Chapter 51: The Loss

Chapter 51: The Loss

The chainling jumped away from Dallion, just in time to avoid a series of glowing red knives that hit the ground.

I told you to run. The Cleric said a short distance away, holding several throwing knives. That was both impressive and unexpected. If anything, Dallion thought of him more as a quarterstaff fighter.

Barely had the Cleric made his move than another party emerged. Appearing out of thin air, Dame Vesuvia swung her weapon at the chainling. Faster than the eye could follow, her sword struck the creatures skull, sinking in at least half an inch. A bit further and it could have split the chainlings head, and eye, in two. Sadly, the monsters bones rivaled the Dames sword in durability.

The woman realized this and did another attack, this time from the side. Watching her, Dallion felt like a level one guardian of a cheap wooden bowl. Looking at her, Dallion recognized specifics of the attack skills he had used while improving items. Vesuvia, though, used them on a totally different level. Saying that she used attack skills was like comparing a condor to a butterfly. The instant leap, the multi attack, the disappearing and reappearing act, those were all things that the markers had helped Dallion do in the awakened state.

Three arms with three swords appeared from Vesuvias shoulder. A triple attack. Dallion had never seen one before, but the slight blur around the outlines of her hands told him that it was the extreme speed creating that illusion. Just witnessing it was incredible!

More blades split the air, making their way to the target. The majority were evaded with ease, but this time a few managed to land a hit.Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com

Dallion blinked. A ranged attack had hit its target? And not a rocket propelled ranged attack either. That could only mean one thingthe chaining was weakened.

Shoot at it, you idiot! Gloria shouted from behind.

Dallion was already ahead of her, reloading both of his dartbows; and he wasnt the only one. Several more darts flew the creatures way, followed by a charge of soldiers with swords. Considerably slower than the Dame, they flashed in and out of existence, following the same movement technique awakened guard skills offered.

Similar to a knot of frogsfrogs only in the most positive sensethe main force of the hunting party surrounded the chainling. They were followed, at a distance, by the rest of the volunteers, who like Dallion were shooting bolts in their own attempt to contribute to the battle somewhat.

Everything was moving so fast that Dallion couldnt keep up. The Dame and the beast had evolved to a series of afterimage blurs shifting from spot to spot in the nearby area. The speed was such that he could no longer follow the specifics of the fight, only able to catch an occasional frame of one side landing a blow on the others defense.

Thats what a true awakened is

Keep your guard up! Dame Vesuvia shouted, her words slower than her actions.

Dallion focused on the fight. From what he was seeing, he agreed with Veil that the Dame would most likely win but could he leave it at that? If there was a chance of failure, he had to think of something. At this point, the more reckless the better.

The chainling cant change the weapons, right? He turned to Gloria.

What?

Sky silver. Things made by it cant be changed through awakening, right?

Well, it might be possible in theory, but its extremely difficult. Thats why they forge them instead of trying to improve themmuch faster that way.

In that case, I have an idea.

Without warning, Dallion rushed forward straight at the battle. Vesuvia and the chainling kept flashing in and out from spot to spot, slightly slower than before. Both were focused on their immediate opponent, pretty much ignoring everything else.

Cleric! Dallion pointed his dartbows forward. Help me modify two more bolts!

It has to work! It has to!

Just two more hits and we can take the chainling down! Dallion yelled as loud as he could.

The quarters of the surviving soldiers glanced in his direction. For a single moment their curiosity bested years of training, diverting their attention to see what the commotion was about. So did the chainling.

For a split second it turned its head towards the boy, giant eye meeting those of Dallion. It would have taken a thought for the creature to reach him and slice his head off, finally punishing the human that had hurt him. Before it could, Vesuvia thrust her sword deep in its throat.

You lose, Dallion smiled. The creature was highly intelligent, as he suspected, and it also held grudges. Now the grudge was gone, along with its life.