The archer was on his knees, still holding his bleeding eye.
Kael had already picked up the knife from where it fell to, then spared a glance at Lola, who was engaged with the leader.
He gave a mental command to the cloak, and it rushed to her side.
However, the quick second he wasted cost him, as the archer made a last attempt to take down his opponent.
"Crap"
He reacted a second too late as the archer grabbed a dagger and tried to plunge it into Kael's heart, but he shifted slightly and took the dagger with his arm.
He winced, holding back the urge to yelp in pain.
'This bastard'
Before the archer could retrieve his dagger, Kael stabbed his neck repeatedly with unwavering determination.
'Die, you bastard.'
His opponent's arm finally fell, and his lifeless body fell to the ground.
'I messed up.'
The new wound on his arm was bleeding seriously.
"Lol – "
Just as he was about to turn around, he felt a horrifying gaze fall on him.
Kael had never felt such a disturbing presence in his life.
It was so terrifying that he couldn't even breathe properly.
He managed to turn and look in the direction from which he felt the gaze, and he froze completely.
In front of him was the same person he had seen earlier wearing a mask that looked like a demon's face.
Not that he had ever seen one before.
The person wore a simple red tunic and a black coat on top, which matched the color of his mask.
His tall, lean frame looked calm and gentle, or at least it should have.
His entire presence demonstrated immeasurable strength, power, malice, and killing intent.
As the figure began to move closer, every fiber of his being screamed, 'Run,' but he couldn't move an inch.
'Is this fear? Fear that renders all powerless? What tricks could I even come up with?
Can anything even reach this guy?'
His whole body was shaking profusely.
His mind was overrun with many thoughts as the figure walked by him and moved towards Lola.
'He didn't kill me? Because I'm insignificant? 'Damn it.'
He gritted his teeth so tightly that it felt as if they would crack.
In the next instant, Lola's head fell and rolled towards his foot.
It happened in an instant, so fast that he couldn't even see what cut her.
He could only freeze as he stood, even though he was shocked he couldn't even make a sound.
'Lola He killed her just like that.'
'Is this how I'm going to die? I thought the challenge supposed to be a fair one'
He stood for a few more seconds, staring at the demonic-looking figure.
He suddenly bit down on his lip so hard that it bled.
'Like hell I'll die here, no matter what happens; I will survive.'
He dragged his battered body forward, boiling with rage.
The ominous figure turned his head and spared him a glance.
It was impossible to know what the person, or creature, was thinking.
He looked at the huge hole through the fortress all the way to the top, which revealed the sky, then suddenly stopped and threw both the knife he used previously and the dagger he got from the archer
up through the hole.
He then summoned the cloak of comfort and commanded it to follow the weapons.
Then he lunged towards the mysterious figure without hesitation, which made it turn its head slightly, indicating a hint of surprise.
To Kael's surprise, the figure simply stood there without moving an inch, and then it spoke.
"Interesting"
Kael suddenly stumbled after hearing the creature's voice; it was deep, dark, and demonic.
He managed to gain his footing and continued running; he was holding the sack he picked up earlier.
'It's underestimating me; that's good.
That's what the plan was all about anyways.'
Immediately after he got within throwing distance of the man, he hurled the sack at him and ran towards the exit.
The figure simply stood without moving, and something slashed Kael from behind.
He let out a squeal as he fell to the ground, in excruciating pain.
The creature suddenly looked up and saw two blades and a cloak spiraling down towards him at great speed.
He simply caught the dagger that came first, but immediately after he caught it, the knife had gotten very close to his face; the cloak suddenly wrapped around the knife and hurled it like a slingshot at a different angle, then simply disappeared, aiming for the neck.
Before he could catch the blade, it slipped through his fingers but simply bounced off his neck.
Of course, Kael didn't see all these because he had used the distraction to escape.
The man paused for a moment and smiled under his mask.
"Really interesting"
Kael had already made his way out of the fortress and headed for the barricade, as he and Lola had originally planned.
The blades he threw were thrown back down by the cloak, which increased that speed two-fold.
It was all meant to distract the opponent as he ran; even the attack from behind was a gamble he made.
Although he got away, it came at a cost.
His body was bleeding all over, his left arm was barely moving, and his breathing was labored.
The cloak of comfort was practically dragging him forward.
"Let's hope he got bored and went for another target."
He soon reached the barricade; after a number of falls, he finally climbed over the top and fell to the other side.
The battle was over; all that remained were broken weapons and bloodied corpses littered all over the floor like pieces of paper.
"How long do I have to survive until this challenge is completely over?"
He took multiple breaths just to stay awake.
Even his sight was getting hazy at this point.
"Impressive, you already got all the way over here.
For an ordinary human, it's rather extraordinary."
The moment Kael heard the voice, he froze.
Once again completely overcome by primal fear.
'Shit, this guy really came back for me.'
The strange figure was a few dozen steps from him, radiating the same amount of power and strength as before.
He knew there was no way out of this one other than death; his whole body had broken down, his bleeding had not stopped, and the cloak couldn't do anything against this opponent.
"I didn't take you for someone who liked playing with his targets.
Well, it's not as if I even know you."
Kael's lips shaped into a sheepish smile.
The figure paused for a while and then responded:
"Target? Your type isn't worth being my prey.
And you think you are a target of mine?
The man let out a subtle but ominous laugh.
"I don't care what you think; just finish it quickly at least."
The figure moved closer.
Upon reaching him, it grabbed Kael by the face and held him up for a few seconds, then dropped him to the ground.
Soon Kael felt an electric pulse run through his body and then an excruciating pain all over his body.
The pain was so ample that he passed out completely.
As his eyes closed, the mask on the demon's face disappeared, revealing a gentle face with pitch-black eyes.
"I hope you use it well."
"Kael"
After that, everything went black.
[Your challenge has ended.]
[Challenge evaluation remark: Outstanding]
[Your core is taking shape.]
[Your core has taken shape.]
[Due to the extraordinary change to the scenario outcome, your core has gained its maximum potential]
[Your latent abilities have awoken.]
[You received an artifact of Weaver.]
[You have received a fragment of Weaver.]
[You have received an armament.]
[You have received an armament.]