Gabriel found himself surrounded by four figures, each one dressed in similar black robes. The air was tense as one of them, identifiable by a red scarf wrapped around his arm, stepped forward and demanded in a stern voice, "Where do you think you're going, boy?"
Gabriel's senses immediately sharpened. He knew he had to be on guard. Taking no chances, he quickly cast [Heal] on himself and activated his special talent, readying himself for whatever threat might arise.
---
+320 HP
---
Despite the intimidation he felt from the group's presence, Gabriel remained focused, determined to protect himself.
...
As Gabriel gathered his thoughts, a deep voice interrupted, "A healer, eh?" The voice carried an unsettling confidence, drawing Gabriel's attention. Slowly, he turned to see a silhouette approaching him. As the figure drew closer, Gabriel's pulse quickened. Cold sweat trickled down his back.
The man wore a tank top that showcased his bulging muscles. A scarf was loosely draped around his neck, and his face was hidden behind a skull-shaped mask. His aura radiated arrogance and menace, the mark of someone experienced in the art of killing.
Gabriel instinctively tried to assess the man's status panel, but to his shock, he found he couldn't read it. The man was an enigma, impossible to gauge, leaving Gabriel uncertain whether he was facing a friend or a deadly foe.
The masked man sneered at Gabriel, his voice dripping with condescension. "Trying to check someone else's status, are we?"
Gabriel shivered as the temperature around him seemed to drop, but he forced himself to remain calm, even as his heart pounded in his chest. His mind raced, desperately trying to figure out his next move.
The masked man continued to taunt Gabriel, his presence growing more oppressive with each passing second. Then, suddenly, he ordered his minions to knock Gabriel out. Without hesitation, the robed figures moved to carry out their leader's command.
Gabriel acted quickly. Before the minions could reach him, he cast a spell. A bright light filled the air, followed by a powerful gust of wind that threw the attackers off balance.
---
"Spirit Curse (Yin)"
[AttkDown] Experienced effect! Reduced physical damage.
[Silence] Experienced effect! Can't use skill.
---
As Gabriel's magic took effect, he saw surprise flicker in his enemies' eyes. They hadn't anticipated the debuff he had unleashed, and for a brief moment, they froze in place. Gabriel seized the opportunity, turning on his heel and sprinting away at full speed, his heart pounding in his chest.
The thrill of the chase and the danger of the situation triggered a surge of adrenaline in Gabriel's body. Every muscle in his frame worked in perfect synchronization, propelling him forward with incredible speed. Despite the peril he faced, he couldn't help but feel a rush of exhilaration at the power he had tapped into.
...
Lost in a whirlwind of emotions, Gabriel failed to notice the danger approaching him from behind. A masked figure launched a sudden attack, catching him completely off guard.
---
BOOOM!!!
BOOOM!!!
---
"Ahhh...!" Gabriel screamed, his voice laced with pain.
Thick smoke filled the area, obscuring everything in sight. Gabriel's opponents arrived on the scene, scanning the surroundings for any sign of him. But to their surprise, Gabriel was nowhere to be found. All they discovered was his tattered magic bag lying in a corner, shattered bottles of mana potions scattered around, and eerie traces of blood leading away from the site of the explosion.
The masked man who had caused the explosion clenched his fists in frustration. Upon checking his status window, he noticed two debilitating debuffs afflicting him—[AttkDown], which reduced his attack power, and [Silence], which prevented him from using any spells or skills.
He reviewed the debuffs in detail:
---
[Damage Reduction] - Reduces Physical Attack (Magic Attack) by 15%.
Duration: 5 minutes
[Silence] - Prevents the use of skills.
Duration: 10 seconds
---
The masked man's face twisted in anger. His rage boiled over as he let out a deafening roar that echoed across the area. "Find him!" he bellowed, his voice filled with unrestrained fury.
His henchmen, who had been standing at attention, immediately sprang into action. "Yes, Boss!" they responded in unison, their voices low and deferential. Without wasting a second, they scattered in different directions, determined to find Gabriel and carry out their leader's command with precision.
...
Just moments earlier...
Gabriel had been consumed by his emotions when a sudden chill ran down his spine. Sensing danger, he turned quickly, only to see a swift sword slicing toward him. Desperation kicked in, and he instinctively raised his staff to block the incoming blade.
As the sword clashed with his staff, sparks flew, lighting up the dim surroundings. Gabriel struggled to deflect the attack, twisting and shifting his body to alter the sword's path. But the force behind the strike was overwhelming, and Gabriel found himself pushed to his limits.
With no other options, Gabriel made a split-second decision. He twisted his body in the opposite direction of the sword's trajectory, a risky move that could easily result in serious injury—or worse, death.
In that moment, everything around Gabriel seemed to slow down. He raised his right hand, gripping one end of his staff tightly, while lowering his left hand, clutching the other end. Positioning the staff at a precise angle of 225 degrees, he braced himself as the sword slid past him, inches from his side. He knew an explosion was coming and steeled himself for the impact.
In a flash of quick thinking, Gabriel anticipated where the explosion would erupt and made a daring decision: he would use the blast's force to propel himself away from his opponents.
All of this happened within the span of a few seconds, but to Gabriel, it felt like an eternity.
---
BOOOM!!