Tilting my head, it shot past, grazing my cheek, but there was no blood, like steel grazing steel.
My body became much tougher than it was before due to the previous battle with the spider. I noticed this change when I woke up; my skin was akin to a steel-like substance. Maybe I used Tommy's abilities, and its lasting positive effect is still present.
I then refocused on my target, as they were shocked I survived, drawing two arrows and shooting, after that, they quickly drew out a third arrow and shot it right in the middle of the two. Sprinting, I was confident that this time, my skin would be hard enough not to be pierced. But what was strange was, the middle arrow seemed to spin much faster than the others; its rotation was more forceful than the other two, it was losing its momentum.
It closed the distance, but then it spun into the one to the right, ricocheted off the right, then ricocheted off the left, absorbing the spinning motion as it aimed towards my face. I wasnt prepared for such a trick shot, I used the dagger to deflect it in time.
It was strong; I was almost pushed back. Its force was at least equivalent to a full-on slash from the dark knight.
My arms felt like they were breaking, but I deflected it, at the price of it shooting past my shoulder. It wasn't blood, but I felt a cold sensation at the small scar, as ice appeared.
The arrow seemed to be enchanted!
But this gave me time to dart forward before they could nock another arrow.
They used the bow like a club, as I ducked underneath it, sliding across the grass. I reversed grip on my dagger and stabbed it into the ground while sliding. Then I stopped and lifted my body with one hand, upside down behind the opponent. It was a perfect attack with no room for a counter.
I kicked at an awkward angle, but they seemed to know where I was going to hit them, as they used the string and bow, trapping my leg and lifting my body from that one counter.
Trying to escape, I countered by kicking down with both feet. The person blocked it with their tiny arms; they didn't move an inch. But they gave me an opportunity to propel my body away from their grasp.
They were shooting arrows as I was flying away, but I threw a dagger, while opening the gate of biology. I can study a weapon's history and how it was made from every detail, knowing its strength and weakness. I was one with my weapons, so throwing a dagger at this angle wasn't difficult at all.
The attacks deflected each other. I was already in a throwing stance, ready to strike again, while my opponent was drawing an arrow at that moment. But we didn't continue further.
"James, is that you?" the hooded figure said.
"Yeah, it's me. Ellie, is that you?" I replied, even though I was invisible and my expression couldn't be expressed. That didn't mean I wasn't feeling shock underneath it all.
She removed her hooded cloak, showing her face. "You better not be a mimic under that," she said.
"I should be the one asking you."
We looked at each other as I removed the cloaking from my equipment to show her my face. She dropped her weapons and ran up to me, giving me an unexpected hug. I hugged back.
"You know, if I was actually a mimic, you would be dead by now."
She didn't reply, but I felt her shivering from her body. Did they experience the same things as we did?
"Once you disappeared, we also disappeared at the same time. We were freaking out, then we were trapped in a dungeon. It was like hell," she said, still crying. "We... we thought you guys were gone. You don't understand how hard it's been."
I hugged her tighter. "What about the others?" Before I could say anything further, the cloaked figures appeared and were shocked at my presence.
"Holy shit, James, it's really you. You're alive, praise to the lord,you're alive," Kahza said, lifting his hood.
"James, oh my god, is Max with you?" Maddie asked.
They all came running to me. As I was trapped between their hugs, Kahza and Maddie weren't really the hugging type, but after what I presumed was hell, they would be more than happy to see anybody alive.
"Yeah, I'm glad you guys are safe. Max is still sleeping, try not to wake him up. Tommy is being a lazy ass, so try to greet him behind the other side near the rocks."