"Are you an idiot? Go to your room, now!" Her voice cut through the air, relentless, and the young woman, finally realizing the gravity of the situation, ran back to the room. She knew there was no time to hesitate anymore.
The warrior then, without a single glance back, advanced toward the giant Hawks. His posture was firm, and his sword seemed to shine in the light of the imminent battle. I knew that, while he faced the danger head-on, we had to take quick action to ensure our survival.
"Hurry! Form a circle for a defensive formation, the girls should stay behind, and the boys take their swords and establish a defensive perimeter!" The command shout came from a warrior who remained in the middle of the corridor, his voice like thunder amid the chaos.
"Alright!" Styg responded immediately, his voice firm and filled with determination. He raised his sword, signaling to the members of the alliance that it was time to react.
I followed his lead, adjusting the axe in my hands. Time to fight for our lives!
"Yes... I muttered to myself, with a growing smile. It wasn't fear I felt. I was thirsty for action, for blood.
I quickly surveyed the situation around me. The alliance was organizing efficiently, with few injuries and even fewer losses than I expected, thanks to the warning I had given in time. Some had fallen, stumbling in the retreat, but they were alive. The rest of us, however, had already recovered and were ready for battle.
In the distance, the other acolytes were in disarray. I noticed that, among Charles' group, two young ones were missing. They had apparently been struck by the Hawks and did not survive. The remains of their group were injured, but at least they were alive.
Well, we've already rescued everyone who can be saved alive! I thought, with a touch of coldness. I had no time for regrets. It was time to act.
That's when I saw Wirk, covered in blood, returning to the defensive formation. His sword was dirty, but his posture was unwavering. He approached me, his expression tense, but there was something in his gaze that indicated he was ready for the fight.
"Aren't you afraid?" he asked, his voice low, as if trying to understand my calm in the face of all this.
I gave a satisfied smile, feeling the adrenaline rise.
"At this moment, fear won't be of any help, right?" I replied with a tone of disdain. I wanted the blood of battle. I wanted the fight.
I leaped toward the nearest Giant Hawk, and the impact of my blade against its claw was stronger than I expected. The axe collided with its claw, and the force of the blow made me recoil for a moment. The axe's blade arced brightly, cutting through the air with a screeching sound.
At the same time, the Virtual Lab calculated the exact trajectory and guided me to the next move. The Bloody Blade technique, passed down through my family, surfaced. Using the centrifugal force of my body, I rotated my waist, delivering the strike with all the power of my muscles. The blade cut through the air, and in an instant, it was slicing through the Giant Hawk's body.
The impact was brutal. The sound of the cut was followed by a visceral sensation that the blade had pierced the monster's flesh. The Giant Hawk groaned in pain, trying to retreat, but the axe's blade was stuck, embedded in its flesh. Blood gushed out, staining my clothes, but my instincts made me pull the axe with force. The blade was torn out violently, and the blood sprayed everywhere. The Giant Hawk staggered back, its claw severed and useless.
It tried to back away, but its movements were slower, hesitant. I watched it, my eyes gleaming. But I didn't follow. It wasn't worth it. That Hawk was already defeated. Most of the pressure was being borne by the servants, and if I strayed from the defensive perimeter, it would be suicide. That wounded Hawk would likely die soon or serve as a meal for its companions.
"Excellent!" Styg shouted beside me, his voice filled with approval.
He was fighting with two Giant Hawks, but his posture was flawless, almost as if he were training. Blood stained his clothes, but he seemed unfazed. His strength was unmatched, and he was not at a disadvantage in the least.
These secret Axe techniques... I thought casually. They truly weren't common. The strength passed down by noble families was something to be respected. But at the same time, I knew my own technique was constantly improving, and that gave me confidence.
The fight continued fiercely for half an hour. The sun disappeared over the horizon, and darkness began to cover the green mountains, with the moonlight shining through the windows in the corridors. Now, the eyes of the Giant Hawks glowed with a deep navy blue light, creating an ominous aura over the field. It felt as though we were surrounded by a sea of wild, hungry eyes.
My breath was labored. I felt exhausted, as though I had been pulled from a pool of blood. My face was covered in blood, but I had no time to wipe it off. Each strike, each movement, drained my strength.
I looked around. The servant warriors were still fighting with plenty of energy, but even they were beginning to succumb to fatigue. The question lingered in my mind like a shadow: "Why haven't the White-robed Mages acted yet?"
My eyes scanned the battlefield. The sight of the dirigible ahead was partially obscured by the horde of Giant Hawks, but something caught my attention. Near the entrance to the deck, there was a strange gap between the female acolytes. Three Mages dressed in white were seated there, their presences enveloped in cold auras, unmoving. No one dared to approach them. The only thing they seemed to be doing was observing, their cold eyes as if the battle was something distant, something that didn't concern them immediately.
The sound of the fight continued deafeningly, and I knew the Hawk Band was losing ground. A third had already fallen, but the defense line was also thinning. The casualties among the acolytes at the front line were evident; the wounded were being carried to the rear, tended to by the girls who couldn't fight. No matter how strong the defensive perimeter was, it wouldn't be enough to hold the horde indefinitely.
If I were the king of the Hawks, now would be the time to retreat. But I know, I know that a final wave is coming. They won't give up so easily... my thoughts became clear as I continued cutting and pushing the monsters away from me.
My blade cut the leg of a Giant Hawk, and I took the opportunity to grab some seeds I had collected during our journey. I put them in my mouth, chewing quickly. The energy they replenished was almost immediate, but it was running out. I couldn't rely on them forever.
The sound of the Hawks' shrill cries now seemed different, more frantic, more coordinated. They were being organized, and the sense of imminent danger filled the air.
Now, I thought.
The final wave was coming. I knew this because the behavior of the Band had changed. They were charging with blind hatred, as though death no longer intimidated them. The sense of urgency coursed through me, my muscles tensing, and I knew the real test was about to take place.
I prepared myself, axe in hand, and charged with a battle cry. In the next instant, the blade met the claw of a Hawk, but I felt a force so great that it almost made me drop the axe.
What was that?
I looked ahead and realized that, unlike the others, these Hawks were bigger. Much bigger. The violence of the impact was not just due to size but also the raw strength they brought. I knew these were no ordinary Hawks.
"Virtual Lab, digitize the Giant Hawks in front of me!"
["Giant Hawks."]
["Strength: 2.3"]
["Agility: 4.1"]
["Vitality: 3.1"]
["Description: A group of Giant Hawks, there are always those whose bodies are significantly larger than others of the same race. These will be chosen to serve as bodyguards for the Hawk leader. They generally have more strength than the others of the same race, and, at the same time, complete loyalty to the Hawk chief!"]
This was information that the rude Eclivel from before had read from a random atlas at some point, and was now retrieved by the Virtual Lab.
In my previous world, I had always been a scientist, someone rational, with little attachment to impulses. But here, in this primitive environment, something within me was awakening. My blood boiled, and it was no longer just logic guiding my actions, but a primal force, a need to fight, to win. It was the survival instinct in its purest form.
Yeah... different from what I lived before. Here, peace doesn't exist. Here, the fight is constant, and my instincts need to be sharp to survive.
The thought was interrupted by a battle cry that involuntarily left my mouth. The blood of battle now inflamed me, and a fierce laugh escaped my lips.
"Haha! Come! Come!"
...
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