hotmtlnovel Book 3: Chapter 18
Book 3: Chapter 18
Book 3: Chapter 18
Target
The Coeurl and me who was riding on its back escaped from the deep underground together.
It would be difficult for me to escape from that place by myself, but perhaps because of the fundamental difference in our physical ability, the Coeurl managed to run up that brittle wall before it crumbled.
The Coeurl didnt stop there and kept running using a withered tree so big it was as though it was towering to the sky. Using that tree as foothold, it leaped up even higher and from that position I looked around to ascertain the situation.
The sun was still high in the sky when we encountered Grave, but now the sun was already sinking quite a lot. The blue sky was starting to be encroached by orange color.
Is the battle still going on? I believe even now that Viro and Samantha wouldnt lose even with Grave as their opponent, but there was still a possibility that they were in danger even if they didnt lost.
Over there.Follow current novels at novelhall.com)
GAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
The Coeurl responded to my fighting spirit and its killing intent also shot up without restrain. The Coeurl landed on the dry ground heavily that it caused a crack to form before rushing through the desiccated forest while avoiding the holes littering the ground.
Wait for meIm going there right now.
**
You did well hanging on for this long, Sandstorm Witch. Is this due to your wisdom that come from you age?
Dont act high and mighty you brat-!!
The old woman moved in high speed using level 4 Body Strengthening and Martial Art despite being a rank 5 sorcerer. Countless rock bullets fired at Grave like a stone bombardment.
It was the earth magic Stone Shot, but in the hand of a skilled sorcerer like Samantha, it boasted a power that was nearly equal to level 3 Stone Lance that was effective against living creature while still maintaining the mana cost of level 2 sorcery.
As expected it would be difficult to deflect this number of attacks, so Grave leaped to dodge while at the same time Viro attacked from behind. But
Splash
Kuh
Grave fired water sorcery even with his posture unbalanced. Viro blocked that by using his mythril short sword that had good conductivity for mana, but Graves kick that was unleashed in that timing blew him away.
Guhoh
Grave not only had swordsmanship and stealth skills, his attack sorcery was also at a level that was practical for real battle. Even so before this his skill in that field was only at level 2 just like his former colleague Sera, but he had trained his sorcery ability until level 3.
Your attack is getting monotone there, Viro. Are you worried about your disciples situation?
Shut your trap-! Dark Misttsu!
Viro too had trained his dark sorcery until level 2 in these three years. His Magic Power Control had also reached level 4 through that training. With that his Body Strengthening had also gotten more precise which increased his combat strength.
Before he didnt put that much importance in his individual combat prowess but, perhaps seeing the way Aria fought where she continued to fight powerful enemies alone might have influenced him.
Even if his reason was something stupid like not wanting to get overtaken by his disciple, in reality it was actually difficult for adventurer of rank 4 and above to constantly harbor the desire to improve like that.
The dark mist that Viro let loose blocked Graves sight. Just before Grave could move to escape from the range of that mist, Samantha casted her sorcery.
Rock Skin
Samantha covered herself with armor type sorcery that covered herself with earth element magic particles. The armor would absorb damage until a certain amount. Grave realized that Samatnha came rushing using Viros darkness as smokescreen.
So thats your play.
Night Vision didnt work inside this darkness that was made from magic particles. It would also be difficult to grasp her location using detection.
Normal attack would be ineffective against Rock Skin. Even though the opponent was a sorcerer, she was a veteran adventurer with level 4 Body Strengthening, so it was possible that an attack from far outside Graves imagination would come the moment his attack got blocked.
He thought that he would be able to cut the Rock Armor altogether with Samantha herself if he used Battle Technique, but if his attack missed inside this darkness, his opponents wouldnt be so kind to wait until he recovered from his freezing state.
(I can only back away here.)
Grave made that judgment and jumped down. At the same time Samanthas sorcery was fired once more from inside the darkness.
Water Ball
Grave knew about this level 3 water sorcery because he could also use it. It was a sorcery with weak power and also slow, but the advantage of this sorcery was that it was an AoE attack which was rare for level 3.
Kuh
Grave got washed away by the surging water pressure. He would be able to hold his ground if he was standing on soil ground, but doing that on a wooden plank would require special equipment.
Viro aimed for that moment and leaped even while getting hurt by the water pressure too. Their figures crossed and Viros blade finally landed on Grave, cutting his side.
