Adrian's POV
For a moment everything stilled. The cracklings of wood splints died down as the fires of the several hundreds of torches paused. Winds no longer howled, but listened. Leaves no longer rustled,
but watched.
The silence of the moment seemed to draw in the entire forest, as if it waited with bated breaths to watch the drama unfold.
The silence shattered when Housten followed Nyx's gaze and eyed me momentarily, his chainmail clinking at the sudden movement.
Then stepping forward, his posture threatening, he replied back,"Madam Saviour, I would ask you to move away from our path.
You might be blessed with the gift of invincibility but that doesn't make you any stronger than us. Your childish games don't amuse me, your arrogance and your need to show your dominance can only carry you as far as this.
Look at behind me...such a paltry company of guards, heck most of them are even simple commoners who just wanted to go earn some coins for their own families...do you really think trying to bully us with that huge number behind your back makes you look strong?
No, ma'am..." Then sighing like a man grown tired of seeing the heights of stupidity, he added.
"...Each of you are a blemish to the greatness of the Saviours. A trash that should have never come into existence."
His voice rumbled more, the words reverberating inside his helm.
Nyx gritted her teeth silently as Housten took out his sword from the scabbard and took a stance.
The Chief's words seemed to have ignited a fire within the guards. Seeing their Chief take a stance, they all rushed forward and made an encirclement around him. They raised their spears; poised for the command.
If one could look under my own helm, they would probably see my half-opened mouth.
But honestly...
What was that bullshit he just said? If this girl hasn't seen the world as it is, then nobody probably did.
Did he just make all of that up to increase the morale of the guards?
A wry smile soon crossed my features as I saw the malicious look directed my way by those blue coloured irises of the blue haired girl.
Right now, I was in the disguise of yet another guard, a different face and body. I was even covered by armor from head to toe...and yet she easily recognised me.
Even [Appraisal] won't be able to see through my disguise...
So how is she-- no wait, that's wrong.
A sudden realisation struck me and all at once many of the events started making sense, as if a puzzle was finally getting solved.
It's not her, is it? It was never her...but rather her backer who has been playing with me this whole time.
"I see." I whispered softly as I readied my spear.
The battle began. A shower of blood and ethereal particles followed.
The City Guards kept on firing spells from their weapons as they channeled their mana through it.
The players on the other hand, effectively stopped the barrage of spells by erecting a huge barrier in front of them.
They started closing in, withstanding the intense pressure from the continuous spells on their defenses.
I had noticed this the moment they arrived. The players behind her weren't the same ignorant, untrained people from back then. Instead, they were not only well trained as they slashed through spells, blocked them and rushed at a maintained pace....but also, they seemed aware of the fact that this wasn't a game.
It was reality itself. And that's what terrifed me.
Why?
Because of the already disadvantageus position we were in...the level difference.
The lowest level I could see among these players was a young boy of lvl 32 and the highest level was that of Nyx.
Lvl 58.
Her growth was nothing short of stunning. Growing more than 30 levels in less than two weeks was an incredible feat in itself.
But the problem here was that the average of the guards were of lvl 15 only.
I was myself at lvl 0...and Housten at lvl 40 as of now.
Though the others thought of me as around Housten's level, given my strength.
I went completely in defence during the initial struggle. Using the gaps between the guards, I sometimes slew one or two stray saviours before going back to position.
This was not the battle of strength...but rather of perseverance and drawing out the time. The more this fight continues, the more our opponents weaken and thus, the more our chances of turning the tables over them.
Glancing sideways, I saw Housten out of the encirclement facing off Nyx and few of her strongest.
His hands shook as he blocked three incoming strikes with one sweep.
A swipe to the left..attack blocked.
A stab forward. Blocked.
Crouching, he grasped the sword in both of his hands and sweeped it upwards.
[Wind Breathing: Flash]
A lvl 41 saviour headed straight towards the attack, flaming fire coating his sword ready to end the Chief. However, just before their swords clashed, Housten's wind technique activated as he suddenly moved so fast that it almost looked like he had teleported.
Before the player could even react, Housten killed two players behind the man with a single sweep.
Housten's full on offence, however, came at a cost as the player he had just bypassed pierced his left extended foot.
Jumping forward, Housten turned back quickly and blocked a fatal strike.
"Give up already man, no need to be so stubborn." A silver haired man at the side mocked his efforts.
Housten moved, his steps directing him towards the man who had openly mocked him.
At the same moment, a grunt of pain erupted from him when a blue haired girl slashed his wrist making him loosen his hold on the sword. He tried to reach for it but stopped as the girl kicked it away from him.
He dodged an incoming attack from the side, only to be kicked on his chest a second later by the girl.
He sprawled on the ground, fearing the worst.
"Getting distracted in the midst of the battle huh...amateurish mistake. Tch, tch, tch" Nyx provoked the Chief lying in front of her.
She then raised her sword to end his life. But before she could even bring down the sword...
"Arghh" A saviour's cry of agony filled the air and a moment later,
"I could say the same for you, Lady Nyx."