Chapitre 39: 39. Desperate Escape

Blaze and the rest had their backs against each other.

All the hyenas were breathing fire as they approached slowly while laughing menacingly.

Priscilla, Olivia, and Sophia were shivering badly. Blaze thought that fear and shivering might kill them before the hyenas got to them. Slowly but steadily, the temperature around them surged as the dry leaves succumbed to the fiery breath of the approaching predators, igniting flames that cast an oppressive and suffocating heat.

"How many times can you perform that Tier-2 weapon spell?" Blaze suddenly asked Aurora about the attack she used to cut the bear's stomach open.

"Once and I've used it," Aurora replied.

"Robin, you have yours?" Blaze voiced his suspicion.

"Of course, I have my Tier-2 Weapon Spell – Lightning Overload," Robin said with pride.

"How does yours work?" Blaze asked but added after he remembered Robin's nature, "Keep it short."

"Short it is. The history of the lightning overload from the ancient—ahh!"

Aurora stepped on Robin's foot, making him yelp in pain. Blaze's head dropped in frustration.

'Robin still thinks they are joking?' Blaze thought.

"He can shoot highly destructive lightning from the tip of his trident," Aurora explained sharply.

"What's the range of the attack?" Blaze asked in a whisper.

"The triple-head of the trident," Aurora replied with her sword held out.

Blaze had a guess but wasn't sure what she meant. However, he still nodded.

"Robin, you're going to open a path for us. Aurora, You and I will swiftly rush out with Robin," Blaze said calmly.

"What about them?" Aurora asked and pointed at the other girls not mentioned.

"They can leave by themselves. Burden," Blaze replied calmly. Priscilla, Olivia, and Sophia shivered at Blaze's words.

"Either we leave together, or you can choose to leave on your own. Besides, Robin is on my side," Aurora stated, a devilish smile playing on her lips.

Blaze turned his gaze towards Robin and noticed him standing by Aurora's side, confirming their alliance.

With a sinister grin, Aurora continued, "And let's not forget, the sword belongs to Sophia. I highly doubt your ice sword can penetrate the skin of these Awakened hyenas."

Blaze maintained his composure, staring at Aurora calmly without succumbing to anger. His thoughts remained concealed behind his poker-faced expression. Meanwhile, the hyenas drew closer, and the air grew heavy with an acrid scent, intensifying the tension in the atmosphere. Amidst the mounting confusion, Blaze nodded three times, leaving everyone perplexed by his cryptic gesture.

Blaze quickly decided within three seconds. "Okay. We will take them."

"Really?" Aurora was taken aback by Blaze's unexpected agreement. She had anticipated a stubborn response from him. Despite her attempts to maintain a tough facade, she knew deep down that they needed Blaze's guidance to escape the encirclement of the hyenas.

"Yes, but if anyone falls behind, I won't turn back. So, when Robin clears the path, stay close to me. Let nothing stop you or make you falter, even if the heavens themselves crumble," Blaze stated firmly before addressing Robin, "Robin, clear the path ahead for us."

"I thought we were supposed to retreat," Robin expressed his confusion.

"If you want to survive, you all must listen to me from now on," Blaze asserted, realizing there was no time for lengthy explanations as the hyenas closed in and the searing heat brushed against their faces.

Robin exchanged a glance with Aurora, who nodded in approval, acknowledging the necessity of following Blaze's lead.

With a resolute expression, he hoisted his trident high and brought its base crashing down upon the ground.

A surge of vibrant purple lightning snaked its way up Robin's arm, swirling and crackling with electrifying energy. The tendrils of lightning gracefully coiled themselves around the trident, their dazzling display captivating all who beheld it. Some stray arcs of lightning cascaded down, illuminating the surroundings with bursts of brilliant flashes.

Yet, Robin's grip remained steadfast, refusing to relinquish the amassed power. Instead, he poured more of his mana into the trident, fueling the lightning with an intensified brilliance. The bolts flickered with a newfound sharpness, their numbers multiplying exponentially. Each bolt seemed to possess a malevolent life force, dancing, and weaving in a mesmerizing symphony of raw power.

Gradually, the trident underwent a breathtaking transformation. It morphed into a magnificent lightning-holder, adorned with an awe-inspiring multitude of thousands, if not millions, of menacing lightning bolts. Each bolt crackled and writhed, casting an ethereal glow that bathed the surroundings in an otherworldly radiance.

