As the spear and arrow got closer the man couldn't help but let out a laugh as his body started to heat up.
The skin started to turn pink only to slowly change into a pinkish red with large amounts of steam pouring off his body.
"[Barbarian Body!]"
The man shouted out as he lunged at the attacks.
As they came into contact with the man something alarming happened!
Instead of piercing into or through his body the spear was stopped in its tracks while the arrow was flung away with a broken arrow head.
Even with Jacob's added power from the boost and him fully releasing his flames at the tip of the spear upon contact he couldn't break through the skin however he still forced the man back into his original position.
'His skin is too tough to pierce through…'
Jacob observed his opponent carefully, especially were he had hit the man.
The steam coming off his body was hiding a lot of the wound but he quickly caught a glance of a patch of blackened skin only to see it moments later healing on its own.
'A powerful technique indeed… if it is truly what I think then this [Barbarian Body] as he called it is the perfect technique for martial artists who rely on their body instead of their avatar…'
He was trying to think of a way to fight against this guy as he ran forward again reaching out for Jacob.
"Just die already! I want to capture that boy as soon as possible!"
It was clear he was thinking of the reward he could get from catching Ryder and Kaylee. For some reason he was especially focusing on Ryder instead of the princess which was odd.
'Why? Ryder is just a commoner… why would they want him over the princess of a massive dynasty! How dare they disrespect the royal family like this!'
Jacob went in for another attack this time focusing more on the fire aspect of his attack as the man slammed his fist into the ground causing it to shake!
This caused him to lose his balance only hitting the left side of the man's body which he shrugged off before a powerful fist slammed into Jacob's stomach as an arrow pierced into the man's eye trading one injury for another!
"AAAUUGH!"
Both the man and Jacob yelled out backing away as Jacob was thrown back only to be caught by Daki moments later.
"Ha… Ha… I'm glad at least that hurt him…"
Daki was already exhausted at this point, he wasn't sure if his arrows would be able to hurt the man normally so he decided to go all out!
Strangely there was no avatar around him or changes on his body. Yet something new was in his hands.
A powerful looking golden longbow was clechned tightly in his hands.
At this moment Jacob knew why Daki looked so tired.
'Shit. Daki doesn't have enough strength to pull the bow all the way back yet… he should only have 5 more shots with the bow before he can't even carry it anymore! We have to make those shots count'
While dealing with the immense pain in his stomach he forcibly pushed himself to talk.
"D-Daki! When I give the signal I want you to cut off his mobility. Punch a hole through his leg, or something! I'll distract! We need your arrows to win!"
Jacob whispered to Daki his plan as he struggled to fully stand holding himself up with the spear before his flames erupted around him towards the sky.
"I am Jacob Fireseed! Heir to house Fireseed! I will put my pride and life on the line to stop you no matter what! Even if it's the last thing I ever do!"
He yelled out to the man before rushing forward again!
This time he didn't try to clash against him directly. Instead he used his flames to maneuver himself around the man while stabbing his spear towards the man's legs shooting large beams of fire out of the tip each time.
Flames quickly covered his lower body scorching them black as the man pulls out the arrow with his eye attached to it!
Even though he seemed in pain his once at ease face was now replaced with an expression of utter rage!
Even in his rage his mind was still clear. This wasn't his first time in a fight and he was sure it wouldn't be his last!
BANG!
Instead of going after Jacob who could only give him surface wounds from the fire he decided to burst forward with a loud explosion behind him from the ground breaking beneath his feet!
He ran up as the tattoo's on his body began to change. Instead of releasing his own avatar then fusing with it he immediately fused with it!
There were no physically changes besides the tattoos on his body all swarming to his back showing the image of a large ferocious Ape like beast pounding on its chest as his fist flew through the air aimed at Daki's head!
———
Kaylee was struggling to hold onto the man with her abilities.
Even though she had fused with her avatar it was still hard to trap a beast like man with nothing but pure brute strength alone!
It became increasingly difficult the longer she was restraining him as well!
'I will not let you go no matter what! I need to hold him off for Daki and Jacob to fight at max power! I can't give this guy a chance to interfere!'
