Buuum!!
Following the sound came a tremor reminiscent of an earthquake, albeit of a relatively low magnitude. Nevertheless, it was sufficient to showcase the magical prowess of a Sand Tier guard, a Level 3 human.
The guard's target was the kid relentlessly attacking him with both left and right. To the guard, the kid possessed such an extraordinary level of physical power that it seemed implausible for him to be just a human.
People wielding such power at this level were typically Aqrabians, transformed Werewolves, or Yuorians in Emotion Power state. Yet, here was a kid, appearing entirely human, wielding that much strength.
This was more than enough to prompt him to get serious because...
He slowly opened his mouth, his eyes fixated on the kid who narrowly dodged his attack.
"Are you a hybrid?" Caution resonated in both his voice and actions as he took a few steps back after retrieving his sword.
True to form, a grin spread across Leon's face, though his survival owed much to luck. He had assumed the guard had adopted a defensive stance, which seemed to be the case, because of his overwhelming power.
Unfortunately, the guard was also gearing up for a comeback.
He gradually elevated his ocean-blue aura in a manner imperceptible amid the heat of the moment.
Leon's focus was consumed by his relentless assault. It was impossible for him to have noticed the subtle ascent of the aura, akin to a snail emerging from its shell.
Nevertheless, he could feel the heat—a heat that initially prompted a slight sweat, only to transform the area around the man into a sauna.
Out of sheer luck and a touch of reflex, he adeptly dodged the fireball, positioning himself next to Triss, who had been gazing at him with a knife in her hand.
"Heh, what do you think?"
"Are you messing with me?"
"You know I'm a hybrid, right? Everyone knows a regular human at my level can't have that much power."
Widening his grin and eyes to their utmost limits, attempting to emulate a villain from the movies he had watched, he slowly asked, "Do you have any idea who we are?"
The angered and anxious guard, having already sealed those emotions within his heart, managed to calm himself down. Leon's relentless punches also played a significant role in achieving this.
A clear mind was precisely what one needed in a fight, especially for guards.
"As I thought... Rebellious," he uttered the name slowly, his voice filled with hatred, and his pupils reflecting the same sentiment.
To them, Rebellious was their archenemy, unhesitant to employ any means necessary. They represented the guards' worst nightmare, the most formidable adversaries they might ever encounter in their lifetime.
Some even declared that they would prefer fighting in a fistfight with a Serpopard rather than facing a true member of Rebellious. After all, the scope of their methods knows no bounds.
A coin has two sides. If rational and educated people, those yet to be blinded by the dazzling light of belief, choose not to speak ill of Rebellious, there must be more than one aspect where Rebellious is right.
If Rebellious continues to attract new members, there must be an appealing side to them.
People of this century are weary, particularly those who delve into history or heed the tales passed down by their parents. They possess enough discernment to recognize that slavery still endures, albeit under the guise of a different name—prayer.
You are obligated to offer prayers to the Goddess three times a week as an expression of gratitude for all she has done. However, it's not a matter of choice; it's a matter of must. Failure to comply results in being labeled a heretic and thrown into jail. If this isn't a form of slavery, then what is?
Guards despise Rebellious for the heinous actions they committed in the past, whereas Rebellious harbors resentment toward guards for acquiescing to a form of slavery driven by money and power.
In the eyes of the Rebellious, guards were either a group of cowards lacking the slightest bit of bravery to defy their slave drivers or people who opted for positions over freedom by groveling at the feet of the Gods.
At the end of the day, each side had aspects where they were both right and wrong.
Diversity of thoughts has always existed since time immemorial. It serves as both a necessity for reaching the higher grounds of civilization and a potential avenue for descending into the depths of the abyss.
They harbor animosity and suspicion towards each other, especially evident in the case of the guard facing Leon.
Hybrids, amalgamations of two races, instill a heightened sense of caution. The kind that neither side would deploy without thoroughly assessing the situation.
Even in scenarios where they are sent out, they ensure there's a formidable bodyguard accompanying them. After all, a hybrid is the most valuable asset an organization could possess. Hence, they take every measure to ensure their survival, regardless of the circumstances.
