"You sure he will be fine on his own?" Asked Calten
We were on top of a tree, from above watching Goun fight the monsters. He is doing his best while using my black sword.
His flashy moves were remarkable but at the same time were lacking actual experience and a complete sense of style. They were plain and mundane.
The problem wasn't only with Goun, but the monsters were too strong. Their skin was hard to pierce through, and the gashes he had given them didn't slow them down
"He barely has any control over a weapon." Not only combat and movement; his weaponry skills were more of a disappointment.
The only advantage he had over them was agility, but even that was mildly higher than them. He was slowly losing his speed and agility.
"I have seen enough." I said, disillusioned by the fight. I hopped off the trees and landed where Goun was.
I hurriedly tugged the sword and deftly moved it. It danced under the sunlight; its blade glistened and blood spilt.
The skin he was unable to cut was now torn like thin fibre. The monster shrieked in pain and plunged to the ground, lifeless.
The task was a piece of cake for me. Their number reduced to two five only. Blood flew from their bodies and soaked the ground.
"You have a lot to learn." I said it with sternness in my voice. "What are you going to do if one day somebody destroys the city and kills all those close to you?"
I grabbed him by the collar and yanked him close. "Look at me when I speak."
The monsters were creeping near, circling us. They were hesitant to attack; the foe wasn't the boy anymore but a stronger and sharper person.
Goun furled his fingers, his lips tightly closed. He was angry, frustrated and tired. I could understand him; I had been through this situation before, but it did not matter to me. All that is for him to become a much more powerful human before I seek the world of mine.
One of the monsters charged; I didn't use my sword but my bare fist, smashing him on the face. His teeth fell out; he was dead on the spot. The punch had given his mind a sharp jolt.
The other cringed away. The fear that crawled in their minds terrified them. They had their tails behind their backs, running away.
Seeing how differently I spoke then before, this startled him and, at the same time, scared him.
I placed my hand on his shoulder and said, "If you want to become stronger, you must understand one thing, and that's no one can save you from death, regardless of how powerful you are."
I grabbed him by the collar and Calten, dashing towards the Wrap. The time was already wasted, and more time shouldn't be necessary.
As we reached where the wraps seemed big enough, I began to notice small lines connected to the land and the wraps.
Arriving where it connected to the land, I came to a halt before the large pillars erected in a circle.
At the centre of it was an altar; atop it floated an orb that was similar to the one that was used to create an orb. So, in the end, there was actually something that was being used to connect the worlds.
"If we destroy it, there is a chance we can destroy the wraps." Said Calten, he held his staff high. It began to emit power as it was launched at the altar.
A man made of stone appeared in front of the altar; he wore a himation and a spear in hand and stood firm in his place. The energy that Calten launched at him struck his chest and dissipated.
Calten was dumbstruck, then his face hardened. "That looks like a mediaeval person." He was unscathed by the attack. "Not a stretch; is he a boss?"
"He's protecting the altar." Goun said he was surprised too, "That type of clothing, if I'm correct. Aren't they similar to those worn by Greek mythology?"
I didn't know what this mythology was, but I knew we had to deal with this guy first if we wanted to destroy the altar.
"Calten, attack from behind while I deal with him head-on."
"What about me?" Asked Goun.
"Not now." There was no way I was letting him join. The foe was strong for him to deal with, and if we fought together.
It would be a burdensome thing, an unbalanced duo against an unknown stoneman.
The problem didn't end there; I wouldn't be able to extract emotions from the foe either; he was basically a stone head.
Meaning, I had to extract emotions from Goun and Calten and my own to keep myself strong enough to deal with this stone man.
Calten staff charged and blasted attacks. Keeping in mind that this very person was capable of showing assorted magic. This was a higher-level magic sentry; his magic power, from what I can tell, was higher than a block level.
But the boss, I couldn't tell. But from my brief observation, he was no weaker.
The stone man evaded the attacks and charged at me; as I dodged his fist, his other hand grabbed me by the wrist and swung me away.
I twisted my body in the air and safely rolled on the ground, saving myself from hitting the pillar. The skin on my wrist – the part he had grabbed – was red.
"A monster in human skin." I murmured.
He charged at me again; I rolled to the side and swung my blade, trying to hack his leg, but the blade was stuck in his leg.
Too hard to cut; I need to enhance my blade sharpness.
At the moment, I had no extra energy to increase the blade's sharpness; I glared at him, but the stone man was looking away.
It was Goun.
He paid me no mind and dashed towards him, "Move away!" I shouted at him.
But Goun firmly stood in his place. He had that determined look on his face, that fool. What is he thinking?
"I'm not a weak person! Come at me."
If there was determination in his heart, there was fear too. I tried running, but the stone man was fast. Too fast. Dammit, I should have come prepared.
Just then, the three-headed dragon mark began to glow. A white aura wrapped my body and flowed towards Goun, linking with the mark.
Text manifested before my eyes.
[Link between the w—- and v—-- has formed.]
It morphed, and new text came.
[Currently the V—-- is Goun.]
[The W—-- is now one with V—-]
The text afterwards disappeared, and my view of the world entirely changed.
I saw the world in slow motion. I could feel it; Goun's power was increasing, and his skills were increasing. There was a number above his head.
[Power Level: 230]
[Power Level: 506]
[Power Level: 1024]
[Power Level: 2406]
Not only could I see the number on Goun, but I could also see the similar thing on the stone man.
[Power Level: 1400]
These things were the numbers and an overall state combined into one thing. Calten had it too.
[Power Level: 4503]
That was astoundingly high value.
The world turned to its normal speed, and the stone man struck Goun on his face. He was still on his feet when the stone man pulled his fist back.
Goun was completely fine. The stone man was surprised before he could lurch back or throw another fist at him.
Goun moved quickly and bashed him in the stomach. The blow was so powerful that his fist pierced through.
The surprised lad had no idea how he had done it. The stone man was on his knee, cracks appearing in his body. Not long after, he turned to dust.
He looked at me for a question, but right now, I was in a similar situation.
The more I stay in this world, the more new things appear. I didn't get it.
"We won; I guess I was not much help." Said Calten.
I looked at him and the number; no doubt it was the same four thousand five hundred and three. Compared to Goun, that was far higher.
"Destroy the orb." I commanded, and with a single blast, Calten destroyed it.
The wraps began to disappear from the sky; that meant this (orb) was the source of the problem. But who could have placed it in the first place?
I turned to Goun and gave him a smile, "You did well." I told him.
"Hey! I think I have something to show you." Goun said nervously. He showed me his hand; my eyes went wide. He could turn his hand to stone at his own will. This was similar to that stone man.
Was such a thing possible? Able to get someone else's ability? Could it be because of that link?
* * *
On the other side, Edarward was waiting for them patiently. He tapped his feet on the floor.
"When are they going to return?"
Just then an alarm rang, and Edarward and Nithim quickly turned to Wrap radar. The man sitting on a chair was shocked.
"Sir, the wraps. They are disappearing."
This left both dumbfounded.
"Could it be?" Edarward looked at Nithim; was this really happening?
It was happening; the wraps were disappearing. Although the amount wasn't big. To confirm it, they had received messages of the sudden disappearance of the wrap.
It's finally happening. There was now a light shining in the dark once again.