Chương 84: Chapter 72. Targeted

John Ericsson's Point of View Once the blood stopped rushing to my head, I had a strange sense of calm enter my mind. This is different compared to that time with Vendal and those nameless guards. Maybe it was because my main concern was Sarah and Cynthia's safety at the time? Maybe it was because I passed out after healing them once we warped, thanks to Paula? I felt accomplished when I woke up. Now I just feel like it was too easy. I thought this would be more of a fight, I guess?

Regardless, Luke is lying in a pool of blood, passed out. His breathing is growing weaker. I guess a cut from shoulder to hip will do that. I suppose I should heal hi-"!" Jump! / Fwoosh! Snap! Crack! Crash! /" What the hell!?" I dashed back from a bolt of Fire Magic aimed at my torso. The bolt struck a tree and ripped through it before hitting a second tree and starting a small fire. The bolt of fire came for me as I lifted my hand to heal Luke. Turning to the direction it came from, I call out to the culprit."

Come out, unless you want me to finish what I was about to do!" I decided to imply I'd kill the Hero to see if the person cares about the Hero or was just waiting for a moment to attack me. Seemed it worked as a figure began to emerge from the depths of the forest. A middle-aged man walked into the clearing where we were. His hair was beginning to gray. The mana and bloodlust he was giving off reminded me of Warrick or Crest. I guess this guy is able to use both Magic and Martial Arts to fight?

I kept my guard up and began to speak." What do you want? The man looked at me with a relaxed smile and began to respond." Simple, I want you dead and the Hero to return triumphant."" Well, hard to do that considering the state of him." I looked at Luke currently in a bigger pool of blood than the last time I looked." How about we compromise? I'll let you take the Hero to keep him alive. In return, don't set foot near Diablos again." The man walked to Luke and began to cast Healing Magic on him.

The pained look on Luke's face began to dissipate somewhat and the pool of blood stopped expanding. The man looked at me and began to speak, still with an air of danger to him." Why are you so concerned for the land of the Demons? Your mana tells me you're Human, so why?"" I owe you no answers, old man." The man gave Luke a once over and began to rise to his feet and faced me again." A shame, I hoped to gain your name and reasons before killing you!"" Partner! Get out of the way! That man is dangerous!"

"!" / Shing! / The man drew his sword and delivered a slash to me. He moved so fast I could barely follow him, if not for Scarlet's warning he may have hit me. I thanked Scarlet in my mind and took a fighting stance." I believe the deal was, "You take your Hero, and never come back"! Not "attack me"!"" Hahaha!" The man laughs at me as he readies another stroke of his sword." I never agreed to your deal! You just assumed I did. Besides, you wouldn't be able to stop me anyways, purple knight!"

The man disappeared in front of my eyes! What is this? Magic? His natural speed? / Snap! / A twig snapped to my left!

"!" /CLANG! / FORCE!" How lucky! That twig was my bad fortune!"" You're pretty fast for a retiree, old man!" It seems in terms of strength, I can match him somewhat. I tried pushing him back, but to no avail. He's testing me. Screw it! I lifted a hand and pointed my palm to his face." Holy Bolt!" / Thoop! / / BOOM! / My bolt hit the man in the head point blank. I moved backwards from the old man. When the smoke cleared from the explosion, I noticed something. The old man was different.

His skin almost seemed to melt off. Muscles were bugling from him like a body builder and his hair and eye color were both red. The worst thing about this sight, was that my bolt did nothing. The man looked completely fine. Like he just woke up from a nap! Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site." Who the hell are you!?" The man smiled at my question. He took a new stance and began to swirl fire around his blade." I owe you no answers, young man!"

"!" Jump! He launched himself at me after finishing his sentence. I activate Holy Mana Blade and launch myself to clash with him. / Clang! / Force! Hot! Our blades meet and begin to scrape and screech with a sound that could make a person's blood run cold. The heat was bothering me from the blade. It was like opening an oven on max settings in front of my face. Our swords continued to clash in a stalemate. / Thud! / Pain! / Woosh! Crash! / Pain... Breathe...

The stalemate was broken when the man kicked me in the stomach and sent me flying into a tree. When I made contact with the tree, the wind was knocked out of me. I began to cough and saw that blood began to fly out of my mouth. While I was catching my breath, the man did not let up. He disappeared from my sight again. This time I started to trace his mana from his sword to find him." Got you!" /Clang! /" How?"" Go Fuck Yourself! That's how!" Shift! Swing!

As our swords clashed and cried from the pressure we both put into them, I shifted the weight of my blade to make the man lose his posture. It worked! I went to cut his bare arm, but he jumped back and dodged the slash. Swing! / Woosh! / I sent a White Slash after him. He was surprised at my attack. Seeing as how White Slash is the only offensive skill I can comfortably use without saying the name.

I was hoping to keep it a secret until I had a clear advantage, but this guy is keeping me from having any breathing room. With the White Slash, I sent him back to where Luke is passed out. A thought flashed through my mind, but I decided to keep it as a backup plan. I needed a new one to replace White Slash. Having said that, I'm still not out of options. The man began to laugh. He spoke in between his cackling." You aren't bad, boy! However, your actions betray your age!

