He left the blade embedded in the earth, gripping only its long handle, which now served as a makeshift rod.
"Ha!"
ZAAP!
KTAK!
Nibsken's fist came flying toward him, but Kael redirected the incoming strike with the rod, parrying the Tan'Mara technique before it could land.
ZAAP!
KTAK!
KTAK!
The two exchanged several rapid blows.
Then—
Kael struck.
His rod swept across Nibsken's legs, disrupting his footing and throwing off his balance for a split second.
But Kael didn't waste that opening admiring his work.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of something approaching from behind.
Grak'Mar's enormous hand was reaching for him, ready to seize him before he could escape.
PHHOMP!
Kael sprang upward just as the Ogre's hand swept beneath him.
But that movement came at a cost.
His feet left the ground, leaving him with little room to evade the next attack.
And Reyvik was already prepared.
"Got you!"
BBZZZT!
Electric Might surged through the two metal rods in Reyvik's hands, sending a burst of electricity straight toward Kael.
With no time to dodge, Kael had only one option.
He pulled his black cape around himself, using it to cover his body as the electric discharge engulfed him.
KZZZZT!
The electricity crackled violently against the fabric.
Yet—
The cape appeared to withstand the entire discharge without suffering any visible damage.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
I see…
His gaze flicked toward the metal rods in Reyvik's hands.
Those rods extend the range of his Electric Might…
Kael narrowed his eyes, keeping his entire body wrapped in his black cape midair.
Waiting beneath him was none other than Grak'Mar, his great axe strapped to his back.
Kael landed near the Ogre and immediately dashed backward.
THUD!
THOOMPH!
He quickly created a considerable distance between himself and the three opponents.
Kael watched as the three prepared to close in on him. But suddenly, several balls of wind rushed toward him, each carrying a blazing flame within!
It was Liraen and Volgran's Might Merge, combining Wind and Flame Might to launch a long-range attack!
Cih…
SWOOSH!
Kael swiftly sliced through every wind ball with his Might Splitter, creating another opening.
Grak'Mar and Nibsken immediately rushed toward Kael, both of their fists enveloped in Wind Might!
HAAARGH!
ZAAP!
Both fists came flying toward Kael simultaneously!
Kael parried Grak'Mar's punch with both hands. The enormous Ogre's fist was simply too heavy. If Kael took that attack head-on, he wasn't sure how much damage the brute could inflict.
However, by focusing on blocking Grak'Mar's attack, Kael left himself open to Nibsken's strike.
ZAPP!
"Ugh!"
Kael staggered back a few steps as Nibsken landed a clean hit against his chest.
"How's that, Human?!"
"Uh… Good hit, Nibsken. But don't you think that's a little too weak to even injure me?"
"Huh?"
Nibsken's eyes widened as he stared at Kael's armor, seemingly unbothered by the force of his punch.
Cih! Then I need to land another hit!
"Yeah, I won't let that happen again."
SWOOSH!
SWOOSH!
Kael's black blade, which he had dropped earlier, shot toward the aluminum balls scattered around Nibsken's feet!
"Huh?! Since when did he put all this?"
Nibsken's eyes widened as he finally noticed the numerous aluminum balls surrounding his feet.
Kael had scattered them earlier, during the brief moments when he retreated from Grak'Mar. It had taken only a few steps and a split second to lay the trap.
BOOOM!
One ball exploded as the blade stabbed into it, immediately triggering the others around it and setting off a chain reaction!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
"Yeah… That will do…"
"All right, nex—"
"Huh? Cih!"
Kael glanced down at his feet, only to find them trapped in crystal!
"What the?!"
"Oh, Human… Ya really think that little bomb of yours is enough to damage me?"
Grak'Mar stood behind Kael, his crystal armor completely unscathed by the explosions.
"Yeah… You're right, Ogre. You're tougher than the others, aren't ya?"
THOOMPH!
Once again, Kael's electric boots discharged, shattering the crystal that held him in place!
He turned around, coming face-to-face with Grak'Mar. Beside the massive Ogre, Nibsken was still recovering from the explosion.
