Chereads / The Searcher's Odyssey / Chapter 6 - Final Hurdle

Chapter 6 - Final Hurdle

Len standing on the spearman didn't immediately move and just stomped his left foot on the spearman's face.

The man only looked more enraged.

The spear that had fallen somewhere at a point vanished leaving behind some specks of light and reformed in the spear holder's hands who thrust it above but Len had jumped back evaluating the situation.

'This kind of durability isn't normal. He isn't even using that much mana to reinforce himself with. It's probably some technique that makes him stronger the more he takes damage. The spear could probably be the part of his technique somehow with how it dematerialised. Could be troublesome. He is like a mindless beast'

The spear holder who Len thought of as a beast swung the spear horizontally which seemed to be like battering ram in Kyber's eyes as Len jumped up while leaning forward, avoiding the attack and used a second to place his hands on the spear, using it as a floor to propel up more and flipped to perform an axe kick right on the beast's shoulder.

The beast screamed grabbing his shoulder as Len condensed his mana into a long milky sword and hacked down at the man's arm.

At the same time, the spear in the 'beast's hand shone with light and moved on its own, aiming for the incoming slash on spearman's shoulder.

Upon contact, a booming sound shook the air as the shockwave threw Len and spearman away from each other.

The beast growled and screamed in agony and rage as his right arm had been separated completely. At the same time, his skin began to darken and orange veins began to pop all over his body. The white robe he had wore had been destroyed above his hips showing off the muscles that looked like they were stone.

The beast couldn't see Len in the mist but another scent came to him. Kyber. Kyber looked onwards fearfully at the beast that began to move towards him. Terror. Absolute terror. That's what he felt. But suddenly calm came over as the beast pounced on him.

It wasn't that he felt calm suddenly because he felt hopeless and gave up. Rather, the thought of what he'd eat tomorrow required some focus. So he calmed down. The beast? He would not be reaching him.

Boom*

The beast felt the bones in his left hand shatter as he was thrown like a ragdoll. The one who met beast's punch with one of his own, emerged from the mist covered in an overflowing aura.

Len looked calmly at the beast. A smile on his face even though his right hand had twisted and broken completely.

It shouldn't have been possible for Len to meet the beast as he was now in physical strength, yet. The one who kneeling on the ground wasn't him.

The hand in question began shining as it started healing.

• Agent of Fate

- Mission complete

- Reward: All three attributes at equivalent potential.

"Not bad"

Len smiled as his hand healed completely. At the same time, beast's shoulders began wriggling as skin began to grow again. In that moment, Len immediately closed in and threw a flurry at the beast's chest which was completely open to attack.

"AAARGGHH! AAAAAAAAAAA"

The beast roared in pain as his hands suddenly regenerated completely and clawed forward-

His head was suddenly decapitated.

Len calmly looked at the headless twitching body of the beast and suddenly turned towards the spear lying closed down. He suddenly slashed at the weapon with his mana sword and split the spear in half. Beast's overgrown body stopped twitching and fell back on the ground, slowly deflating.

"His life was split in the spear and his body. As long as the spear was unharmed, he'd probably be able to live again" Len said as he turned back, looking at Kyber.

Kyber didn't reply, still shook.

"Are you trauma-"

"That strength...can I reach that height?" Kyber muttered, his body shaking in excitement.

Len's eyes widened before a smile came on his face

"You'll be more"

Len didn't need to know Kyber's reason for his goal. In this world, laws exist but unbiased, never calming evil does too. The only thing one could truly count on, was their own power to protect themselves.

It isn't bad to have allies, infact a positive. But can you count on them to protect you forever? Can you say that your allies will be able to protect you forever? That your allies will be the strongest? What could be done however was to reach that pinnacle yourself.

"Which is why I hate myself" Len muttered to himself as Kyber opened his mouth to ask what the words meant when a cracking sound echoed right as the fog surrounding them began to vanish. The barrier had been eliminated.

Len looked around and found Renzy and Nier standing together some distance afar. A man lying on the ground behind completely knocked out.

"I see you got out somehow" Len asked with a sigh.

"We had an unexpected helper from outside" Renzy said calmly.

"We'll get to the details later, let's go"

___________

"The last base, I sense about five auras inside" Len muttered gazing at the facility in front of him.

It was a bowl shaped pearl building surrounded by a thick stone wall which meant that trees in the surroundings had to be cut, leaving this patch of land. On the top of the building was a tower that was shining an ominous bright red, overshadowing the bright moons. The only way to enter was a single gate in the front or to jump over.

Standing behind the bushes about twenty meters from the building, the group analysed the compound.

"Any sign of invasion before us? I don't see any"

"This base is supposed to be accessed only by the leaders. I would assume that the people inside are five of the six leaders"

"You are probably right, but that aside. Is there really no protection around here."

"Yes...I am almost sure that it is a trap"

"Does fate tell you" Renzy asked

"Logic does"

"..."

"Yeah I can sense a little danger" Len finally admitted.

"Danger for us or the kids"

"I don't know, it could be both"

Nier who was listening to the banter suddenly turned his head to look back and found nothing. He slowly looked around but found nothing suspicious.

'What was that? Must be nothing'

Blinking in confusion, Nier focused back on the building. The place where he could find about himself.