The guard remained vigilant, his eyes darting around cautiously. It was a situation Leon had never anticipated unfolding before his eyes. The wary, scanning eyes of the guard was something he had desired to witness but had never considered a means to provoke such a reaction.
He didn't comprehend the true worth of a hybrid. He had gleaned a few details from his mother and the internet, but that was the extent of his knowledge. And those pieces of information had failed to register in his mind until today.
'Seems like those rumors were true. Hehehe…'
"If you know that I'm a hybrid, you should also know that my life is quite important," paused, allowing the guard to feel the fear, "Then, you should be aware that the moment you harm me, you sign your own death warrant."
Pat, pat, pat.
His intentions were apparent, even to Triss's discerning eyes. Nonetheless, her hand clutched the knife tightly as Leon proceeded with the deliberate steps of a turtle, creating a bit of distance between Triss and himself.
Their adversary was a fire element user. The fireball that had preceded this encounter had unequivocally established this fact.
Fire was one of the most common elements to learn, given its ubiquity and the ease with which people could generate it by burning something. However, its widespread usage did not diminish its inherent lethality.
In a game, if you get hit by a fire spell, your health would decrease, and perhaps you would die. However, if you get hit by fire magic in real life, you would burn. Even worse, the burns could be so severe that not a single speck of your flesh remains alive.
Turning to dust was also a possibility, especially when people of Level 5 or 6 unleashed their meteor-like fireballs upon those of Level 3 or below.
"Sigh…"
Faced with the threats that Leon relentlessly hurled left and right, the guard chose to simply sigh.
Fwuup!!
He slowly raised his sword and conjured a fireball atop his empty left hand. The dust from the explosion lingered in sight, gradually advancing towards them as if to craft a misty atmosphere for the impending confrontation.
Determination gradually filled his cautious eyes. Subsequently, he sealed that cautious aspect of himself into the depths of his heart, readying himself for what was about to unfold in both body and soul.
And following this resolve was yet another sigh, "Siiigh…"
Pointing his sword at Leon, "As a God's Guard, it's my duty to take care of our future enemies. You are a hybrid. You have the potential to be our worst enemy."
Finally, after taking a deep breath, "That is why I will put my life on the line and sever the neck of the snake before it grows too large to handle."
"Sh*t! Get ready!"
Buuum!!
Shiing!
Regrettably for them, the guard harbored no inclination to wait any longer.
They had forfeited the privilege of merely being regarded as children in his eyes. He underscored his commitment to duty, portraying himself as a man willing to jeopardize his life in order to eliminate a potential source of future disturbance.
Focused squarely on Leon, his intent was unambiguous. Immediately following Leon's evasion of the fireball, a formidable slash aimed directly at his head.
Tiiing!
The termination of Leon seemed unequivocally paramount to him at that moment, yet, owing to the well-timed intervention of Triss and her airborne knife, he narrowly evaded the fatal strike.
At the very moment the sword poised to connect with his head, Triss, utilizing telekinesis, hurled her knife into its path, momentarily halting its deadly descent. However, the subsequent unfolding of events underscored the stark contrast in power once more.
Guard discarded her knife with an almost dismissive gesture, treating it as if it were no more consequential than a bothersome fly.
Slashes charged with lethal intent assailed Leon, leaving him with little recourse but to evade in a frenzied dance.
Tiing! Tiing!
Conversely, Triss assumed the role of the mage within a roleplaying game party, ceaselessly dispatching her knife to create breathing room, a desperate effort to buy precious moments.
"Your attacks are meaningless!"
"I know that!"
"Just f—"
Fwuupp!! Fwuupp!!
"Aaaahhh!!"
Two assaults, targeting his back, found their mark.
"Meoowrr."
With unbridled joy, Triss exclaimed, "She is here!"
Gracefully, William's familiar coolly flicked her tail about. Her vivid red eyes mirrored those of a vampire. However, a revelation unfurled—something previously unseen by Leon: the emergence of four Vampire fangs.
With just a glance at her adversary, the pupils and teeth of the Vampire materialized, accompanied by two vivid red orbs that resembled rivers of blood coursing through their depths.
"Now you are f*cked!" Leon declared, echoing Triss's jubilation.
The impending second round of the battle is poised to unfold.