Chapter 221 - Distance (7)

Luke wondered if that was some sort of trap. The enemy was wide open, so he could use the chance to kill the bastard. While that might make things easier for him, it certainly would give a start to the conflict, and his allies weren't ready yet. 

"If you accept it, my army will be on standby and won't do anything. You can even send yours to help the others," The horse-face said.

What would happen if he refused was obvious. He would hide behind his army until his enemies were tired and would come to finish them off. Unlike the others, Luke's army was basically made of low-level skeletons. Those guys were really smart. By tempting Luke like that, he might be killed easily, and he won't have the chance to use Necromancy.

"Don't accept it, Luke," Rina said. "It is obviously a trap."

Luke already knew that, without their support, he would be in deep waters. Still, that was a golden chance to make the battle a lot shorter. He couldn't let such a good chance go to waste... the enemy was confident in winning a direct fight, so he could use that chance and smash both his confidence and his face on the ground. Those who treat Luke like a light weight will have to endure his power and rage...

"Sorry, but I will accept the duel," Luke said. "Shalia, don't interfere, and Rina… focus on keeping yourself and your friends alive."

"... Understood," Rina said after understanding the message.

"That is more like it," That guy grinned like a horse. "Only a powerful and prideful warrior could have defeated him… we will start when all the armies of your friends become ready."

Luke couldn't have asked for more. Still, he only ended up raising his guard even more since that was too good for him, and he would have a lot of time to prepare. In any case, some of his friends came to check what had happened, and he explained to them.

"That is too reckless… even for your, Luke," Amanda said. 

"It is indeed dangerous, but it is a good opportunity," Cresta said. "We won't have to split our forces even more."

Cresta was only worried about the things that would favor her group. It was only natural. Besides, even if she did not have faith in Luke, she knew that he won't go down that easily or fast.

"What are the chances of this being part of some plot?" Rachel asked. "It doesn't make any sense for them to wait for us to get ready."

"Fifty percent, I would say… by waiting, they are luring us for a total fight. They are betting everything on this… On the chance of seeing my friends and me in a place they can reach," Cresta replied. "Regardless, everything will be ready in a couple of minutes. Assume your positions."

Luke returned to his previous position, and after a while, the horse-face appeared with his arms crossed and while he was grinning. That sure was annoying, but Luke decided not to make that be apparent… 

Just as promised, the horse-face waited until both armies were ready to fight, and at the same time, the first monster took a step forward. He grabbed his ax with his supersonic speed. He tried to split Luke in two. Luke had predicted that attack and managed to jump backward in time, but he didn't even see the arms of that guy moving. The ax hit the ground and created a ten meters deep barrier, and also cracked the ground in the area… the strength of that guy was at least two times higher than Luke's…

Instead of disappointment, the horse-face looked pretty satisfied. He prepared another attack, but then he got surprised when Luke suddenly approached with Stinger. The spear almost pierced the creature's neck… but Luke noticed that the enemy followed the movements of his spear with its eyes perfectly… he was also, at the very least, two times faster.

The horse-face tried to cut Luke with a horizontal slash, but before he could even start it, Luke used Stinger again and tried to pierce his wrist. The enemy retreated to avoid the damage. A flurry of thrusts prevented the enemy from raising the ax, but in the end, that guy just dropped his weapon and then tried to hit Luke with a roundhouse kick. That one had been fast as well. Luke didn't have time to dodge it, so he blocked with his spear, only to feel the bones of his arms cracking while he was sent flying fifty meters away from the point of impact. For several seconds, he was unable to use his arms, and the enemy used that chance to attack with the ax. His horizontal slash added with the power of his charge, made the horse-face create a powerful gust of wind that flew for hundreds of meters… but it didn't hit Luke. Once again, he had predicted the attack and dodged to the side after using Dash and Stinger.

"His attacks are simple and easy to predict, but he isn't trying his best yet…" Shalia said. "If he tries hard enough, even if you block his attacks…"

"I know… I have to take some risks," Luke muttered. 

The problem was the fact that Luke was already taking too many chances while fighting alone as if that wasn't enough. The enemy didn't give him much time to think. Luke used the effect of his spear added with the power of fifty mana points to strike back. The enemy sensed that and decided to check which attack was more powerful. Both weapons collided and created a shockwave. Consequently, a crater formed around them with some cracks on the ground. The horse faces charge had ended, but Luke still was pushed backward for twenty meters.

"Not even with that much… I will need the double of that mana to make our attacks have the same power," Luke thought.