"Lucas, now!" Elera urged, her eyes focused on maintaining the barrier.
Seizing the opportunity, I darted to the side, avoiding the confrontation with Tony. I needed to use my agility and strategy to offset his raw power.
While Tony was momentarily occupied with Elera, I circled, looking for a chance to strike.
"Get the hell out of my way, you bitch!"
-Boom!
-Thud!
Tony angered by the sudden interference of Elra Cruse punches the mana barrier with his dark mana influence punch.
The power behind that punch was so high that it sent Elera out of the mana barrier, the mana barrier created by Elera disappeared and Elera hit the wall.
All of this happens within two seconds.
"Damnit" I cruse aloud as I saw power behind that punch. Tony turned his head at me and pointed his sword in my direction.
Acting quickly, I stashed my bow back into my smart bracelet's dimensional storage and mentally prepared myself for hand-to-hand combat.
I know I can't defeat a Tony alone without a weapon on me, but fighting to win isn't my motive to begin with.
By the looks of it, Adrian will reach me in around 20 seconds. That's all the time I need to stall for.
Yes, I was fighting to stall time.
I am not the main character of this story, so I won't act like it and try to fight a stronger opponent than win.
As soon as Tony stepped into the striking range, he thrust his sword forward at my head to drill open a hole in my skull with his blade.
He was quickly going for the kill.
"Come on, Lucas, is that all you've got?" Tony taunted, his sword dancing through the air with deadly precision.
I gritted my teeth, focusing on evading rather than directly countering. The seconds felt like an eternity as I maintained a defensive stance, waiting for the arrival of reinforcements.
In the midst of the intense exchange, I caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye. Adrian, Shion, Kael, and the others were closing in, determined expressions etched on their faces.
Tony, sensing the impending threat, unleashed a flurry of strikes in an attempt to overwhelm me. The clashing of our weapons echoed through the hall, a symphony of conflict that reverberated with the stakes of the battle.
With the combined efforts of my teammates drawing near, I seized the opportunity to make a strategic move. Instead of dodging, I parried one of Tony's strikes, redirecting the force of his attack and creating an opening.
As Tony momentarily lost balance, I retreated, giving the approaching group a chance to surround him. Adrian, his azure sword emanating with magical energy, took the lead, ready to face the formidable opponent.
As Adrian stepped forward, his mana-infused sword glowing brightly, Tony turned his attention from me to the approaching threat. The air crackled with tension as the two powerful adversaries locked eyes.
In that critical moment, Adrian unleashed a surge of magical energy, the azure glow intensifying around his sword. With a swift motion, he swung the weapon towards Tony, aiming for a decisive blow.
Tony, however, proved to be an elusive target. He dodged with uncanny agility, evading Adrian's initial strike and countering with a swift counterattack.
Cling—!
The clash of their weapons echoed through the hall, the force of their confrontation sending shockwaves across the floor. Adrian pressed on, his determination evident in every swing, but Tony responded with calculated precision.
While the duel between Adrian and Tony unfolded, the rest of the group closed in, surrounding the Fallen Human. Shion, Kael, Evelyn, and Emma joined the fray, their combined efforts creating a web of attacks that Tony struggled to navigate.
In the midst of the chaos, I took a moment to catch my breath, my focus shifting to strategizing the group's coordinated assault. Despite my earlier struggles, I knew that my strength lay not in direct combat but in supporting my teammates.
"Keep him busy!" I called out, directing their attention to the need for teamwork. "Adrian, watch for his patterns, and the moment he's open—"
Before I could finish my sentence, Tony's dark mana surged once again, amplifying his strength and speed. The sudden burst caught the group off guard, and Tony seized the opportunity to break through their formation.
With a sweeping motion, Tony knocked back Shion, Kael, and the others, creating a momentary opening in their defenses. Adrian, however, stood firm, his determination unwavering.
"Enough of this," Tony declared, a malicious grin forming on his face. "Time to end this little charade."