Chapter 16 16: Card Of Judgement
With his hands behind his back, Azekiel calmly stepped closer to the dark mage.
The Dark Mage licked his lips as he raised his staff. "I am going to enjoy wiping that smug look on your face!"
"After much torment, I've gained this smugness. Let alone you; even your father won't be able to wipe it off my face," Azekiel lazily stated.
"We will see!" The man raised his staff which started shining in a mysterious light.
"Spear of Darkne- Urgh." The man was just about to use the spell, but before he could finish the spell, his eyes opened wide.
Azekiel, who was standing two meters away from him, was right next to him, and there was a knife in his hand, which was stabbed in the chest of the Dark Mage.
Before the Dark Mage could even cast a spell, he was stabbed. He was still stunned at that amazing speed of Azekiel. It was much faster than the speed of a human, which was why he hadn't expected this. Even until the moment he died, he couldn't believe it.
Azekiel knew he had gained speed and strength because of absorbing so many people. His speed and strength couldn't compete with other Kings at this time, but against these people, it was more than enough.
These people knew how to use spells, but other than that, they were no different than ordinary humans. Their physical strength and speed were very ordinary. That was also what gave Azekiel the confidence of fighting alone.
"Oh? He was talking about wiping the smile off my face. How is it that it worked on you instead? Where did your smile go now?' Azekiel asked Weiss, who had his lips slightly open.
Just what was that speed? He still couldn't understand. He wasn't the only one shocked. Even the Princess of Estia was shocked. She wondered who this brave warrior was. His speed was impossible to match. She couldn't help but glance at Rowan, wondering where he found this guy. Over-all, she finally felt like there was a chance of her being saved.
[Exp +2]
As soon as Azekiel killed the man, a notification appeared before him.
"Hmm, only two? If I'm not wrong, I needed 10 to level up again. It looks like I'll need four more. Good thing there are twenty of you, isn't it?" Azekiel gazed at the men as if he was looking at food, but he didn't attack them directly.
He placed his hand on the chest of the man. "Soul Snatch."
[Strength+ 1]
[Defence +1]
[Speed +1]
[Hunger+1]
"This hunger stat... I don't like it. It keeps increasing every time I use Soul Snatch." Azekiel muttered, frowning. "It looks like I'm increasing a weakness of mine. I need to find a way to stop it, but before that..."
From his back, he pulled out a second knife. He held one knife in each of his hands. While the Dark Mages were still in a daze over what had happened, Azekiel tossed his knives one after another.
One of the knives hit straight in the forehead of the Dark Mage closest to him while the other missed, leaving only a scratch on the cheeks of the second mage.
[Experience +2]
However, Azekiel wasn't done. As everyone looked at the guards who were killed, Azekiel ran to the horses, taking the lead as he pulled out a third knife.
Reaching the horse that was closest to him, he stabbed the Dark Mage, who had escaped because of his lousy aim.
[Experience +2]
Azekiel killed his third guard; however, it was at that time he sensed some danger. He hastily jumped back, barely escaping a dark spear that was about to hit him.
"Young Prince, your number will be soon. For now, let me handle the others." Azekiel smiled, knowing who had attacked. He still wasn't done.
Avoiding a barrage of dark attacks, he reached the fourth mage and stabbed the man.
[Experience +2]
Unfortunately, he couldn't avoid all attacks as the next attack stabbed his left shoulder before he could avoid it.
The dark spear disappeared, leaving a hole in the chest of Azekiel. Azekiel didn't stop attacking even now. To him, it was more important to level up. That was all he wanted at the moment.
He jumped to the fifth guard, swinging his knife with full might.
[Experience +2]
[Level Up]
[You have received a new skill]
[Skill: Card of Judgment]
Not only did Azekiel receive a skill after level up, but all his wounds had also healed with the level up. The hole in his shoulder healed on its own.
"You healed! What are you? How can you do that?" Weiss exclaimed. What he saw until now was nothing before what he was seeing at this moment. He knew of no man who could heal himself. Even he, as a dark mage, couldn't do it.
"I didn't heal myself. He did," Azekiel pointed behind Weiss.
Weiss turned back, stunned. Someone was behind them, and he didn't even know?
As soon as he turned back, he saw no one was there. His eyes opened wide as he realized what had happened. He turned back hastily, but it was too late. Azekiel was just a few inches away from him.
"Sweet dreams, young Prince," Azekiel smirked as a knife was thrust into the chest of Wiess.
"You said you'll attack me last..." Weiss weakly said as he coughed blood. His staff dropped from his hand.
"I also said there was someone behind you, didn't I? It's called battle deception. Raphael taught me," Azekiel answered as he jumped back, sending another barrage of attacks.
Many black spears came flying towards where he was standing; however, as he had jumped back, there was only one target left that the dark mages hadn't thought about. All the dark spears stabbed Prince Wiess, who was already on his last breath.
Weiss dropped off the horse with many wounds on his body, dead.
The guards were horrified at what they did. If the Emperor found out that their attack killed the Prince, they were going to be killed.
"You! You made us do it! We will kill you!" One guard roared, glaring where Azekiel had landed, but Azekiel wasn't there anymore. "Where did he go?"
"Looking for me?" Azekiel asked as a knife came swinging behind the neck of the guard.
After attacking, Azekiel jumped back again. He had already made this tactic. He was sure as soon as the guards saw him, they were going to attack. That's why, after every attack, he immediately dodged. He didn't even need to look back to know an attack was coming since it was common sense.
More and more bodies kept falling as Azekiel collected more and more experience.
Raphael stood in the back, slightly amazed. He hadn't expected Azekiel to take out all these people on his own, even though he had the speed.