The hyenas were struck by an overwhelming sense of foreboding as they beheld the lightning trident. The hyena that had been feasting on the bear let out a thunderous roar, signaling the others to charge forward in a frenzied onslaught.

In that crucial moment, Blaze unleashed his dormant, unbridled killing intent. It surged forth like an unstoppable tempest, enveloping the area in an aura of sheer menace. The hyenas, instinctually sensing the impending danger, recoiled in fear, their ferocity momentarily subdued. Yet, that fleeting moment of hesitation proved to be all that Robin needed to unleash his devastating assault.

"Eat this!" Robin's voice boomed with authority as he forcefully directed his trident forward. In an instant, three colossal bolts of lightning erupted from the three prongs of the trident, hurtling through the air with blinding speed. Each primary bolt crackled with smaller branches of lightning, branching out in various sizes and directions.

The sheer power of the bolts was undeniable, as they swiftly and mercilessly annihilated everything in their path. The hyenas, caught in the wrathful embrace of the lightning, were instantaneously incinerated, their bodies reduced to ash in a matter of seconds. Fallen leaves and gigantic fallen trunks, touched by the searing bolts, ignited in flames, adding to the chaos that ensued. The purple light emitted by the lightning illuminated the faces of all present, a haunting reminder of the destructive might that the lightning possessed.

"Go!" Blaze's commanding roar reverberated through the air, leaving no room for hesitation. His keen eyes caught sight of Robin's weakened state, a subtle pallor adorning his features, yet Blaze chose to push aside his concern for the moment, knowing that their immediate focus must be on the battle at hand.

With his thick and blunt ice sword gripped firmly in one hand and the katana in the other, Blaze surged forward along the newly cleared path, releasing a torrent of water to douse the flames that threatened to consume the surroundings. His senses sharpened, his instincts honed to a razor's edge.

In a symphony of anger, the living hyenas unleashed a collective roar before launching themselves at Blaze with a ferocity born of desperation.

The first hyena, its maw agape, spewed forth a torrent of searing flames akin to a ruthless flamethrower. Undeterred, Blaze swiftly wielded his ice sword as a shield, using its frozen power to deflect the scorching onslaught. Without missing a beat, he closed the distance between himself and the hyenas, moving with the swiftness and grace of a phantom.

Bending slightly, Blaze deftly slashed at the hyena's legs, severing its upper limbs with a single clean strike before pressing forward without hesitation. He knew that any lapse in momentum would provide an opportunity for the hyenas to close in from behind. In this relentless dance of survival, Aurora would struggle to hold them off. Therefore, Blaze opted for a swift and efficient tactic, aiming to reduce their numbers by severing their limbs. Perhaps targeting their necks would prove to be a more formidable challenge.

After rigorous training, Blaze meticulously refined his ice sword creations, ensuring that they possessed a resilience that could withstand the scorching heat of flames.

With his ice sword serving as an impervious shield and his katana as a lethal cleaver, Blaze deftly severed the limbs of any foe that dared cross his path. The severed limbs of seven hyenas bore testament to his formidable skill, and ability to precisely hit the joint on their legs. A resounding roar from the hyena that had been feasting on the bear caused the others to momentarily retreat.

Unbeknownst to them, a sinister plan was unfolding. The hyenas, regrouping behind the team, had been preparing a devastating surprise. Suddenly, they unleashed their collective fury in the form of an infernal flamethrower, combining their flames into a colossal and unstoppable storm.

The hyenas surged forward, their flames engulfing everything in their path as they closed in on the team. The tempest of fire grew in magnitude, threatening to consume them all.

With unwavering determination and nothing blocking his path, Blaze pushed himself to his limits, racing forward at full speed, his mind focused solely on survival. In the face of imminent danger, Blaze already made up his mind.

'If the rest die, it's their business. I have already tried my best.'

However, a piercing scream shattered the chaos, causing Blaze to abruptly turn. His eyes fell upon Olivia, lying on the ground in distress. Without any trace of emotion, Blaze made a swift decision to leave her behind, recognizing that the colossal inferno approaching from behind posed a far greater threat than the bear itself.

Even Aurora and the rest, driven by sheer survival instinct, abandoned all else and fled for their lives as the relentless flames surged closer, leaving destruction in their wake.

The hyenas ceased their reckless onslaught of flames after claiming their first victim. One hyena, drawn to Olivia's vulnerable form, approached her as tears streamed down her cheeks. It opened its jaws, unleashing a torrent of flames.