Lumin took a huge leap back, dodging the first strike the Fecit threw at him.
The monster's hand dug into the ground, leaving behind a small pit.
If Lumin had been any slower, that would have surely been his head.
Stepping back, he noticed another Fecit behind him, its hand contorted into a blade form.
Slash!
Lumin caught the monster's arm, stopping the blade from harming him.
Once he had a firm grip, he pulled it close, leaped up, and slammed his knee into the monster's face.
Perhaps it was due to the energy he had been absorbing from animals in the forest, but his physical capabilities had gone through the roof.
Since he still couldn't use essence energy well, it was all he could rely on.
The monster fell to the ground after receiving a knee strike to the face.
But before Lumin could balance himself on the ground, another monster came running.
This time, Lumin was not so lucky.
Attempting to dodge the monster's attack, Lumin slipped on the monster below him, giving the Fecit a chance to attack.
Even while he was falling, he still tried to dodge the monster's attack, turning his body 360 degrees, hoping for it to work.
Though he managed to avoid the blade hitting him in a vital area, he still got sliced at the side of his ribs, blood flowing down his body.
Landing on his feet, the first thing Lumin did was use his hand to hold the injury and stop his blood from spilling, meanwhile keeping a close eye on the monsters closing in on him.
Slow and steady, the five Fecits moved closer toward him, making it seem like they were observing him or perhaps waiting to see what he was going to do.
'There are too many of them…' Lumin grunted in pain, 'The fact they are not going near the house proves they are here for me specifically. Good, I just need to create enough distance to keep Shirley out of danger.'
He stylishly looked left and right, searching for anything he could use as a weapon against the Fecits moving closer to him.
Unfortunately, all he could find were branches and thorn-covered vines. None of which could do any harm to the Fecits.
Gasp!
He was shocked when one of the Fecits began charging toward him.
It happened so fast, his body falling to the ground after receiving a blow to the face.
The monster was now on top of him, its fist clenched to send another attack.
Bam!
Lumin tilted his head to the side, the punch landing a few inches away from him.
He then took hold of the monster's hand, arm-locked it, and pinned it down.
But that could only get him so far.
"Ahhh!"
He cried out, feeling the intense pain of another Fecit stabbing him in the shoulder.
Due to the pain he felt, he was forced to release his hold on the Fecit he had pinned down. As a result, the monster saw this as an opening, clutching its hand around Lumin's neck.
Another Fecit joined in, stabbing the young man's hand to the ground.
The other one took his leg, pulling it as though wanting to rip the man apart.
Lumin tried to fight so very hard. Despite the amount of blood he was losing every second, his determination did not once waver.
He bit the monsters and shoved them to the side, but alas, there was only so much he could do.
In the end, it was pointless; there was nothing he could do against these monsters, not in his current state.
As he lay there, his eyes drifted to the house. Shirley was still asleep.
'I'm glad.' Lumin had a small smile on his face.
For some reason, he was fine with dying there; knowing at least she was safe was enough for him.
Like that, his eyes began to shut, the air going through his nose restricted by the monster choking him.
'Sorry I couldn't keep my promise.' Lumin gave up, his limbs falling to the ground.
But just at the very last second—
"Lumin!!!"
Shirley ran out of the house, her wand in her hand as her eyes searched the entire terrain for him.
When she finally found him on the ground, soaked in his own blood with multiple Fecits on him, her face contorted with terror.
"Lumin!!!"
She called out even more, desperation etched into her voice.
Shirley sped toward the monsters, her red eyes glowing like embers in the moonlight as she stretched her wand to the side, the ground rumbling and cracking, following her as she ran.
"Get away from him!!!"
Pointing her wand staff toward them, the ground erupted, launching jagged, rock-like projectiles, each one whistling through the air with lethal precision, aimed at the monsters.
The earth groaned under her command, and the faint smell of scorched dirt rose as her magic tore through the terrain.
Sensing the danger, a few of them immediately moved away from Lumin as a means to protect themselves from the attack.
However, only two were lucky, as the remaining three met their end right in front of Lumin, their bodies impaled with spikes that glistened wetly in the moonlight.
Glancing at Lumin, Shirley couldn't help but panic; his injuries were too severe. She needed to heal him as soon as possible.
Pik!
"Uhn?"
Shirley was shocked to see a long silver spear pierced through her thigh, the sharp metal glinting coldly as blood trickled down her leg.
She dropped to one knee, her expression still one of surprise.
"A spear…"
Her eyes scanned the two Fecits running toward her, and none of them looked as though they could wield a weapon like the one in her thigh.
While she was still wondering whether she was ambushed or not, another spear stabbed her in the back, coming out of her lower stomach.
Blood spewed from her mouth, but she didn't give up that easily.
She gripped her staff, sending a powerful bolt of lightning toward one of the monsters.
Its body scattered into pieces.
Nevertheless, as she was attempting to do the same to the last Fecit, it stabbed her in the arm, its leg pushing against her chest.
It twisted the blade in her hand, sending jolts of pain through her body.
Though she played it off well, keeping a strong face and holding down her screams.
The monster, not wanting to take any chances, turned its second hand into a blade to slice her head off.
Before that—
Lumin's eyes snapped open with a blue glow.