry look but still went to the two fallen sorcerer to do the best she could. Bijan only had flesh wounds, Noah targeted his tendons to stop him moving. It was a calculated attack so once the bleeding stops he will survive.
Same couldn't be said about Cyra, Noah seemed to have nicked a major blood vessel. Tang tried her best stop her bleeding but it was certain she would die under an hour without any medical attention.
" You..." While Tang was treating her she woke up. Cyra tried to stand up but she didn't have any energy left in her body.
" Just stay down. Don't even try to do anything funny." Noah pulled up his rifle aiming straight for her head. Her robe was still covering her face, but she seemed to develop a fear toward his weapon. It was only halfway through their fight that he realize that he was fighting a girl.
It didn't deter him in the slightest, it was a matter of life and death why should he go easier on someone trying to kill him? Still from small part that were visible, he could tell that she was a slender beauty.
" Creep.." She said seeing him eyeing her body. Although, he didn't mean her any harm and was just curious she took it as in insult because it was frown upon to stare at a girl especially a sorceress. They were revered and the powerful ones were even worshipped.
" Don't dare to fall asleep. I can be a lot worse than a creep.. hehehe" He gave her a evil laughter. She was genuinely scared, his face was perfectly suited for a villain!
" FIRE!" Suddenly he heard a man's shout.
Without even thinking he rushed to Tang's side, he knew something was wrong and he was right. A arrow whizzed past his ear lodging straight to the ground.
" Take cover!" He heard Mera scream as everyone began to scatter around. Many of them were able to avoid the volley of arrows but he could see few people lying on the ground injured by the arrows.
Noah knew if they dared to attack so openly, they would stop with firing only once.
" Little Tang are you alright?" Tang nodded to which he asked her to drag Bijan to the nearby shade. Cyra was much more exposed so he went for her first.
As expected another round of arrows came hailing on top of the wall, he barely managed to pick her up when he felt several arrows penetrating his back.
" You...bastard...how dare...you touch me...you-"
" Shut the fuck up!" He exclaimed making her bite her next words. Contrary to what she expected, he wasn't touching her inappropriately. She was going in and out of consciousness so it was hard for her to notice what exactly was happening but she could feel that his hands were shaking while she was in his arms.
*swoosh* He was hit by another arrow, this time it was his shoulder. He almost dropped her.
" I will fucking kill them! Maybe I should really get a machine gun and stop feeling sorry for these fuckers." He grunted.
He was very close to the area where other people were taking refuse, only few meters and he would be fine for as while but by now he could hear another hail of arrow coming his way. Even though his body was healing faster, he was sure it was certain death if the arrows hit his heart or his head.
Right when he thought this was the end, a yellowish orange sphere envelope the entire wall. It expanded at rapid rate at the center of which was a glowing man. No matter what came in contact with the wall turned to ash instantly dispersing all over the place making it rain.
Noah didn't know what happened next because he lost consciousness again, it seemed to be a recurring theme since he arrived in this place. He was able to gently place Cyra on the floor as he went down.