Chương 70: Battle Of Attrition 1

A few hundred metres from Ben's current position a battle was taking place. Six men in shiny silver armour were protecting a carriage with their lives on the line, fending off another group of armoured men in a darker shade of gray.

The fight was in a stall mate despite the men in gray armour having the higher number. Swordbeams after swordbeams flew across the sky. Sparks from the clashes of metal fell to the ground. Burn marks, frost, elevated earth, and sliced plants can be seen everywhere.

"Bernard, why put up this meaningless struggle? We only want you to hand over the young miss and things will go well for you, what do you say?" a man who seems to be the leader of the gray armoured men said.

"Aloon, I never thought you are such an ingrate. After all the family had done for you, you still go ahead to betray us?!" the leader in silver armour, Bernard, shouted angrily at his opponent.

After exchanging some words the two groups continued their fight, but according to the difference in number, the men in silver armour are doomed to forever rest in these woods.

***

Ever since they went into the woods this would be the first time Ben would frown and stop the siblings.

"Ben, what is it? Why the frown?" Stephan quickly noticed the change and asked.

"There are two groups of people who are engaged in a fight less than three hundred metres from us just ahead. One of the groups isn't that strong but they outnumber the other by 2:3," Ben spoke yet the siblings just kept staring at him like some idiot. "I have this skill that can work in the woods..."

"..."

"...It's wizard stuff."

"Oh, why didn't you say so earlier? We were thinking you were starting to lose it." Vivi laughed then asked. "Do you think you can help them?"

"What?! That is none of my business. Just hope we don't get dragged into their mess. Let's go, maybe will avoid them." Ben refused immediately. They continued on their journey.

The more they drew close the more they could hear the clashing of metal against each other with occasional explosions and elemental energy unleashed into the air. Battle cries were loud.

"Get her!"

"Don't let her get away!"

"Mi lady! Run for your lif... Argh!" The man fell with a sword impaling the back of his chest.

'Looks like I won't be able to avoid the inevitable.' Ben gave a little sigh. Even after using Lucy to monitor the fight going on in the distance six figures were heading his way, and fast.

"Help! Help! Somebody, please help me!" A young lady in a dirty red battle suit was running with all her might. Cuts and bruises can be seen all over her body, blood was splattered on her forehead. It could be deduced that she had a fair share of the battle that is going on.

Elsa was extremely happy when she saw a group of people up front, that happiness disappeared when she asked herself if the people in front might even help her. She could only try her best to plead. Elsa ran towards Ben and his group out of desperation to save herself and distance herself from her pursuers.

Ben and the others was forced to stop because of the young lady obstructing their way, stopping them from advancing. Ben took his time to examine the girl. She had brown curly hair and black eyes. Blood flowed out of her wounds. Ben could tell she was a swordswoman at a glance. It was just her elemental seed that gave her away. It was unstable, not like that of a wizard's unstable spell model, but because of overexertion and exhaustion.

"Please, I beg you help me!" Elsa dropped to her knees and begged in front of Ben.

"Ben...?" Vivi whispered to Ben.

Ben couldn't stop his inner conscience from disturbing him to help her even though he didn't want to. It was the same thing with what had happened at the Badlands in Eveline's, he couldn't possibly leave the girl when her clearly has the power to help.

Listening to the forest Ben knew she was pure of heart and kind. He rode his horse forward to kneeling girl. Immediately four men and a woman in gray armour rushed forward and stopped, leaving Elsa between the two groups.

"Young lady, don't make things more difficult for yourself, why not come with us so we can discuss on better terms. What do you say?" The leader of the armoured men said to the girl kneeling before Ben. He totally disregarded Ben's existence. He already confirmed that only the boy in front had an elemental seed, but considering Ben age, he shouldn't be higher than an Entrance-level elemental swordsman, if he's lucky then First-level.

Ben didn't stop moving towards the girl on his horse and reached the girl on her knees. "Ah, miss, I and my friends missed our way, can you please lead us to Nalazi? You can get on my horse if you don't mind, we don't have that much space." Ben stretched his hand to the girl on the floor. He spoke as though they weren't in a very tense situation. He too total disregarded the other group.

Everyone, including the kneeling girl was stunned by what Ben was saying.

Isn't the girl covered in blood, kneeling, asking for help to save her life?

Why then would you be asking her for her help?

