Chapter 202: His Fate [3]

The moon was high up in the sky.

They had cleared the entire forest mostly but there was no sign of the man.

Then was the route they had followed wrong?

It seemed most likely.

When they took the cleared pathway, they stumbled upon the forest. It took at least six hours for the entire journey.

By now, the sun was about to rise.

With such thoughts, they decided to set up camp.

They sat around by a campfire. Its flames crackled, casting a warm glow on their features.

"You've been looking uneasy this whole time, General. What's on your mind?"

The one who posed the question was Belle's assistant, Ray.

Belle stared at the campfire and hugged her legs.

"I just can't shake off this bad feeling."

"Don't worry, General."

Ray consoled her.

"Everyone here is strong. We even have Sir Ivan with us. Just focus on protecting yourself."

"....You're right."

But that wasn't what Belle was actually worried about. She knew everyone in the task force was strong.

What she was worried about was the premonition she had about Brandon.

As if something bad was about to happen.

With such thoughts, she pulled out her phone once again.

"...."

There was no reply, and the message wasn't read.

***

"What's taking them so long?"

"I don't know."

Carl asked as Aurelia poked the campfire with a stick.

On his hand was a phone.

It was Brandon's phone.

Being inexperienced with technology, Carl didn't know what to do.

Just that, there was a message.

[Belle Locke: Take care always, Brandon]

It must've been his sister.

Carl was worried.

It has been thirty minutes now, and no sign of Brandon or Amelia.

But it was then.

Whiii—

A strange sound echoed through the forest, reaching Carl and Aurelia's ears.

"....!"

"....!"

They had to check it out.

"Aurelia, wear your hood."

"Un."

That reply from Aurelia.

It somehow resonated with Carl.

***

Inside the zone.

Clang—! Clang—!

Time and time again, Lumian was able to repel most of their attacks.

But he knew he couldn't keep this up for long.

His soulflame was starting to get to him.

His body started heating up.

But regardless, throughout the entire fight, he had barely suffered any damage.

The same couldn't be said for his two opponents.

Lumian leapt back and distanced himself from the two. Extending his hand forward, his odachi was wrapped around the crackling soulflames.

But it was then.

Tzz—

A fist suddenly flashed in front of him. But reacting at the exact same second, Lumian twisted his body sideways and dodged Cid's fist.

Swoosh—!

An opportunity presented itself before Lumian.

He swung his blade horizontally, aiming at Cid's exposed torso.

Bang! Bang!

"Tsk."

A banging sound echoed and Lumian was suddenly pushed backwards.

It was annoying.

Whenever he got close to Cid, Amelia would shoot her gun. Since she seemed to be aiming for the ground, Lumian couldn't deflect the bullet in time and was pushed back by an unseemingly invisible force.

The same went for Cid was pushed sideways, giving himself distance away from Lumian.

Annoying.

This duo was annoying.

He had to end this fight.

One decisive move.

One that would catch them off guard.

With such thoughts, Lumian closed his eyes, feeling the mana around him.

Soulflames suddenly materialized in the air.

Inside the zone, soulflames served to boost Lumian's strength and speed.

But due to the nature of soulflames, excess use of the ability burnt his core.

After all, he was still human.

Feeling the mana in the atmosphere, there, Lumian could feel Cid heading close to him.

It was that moment.

He opened his eyes.

Swoosh—!

He quickly disappeared, leaving trails of soulflames in his wake. Cid brushed past where he once was.

His target?

Amelia Constantine.

His blade swung forward, and Amelia reacted in time to repel his attack with her own blade.

There.

It was the same pattern.

Cid was close.

Lumian didn't exert enough force in his swing so he could quickly swing the blade in a different direction.

The real target.

It was Cid.

Tzz—

At the right time, Cid appeared before him, black flames crackled in the air.

Swoosh—!

Lumian smirked, twisted his body, and swung his blade diagonally.

Cid's eyes widened and blood splattered in the air.

Thud!

"Aghkkk...!"

Cid screamed and Lumian thrusted his blade forward.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh–!

But before his blade impaled Cid's chest, magic swords rained down where Lumian stood. With bated breaths, Lumian narrowly dodged the blade.

But it wasn't enough as a blade pierced right through his thigh.

"Kh...!"

Distancing himself, Lumian took in the sight before him as he clenched his wounded thigh.

An arm was down on the ground, and Cid was clutching his shoulder tightly. Blood profusely splattered from where his arm once was.

Cid's arm.

He had managed to cleanly sever it.