Rodric came to Ciya's place, looked at her coldly, and spoke his last words.
"You should find a better friend in your next life."
Ciya spat blood at his face, though it did not reach him, and said,
"Fuck you."
She then started thinking about her past—someone once told her never to lower her head to evil people. He had given her this sword and taught her all the sword skills. One day, when monsters attacked her village, he alone killed a hundred of them but died heroically in battle.
I'm sorry, Dad. I was not able to become the hero you were. she thought to herself, closing her eyes and accepting her fate.
Rodric looked at her with disappointment and noticed Aeren sitting by the throne, not moving a single inch or doing anything, even though Rodric had killed one of his friends. He was about to kill Ciya when a strong kick hit him, sending him flying away from her.
Rodric stopped mid-air and laughed loudly,
"HAHAHAHA! I thought you didn't care about your friends."
He didn't see who had attacked him but assumed it was Aeren. Then another voice spoke,
"What are you talking about, worm of the 'Dark Demonic'?"
Arin stepped forward. He had learned much about the 'Dark Demonic'—an evil group responsible for kidnapping people and performing sacrifices for power, and killed by Lira one by one in the past life. They were the most evil beings Arin had ever encountered in past life.
Rodric stared at the new face in shock. How had they reached this place without him knowing? And he was not alone—four others had come with him. Rodric looks at the other four with narrowed eyes.
"Arin, are you sure he's behind the accident of the capital?" Adelind asked with a serious tone and expression.
"I don't know for certain, but I'm sure he has information about the Accident," Arin replied.
Lena and Crain listened in and asked,
"So, do we kill him or capture him alive?"
Crain agreed with Lena,
"Hmm, should we capture or kill him?"
Selevara helped Ciya by giving her a healing potion—one of the most expensive kinds that could even regrow a hand—and quietly said,
"We need information about the accidents. We have to capture him alive."
"Forget about capturing him alive," Ciya said coldly, "We need to kill him. He killed my companion and he is strong enough to slip away from us."
Arin looked at Ciya, thinking about his past life, and a thought emerged. This time, I will protect you.
Rodric sneered,
"A bunch of kids thinking you can kill me? Do I look that easy to you? HAHAHAHA!"
Rodric sensed danger and knew he should run, but how could he escape from this group? Feeling threatened, he prepared to fight without holding back.
At lightning speed, he kicked Ciya, but Arin blocked it. Rodric took a step back as Adelind slashed at his leg with her sword, but he blocked it using an invisible strike. Crain punched Rodric in the stomach, sending him backward. Lena reached for him and slashed her knife close to his neck, but Rodric dodged just in time.
Rodric jumped back, settled himself, and felt irritated. Sprinting again, he targeted Selevara, but his kick was blocked by her shield. Ciya, despite her tired body, saw a chance and attacked with her sword, but it couldn't reach Rodric. He countered by kicking her in the stomach, sending her crashing against the wall, and she fell unconscious.
Rodric smirked,
"One down, five to go."
Suddenly, Arin kicked him from behind, sending Rodric flying again. He stopped mid-air while Crain attacked, but Rodric was ready. He used his invisible strike and cut Crain—though not deep enough to kill, it caused fatal injuries. Crain lay on the ground, unable to move but still conscious.
Lena saw her chance and stabbed Rodric in the back, surprising him. Seeing Lena as a dangerous foe, Rodric prepared to kick her, but a sword strike came at him, and he blocked it just in time.
Adelind's strike was blocked, and Rodric countered with a strong punch to her face,
BOOM!
She was thrown aside, and Rodric felt a brief moment of relief—until Arin punched him again in the stomach. Pain surged through him, and anger flared inside as he shouted,
"You fucking bitches! I'll kill you all!"
Now only four were standing—Lena, Selevara, Rodric, and Arin. Selevara looked at the situation helplessly, only able to support the others with healing and basic fighting skills. This fight was out of her league.
Arin looked at his teammates and said,
"I'll handle him from the front. You two look for chances to attack."
After saying that, he vanished from his position and reappeared opposite Rodric, immediately attacking with a kick. Rodric dodged. Lena and Selevara couldn't keep their eyes on them; they were moving faster and faster.
Boom!
Boom!
They both crashed against the opposite wall. Both got up and started again—
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Rodric was starting to feel tired. He had already fought the professor, Ciya, and was stabbed by Lena. Blood still leaked from his wounds, and his strength was draining. Lena saw her chance; like lightning, she lunged and stabbed Rodric in the neck.
Rodric clutched his neck with his hand, trying to stop the bleeding. He looked at Lena with contempt, thinking she could have killed him with one strike but she is toying with him instead, giving him an evil grin.
Slowly, his legs gave out, and he sank to his knees, his body covered in wounds and bleeding heavily.
Arin, exhausted from fighting Rodric, sighed with relief and let his guard down slightly as he looked at him.