Chapter 90: Nate a good idea

Chapter 90: Nate a good idea

Kill them. Nates smile melted from his face like snow in the afternoon sun and he drew his swords. Flame raced down their blades, tongues licking into the air hungrily.

Nadia slammed a second bolt into her crossbow and fired it at Chance. Streamers of wind enveloped and the bolt let out a shrill shriek as it shot through the air, heading a white vortex. Bella yanked Chance out of the way and took the shot on her arm.

Wood shattered and Bellas hand snapped to the side from the force of the blow, but it failed to penetrate her defenses. Nate roared and sprinted in their direction. His footsteps left smoldering patches in the ground behind him.

Chance adjusted his grip on his urumi and flowed to meet Nate. He swayed in place, sliding past both swords as Nate sent two overhead slashes hurtling past him. The heat coming off the weapons was enough to singe the hairs on Chances arms. Chance whipped the hilt of his urumi up into Nates chin with a loud crack.

Nate staggered back and snarled, thrusting one of the swords for Chances chest while shifting the other to block the urumi as it snapped out toward him. Chance stumbled out of the way, narrowly dodging the blow. His urumi wrapped past Nates sword, snapping around the other side to score across the mans other arm.

Chance planted his foot into Nates chest and sent him staggering back, right into Nadias path. Nadia swore and darted to the side, unable to get another shot off at them without hitting Nate in the process.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chance spotted Madeline channeling Essence. He wasnt sure exactly what her aim was, but he doubted it was anything good. Nates sword whistled past his nose and Chance cartwheeled back.

Eyes on me, Nate said with a cocky smile. You dont have the liberty to pay attention to others.The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.

Chance heard another bolt shatter against Bellas skin. She was keeping herself between him and Nadia, but the Singing Fox cultivators outnumbered them.

Nates entire body erupted in molten flame. The heat pouring off him doubled in intensity and he let out a roar as he leapt at Chance, thrusting his blades down like the fangs of a viper. Chances urumi whipped out and shot right past Nates neck.

You missed! Nate roared. Chance threw himself forward and rolled to the side moments before Nate slammed into the ground where hed been standing. A wave of fire rose up from the impact zone, scorching his back.

No, I didnt, Chance replied, turning back as golden mist materialized behind Nates head. He couldnt see Nates features through the fire engulfing his body. Madeline called out a warning as golden mist materialized behind Nate.

He spun, but wasnt fast enough to stop the glowing sword that emerged from the air behind him from plunging into his chest. The mist materialized further, forming the hand and body of a weathered old man.

The apparition ripped the glowing weapon free of Nates chest and he stumbled. Madeline grabbed a vial from her waist and threw it to Nate. Chance snapped his urumi out and the blade shattered the vial, sending the pills spilling across the ground.

Nate lunged for them and dove face first into Bellas knee as she appeared before him. His nose broke with a loud crack and he let out a strangled cry. Behind him, the ghostly old man gave Chance a small nod before his form blew away in the wind.

Madeline screamed in fury and thrust her hands forward, finally unleashing the Essence shed been gathering. A violent gale of black wind erupted from her palms, scouring the ground in front of her and swirling toward Chance.

Bella threw herself forward, putting herself between Chance and the Spell. Chances golden mist enveloped both of them an instant before the churning Essence slammed into Bella. She snarled and Chance braced his hands against her back as she was shoved back into him.

Wind howled through the pass, seemingly even louder than it had been before. Chance stood still for several moments. His urumi slipped back around his wrist, returning to a bracelet. Bella put a hand on Chances shoulder.

Im sorry.

It was their choice, Chance replied softly. Idiots. Why would they just go around trying to prey on people?

Because its easier than getting treasure from powerful monsters, the Old City said, pulling the improperly placed arm from its chest and tossing it to the side. Youre welcome, by the way.

Thanks, Chance said, still staring at the dead cultivators at their feet. I yeah. Thanks, Ocie.

Are you thankful enough to give me a better name than Ocie?

A tiny smile flickered across Chances face. No.

Ocie grunted in annoyance. It adjusted the eyes on its face, trying to find the proper spot to put them and failing miserably. After a few failed attempts, it dropped its hands to its sides. Figures. Just kill them earlier next time and save us all the trouble. I dont want to waste time I could be cultivating fighting weaklings. Did they have anything useful on them?

Bella knelt beside Madeline and pulled the pouch off her waist. She opened it and peered inside, then grimaced. This one didnt. Just the healing pills she threw to what was his name?

Nate, Chance said, picking the last few pills off the ground and tucking them into his own bag. The vial had shattered when his urumi had hit it, and he had no desire to mix the pills with his until he knew exactly what they did. Not all healing pills were the same, and it was safer to use the ones hed grown used to so as to avoid any surprises mid-fight.

Neither Nate nor Nadia had anything of any real interest either. The crossbow and swords all looked like normal weapons, and neither Chance nor Bella had any use for them. Once it was clear that the fight was over, Ocie sank into the ground and vanished without even so much as a goodbye.

Should we do something about this? Chance asked. Like bury them or the like?

Do you think they would have done the same for us?

No, probably not.

Yeah. Its all they deserve. Its not even like we were competing over an artifact or some powerful pill. They were just scum, Bella said. She wrapped a hand around Chances shoulders and gently pulled him toward the mountain path before them. Lets just keep moving. Dont lose sleep over people like this. If anything, we helped other cultivators that they would have preyed on in the future.

Yeah, I know. Youre right. Lets just keep moving, Chance said, shaking his head as they started up the path toward the top of the mountain once more. Its just disappointing that there are people that choose to do that when they have the option to get stronger just through hard work and cultivation. Not everyone has that opportunity. It was wasted on them.

Bella just nodded silently. The wind roared above them as continued, but theyd both learned their lesson about letting their guard down for even an instant. Chance kept his third eye open, scanning for the slightest traces of Karma. He didnt plan on getting ambushed three times in one day.