I would bend my body and launch a swift attack whenever I could, yet the Apithien would effortlessly deflect them. Airon did not measure up to my speed, whereas Volken could keep up or even exceed it. He would swing his sword, intent on cleaving my body in half, but I would simply back away and counterattack. After another block with his sword, he sent a powerful kick to my stomach, knocking me back a few feet. My breathing grew haggard as I clutched my stomach.
"W-What? No quips? Cat got your tongue?" I wheezed.
"…"
Oh? He's actually serious this time. That's a first. Words won't get through to him at all. Fine by me then.
I glanced over my shoulder and spotted Airon and Zelke trading blow after blow. Despite his fractured arm, Zelke was still full of energy. In fact, it was the complete opposite. He was quickly overwhelming Airon with his succession of accurate attacks.
While my attention was elsewhere, Volken seized the chance to approach nearer. I moved my head to the side just in time before Volken could stab his sword through my skull. I shoved my foot into the Apithiens midsection and hurriedly got up on my feet. Volken wasn't fazed by my attack in the slightest and continued his frontal assault. Since his agility was considerably high, dodging his swings was difficult. Also, that gooey substance coating his blade, it's a wonder what properties it held. I wanted to save my mana for the most optimal moment, but figuring out what his sword is capable of is top priority.
With a single thought, a katana materialized in my left hand. I'm not familiar with dual-wielding weapons that serve a different purpose. In spite of that, it is necessary to take risks in order to accomplish an objective.
Volkens's eyes were drawn to the mana blade, and his sword flickered at the sight. The flickering resembled an animal opening and closing its jaws eagerly. Intending to take the lead, I scampered to the man with both weapons in tow. Gripping the katana tightly, I swung it directly at the black sword.
I soon regretted my decision.
The midsection of the katana disintegrated upon impact, and a sound erupted, similar to steam rising from a boiling pot of water. I tossed the useless weapon aside.
"Your sword gobbles up mana on contact," I concluded.
Apithien refrained from giving an answer as he lifted his sword up, held it level with his body, and advanced steadily.
If the sword eats up mana, then all I have to do is make sure my mana doesn't come into contact with the weapon. Everywhere else is fair game…
Kicking my speed into maximum overdrive, I quietly disappeared from my spot, as if I was a ghost. I then reappeared behind Volken and thrust my rapier, aiming for his skull. The man blocked my attack without even turning his body around, but my attack didn't end there. I unleashed a flurry of thrusts and cuts around the Apithien like a hurricane. I felt my shoes slide across the pavement, accompanied by a sound of screeching tires and the pungent smell of burning rubber. If there was a spectator watching, all they would hear was the metallic clang echoing through the air. All they would see was a human and an Apithien, the ground shaking beneath their feet as they sped past.
I was getting a bit frustrated as time went on. I had yet to land another hit against Volken like before. The only reason the hit landed last time was that my proficiency of [Mana Weapon Construction] caught him off-guard. If I am to surprise him again, I will have to manufacture a new set of mana blades and pray he does not realize them. The issue is, however, how I would be able to manage that…
There was an abundance of debris and metal scattered around me, mostly from the remains of the golems. After some thought, an idea came to mind.
"Yeah, let's stick with that," I said to myself.
Not averting my eyes from Volken, I moved backward while keeping my rapier aloft in a defensive posture. When backpedalling, I would kick away rocks that blocked my way. As if he was getting annoyed at my retreating steps, Volken pushed forward. He leaped high into the air and cast his sword down to where I stood. I hopped away before he could hit me. Upon landing, a small shockwave had the ground tremble, dust picking up soon after.
Comparable to the Kool-Aid man, yet emotionless and deadly, the Apithien came from the smoke with a murderous look that made me tremble. My natural reaction was to take a step back, however something grasped my foot. Peering down, it was stuck in the iron grip of a golem's hand.
"Son of a-!"
It was impossible for me to chip away at the stone hands with Volken already so close to my face. He extended his free hand and clasped the blade of the rapier. Small droplets of blood dripped from his palm due to the sharpness of Damastril. I conjured another rapier on my left and tried to stab the Apithien in the chest, but the inky black substance swallowed it whole. My face twisted in shock and horror.
"There is no use struggling. You know I'm much stronger than you," Volken said. To solidify that fact, he pulled the rapier out of my hands and threw it aside. At that same moment, another hand trapped my other foot. Two new golems were erected from behind and pinned both my arms.
"You should've taken my offer. Look where that choice of yours led you."
Volken stabbed his sword into the ground and walked around me in circles while speaking.
"I'll give you one last chance. I would really hate to kill such a talent of your caliber. Your skills have yet to bloom, and so does your brother."
After pacing around for a while, he stopped right in front of me, his hand resting on the sword's handle.
"I ask you this one final time, and I want you to reflect on your choices. Together with your brother, come with me and you shall be graciously dealt with and gain further strength."
I glossed my eyes over the entrapment I have gotten myself into. My attention was then drawn to Volken and his sword, shimmering unpredictably. After considering it, I opened my mouth and laughed.
"My answer won't change. Save your breath."
"..."
Volken sighed as he retracted his sword from the ground. "Stubborn till the very end."
He hoisted his sword skyward with one arm. His arm lowered over my head as he showed his displeasure with a clicking of his tongue.
"All according to plan…"
As if on cue, the rubble strewn along the battlefield shook with great intensity. Subsequently, azure-hued objects flew out from the ruins and rapidly advanced toward the Apithiens' rear. Volken stopped mid-swing and turned his body away.
