Chapter 369: Stopped to Kill

Ned doubled his effort. Without the Overclock, he has to find a way to defeat the transformed puppet.

Using spells alone was not enough to even scratch the surface of its ceramic skin. Although the force was enough for it to slow the puppet down.

Ned focused, he could feel many different kinds of energy around him coming from the team that fought the magical beast.

The team that was fighting the beast was doing their best. Surprisingly, their cooperation could withstand the abnormally evolved beast.

One of the four knights, in the middle of the line slowly moved forward, left hand holding the shield that was being enchanted by one of the mages behind. While on the other hand, he held a standard sword, perhaps graded D or C enhanced as it was glowing in white light. The knight left the remaining knights and proceed to face the beast.

Although the light from the shield was somewhat blinding the onlookers, it wasn't enough to hide the plate he was wearing. After raising his hand, the knight took a moment to conjure his spell while Fireballs and water splashes were being cast toward the beast. Of the three mages, one of them left and started to conjure spells of white light behind a couple of knights. Their body was enveloped in white light, replenishing them of mana and energy, not too much but enough for them to maintain their position

The knight that raised a hand, proceeds to ran toward the beast with his shield held high to protect his body.

Before the knight could reach the beast, it already started to spit green acid on him. Yet, all the acid slithered down the surface of the shield. The knight then jumped, just in time for a blinding light to wrap his feet. The knight's movements were like that of a Were after the light started to wrap his legs. He wasn't just fast, but also powerful as he landed at the top of the beast and pointed his sword toward the gaps in the shells, forcefully thrusting it. Unfortunately, the sword wasn't sturdy enough to even make it past an inch on its skin.

The beast violently shook its body and threw the knight off of it.

The knight rolled as he fell on the ground unbalanced. The archers joined the craze as soon as the knight left its back. Three archers rained down a volley of arrows. Without stronger magical items, their weapons were not enough to at least put a graze on the beast's skin.

The beast and the team of candidates fought a battle that even then wasn't sure when would end.

Seeing the lack of men from the team, Claurette wanted to increase their odds of winning. He was bent in a kneeling position, his left arm, now bruising blue, was barely moving. But determined to help Ned and the team, he braced himself and stood. Pulling the bow behind his back and slowly nock an arrow.

He trembled from pain, he was sweating that he was unable to produce his best shot. Still, he aimed and shoot. Hitting one of the eyes, out of eight, of the beast.

Its soft spot enabled Claurette to shoot the arrow and bore deeper. Squeezing green liquid as the beast screamed of pain.

Although unseen, the range shooters: archers and mages, almost waved a hand to Claurette of his shooting skill. Not having to realize this, the team now focuses on attacking the beast's eyes, while the four knights were back in a defensive line.

Without any help, not even Claurette's shooting skill can make a difference in the battle between Ned and the enraged puppet.

Seeing an opportunity, the puppet crept toward Ned. His marble skin was peeling as though someone with a sharp knife peeled an apple.

The puppet swiftly hurled the heavy rapier he was holding and strike it to Ned.

Ned evaded by jumping backward, hitting the ground between his feet. For a moment, Ned saw another figure approaching from the edge of the forest, where Ned had come before. But he wasn't excited to know who they were as the puppet started to attack him once again.

This was already too much for Ned to handle, but he tried his best not to show it. He stopped producing the Mana stones to conserve them. He was at 436 Mana, it wasn't enough for a devastating Egneous spell, but was more to hold to puppet even just for another minute. Without the Butterfly, he would have a hard time defeating him. Problem was, the Butterfly when relied on for Vanishing Stance absorbs his energy faster. Preventing him from moving if the energy is depleted. He instead produced the Krisalix.

With remaining energy of 9% and low Mana storage, Ned has to fight the puppet with strength and speed with an occasional conjuring of spells.

Ned flicked his left hand thrusting the greyish chains that came under his wrist. The chains then caught the puppet off guard of his feet, locking the chains then throwing him off balance.

As he rolled with his head first, he twisted his body with a cracking and snapping sound and raised the sword to break the chains off his feet.

Yet, the sword just bounced off the chains. The puppet kept on slashing it but was impervious of Ned now running towards him.

Ned was surprised to learn that the strength of the puppet was not enough to break the chains. Pure Mana indeed.

Ned had to control the Mana carefully, if not, he might pull the chains off the puppet, especially as it was absorbing Ned's mana indefinitely.

The puppet did everything he could to unwrap, if not break, the chains but still failed to do so.

Ned hurriedly approached him, and without hesitation, he raised the Krisalix and slashed—

A loud boom from the clearing of the forest made everyone cowered and ducked in shock. The boom was then followed by a whistle until a large figure appeared beside Ned with him holding his wrists, easily stopping him from killing the puppet.

The figure was massive and half-naked with his upper body full of brown fur up until his neck.

"What do we got here?" The Werelion said that Ned heard more like a growl.