35 Soul Strike

On the other side of the plainlan forest.

There was a two-figure of shadow observing the spectacle from afar.

"Do you honestly intend not to help him?" One of the shadows said in doubt.

"It is fine, don't underestimate the kid, despite everything he was my chosen disciple." The man said while his eyes flashed with brilliant golden light.

"To tell you the truth, even right now I can't believe the Invincible A-ranker would choose a brat like that as his successor." The shadow said while following the man's line of eyesight.

"What do you know about him? You're the first one who saw the kid, yet you didn't even discern his potential." The man responded while he glanced at the shadow figure, "Does pretending to be a receptionist muddled your perception?"

"Perhaps? Being a receptionist is a fun job you know? Would you like to apply to be one, Kyros?" The shadow figure retorted back while Kyros furrowed his eyebrows.

"Seriously Rosaleen, if you keep impersonating like that, the Elder Council might rebuke your right as a Guild Master," Kyros reminded her.

"Pah! Like I care about those greybeards old folks, they can retaliate all they want, It's not like they can challenge me head-on." Rosie retorted in irritation. If Kiro was here, he wouldn't believe that the Goddess of his dream can also speak vulgarly.

"Haa... Speaking of the Council, is that guy still pestering you?" Kyros tried to change the topic. He knew if he keeps bothering her like that, it won't end well for him.

Hearing his question, Rosaleen's face became sullen. "I absolutely don't know what is wrong with that guy. However, after beating him half dead, he eventually gave up pursuing me." Rosie said in a tone that didn't hide her irritation.

Seeing her reaction Kyros could only helplessly sigh. "That guy is not bad in nature you see, It is just your beauty is so otherworldly. Who could've known the little snorty brat in the past, would grow into something like this."

Rosaleen feigned that she didn't catch his words, as she said. "How's the search for our target?"

Hearing her question, Kyros replied with a wicked expression. "We do not need to search for him, my good disciple would lure that demon for us." He said while he continued to observe Kiro.

***

On the Southeast side of the plainlan forest.

Kiro who decisively replenished his mana pool searched for the Goblin Shaman. However, after defeating Borogoblin, he couldn't even find a single trace to locate Demogoblin.

"Odd, how come that Shaman just ran like that, based on your observation that Goblin Shaman is quite sharp, right? Fixie," Kiro said in bewilderment while his eyes rapidly scanned the encompassing forest.

"Master, stay focused that Shaman is certainly intelligent. However, the scary thing about the Goblin Shaman is not their knowledge but its soul strike," Fixie replied before adding. "But worry not, since Fixie is here, soul attack won't have much effect on Master."

"You mean, you can counter mental attack?" Kiro asked curiously.

"Well, Fixie can block mental attack; however, there's a limit on what Fixie can do." She said. "Plus with Fixie around, Master won't be clueless when the Goblin Shaman uses its skill to Master, because Fixie can easily detect a soul fluctuation," Fixie said in a reassuring tone.

When he heard Fixie's reassuring voice, Kiro subsequently able to ease his mind.

Then when he was about to move forward, Kiro heard Fixie's squealing voice. "Master! Be careful, I detect a soul fluctuation 9 o'clock to your left side!" Fixie cried in alarm.

Heeding her warning, Kiro glanced at his left, then he saw the figure of Goblin Shaman who was grinning while hiding in the darkness.

Sensing the impending danger, Kiro voiced out. "How can I counter a mental attack?" He said the only experience he has on the soul attack was at the time in the wilderness. However, because of a few negligence; Kiro suffered a heavy blow. With that reason, he became weary from the soul damage.

"At the moment, Master is not capable enough to counter a soul attack." She said. "Master should just focus on how to kill the monster and let Fixie handle the rest."

Hearing her voice, Kiro could only nod in consent. Then he summoned three arrows, while simultaneously activating his skill.

"[Arrow Shock!]" Kiro shouted the keyword. The arrows darted glaringly, like a shimmering silvery luster at the Goblin Shaman.

*????????????????????ℎ! *????????????????????ℎ! *????????????????????ℎ!*

Three consecutive arrows shriek piercingly with breakneck speed.

Noticing the impending danger, Demogoblin activated his Soul slash.

*????????????????????????!*

A tremendous shockwave disturbed the surrounding woods after their two attacks clashed.

Staring at the commotion, Kiro built up some confidence that he could face the Goblin Shaman.

Kiro dashed forward as soon as the collusion dissipated. Then he saw the surprised expression of the Goblin. Taking advantage of the fact that Demogoblin was stunned in shock.

Kiro gripped his longbow as he took his aim. "[Mana Blast!]" A glaring azure light ignited as Kiro released his arrow.

*????????????????????ℎ!*

The arrow beamed like a laser vertically hitting the defenseless shoulder of the Goblin.

"Keeeeh!" Demogoblin shriek in pain, "Damn lowly human!" He cursed Kiro while activating his skill.

"[Soul Break!]" The Goblin Shaman shouted as an intangible force flew toward Kiro's head.

"Let me handle this, Master!" Fixie said while a warm sensation engulfed Kiro's mind.

Noticing the sudden change, Kiro was more reassured that Fixie can handle a mental strike.

With Fixie's protection, Kiro ignored the upcoming soul attack as he summoned ten plus arrows from his spatial tool.

Then Kiro took the three arrows and placed it to his longbow, while he manipulated the rest using his mana control.

"[Arrow Shock!]" Kiro activated his skill concurrently, but he wasn't done yet. Four arrows suddenly ignited with azure light as he muttered the keyword. "[Mana Blast!]"

The first three arrows flew vertically, while the remaining four diverted into two.

*????????????????! *????????????????! *????????????????!*

After the first wave of the barrages, two glaring azure shafts darted 100 degrees clockwise, while the remaining two flew 80 degrees counterclockwise, pinning the Goblin Shaman to his left and right.

*????????????????????????!*

With a tremendous eruption of Mana blast, the landscape of the forest changed, and at the center of the commotion; a five meters wide crack like a spiderweb appeared on the burned ground. A broken tree trunks scattered throughout the place and the strong smell of burned flesh lingered to the middle of the fissure.

"Haa... Ha... Haaa..." Kiro inhaled a mouthful of air for breathing, as he stared at the center of the collision.

Activating his skill continuously was so taxing, even for the current Kiro. While he watched the smoke fade, at the center Kiro saw the sorry figure of the Demogolin who was lying on the burnt ground. Half of his figure exploded, his body was reduced to the point there was only one-third of his flesh left.

Kiro examined the Goblin Shaman for a couple of minutes, discerning that the Demogoblin stopped breathing, he eventually loosened his guard down.

While Kiro tried to stabilize his condition, a familiar sound echoed inside his head.

『Ting!~』

『The User's Level Increased by one!』

*???????????????????????????? ????????????????????. 14*

-Does the user wish to see his current statistic?

『Yes / No』

During the time he was about to tap the yes button from the status bar, Kiro heard a commotion at 4 o'clock on his right side.

"Bravo! What a magnificent spectacle boy."

The person said while smirking wickedly at him.