Chapter 22 Ch. 22: The Chase [4]
We stood whilst exchanging stares at each other. Our hair danced along the wind when a gentle breeze passed us. A strong woody scent could be smelled and light peeked through the leaves followed by birds that chirped happily.
This forest was indeed breathtaking-looking, but it was too bad because this place would become either his or my grave. I heaved a long breath to ease my messed-up mind.
'I know exactly what situation I'm in. There is no way I would win against him. First, his Tier is higher than mine, and second, I lack experience in 'real' combat. I know I will surely die if there isn't any reinforcement, but even if I die, at least I fight until my last breath and I won't regret it.'
"You will die. Kekeke."
"I know."
I funneled my mana to my Elemental and shot three fireballs toward him. However, Trickster just stood there and looked at my attack with uninterested eyes before he yawned boredly. The moment my fire was ready to devour him, he smirked and an earth barrier emerged.
–Boom!
It completely blocked my attack. Not long after, I was forced to roll sideways when a bolt struck through my fires and rushed at me. Not letting me get up, a dagger flew in my direction and I raised my sword to parry it.
–Bang!
I peeked upward and Trickster was seen running toward me, without wasting any more time, I instantly got myself up and covered my sword with mana.
–Bang!
Our weapons collided and we continued to exchange blows.
–Bang! –Bang! –Bang!
I gritted my teeth upon feeling his power. I was pushed every time our weapons clashed, and my hand started to get numb. Simply, his strength was not a joke and in the end, I leaped backward to distance myself.
Nevertheless, he didn't let me do as I pleased, he bounced at me and I immediately blocked his path with my Earth Elemental.
"Do you really think that you can win against me? Ha! In your dream!"
Trickster shouted as he cut through my earth barrier. I jumped backward and made another wall. However, the result was the same, he chopped them easily like slicing tofu. I created one once more whilst hopping and right after he slash it, I fired Wind Elemental and sent him flying.
Trickster rolled on the ground several times before he did an acrobatically backflips and landed on his feet. Guess, he didn't see it coming. He spat blood to the side whilst glaring at me with eyes full of resentment.
"What a dirty trick, Prince."
Just looked at him. He seemed fine even after exchanging attacks, unlike me who looked like a fish that came out of the water; grasped for air.
"Hahaha!!"
Suddenly, he laughed and lifted his hand. I immediately tilted my head to the left when he unexpectedly fired a bolt at me. I had no idea, but my feeling sent me a warning siren, telling me that I should start running, so I did, and what happened afterward was a nightmare.
–Boom! –Boom! –Boom!
The soil behind me exploded as he kept throwing his bolt nonstop and since he was so immersed in attacking me, I sneakily created an earth spear behind him. But before it could make a thrust, he stopped and spun. He raised his hand and punched my creation.
–Boom!
My earth-shaped spear crumbled and shattered to the ground. As his back faced me, I used this chance to deliver him a bolt, and again, a wall appeared and blocked my attack.
–Boom!
"Tsk."
I clucked my tongue in annoyance. The earth shield slid down and a jeering Trickster could be seen behind it.
"It must be fun to have five Elementals."
Ignoring his speech, I racked my brain; thinking about how to defeat him because half of my mana had decreased. But, let alone give me a brilliant idea, this brain wouldn't even give me a simple idea. Honestly speaking, I hate this kind of helplessness.
"Here I come!"
Trickster jumped at me and I coated my sword with mana.
–Bang!
Our weapons collided and we exchanged death glares the moment our swords bound. Since I was fully aware that I couldn't win the bond because his power was simply too much for me and thus, I decided to distance myself.
However, he tilted his wrist and drew away my weapon. Right after my body entirely opened to him, he laughed and swung his foot at my stomach.
–Whack!
I felt a sharp pain in my waist and was sent flying. I hit the ground and rolled several times before eventually stopping. I abruptly sat and threw up a mouthful of blood.
"Cough! Cough!"
Before I could even raise myself, I was held up by my neck. My body shook violently when I lost my footing and couldn't breathe in response. I frantically tried to remove his hand away from my neck but it was futile.
"It's suffocating, isn't it?"
Unable to take it anymore, I made an Elemental Fusion of water and earth elemental under his feet. Sensing that his footing was lost, I could see how his eyes widened in surprise and he fell dramatically into the mud.
–Plop!
I landed on my butt and coughed heavily when my lungs greedily devoured oxygen. I had no idea how deep it was because I made it while panicking but since I couldn't see him anywhere, I thought it was a pretty deep pit. Ignoring my cough, I impatiently evaporated the water, and the earth was solidified once again.
I used my remaining strengths to get up on my feet. Even though my coughing had stopped, I was still breathing roughly. I looked at the place where he was buried for a few more seconds but nothing happened.
'Is it over?'
I sighed in relief and turned. However...
"Aargh!"
I fell flat on my stomach when a lightning bolt struck my right arm from behind. I tried to get up but someone pinned my head down to the ground. I peeked at my back and Trickster could be seen pinning my head down with his foot.
"Don't ever think that this is over."
He lifted his foot and stepped on my head. It was so powerful, even my sight turned completely white every time he did that.
–Whack! –Whack! –Whack!
I didn't know how many times he kept doing that but my body felt numb, my ears rang, and my consciousness started to fade away.
"What's wrong? Come on. Stand up."
He kicked me in the waist and my body rolled several times as a result. He strode to me and hit my waist. Once again, my body tossed helplessly and I puked a mouthful of blood.
"Oh, come on, Prince. It's not fun."
I forced myself to stand but my legs refused to listen and all I could do was drag myself with both hands to the nearest tree. Upon arriving, I leaned against the tree trunk.
My whole body trembled in pain and warm liquid run down my face and under my nose. I could also see how Trickster walked leisurely before he squatted next to me with my hazy eyes.
Somehow it was annoying, my vision was blurry and shaded yet, I could vividly glimpse his irritating smile. I didn't want to see his damn smile in my dying time. It was disgusting. So disgusting, that I unconsciously spat on his face.
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Trickster's smiles vanished as he wiped my bloody saliva from his face and looked me in the eyes.
"You're quite daring, aren't you?"
I made an earth spear behind his back but before it could make a thrust, my mouth was oozing blood as Trickster's dagger pierced through my heart.
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