Chapter 242 242: Holding On
"If you want to run, run away from me!" Jake exclaimed, bursting into a laughter. "Because you can't pass through this place even if you want!"
Unlike most of the other Kings, Jake didn't have one Weapon of Sin. Instead, he had two, both having the form of a sword. One of the Weapons of Sin was always in his hand while the other Sword worked on its own as if it had a life of itself.
He didn't even need to guide the sword to help it to his bidding, and that's what the Sword did now, blocking the path. There was an invisible line established in this route that no one was allowed to pass through without having their heads chopped off.
Jake was free to take his time without having to worry about people that were going to supposedly run away.
"I want to get back to my work, so I'll be fast." Jake declared, raising his Sword toward Azekiel.
Unlike on other floors, Azekiel could neither teleport nor fly to avoid any attack. All this battle came down to was his true strength and speed, which wasn't very high because of his low level when compared to the others.
The only thing which compensated him was the fact that the Soul Stealths had given him quite a decent increase in his strength, making him way stronger than what his level showed.
Even though he had an opportunity to attack right now, he still waited for something. Even Jake couldn't see that Azekiel was still using Soul Stealth on the people that were killed here.
Secretly, he was only increasing his strength more. Thanks to him using his Soul Stealth more often than not, the ability had not only gotten stronger but also leveled up itself, giving him the ability to use Soul Snatch without touching the body at all.
All he needed to do was to be in the close proximity to the bodies, and it worked.
Azekiel kept the man engaged in conversation for a few minutes only because he needed some more time to finish. With his other abilities restricted, he could only depend on his strength, and it was better to have as much as he could.
"That shall be enough." he patted his hands after finishing the Soul Stealth from the bodies. Even though there was no experience for him to receive, the increase in his stats was quite significant since he was a lower level King who had just arrived here.
While being lower level, using Soul Stealth on beings with stronger souls gave much more than being higher level and using it on weaker soul beings.
"It looks like you aren't going to beg for your life. That takes out most of the fun. Oh well. I'll have to do things myself."
The man started running toward Azekiel, brandishing his sword. He left his second sword behind to maintain the line su no one could run.
The people in the surrounding rushed back so that they weren't caught in the battle of the Two Kings. None of them tried to escape either since the sword was waiting there to kill them.
By now, they had realized that the only way out of there was if Jake was killed by Azekiel. No matter how unlikely it was, they still prayed for the young man to succeed.
Clank~
The man expected his sword to slice through Azekiel in an instant, just stunning him with his speed, but the sword couldn't even pass through Azekiel's Gauntlets.
Azekiel's reflexes were so fast that he could not only see every movement of Jake, but he could also react equally fast.
He noticed every single movement of Jake's swords which gave him the ability to catch the blade of the Sword before it could even touch him.
"You should start worrying right about... Now." Azekiel's foot landed on Jake's chest, sending him flying back. Jake couldn't even hold onto his sword, which was left behind in Azekiel's hands.
Azekiel tossed the sword aside and followed after Jake, who landed right past that invisible line that no one was supposed to cross.
Azekiel didn't care about any line, only focusing on Jake as he chased after the man who barely managed to balance himself on the ground.
Jake held his chest, feeling pain. The strength behind that attack... He was surprised to realize that the strength was no less than his. But how was it possible? Azekiel was a low level King. How could he have that strength?
The man raised his right hand, seeing Azekiel run toward him. The sword of his which was left behind disappeared from where it had fallen and appeared in his hand again.
Jake once again entered that invisible line before Azekiel could get to him.
****
Not too far from this place was a tall building which no one paid attention to. Through the window of that building, a person was looking outside at all the commotion.
The man, who was in his late twenties, had beautiful wings on his back, as if he had fallen from heaven.
If one was here to sense the man's aura, it was clear that he was stronger than any other Kings that were fighting outside. He was also the top ranked person on the Tower Ranking of Middle Realms.
Unlike the other Kings, he had decided to stay out of this plan and not take part in it as he felt it was beneath him. However, even he was slightly surprised to see that there was a person who was fighting back the Kings and was managing to hold on his own.
Then again, after he recognized who that person was, it made sense for him that the man was able to stand against Jake. Jake wasn't the strongest amongst them either, so it wasn't too shocking.
Instead of focusing on the crowd, the man placed all his attention on the battle between Azekiel and Jake.