Eat that you fucker!
Dont let your guard down boy-!!
Samantha who came out of the darkness scolded Viro as she stood beside him with vigilance.
Grave grimaced at the blood that flowed out from his side, even so he glared at the two to keep them in check before using healing sorcery on himself.
Aria-!!
Viros joyful yell spread through the battlefield. Aria muttered before that voice faded.
Let go
Grave held up his sword to respond against the Coeurl that was just a moment away from attacking him. But before he could swing down, the Coeurl stopped rushing as though it had pulled the emergency brake. Aria was snapped away from its powerful tail and flew like bullet. Her black dagger stabbed deeply into the shoulder of Grave who was taken aback in surprise just for a moment by that.
You should just die already.
So youre alive, Aria!!
Grave displayed a warped emotion that was similar to delight even though his shoulder was stabbed with a surprise attack.
This is unexpected!! FUHAHAH!
Grave let out a twisted laugh while swinging his sword at Aria using his still usable hand. Aria too seemed to have predicted that and quickly jumped away, dodging the blade with a somersault while pointing his fingertip at Grave from midair.
Pain
A phantom agony that dealt intense shock. But Grave was already aware of that. It wasnt something to be feared as long as he was ready for it.
Something like that at this pointtsu!?
The phantom pain that should be endurable gave him a sharper pain that expected. That slight difference stopped his movement just for an instant.
(Impossible, did she increase her sorcery level in this short time-!)
But, even that only lasted for an instant. Aria couldnt continue attacking properly while she was still midair. Viro and Samantha too still hadnt been ready to get back into the fight due to their momentary confusion.
Even so, Graves enemies werent just them.
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!
The Coeurl that let go of Aria attacked Grave using its remaining momentum. Grave just barely managed to avoid having his throat getting tore apart, but his left arm was bitten off as the Coeurls mouth passed through.
Guooooooooooooooooh!!
As expected even Grave let out a pained moan from that. He leaped back to open a distance from Aria and the Coeurl.
Stone Shot
Samantha fired her sorcery from a distance and it pierced Graves side. A knife that Viro threw also slashed open his right shoulder.
There Aria swiftly swiped aside her skirt while pulling out a throwing knife and targeted his forehead. Grave could only block that by throwing his remaining sword.
Then without pause he opened the distance even more using martial art that was unthinkable from someone who just lost an arm. His arm reached toward his the back of his waist while he looked toward Aria with joy that he couldnt completely conceal.
Impossible, for you to tame the Coeurl. Did you turn fate itself into your ally?
Dont talk of me using that kind of cheap word.
Aria turned a cold gaze toward Grave with her pendulum at the ready vigilantly. Graves eyes snapped wide open and next he suddenly began to laugh.
Fuhahahahahah, certainly its just as you said. I dont know you. And its just as I expected from the start, Im right to think of you as dangerous.
Grave had lost one arm and also his favorite weapons. Even so his eyes were still filled with vigor as he fixed his gaze on Aria. Then he suddenly took out a sphere from behind his waist and threw it on the wooden highway.
Dont let Grave get away
Viro who saw that rushed forward, but Samantha yelled to stop him.
Boy, get back! Thats poison smokescreen!
The smoke with strange smell spread through the area instantly. Even so the Coeurl still tried to chase after Grave, but it couldnt endure the odd smell and leaped aside to dodge.
With the field of vision covered up, Arias eyes that could see magic particles had their detection ability reduced sharply. Even so Aria still readied her pendulum vigilantly. It was then Graves voice came from inside the smoke.
I wont target small fry like the duke anymore. Aria, I shall recognize your value. Youre my target from now on. Show me how youll protect the princess. Ill definitely come to kill her.
Graves thin presence vanished completely together with that voice.
He got away.
Aria covered her mouth with her shawl while muttering that with a low tone. Grave was a scout type light warrior who could even use light sorcery, so she judged that it would be pointless to give chase.
Grave declared that he would target Aria even while telling her to protect the princess. His intent must be to limit Arias movement by targeting the princess. But putting it another way, as long as Aria stayed at the side of Princess Elena, Grave wouldnt target anyone else other than her.
Aria understood that and narrowed her eyes quietly, glaring at the direction where Grave vanished into.
.
Bring it on, Grave. Next time Ill definitely kill you.