Nier was all this time, just confused...unsure. It felt as though this world was familiar yet so foreign. He could not remember who he was, where he came from and what he would do. Did he even want to learn who he is? He didn't have any attachments to anything.

There was one thing however. The will to live. From the moment he had gained consciousness again, Nier felt the unwavering will to live as if that was the force that kept him alive. It is what made him follow Renzy because he believed he would not die with Renzy.

Would he be safe?

Why would he be safe?

'Because they have power'

Power?

Magic

I have it too... don't I

'I can be powerful too'

Nier's thoughts suddenly induced a pain as a memory almost cracked through.

Almost

'What was that?' Nier rubbed his temples in irritation as Renzy looked at him with worry and asked.

"Are you not feeling well?"

"It's nothing, I'm fine" Nier answered genuinely.

"I see. Anyways, I've decided that I would be entering the building and you would guard the kids. You can predict danger and would thus be a better protector" Renzy said with a determined face.

"That's not how it works Renzy. My mana... it only protects me...Tch. *Sigh... All right. Go away now"

Renzy grinned before he dashed forward jumping above the walls and soon entered the main building by conjuring wind and destroying the front gates.

Len kept an eye on him till he entered before turning around. The shadows of the giant trees cascading the forest enterered his eyes. A tense silence ensued as Len focused on the forest leaving Kyber and Nier to keep their thoughts closed.

*Clap

*Clap

*Clap

The bush leaves rustled as a figure emerged from the darkness clapping.

"It's unfortunate that we couldn't get you when you were younger. The divination property of your mana is something that has never been recorded before. It's truly unfortunate..."

The figure that emerged was tall, wearing a a rotting creepy helmet having fleshily tendrils growing with two glowing holes for eye and a hood draped over it, his body covered in a black cloak.

Len's eyes widened a little before he took stance.

"Were you perhaps expecting a more...flashy entrance? Lenierre Karaki" The stranger asked with a smile.

"You...How do you know my name? Who are you?" Len asked in a cold voice.

'Lenierre...' Nier kept the name in his mind.

"Oh...you are misunderstanding here. I am not from the Golden League. I just have this amazing ability to make people talk." The 'man' said opening his left hand or rather, claw. His hands now revealed were disproportionate with the left being extremely thick and long from elbow down and the right seemingly normal which in itself distorted the image. The man was armored underneath the cloak and had an aura that could only be described as malovalent.

"And I happen to have some...friends I suppose. My name is...you can just call me Asghan" The raspy voice sent shivers down Nier's spine as he hid behind Len.

"What are your intentions? Asghan. Were you the one who put a bounty on Nier?" Len said narrowing his eyes.

"Hmm...Indeed. I thought I'll tire you out by dumping some trash first and I succeeded. I wanted to take that child but I suppose I could have a meal first. I have long wondered how the flesh of a Golden League paladin feels. I'll have my chance tonight." Asghan said in a delightful tone with a smile stretched to his ears looking at Nier and Len.

"I'll have to spoil it for you...It tastes like death" Len stretched his hands preparing for battle.

"Ohohohoho...that is the flavour I love most"

"Then you'll love my fist" Len suddenly dashed forward and kicked horizontally at Asghan's right waist. Asghan didn't even flinch as his left arm moved with equal agility to grab the incoming kick.

"You don't keep your promises"

'Tch... It's too long!" Len with great control, stopped his kick midway and suddenly spun in the opposite direction with a jump, accelerating his speed and heading for Asghan's head who leaned back a little to avoid the attack but suddenly-

*Swee

The mana reinforcing Len's leg suddenly elongated into the shape of a knife and grazed Asghan's distorted helmet- slicing it and pieces of the tendrils growing on it.

"You are truly a master in mana manipulation. Lenierre Karaki" Asghan said regaining balance as the grazed helmet regrew what it lost and the amount of tendrils increased as well. Asghan stretched his body demonically and-

"My turn"

-dashed forward revealing a scythe in hands.

*Clang

A staff glowing milky white met the red decaying scythe leaving sparks as Lenierre slipped back keeping the scythe from penetrating his skull. Asghan's towering figure put more force as the tip of the scythe closed in on Lenierre's eyes.

[ Lunar Drain ]

Len's eyes widened as he immediately jumped back which proved to be a great decision as the mana staff he conjured was absorbed into the scythe leaving him open had he not retreated.

"Sigh...I really wanted to give you a pleasant surprise you know" Asghan said a he shifted his scythe to his right hand and brought the giant left hand up pointing at Lenierre.

Opening his claws, Asghan revealed a glowing hole in his palm, Len who anticipated the attack was about to move away but...

'The kids!'

Len stood right between Nier, Kyber and Asghan. They'd die if he moved away. He couldn't reach them in time. He had gotten complacent because he had mostly fought with Renzy who could protect himself. These kids could not.

His mana which he relied on didn't warn him for that possibility.

His mana property only worked for himself.

Which was why

"I hate myself dammit..."

He was about be seriously injured...no... he'd die the moment he was injured because Asghan wouldn't leave the chance.

Mana shield won't help much. Maybe I should move away.

That...no. He couldn't leave them to die. Never.

'!' There was one possible solution. A gamble.

I cannot take it off the case in time but...

A beam of radiant crimson light burst from Asghan's left arm piercing the air aiming for Len. Several layers of white shield formed in front of Len as he turned around- showing his back to the approaching crimson.