I was stood surrounded by five Veteran mages, unable to run because of the tall, strong cliff wall behind me. I had already decided if I was going back into captivity, I would not make it easy for these fellows.
"Alright, old crones. Bring it on." I had a devilish grin on my face as I looked at the depressing formation.
"Alas, you are a member of this younger generation. Why do you lot have to always be so stubborn?" Old man Hans was clearly frustrated judging by the tone of his voice, as he shook his head with his eyes closed.
'A chance! If I can hurt Old man Hans, I can use the chance to bolt.' I moved swiftly and approached Hans before he had the chance to dodge or prepare. I had already coagulated Light energy on my right hand, so I unleashed a fatal punch aimed at his head. If he was unable to protect himself, than it wouldn't be my fault.
My movement shocked the squad members and they couldn't react in time. Moreover, I had already thrown out a punch before Hans noticed I was in front of him. He quickly moved his essence to help strengthen himself.
Just as I was about to hit Hans, he moved very slightly and narrowly avoided the punch by a thread's length. I wasn't surprised, given he was a true Veteran of war. Life and death battles must have been a common thing for him back in the day.
"Glug!" I spat out blood as I was flung back and hit the cliff wall. I didn't see any attack coming my way. It could've been any of the other squad members, but they were behind me: attacking would push me forward and not backward. I stabilized myself on my feet and lifted my head. Hans was stood in a fighting posture.
"Young people never learn except with an iron hand. So, I will teach you today just what it means to be a true Veteran mage!" He moved immediately after his speech and approached me. I don't know how he was so fast. One second he was some distance away, the next he was right in front of me.
He used a palm strike and hit me in the chest. Suddenly, I felt the air in my chest tighten.
'Air mage. No wonder he is so fast.' This thought came up right before I forcefully coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Cough, cough... Even this senior is so vicious... " I said bitterly, after falling to my knees and using my hands as support for my upper body.
"Vicious?" Hans looked down as he asked. I could literally feel his mocking gaze right behind my head. "Didn't I tell you to not struggle. Besides that, you were the one who attacked first, and with an intention to kill no less."
"Hmph." I snorted discontentedly. "I knew you would be able to at least survive. My aim was to cause commotion and move."
"Alright, the time for useless talk is over. Are you coming with or not?" I clenched my fists as I looked at the grass beneath me. Why was this world so unfair? Why was I born with this kind of fate?
'If only I had power! If only I could get power! I just need power!' I laughed outwardly at myself. I was seeking a free meal. I, of all people, knew that nothing ever came free. It was not so, not in this world anyway.
I shifted my gaze to the skies. I had heard stories of cases when people would cry to the gods and be miraculously saved, but ultimately a great sacrifice would be demanded of them; depending on the help given. So, why would I need to be different?
I coagulated Light energy into a blood knife on my right hand. Hans quickly moved back, thinking I planned a sneak attack.
"Hei, you young people truly never learn. Even after being defeated in one move, you are really still reluctant to give up." But I ignored him. In my heart, I cried. I cried out with my gaze still lifted to the skies, and as I cried I made a vow. A vow I knew I shouldn't make. And as I made the vow, I felt something inside of me break.
I felt a tremendous amount of power flowing through me in that moment to the extent my mind was a tad giddy. I moved my gaze to Hans and I wore a wicked grin on my face. Thus got him a little startled, I think. He arranged his face as soon as his expression changed. It was terribly hard to notice.
"What have you done?" Clearly feeling that my essence had become a little denser, Hans was on his guard as he moved back a little. I didn't reply him. I just stood up and looked around at all five of them.
"Now, none of you can hold me anymore! I will definitely escape from here!" I moved swiftly towards Hans, and this time I was a lot faster. I could feel it. I hut Hans with my bare fist and sent him spiralling toward the rest of his squad.
*Hahahaha... I can literally feel the power flowing through me. Hahahaha." My laughter was maniacal, like that of a mad villain who had finally defeated his most strongest, most dangerous foe. I moved my gaze slowly as I looked at all the members of Hans' squad, who had moved together so they could counter any sudden attacks of mine, like prey.
Suddenly, the power I felt immediately began to draop at a pace I could feel was extremely fast.
'Huh? What's going on?' The expression on my face changed as I couldn't hide my emotions on this matter. Moreover, the members of Hans'squad seemed to have also noticed this drop in power as they all looked at each other and changed their facial expressions into wicked smiles, except Hans who was currently knocked out of the fight for some time.
"Hee hee." One of the older squad members cane forward. "Fellow squad members! Let us get revenge for our Captain before this brat regains even an ounce of that former strength. Surely, you all wouldn't want him to just step all over us and Captain Hans, no?"
This clearly agitated the rest and brought their fighting spirit to new heights. Meanwhile, I was thinking in my mind just how doomed I was now. It was very likely I would die here, too.