Chapter 26: Chp-26 Fights on Different Fronts
*Clank!* *Clang.* *CLINK!* *Boom!* *....Boom!!*
While Victor and Armin were fighting in their own separate space, Victor's Direct subordinates and Kibou group along with Ari were fighting inside the forest a few hundred meters in.
[A/N: A side note, this forest is just a small patch of trees the Bandits used as a hideout and have no relation to 'The Forest' our MC is expediting to.]
Constant sounds of metals clashing and occasional magic explosions occured.
On the side of Riku, he was having trouble matching Will's speed and his experience were far better than Riku's.
But the Advantage Riku held was that he held the superiority in durability and vitality which were strengthened by him being a vessel of a lesser spirit.
After a few more clashes both created distance between them as if coming to an agreement.
" I must say, your swordsmanship is quite remarkable for your age. Truly worth of being called the Rising Hero. Perhaps you're a swords genius even.", Will smiled.
" Thanks for the compliment but I can't take the genius title, it belongs to my friend Haku.", Shaking his head, Riku denied Will's praise. Knowing, his friend Haku was more talented with the sword then him.
" Hoho? That other guy fighting Bilo huh? I didn't notice he had any swords on his hands though.", Intrigued with Riku's reply, Will asked.
"He is able to materialize swords matching his desires and situations". 'A Unique skill: Swordmaker, a perfect skill tailored for a sword enthusiast like him', thought Riku.
This Unique Skill allowed the user to form and materiaze any type of sword he wanted with added effects. This effects could range from a simple unbreakable enchantment to a powerful explosion attack.
The only drawback of this skill is that it requires the User's Magicules to create said sword, thus the more complex enchantments it uses the more Magicules it needs. Consequently the user must completely understand the functionality and theory of said sword and enchantments he wishes to put on it.
Although it has a number of restrictions but with increased Magicule quantity and perfect understanding of enchantments and swords a person can become truly powerful with it.
" Interesting, maybe I should have taken him instead of you in this fight. Well no use crying over spilt milk, you are not bad yourself.", Will said, expressing his regret on loosing two chances of fighting a Swordsman at the same night.
"You too, by far you are the most difficult opponent I have encountered.", Said Riku.
For him, Will was truly a formidable opponent and Someone he needed to defeat, no matter what.
----
*Clank!* *Ting!* *Clang.*
With sounds of a sonorous metal hitting a non-sonorous, three figures were fighting their own battle. Two of them seemed to be wielding swords of different sizes and the other they were fighting held a large Hammer of exaggerated proportion.
In Common Sense, the hammer might have already broken the Swords and ended the fight. But contrary to that, whenever the figures clashed, the swords would either completely block the Hammer's strike or skillfully be deflected.
The more they fought the more intense it got, there was lesser talks going in between them compared to Will and Riku's fight.
The Hammer Wielder jumped back and with a grin started the conversation, planning to get some info.
" I never thought, a sword could counter my Hammer strikes. You guys are strong, especially you miss. If you didn't use magic occasionally, I would have guessed you to be a Beserker."
A berserker was a term used for individuals who specialized in using their brawn and strength in battle, overwhelming their enemy with it to secure victory.
This Miss, who was called Ari by that person who is fighting his boss, was certainly strong. Whenever he clashed with her swords it felt like she could break boulders with her punches. And not to mention the occasional thunder and fireball strikes, his instincts screamed at him never to make contact with that, least he does instantly.
Although he spoke to the Miss there, she remained unresponsive as she was from the very beginning, the only one to answer his occasional idle talk was the other guy named Haku.
This guy was also not simple, his small frame and stature was enough to fool a naive person that he was weak. But Bilo's experience spoke that this person was a genius in his craft. Which was true.
This Haku, materialized different swords from time to time making him always stay on his toes. You'd never know when this guy would drop a large claymore on top of you.
Not to mention the variety of enchantments it has. And until now, all those swords were of Rare grades, just thinking of how much it will cost him to buy it made his scalp tingle
Uncontrollably.
'This is fun...yeah this is fun!...hahaha!!how long has it been, me not just smashing my opponent's heads and having a thrilling and romantic fight!'
Unconsciously, Bilo started grinning more maniacally as if his battle maniac side was getting turned on and indeed he felt it did.
His thrill for an intense and enjoyable battle increased as he started to use his skills.
"Skill, Armour Body, Beserker..."
[A/n before any of you guys get confused, This Beserker he uses is not the Unique skill but a copy made by VOTW in Extra Skill form.
I think there is no restriction in two different ranks of skills having same name?]
Extra skill Berserker grants the user enchanced physical strength and a greater brain function capacity. This skill has a usage limit of 5 minutes and consumption rate of Magicule is high. As for Armour Body, as it's name suggests, it strengthens the body into a state similar to having full plate armour.
A faint redish aura started to seep out of Bilo as he activated his Extra skills, while on the other side Haku too started to use his magic buffs.