She pumped more and more of her soul force into the restraints only to feel a massive chunk get torn out of her energy the moment the man fused with his avatar!
This one had tattoos that showed the image of a large bear standing on its hind legs as he used one of his techniques to claw at the gas around him!
"I will admit! This power is definitely above my expectations. Sadly, you are just to weak to do anything against someone with real power!"
The man burst out of the smoke, he now carried 2 axes as he leaped into the air as red energy pulses out of his body. This was clearly a technique yet Kaylee could do nothing to stop it!
She wasn't a physically fighter, if anything she had the weakest body out of the others!
A noble lady who hasn't truly fought a strong opponent wouldn't need to go through extensive training!
Instead she could just take a couple pills or treasures skipping the process of getting stronger while also hurting her future cultivation.
Why would she care about that though? The dynasty was mostly at peace for a long time now.
Her brothers and sisters each had their own powers much stronger then most. What need would she have for power when she has a powerful family allows protecting her?
This was her flaw, at this moment she froze up. She didn't know what to do to counter the man yet as he came closer the anger on her face changed to panic as she leaped back with her full power dodging the blow only to be sent flying by the shockwave of the attack breaking everything around it!
She even felt pain through her body even though she hadn't been hit.
'What's going on… I'm supposed to be stopping him… yet when he gets close… I can feel my body screaming at me to run away… am I really that weak…?'
She didn't know what to think anymore, she promised herself that she would stop the man but now he was even closer to Daki then before!
She felt useless, after most of her energy had left her the gas she cultivated with her sister was way to thin to restrain anyone.
All she could do was run away as the man rushed after her. She felt truly weak at this moment as tears formed in her eyes.
'I don't want to die! Ryder! Ryder! Please save me! Please! I need you!'
She was beyond desperate as the only thing she could think of was the boy who promised to always protect her from back then.
At this moment she truly understood that her strength wasn't enough. She was only a silver rank. Her fighting style was based on capturing the opponent and squeezing them to death.
Before learning how to use more of her avatars powers from her sister she only fought in spars. Not real life and death fights were the opponent really wants to kill you.
'I'm scared! I'm scared! Save me! I don't want to die!'
It didn't help that she was constantly getting attacked while she ran especially with the massive amount of killing intent the man aimed at her.
Yet the axes never landed. She was faster then the bulky man making her avoid the blades as he grew more and more frustrated!
"Stay still bitch! Just let me cut you down already and then you can rest forever! No need to be scared! Just one cut and it will all be over!"
At that exact moment the man suddenly stopped chasing. A shiver went up his spine as a presence could be felt behind him!
He quickly swung one axe back colliding with a massive yet familiar greatsword as a blonde boy with some scratches on his body stood their both arms holding the sword trying to push him back!
Both were now struggling against the others power! Ryder finally got back to the battle field after remembering to raid the green haired boy and the girls storage rings!
He had used their pills to heal himself quite a bit before rejoining the fight.
Yet the scene he saw made him burst with rage and hatred! His hair began to stand by itself.
The blonde turned into a bright golden color as his eyes filled with golden lightning surrounding his blue pupils.
A wave of energy over took his body, he didn't understand were this power was coming from but he didn't care.
All he knew was this man needed to die fast!
With new found power he swung the greatsword as if it was a normal Longsword! It almost felt weightless in his hands as he caved in the ground below the man as he wailed on the axes over and over again!
There wasn't a second this man wasn't blocking! If he stopped for even a moment this greatsword might split him in two!
He could feel the danger! His instincts screamed at him to not get hit by this attack.
Finally after a minute or so of attacks they slowed down a little letting the man jump back and recover the beating his arms just took!
'What is up with this kid? He's only around 12 or something yet he can surpass my power as a totem warrior!? This doesn't make sense!'
———
Quietly a golden wolf sat in the middle of a golden orb covered in chains as it watched this moment.
A sigh could be heard coming from the wolf as it looks at Ryders state.
'So it has begun huh? Looks like you'll have to get much stronger and faster Ryder if you don't want to be swallowed by what's to come…'
Those were the Cain's only thoughts as he watched the fight.