SWOOSH!
TAK!
Tesseract's long blade flew back into place, attaching itself perfectly to its handle.
"Bring it on, Ogre…"
"You asked for it!"
THUMPH!
THUMPH!
Grak'Mar charged forward with all his might!
Kael took several steps backward, gripping Tesseract tightly in his right hand while his left reached for the flamethrower at his waist.
He extended both weapons toward the charging Ogre and fired them simultaneously!
FHWOOMP!
SWOOOSH!
The blade lunged forward as a torrent of flames burst from the flamethrower!
KTANGG!
Grak'Mar parried the blade with his armored arm, then covered his face with both hands as he charged straight through the flames!
But Kael was no longer there.
"Huh? Where are ya, Human? Playin' tricks again?"
Little did Grak'Mar know that Kael had already dashed toward his main objective
Liraen!
Hahaha! In his right mind, who would choose to fight Grak'Mar without proper preparation?
He's huge and durable, but he's slow…
Better head straight for the objective. But first…
Kael needs to deal with Reyvik.
Without hesitation, Kael launches his favourite attack again.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Two short blades shot toward Reyvik!
Kael immediately launched himself forward as well.
THOOMPH!
With no time to dodge, Reyvik had no choice but to unleash his Electric Might through the metal rods in his hands!
BBZZZT!
But Kael had already anticipated his move!
He raised the caged sphere in his hand, using it to shield himself from the incoming electricity.
As expected, the crystal inside the sphere easily absorbed the Electric Might!
THUD!
Kael landed directly in front of Reyvik and grabbed both of his metal rods before throwing them away!
"Sorry, Reyv, but I need to get to Liraen!"
Kael kicked Reyvik's feet out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground before continuing toward his target.
THUD!
Reyvik slammed into the ground.
"Ouch!"
THOOMPH!
Reyvik could only stare in shock as Kael dashed away, barely believing how quickly he'd been taken down.
"All right, Ren! Here I co—"
"Huh? What is it this time?!"
Suddenly, a pool of water formed around Kael's head, ready to engulf him!
ZUUP!
The water surged toward him, but Kael managed to dodge just in time!
Nylum… I almost forgot about him!
Kael transformed Tesseract's blade into his Might Splitter, slicing through the incoming water and sending it splashing onto the ground.
But the water immediately gathered itself again, surging toward him once more!
Cih! Again?! Where is this guy?!
Kael turned his head, searching his surroundings. All he could see was water there was no sign of Nylum's actual liquid body.
Kael slashed through the water surrounding him, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep up as more water continued to appear.
What the heck is this?!
He glanced behind him.
Grak'Mar and Nibsken were already chasing after him!
Kael quickly pulled out his slingshot and fired several explosive balls and a handful of blinding powder toward them!
BOOM!
BOOM!
A thick cloud of smoke and blinding powder engulfed the two pursuers, obscuring their vision
With them temporarily held back, Kael turned his attention to Nylum once more.
But this opponent was proving far more troublesome than he'd expected.
Nylum's liquid body had blended into the water spreading across the grassy ground, making it nearly impossible for Kael to distinguish where Nylum ended and the puddles began.
"Cih… Think, Kael…"
Think…
"Aha!"
Kael snapped his fingers.
"I hope this works!"
He pulled every bomb ball from his pockets and scattered them across the ground.
THOOMPH!
Kael jumped vertically into the air, drew the shotgun hanging at his side, and aimed it at the ground.
CHHK!
THOOMPH!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Multiple explosions erupted across the backyard, sending the scattered water splashing in every direction!
THUD!
Kael landed safely, but before he could catch his breath, a massive fireball came hurtling straight toward him!
"Yeah, just as I predicted!"
He grabbed his Might Splitter and thrust it into the enormous fireball just in time!
The blade collided with the flames, holding the fireball in place for a brief moment before-
BOOOOOOM!
The fireball exploded, scattering flames throughout the backyard and sending Kael flying several meters backward!
"ARGH… It's so hot!"
Flames had burned the right side of his face. He quickly reached for his remedy from his gloves and spread it over the injured area.
Gradually, the burning sensation began to subside as the remedy cooled the wound.
"Fuh…"
PSSSS…
The backyard was now shrouded in vapor, formed as the scattered water met Volgran's Flame Might.
"ARRGH… Hot! Hot!"
Suddenly, a figure made of water emerged from the ground.
It was Nylum, his two mechanical metal hands clearly visible against his liquid body.
But there was something important about his position
He had emerged on the opposite side of the backyard from where Liraen and Volgran stood.
With this advantages Kael wasted no time and charged toward the objective
SWWOSHH!
But the objective is the one who made the way to him.
KTANGG!
SCREECCHH…
"Argh… Of course…"
Liraen suddenly struck Kael with his white obsidian sword, Ralis.
Fortunately, Kael already had Tesseract in hand and managed to block the strike just in time, locking their blades against each other.
Now, their faces were only inches apart.
And right there, within Kael's reach, was Liraen's golden bracelet.
Now, Kael…
Liraen spoke as he maintained the pressure against Kael's blade.
"Bring it on, Ren!"
"ARRGH!"
THOOMPH!
Kael pushed Liraen away, using the momentum of his electric boots to force him several meters backward!
BBZZT!
PSWWOH!
Two projectiles suddenly flew toward Kael from behind one charged with electricity, the other with wind.
But his black cape absorbed both attacks, leaving him unharmed!
Cih! They're still here!
"HARGH!"
SWOOSH!
A massive axe suddenly came swinging down from above!
"Hah!"
Kael's eyes widened fortunately with his reflexes…
THOOMPH!
Kael narrowly dodged the attack with his electric boots, escaping the axe just in time.
Sigh… I almost died!
Never mind. I need to find a way to stop this Ogre from attacking me again…
Kael grabbed a blinding-powder projectile, preparing to fire it at Grak'Mar the moment he got close enough.
THUMP!
THUMP!
Grak'Mar charged again, his massive axe in hand, with Liraen closing in from behind Kael!
Argh… There are too many of them…!
Kael raised the Tesseract and unleashed its two blades at incredible speed!
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
The blades struck Grak'Mar across the cheeks!
KCCK!
PSTT!
"Ugh!"
Grak'Mar flinched at the sudden cuts, but he didn't stop charging. Despite the blood trickling down his cheeks, the massive Ogre continued rushing toward Kael.
And right behind him
Liraen was closing in!
"This Ogre is crazy! And Ren is here too!"
"ARRGH!"
SWOOSH!
A sudden attack from Liraen swinging his sword at Kael!
Kael didn't have time to dodge or parry the incoming strike.
Instead, he raised his armored wrist to block it!
TAP!
Ralis struck the armor, and the impact was absorbed perfectly!
Seizing the opportunity, Kael punched Liraen in the stomach.
But Liraen's armor easily withstood the blow!
"Ha! You think a one-handed punch can get through my armor? You'll need more than that, Kael!"
After his sword attack was blocked, Liraen shifted his position and leaped backward to create some distance.
He raised three fingers toward Kael and unleashed a powerful ball of wind!
SWOOSH!
Kael raised Tesseract, and its two blades shot straight through the incoming wind ball!
Liraen reacted immediately, parrying the flying blades with Ralis. However, doing so disrupted his control over the wind projectile, sending it scattering wildly in every direction!
Meanwhile, the others began getting back to their feet.
Before long, Kael found himself surrounded on all sides.
"Kael, you have no choice but to accept your defeat."
Liraen raised his sword toward him.
"YAH, HUMAN! WE WIN! HAHAHA!"
Nibsken proudly played with his wind Might.
"Is that so?'"
Kael responded casually as he split Tesseract's handle into two separate parts and reattached the flying short blades to them, transforming the weapon into a pair of daggers.
But something was different this time.
Both blades began emitting a white light, their surfaces covered in seemingly random patterns that shifted across them.
"You guys can say I've lost, but I'm a man who prefers statements backed by proof…"
Kael tightened his grip on the twin blades.
"So come at me…"
He raised his weapons toward the group surrounding him.
"All of you."