"Skill, Danger Sense, Instinct. [Reinforce], [Protection], [Agility]."
The Extra skills Danger Sense and Instinct works in conjunction to each other. Both Skills enhances the user's sense to his environment making him able to pick apart minute changes around him along with the ability to sense a threat immediately.
Magic buffs reinforce, protection, and agility grants the enhancement of body reinforcement, body protection to any blunt attacks effectively lowering the attack's effects and giving the user speed respectively.
While the Two powered up, Ari remained motionless. Not uttering any word or activating her own skills. Noticing her unusual behaviour in a fight, Haku couldn't help but ask her.
"Umm..Ari-san won't you use your Skills?"
....
" I see .", getting silence as his answer, Haku Sweatdrops.
He expected it to happen like this, her not responding that is. By far she has uttered only two or three syllables like yes, understood and that too to Armin's questions directed at her. Never did she herself reached out to them and it was only a useless one sided conversation which always resulted in the air getting awkward really quickly.
Bilo, also noticing the unusual behaviour of that miss and her unresponsive act asked.
" Hmn? Is your companion there dumb? Or is she aphasic?"
"Uh, no. Also she is not our companion really, she is with Armin."
" I see. Hey Miss!! Won't you use your Skills? With your strengths you ought to have some right? Or is it you are scared now?"
Bilo, understanding from Haku's experience deliberately tried to taunt hearing hopes of getting a different response but what he got was a silent glare from her.
"Er, i guess that's a negative. Ah! Whatever! Here I come!"
Without any prior warning Bilo charged at the duo. With his skills, he appeared to have gotten a lot more faster.
Swinging his hammer from above him he struck down at the camera causing a blackout.
------
*Booom!* *Boom!!*
On a different scene not far away from Haku, Ari and Bilo's fight. A different brawl was occuring. A fight of magic and magecraft.
Occasional magic blasts and fire magic were thrown around.
The area surrounding the two figures who were thw preparator of this was a scene straight out of an hellscape. The lands was scorched from the constant fireing explosions assaulting it and the trees all around were also burned. Only A crisp charcoal remained of the organic matter.
*Zwoooo! boom*
A thunder strike was heard as a low dust cloud flew out, covering the area. But suddenly, piercing the cloud a few invisible blades of winds passed it and approached the male figure. As if expecting the hidden attack side jumped and evaded the wind strikes.
The male spoke with a slight grin on his face.
" Not bad...a silent but deadly wind attack utilising this cloud of dust against any opponents would have been fatal for them.
But unfortunately this was too expected."
The owner of that sneak attack, a female, also grinned and replied.
"Ofcourse, it was Cliche but I also expected you to dodge that."
" You are fun. Say, why don't you join us? Our boss can have someone like you in our ranks.", The male, named Gil offered.
" I am flattered but I refuse. I don't like scum like you who kill and pillaged innocents.", the female, Tsuzu scoffed.
" Hmm, it is not really our choice you know? We were forced to do this. This world itself made us what we are now.", Gil seemingly tried to justify his actions.
" I disagree. No matter what this world might throw at you. It is you yourself who will decide how to take it. Either you crumble down or stand up to it. It is clear what you choose."
" Heh!, I am starting to like you more.", completely ignoring what Tsuzu said, Gil smirked.
"And I am starting to dislike you now.
Not like you were any amusing before.", said Tsuzu, Not liking Gil's smirk at all, she felt as if those eyes just now flashed a glint of malice and dark energy.
"!!?"
Suddenly the ground beneath Tsuzu collapsed showing a dark shadowy hands about to grab her, but in just a second she jumped out of it.
"Tsk.", Gil tsk-ed seeing his sneak attack failed.
"Look who is the sneaky one now.
Talking to buy time to trick me was a cliche."
" As expected of the Mage of the Hero's Team. You figured me out.", Not too unfazed with Tsuzu's taunt, Gil replied.
"It was easy really. Your entire face and demeanor was such that the only thing that came to mind was an Evil Kitsune.", Tsuzu said, referring Gil's face to a Demonic and Cunning Fox of Japanese folk Lore.
(Or he looks like Sunio from Doraemon, but Alter Version.)
Gil not understanding the strange term used
Responded.
" Hmm. I am unsure if Ishould be offended or be happy."
"The Latter. [Wind Storm]!!"
A small scale storm formed in the vicinity, sucking in all the pebbles, remains of trees and periodically windblades were thrown out at Gil.
The Strom rapidly approached Gil. With now way to escape, he used his own magic to destabilize it.
" [Fire Tornado]!"
A firey whirlwind of tornado formed between the storm and Gil, it's temperature slowly melting the ground underneath it. It started to block the storm and completely fused with it. This fusion destabilized the storm and neutralized it. Both dissipated soon after.
Gil, wanting to be in the upper hand immediately launched a magic spell.
" [Shadow Hands]!"
