Star imagined many worst possible scenarios on their way, but to his surprise, what they saw wasn't so bad. For the most part, that is. Although admittedly quite confusing as well.
And the same thing could be said for Nero.
"This... What's going on here?" He was stumped. He somehow had an idea on what happened to the Blackwood guild. But what about Emblem? Have they gone crazy? No, wait. They're already crazy people to begin with.
While quite a number of their guildmates were on the ground, some injured and others just exhausted, another group looked like they were helping people from the Blackwood guild with Ashrain leading them.
As for the mastermind of all these, he was just on the side looking so impressed and cheering everyone, with a resigned Warlock by his side.
And Zhia?
"Oh, come on! Is that all you got, you freakin' weaktards? Are you all just masochists looking for a beating? Those muscles and skills just for show? You're really going to let this little girl hand your asses to you? So much for a guild boasting to only have the cream of the crop, more like gunk of the scraps!"
"She…. is very lively." Star had no other words to describe her at the moment. But one thing he is certain of: Teiran is a bad influence on her.
Again and again, someone would attack Zhia. Either with a weapon or a skill, but none would hit her. She would just block and reflect on each and return it with her own, sending others flying.
The crazy smile on her face was obvious. She had always enjoyed fighting, after all. And this is the first time that she's having an actual fight instead of just one-sidedly massacering others.
And apparently, it wasn't just her.
A male Berserker was sent flying towards the tree near Nero and the others. He caught up blood and looked badly beaten. He looked so terrible that Star had no choice but to run to his side.
"Raistlou, hang in there." He encouraged as he used Great Heal. He didn't stop healing until all his external wounds disappeared.
"Whoah! Thanks Star!" Raistlou was amazed as he inspected himself, free of any wound and feeling as good as new. "Damn. I thought I was a goner. The chick's really something, I tell yah."
"What happened here, Raist? Why is everyone ganging up on Zhia?" Dheyniz asked worriedly.
"Oh, it's you guys. About time you showed up." He grinned at the party, especially at Nero, who had an unreadable expression on his face as he looked at the scene. "Yoh, Nero. Fancy seeing you just now. Aren't you going to help Avyzhia?"
"Help her? I'd just be in the way." Nero looked at him coldly.
Raistlou laughed out loud. "You're right. The chick's a monster." His expression suddenly turned serious. "She suddenly appeared and attacked the guild master. Looking so pissed. Can you imagine that Avyzhia getting angry?"
He's right. These days Avyzhia is showing more expressions than she used to, like getting upset and annoyed... but angry?
Although at this point, they'll believe whatever crazy things they hear about her. After all, what they've seen so far is beyond crazy.
"Is that why you guys are attacking her?"
"Huh? Well, not really."
Sure, they were taken aback that Avyzhia suddenly attacked and even actually pushed back Duram, but no member of Emblem needs protection. That's how strong each of them are.
"When the twig-man from Blackwood started spouting nonsense and even taunted her, in a blink of an eye she had everyone in Blackwood done-in and then for some reason she turned to us wanting to do the same." He grinned. "We can't just let her do as she pleases now, can we?"
So basically, after Avyzhia displayed her prowess, they wanted to test her themselves and ended up having their asses handed to them.
"You talk big and yet none of your attacks seemed to be working." Rosette shook her head. "Full-grown men boasting power and ganging up on a girl, have you no shame?"
"A girl? Her?" Raistlou cackled. "Like I said, she's a monster." He cracked his neck and knuckles, getting ready to join the fray again.
"Wait. Are you going again?" Even though Mertyla has been with the guild for a while now, sometimes she still can't understand how these muscle heads think.
"Of course. Who would pass a chance to fight against someone like that?"
"I suggest you stay put, Raistlou." Nero suddenly said seriously, eyes darting here and there as if looking for something... or someone.
"Huh? Why? It's not like- "
Something's definitely weird. Nero could tell that it's been quite a while since they started fighting. And yet, no one's gravely injured to the point that they can't move anymore.
"How long have you guys been fighting her?" Nero asked without looking at the Berserker, his eyes still trying to track something down.
"What? Uh... 10 or 15 mins, I think."
"Eehhh? Just that long?" The girls widened their eyes in disbelief. One would think that they've been at it for half an hour already by how their guildmates looked.
"I thought as much." Nero's expression turned grim, and he suddenly took a fighting stance as if preparing himself for an attack. "Everyone brace yourselves, especially you Star."
"What are you ta- !"
Suddenly, the air turned cold, and Zhia disappeared from the midst of the group.
"Shit! Everyone put up your defenses."
Nero's warning cry was just a second too late as suddenly shrieks, and cries of pain can be heard from their guildmates who got simultaneously hit or wounded by some invisible force.
"What the- ! What's going on?"
Nero, Raistlou and Dheyniz immediately formed a protective circle around their non-combatant members.
One by one, their guild members fell to the ground. Even those who weren't fighting Zhia, and most of them now have deep wounds or broken bones. Those who were able to protect themselves still felt the impact of the assaults.
"Is this Zhia's doing?"
"Must be. She disappeared."
Everyone started panicking then. An opponent you can see they have no problem facing even if the odds are against them, but it's a different story altogether if it's someone who looks like she just became an air and randomly attacked everyone.
"She cloned herself while in stealth mode." Nero explained, eyes still darting here and there, and from time to time, managed to defend against incoming random attacks. "It usually takes a long time to prepare, but because you guys were so willing to fight her it served a good distraction."
"How can she prepare for it when she's in the middle of fighting?"
"Didn't you hear what I just said? I told you, she cloned herself while in stealth mode. You were fighting her clone earlier while she made more and scattered them around us. Now all her clones, including her, are randomly attacking everyone."
"The fuck! How's that even possible!?"
"It's going to be harder to track her now." He sounded more grim. "She won't stop until everyone falls." And by fall, he meant gravely wounded.
Zhia seemed to be really having fun. Was it because it's been so long since she appeared?
The only thing they can do now is to make sure that she didn't notice Star in their midst, or else they really won't have any way to stop her.
"Boo!"
Rosette and Mertyla shrieked in surprise as Zhia suddenly appeared beside them. On reflex, they backed away as far as they could while Dheyniz instinctively stood in front of them despite her senses telling her to run away herself.
Nero was fast to move in front of Star and took a protective stance, fully aware that he was her target this time.
"Neochie-poochie! You're finally here. That was faster than I expected. Well, it's all because of him, isn't it?" Zhia pointedly looked at Star behind Nero giddily. "I was wondering where you were, turned out you were with them all along. Hadn't thought of that."
Thinking that Zhia is too focused on Nero and Star to notice, Raistlou tries to do a sneak attack but is unfortunately easily thwarted by her.
Zhia looked down amusedly at the berserker wringing in pain on the ground after she unceremoniously slashed him down with her blade.
"Old man, you should have stayed put. Now all the healing done to you are wasted." She shook her head and turned back her attention to Nero. "Now, where were we?"
"Are you sure you want to be this close to Star, Zhia? He can cast Songfroid Hymn easily in this distance."
"Huh? Songfroid Hymn, you say?" She tilted her head in confusion. "You must be mistaken, Neochie-poochie. I wasn't looking for him because of that. You see, if my memory serves me right, he's that baldy's weakness. So, of course, he's gonna be my target to get back at him."
Is she talking about Duram?
"Stop this now. You're going to far."
"Come on, you know me... I don't easily forgive. And as for Songfroid Hymn, you can't possibly think I'd be scared of it, can you?" The grin on her face somehow told Nero what she meant.
"You... are just a clone."
Her expression suddenly darkened. The smile on her face just made her look more menacing. "Hand him over, Neochie-poochie. You know better than to get in my way."
He shook his head and pointed his blade at her instead.
"Very well."