Even the siblings were a bit confused and couldn't understand Ben's words. Fortunately, Elsa was able to think quickly, hearing the name of their destination brought excess joy to her heart. For the stranger to ask for her help, doesn't that mean he'll help her in return! She stood up and took his firm, assuring hands.

Ben pulled her over his horse, behind him. He was glad she was able to understand between the lines of his words.

"Yes... yes sir, I can lead you to Nalazi." Elsa said as tears burst out of her eyes.

Only now did Stephan understand what Ben did. Even though Ben didn't want to fall into their muddy waters', he could still use someone to push him in. Therefore, using this approach he wouldn't let anyone harm whoever that is under his protection. Because of this he subconsciously looked at his sister.

"Excuse me, young man. But that girl is with us!" the leading soldier said angrily. He wasn't the one to let his target go away no matter what.

"Huh, really? She didn't tell me that," he looked over his shoulder and asked the girl behind him. "Are you with them, miss?" hearing this question made the girl hug Ben tighter, she furiously shook her head. "See gentlemen and lady, I believe you must have the wrong person, if you'll excuse us well be taking our leave now." Ben said in the most polite way ever and stirred his horse, however he was blocked.

A flaming swordbeam landed in front of Ben's horse making it raise it's two front hooves to the air in fear. Good thing the girl, Elsa, held onto Ben as though her life depended on it. Well it actually did.

The four men and woman surrounded Ben since he was at the front and with their target as they gathered their element ready to strike at any moment. They didn't have to worry about the two red haired people behind Ben, once they were done they'll take them out later. No witnesses.

"Listen kid, if you know what's good for you, better hand over the girl, if not things will get really messy around here. It's five of us against one of you, how will you protect yourself and your two friends. You better think wisely boy." the leader said making the rest of his gang laugh out loud.

"I'd be more worried for you and your friends if I were you." Ben said with an unperturbed smile. "Stephan, take the girl and Vivi and head towards the eastern woods over there you'll find a cave stay there till I return., I'll try to hold them off." Ben said whispering to Stephan and the two girls.

"What arrogance!!" the female soldier shouted angrily.

"I don't got time for this. If you don't hand her over I'll take her over your dead body!" the leader shouted, waving his broad sword. Swordbeams flew at Ben and the siblings.

Ben quickly took out his sword and sent out his own swordbeams at all the swordbeams coming at him, dispersing then mid-flight. He jumped down with a graceful front flip then landed with a squat.

"Then over my dead body it shall be." Ben said stomping the ground. The temperature dropped down drastically sending chills and frost everywhere.

"Do... Dom... Domain!" the female soldier stammered. Their faces ashen.

"Impossible! He certainly cannot be a Fourth-level elemental swordsman at this age!" a soldier with long hair shouted in fright.

"Unless he is using a forbidden method. That should mean he won't last for long. All five of us can last longer and wear him off." Aloon said in a menacing glare.

"Hahaha! let's see who'll last longer in this battle of attrition then!" Ben shouted.

Ben held onto his broadsword in his hands. It was his latest masterpiece, a 55-base skill sword. He didn't want to show his powers of a wizard since he didn't know any actual spells. He also felt that he didn't need to as his opponents were only First and Second-level elemental swordsmen.

Ben slashed forward with greater force towards two different direction. Aloon and the female soldier were the strongest among their group so they were able to fend off his attacks, but barely.

Being fast was also an advantage to Ben when combined with the Forest Parade. His enemies could clearly see him but not hearing a single sound from their opponent while he runs around them became scary. He was obviously toying with them. After ten minutes of exchanging blows and moves one of his opponent started showing signs of exhaustion.

"Why don't you stand and fight like a man!" Aloon shouted.

The frustration of missing all his attacks and nearly hurting his own men in a crossfire, the chill that kept increasing at the same time slowing their movements and blood flow, Aloon feared that they would lose one or two of his men before the battle of attrition ends.

"Haha! Can you hear yourself talk? Five against one and you say I'm not being a man! Humph." Ben gave a cold snort.

Finally one of Aloon's men fell out of exhaustion, the chill from the domain and slight carelessness which Ben took as an opportunity to strike took him down.

Besides to Ben he felt they were weak, nevertheless, this would be Ben's ever first kill ever since he came into this world. Ben's hands were trembling but because his life was in danger at the moment that feeling left his heart almost instantly.