Triss had devised a relatively straightforward strategy. Their initial move involved luring the guard into the woods, an accomplishment made effortlessly possible through her stone barrage—a testament to the practicality of telekinetic abilities.
However, those were the limit of her Level 1 power, evidenced by the beads of sweat forming on Triss's forehead
The targeted guard, now ensnared in their trap, resembled a confused chicken, perpetually scanning the surroundings while keeping his left hand poised to draw his sole means of protection.
Unbeknownst to the two concealed children behind a tree, the guard continued advancing, oblivious to the potential threat lurking in the tall grass.
Triss positioned herself on Leon's left, her right fist primed for action.
She had the telekinesis. That is why it was easier for her to draw the knife any moment from her pocket. Meanwhile, Leon, already armed with a knife, stood prepared.
Upon reaching Level 2, people's senses get stronger to some extent. It wasn't nearly as equal to a Level 4's, which is akin to superpower at that point. People at Level 4 can be called as strong by anyone, but Level 2 was just normal.
Still, Level 2 people can hear a sound coming from all the way down the basement floor while they are sitting on the fourth floor of an apartment. That was how sensitive their ears were.
Their hearing wasn't the only sense that amplified. In fact, all five of them. Aware of this, Leon and Triss maintained absolute stillness—holding their breath, even empty hands pressed against their mouths.
However, they were biding for the right time.
The opportune season favored their clandestine operation. If this was summer instead of autumn, they couldn't have done what they were about to do.
Because…
Fwooosh!
The rustling wind masked any sounds they might inadvertently produce.
With the wind favoring their concealment, the children exchanged a nod, signifying the initiation of their attack. Triss's job was to strike his head while Leon served as a diversion and to grab guard's right hand, on which the guard had the God's Watch.
If he were to send a signal to others, their entire life may perish like that of withered trees.
Triss was akin to a tiger.
When the wind's sound resonated throughout the forest, she walked a few steps forward.
Lured the guard towards her with a few deliberate steps, seizing his attention. Dropping to her knees, she sprang forward, delivering a powerful punch to the back of the guard's neck.
Pooow!
"Wha—Aaah!"
Before he could even realize what's going on, a punch met his nape. That was the place she wanted to hit and managed to.
Rebellious was giving the anatomy education. That is why it was no wonder for her to know where to hit. In fact, everyone knew that the back of the neck, which is the nape, is one of the most dangerous places on the human body.
The surprise strike momentarily rattled the guard, showcasing the effectiveness of a Level 1 assault against a Level 2 opponent.
One was a kid, and the other one was a grown-up man with the adequate training. Despite being thought of as talentless by his peers, he still had the strength to withstand the attack from a Level 1 child.
This brief distraction provided Leon, who already was out from the tree, with an opportunity to approach. On top of that, Triss kept on attacking him relentlessly, not even stopping for a second.
That was until…
Shaat!
"F*ck off!!
He caught off guard, but his brain was still kicking. He drew his sword with his telekinetic power and send out a slash. Yet, the attacker was on his back.
There was zero possibility for his sword to reach towards the back. So, he chose to attack the front trees, maybe to send fear into his attacker's heart.
And the answer he got was…
Pow! Pow! Pow!
Relentless attacks.
The guard was no different from someone with a burn on his pants, turning left and right to shake it off. But to no avail.
Yet, his slashes were effective to some extent.
The guard, displaying a degree of madness, disrupted Leon's advance. Unable to progress, Leon retreated, observing the ongoing struggle.
Around one minute passed like that.
The ensuing battle resembled a skirmish of attrition, a test of endurance. Unfortunately, Triss was on the losing end. Even though there wasn't that much of a power difference between the two, there still was some, nonetheless.
Firstly, she kept on using her little telekinetic power over and over again just to throw stones. It was a necessary action, but still was enough to tire her out. Secondly, compared to her, a Level 2's energy reserve was on the higher hand. That meant a not-so-tired guard.
And lastly, the guard had a brain.
Thud!
"Aaah!"
"Now, I got you!"
The battle reached a turning point when the guard, realizing he couldn't shake off Triss, executed a daring maneuver.
He dropped to his knees, propelled himself into the air, and rolled mid-flight, causing Triss to collide with the ground.
His jump power was higher than people of a century ago. For that, he managed to jump about 3 meters fairly easily. However, that wasn't it. The pain on Triss's back was worse than that.
He let his sword go, straightened his legs when he was up in air and raised them up as high as he can.
He stationed his legs above of his head, tried to roll in the air. Although he couldn't make a proper roll, he still accomplished what he wanted. Rolled slightly to have the Triss on his back meet with the ground.
Thankfully, her bones didn't break. But her bones were hanging by a thread right now. Even though she trained, it still wasn't enough to strengthen herself to impact from that height.
"Now, you are dead!" Screamed so while turning back.
However, before he could act, a sudden coldness enveloped his back, and crimson droplets cascaded.
"F*ck off!!"
Leon had seized the opportunity to strike, aimed at the guard's exposed vulnerability.
If he were to be in mind, he could have killed him right in that instant, but that wasn't their objective. He had to shake him off from Triss. And Triss was his path towards defeating him, not himself.
The moment the guard felt a pain on his back, he went for the most natural reaction.
Turned and swayed his hand like swaying a fly.
Of course, it was ineffective. Yet, his aim was completely different. Undeterred, continued searching for something, maintaining a relentless demeanor.
Thud!
"Do you think I would let you get it?" Grinned, Leon, sword in his hand.
Unlike the one dropping it, Leon could watch the moment of sword getting dropped. Naturally, he knew the exact location of it and went for it right after the stab, towards to the left of where they met with the ground.
"Hmph, seems like you are a smart kid."
The guard's right hand was open towards Leon while the left one at the back, obscured to remain hidden.
"Tell me, what did I do to you?"
"Well, nothing," glanced at the coughing, sweating Triss for a second.
Since his eyes were on Leon's, he also glanced at his back for a second, the effect of moment kicked in.
Ting!
At that moment, a 'ting' sound resonated through their surroundings.
Sword and knife met each other.
Right in the moment the guard averted his gaze off from him, Leon closed the distance that was nothing much in the first place. And he went for a vertical slash towards his head.
During these tiny gaps of seconds, the guard effortlessly extracted the knife from his back by utilizing his telekinesis.
'As expected.'
"Heh, you didn't expect this, huh!?" Grinned the middle-aged guard, not even a shred of adulthood left on him.
"Hmph," his eyes deeply gazed at guard's, "Let's go, then! Let's do it!"
"Heh, let's go my a*ss! Your hands trembling, damned kid!"
It was indeed so. There was an obvious power difference. If things were to flow such a way, Leon may hold on to his ground for about ten more seconds at best.
"Heh."
"What are you laughing at!?"
'Add 6 points to STR.'
Ding!
[STR: 6 (+4)]
Leon's newfound strength injected vigor into his losing position. Unfamiliar power surged through him, defying the conventions of his ordinary existence.
However, he had no special powers or hidden energy from birth. It was really a weird situation for him.
"Were you hiding your powers!? But, so what!?"
Indeed, so what? The guard was still stronger than him. This action of his can only bring some more seconds to his feet.
"Aaahhh!"
And that was his aim.