"You! Go! Devour it all!"
The black substance grew abnormally large and took the form of a great maw. It opened its jaws wide, intent on swallowing the delicacies spread out in front of it. At the same time, I freed my legs from the grasp of the subterranean golems by cutting away with a mana blade. The golems that had my arms locked had their hands sliced away and were destroyed with a few kicks. With my newfound freedom, I promptly produced a longsword. Bending my body low and infusing my legs with as much strength as possible, I held the sword up and sprinted to the busy Volken.
Volken heard my scampering feet and glanced over his shoulder. He attempted to avoid the strike by maneuvering away, but it was already beyond the point of no return.
"You're finished, Volken!"
Clutching the weapon tightly, I swung upwards. It seemed as though time had come to a halt. The guilty expression on his face told me he had made a serious mistake. The look of terror and disbelief on their face as they realized their opponent was about to win the battle, despite their lack of experience. If I had to speculate what emotion I was experiencing in that moment, I would say it was relief. Relief that I could one-up a foe as strong as Volken.
Volken's arm wielding his sword flew across the air and landed quietly a few steps away from us. The sword slowly reverted to its original state as the black goo shrunk back inside the blade.
"N-No… This cannot be," Volken stammered as he clutched his fresh wound. I sauntered towards the kneeling man, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I didn't think my plan would work this well! Luck was an enormous factor in my victory.
"How does it feel to be outsmarted, Volken?"
"…"
"Master Volken!" A voice yelled out. A few yards away, Zelke was a statue, his stance unyielding as he gazed down at Airon sprawled on the ground. He had his blade hovering over the neck of the apprentice.
"How was master Volken defeated by you?!"
To answer his question, I simply pointed at my head as I retrieved my rapier.
"Did you kill Solgen and the others?" I directed at Volken. If I were to leave him be, he would simply come after Isaac and I and will be better prepared for the future. Convincing him to change his mind about exterminating humans was a no go too. All I can do is hope that he'll at least answer that one question.
Volken avoided looking directly ahead, his head bowed in defeat as he fixated on the ground. Frustrated with his silence, I grabbed him by the collar, inching the rapier closer to the bottom of his chin.
"Answer the questi-"
"Watch out!"
I felt an invisible force tugging me away from Volken. I was about to yell, but before the words left my mouth, a blaze of light hit the ground where I had just been. After the dust dissipated, a fist-shaped crater remained.
"Woah… T-Thank you Zelke," I stuttered as the man gently placed me aside.
"Prepare yourself. A new foe has arrived."
From a distance stood the new arrival. They were standing above Volken with his arms tucked behind their back.
"Volken. What a foolish display you have shown the gods. You dare disappoint goddess Artoic herself?!"
"Gods? Goddess Artoic? Who the hell is calling themselves gods?" I said under my breath.
A single look was enough to show me that this dude was bad news. He's berating Volken of all people without a care in the world! He is either stupidly prideful, ignorant, or stronger than Volken himself.
"We will speak of this later," the man finished as he turned his body around slowly. He wore a white shawl with intricate yellow symbols embroidered onto the fabric. The symbols didn't stop there though, as they were all over his white robes. The aura he was giving off was too mysterious. I could not comprehend him at all. His face was also hidden, so discerning his facial features was impossible.
"So, you've finally arrived," Zelke said, taking a step forward.
"Hmm? You know of me?" The mysterious man growled.
"A little birdie tipped me off. You're archbishop Zolvo of the Church of Pillars."
Archbishop? Church of Pillars? Why do I feel like I'm missing a lot of important pieces of information here?
"It is of no problem to me. Knowing the truth will not shield you from death. The Cardinal and the goddess will bestow upon me a generous gift when I present them with your heads."
With a slight lift of his hand, the Archbishop snapped his fingers. When I blinked, Airon was now crouching near Volken. The apprentice looked around in bewilderment.
"Boy. Do you still have The Oracle?"
"Yea…" Airon replied.
"Good. Your task will not be fulfilled until it has been brought to Cardinal Nicholas. Take your master and leave immediately. Head to Tatjun."
"What about-"
With another snap of his fingers, Volken and Airon were out of sight, leaving no trace behind.
"You… Did you teleport them away from the scene?" I asked the man.
I sensed Archbishop Zolvo's hostile glare cutting through his shawl as he said, "Of course. I was determined to, regardless. That is why they were going to meet up with me. I'm the only person here that could shorten the distance a great deal…"
"And why would you tell us all of this? We finally know where The Oracle was supposed to be delivered. You also showed us you can teleport people. What are you trying to accomplish? You can't take both of us on."
"…Hah!"
The man cackled loudly as his shoulders heaved with every breath. Zelke and I gave each other a puzzled glance.
"I can't take both of you on? Hilarious, indeed…"
That was when it happened. A scene so comical it could've been a gag from a cartoon itself. Archbishop Zolvo roared as a golden aura erupted out of his body like a pulsating flame. The robes of the archbishop then exploded into little pieces as they fluttered down like confetti. I couldn't help but let out an exasperated gasp.
"What the shit!?"
Underneath was a bodybuilder physique worthy of immense praise from those who had the fortune of laying their eyes upon him. The muscles were perfectly balanced, as if they were crafted by a divine creator. Even if I had no knowledge of fitness of this degree, I could admire a set of muscles even in this situation.
"As an archbishop, it is my sole duty to purge you into nothingness where not even a speck remains. Under the call of the Cardinal and the gods themselves, you will perish by my hand!"