You have little experience in true death battles! I doubt you're past your twenties!"" Well, if that's what you think of me, be sure to pat me on the back after I cut your head off, old man!"" You'll lose what could have been a long-life trying, boy!"" I wonder!?" I began to think of a few different options I could do to actually hurt this bastard, but I knew I had to be careful with him. While thinking, a voice echoed in my head." Little One, you must find a way to escape!" Julia spoke to me telepathically."

I will if this next move doesn't play out. You have my word on that."" No, you must leave now! That man is too dangerous! He's been playing with you so far! But since you nearly hit him, he's going to start fighting seriously!"" Julia, if he's stronger than me, he'll most likely catch up to me anyways. But the attack that I'm going to use should be able to slow him down!"

"Wait! Are you planning to use one of those combinations we practiced to attack his limbs?"" Yup!"" I'll pray for success then, Little One! Just promise me you'll live!"" Don't worry, I can't die yet, not until I bring some more honor and prestige to this Armor! And of course, to the high-class sword known as Scarlet!" During the time I spoke to Julia, the man just waited to see my next move. When I entered a sword stance, the man. mirrored me and began to speak." Lad, I'll ask this one more time.

What is your name?"" Why do you want to know, old man?"" Warriors deserve to know their opponents' names. For instance, my name is Jessie. I am a Magic Swordsman, also an S-class Adventurer." I cracked a smile." Fine, Jessie. My name is Matthew! I am the Demon King's Paladin!" We both stared at each other. Once I made sure we were all ready. Jessie was the first to move. He moved his sword from pointing to the sky to sitting sideways as he fired up harsh and hot orange flames onto his sword.

I poured more mana into my Mana Blade. I also activated Holy Mana Body to ready myself. We stared at each other for a few moments. until what looked like a squirrel to me, jumped form one tree branch to another. As far as we were concerned, that was the signal to start. Jump! / Woosh! / We both jumped and left craters where we jumped from. Jessie readied his arms to swing side to side. I readied to swing my sword as well." Goodbye, Matthew!" Jessie yelled as he approached towards me, faster than I to him.

But this worked in my favor. Stab! Fling! I used the increased speed I have from Mana Body to plant my sword tip into the ground and shift my trajectory. I rushed to the right of Jessie." Where are you going, you fool!? We won't be able to finish this if you run from me!"" I wonder!?" While flying towards a tree, I begin to position my sword for a thrust." What are you doing, fool!?"" This!" Thrust! / woosh. / I thrust my sword into the tree, out of Jessie's sight.

So, he couldn't see the window to his leg opening up." Augh!" I kick off the tree and land on the ground. I deactivate Holy Body. I only have around a minute left I believe. I look at Jessie, who is lying on the ground holding his right thigh. I begin to speak to my key teammate for this." Paula! Great job! It worked just like in training!"" Thank you! It's all thanks to your idea and our practice, John!" Another of my ideas from hearing about Paula's Ability is using her Warp Portal as a window to attack through!

After testing it for a few days, we were able to get the technique to work! All we had to do was to have Paula see and know where I intend the warp to be! So, to have that happen, she sits on top of my head and Julia made 2 tiny holes for Paula to see on all 4 sides of my helmet! Thankfully she can sense mana, so that can be a shortcut if I want to attack a person with mana! While I was thinking about how successful my plan was, Jessie began to speak." Wha-- What did you do to me!?"" I stabbed your leg."" But how?

A Paladin doesn't possess this Ability."" You're right! But that's only if I were a normal Paladin! I'm the Demon King's Paladin."

"I see." Jessie got really quiet. I thought it was time to meet back up with Sarah and the others. We should all be able to meet up and get back to Diablos, now that the Hero and his Party were defeated. While I was thinking about this, something felt wrong.

"!" Push! / Woosh! / I guarded myself with my sword, but I was sent flying away! Thrust! Stop! I stuck my sword in the ground to stop my momentum. I looked at who it was and I saw Jessie standing with his sword and breathing heavily. His leg had black smoke rising from where I stabbed." Y-You cauterized your leg with Flame Magic!?"" Yes, and I'm done playing with you, child!" / Woosh! /"!" Jessie disappeared again. I felt his mana to my right. I place my guard up, but he disappeared again! SHOCK! Push! / Woosh!

/ Stop! / Thud! / Paralyzed! I was electrified and sent flying from being struck from behind! I rolled on the ground until a tree stopped my momentum. I couldn't move from the electricity that hit me. I feel like I was tased! When I was able to move again, I couldn't find Jessie! / Woosh! /" DIE!" / Shing! / He appeared above me and began to slash down at me! I can't get my shield or sword up. I can't cast any Magic that fast! I'm going to die!" NO!" / Woosh! /" Hugh!"

I heard a familiar voice and Jessie was blown away from a deadly burst of wind. I turned to see Sarah staring at Jessie. With eyes determined to kill.