Five Black shadowy hands which appeared before to unsuccessfully grab Tsuzu, again formed around Gil. As they materialized, with a flick of his hands they went towards Tsuzu.
Feeling the dark magic within those hands she understood not to let it touch her. But she was helpless in this aspect as she lacked any holy magic to counter it and dodging seemed impossible because of the low stamina she now had after the last Large scale magic she used.
" [Holy Shield]!"
An unknown voice sounded after which,
an ethereal white light glowed before Tsuzu and started to condense into hexagonal shapes fully covering her.
It effectively blocked the Shadow Hands and dissipated.
"What? Who did that?", Gil muttered in shock at having his magic blocked.
" Thanks Misu-san", Tsuzu sighed in relief of being saved while looking towards her left where Misu was.
Now, it was revealed that it was Misu who casted the Holy Shield. This particular spell was a downgraded version of the more complex and large scale Holy Barrier.
It's effects were also simple where it blocks any dark magic attributed attack unidirectionally.
But against any elemental or even physical attacks it was ineffective and extremely brittle. Prone to breaking like glass.
All this time Misu was hidden further inside the forest as she was the weakest and also the strongest asset of the group. Her healing skills could be instrumental in this fight while her own fighting prowess was a little above average making her unsuitable to participate in this high intensity battle.
Seeing her friend unable to dodge the black magic attack, she decided to promptly save her.
" So you can use spells like this huh? Can you even us 'That' spell?", Gil mused, thinking if Misu could use the Disintegration spell as well.
If she could, then she was a much higher threat than this mage girl before him.
"*Huff, huff*. Your fights with me. You should focus on me you bastard! [Thunder Lance]!"
Tsuzu, recovering her breath utilised another high powered magic. This time a lightning magic.
This magic shapes itself into a large lighting Lance and gets launched at the enemy. When struck, it creates an unreasonable explosion, and along with it a large amount of shocking element. Effectively Paralyzing the opponent if he didn't get burned to death that is.
As the lightning strike passed the camera a white light spread all over.
----
Turning the scene, we now look at the main battlefield where a not-so-epic battle was going on compared to the ones Team Golden Tear and Kibou were in.
All around the great clearing, tents were burned along with surrounding trees, and smokes were bellowing out in the air. Bodies lying all around the land and a constant sounds of metals clashing and magic being thrown was heard.
Looking at this scene, to anyone it may look like an army had infiltrated it's enemie's camp and a battle broke out.
But in reality, neither sides were even some kingdom's army.
On one side were the Adventurers and on the other side were the Bandits. Considering the numerical advantage, the bandits seemed to be the victor, but in terms of combat capabilities, the Adventurers far out classed them.
As time went on the Adventurers were slowly but surely winning this battle. They steadily killed or captured anyone who surrendered. The casualties on their side was low while the bandit's were rapidly rising.
In one of those areas, we see The Guildmaster and the A ranked team lead by Karyo fighting off some B ranked Bandits.
Killing off thelast remaining on Their side Karyo started a small conversation.
" This was quite easy."
" It was. All because the Bandit's high power are not here.", said Robin, hinting at the reason behind their quick and easy victory.
"Indeed.", Said Karyo, knowing what Robin meant.
"Boss, who are you guys talking about?"
One of Karyo's team mates asked what was inside every one's minds.
Since only the leaders attended the meeting, and not every details were shared not all knew of the reason behind them swiftly securing the victory.
"Oh right. You guys didn't know this but you might have noticed a slight bit of abnormalities right?." Karyo asked.
After thinking about it, the person replied.
"There is a lack of High Powered opponents here, in the reports the Black Bandits had some very powerful people."
" Correct, and it's true, they have the three Direct subordinates of their Leader who are A ranked. The leader itself is almost at a special A rank." Karyo said.
Hearing this the gathered group around Robin and Karyo couldn't help but gasp in shock. A special A ranked person had enough strength to destroy a small nation like the Coralis Kingdom or even take over Gemmera.
" Then where are they?"
" They are being occupied in a fight against Team Golden Tear and Kibou.", Said Robin.
"Golden Tear? Who are they?" "I think I heard about Kibou" "Yeah they are said to be the rising heroes" " Oohh! Then surely they could hold Those guys off"
Such a conversation occured in the area. Although they were not very familiar of who this Golden Tear was. In favour of The Kibou team who was more popular, they Ignored it.
"Just to be clear, the leader of Golden Tear is fighting the Bandit's Leader alone.", feeling a slight need to clarify some of the misconceptions, Karyo said.
"Is he that strong‽" "When did this small country had such powerful people?"
"If you numbskulls want to truly see them, then I suggest you finish this front first!", Ordered Robin who quickly rushed towards the area where a larger concentration of Bandits was present.
"hai!!"
A chorus of agreement resounded. All wanted to witness who this Golden Year's leader was to take on someone like that guy.
So, with revitalized vigour they started to fight more enthusiastically.
"Chargeee !!" "Yeahhhh!"
★★★★★★★
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone