86 Before The Pillars Descent - Part 3 (1/2)

The gray blades slashed at my eyes and I screamed from the pain. I dropped to my knees, as the gash on my face healed after a few moments. Afraid those two would strike at me again, I willed my white gauntlet to change its shape. It broke down into numerous whips that whirled around me.

I opened my eyes after it had fully regenerated, and clearly, those two Users were looking at me. The purple-haired girl was obvious since she no longer had her hood, and I could only guess that User beside her did the same. His hood prevented me from seeing what his expression was at that time.

”How dare she . . .” I growled.

My eyes shone bright red as I stood up. My white whips danced in the air, excited to tear those Users apart.

I raised my right hand, and it darted at those two Users. The girl avoided the two that came after her head. She then jumped; barely avoiding the permanent loss of her left arm when my three whips slashed at her. Multiple gray Aegis blades sprouted out from her right arm and she swung it forward. My other whips crashed into it, preventing her body from being harmed by those white crystals.

I clicked my tongue.

The other User had managed to run into my blind spot once again, preparing to strike from my rear.

”That guy's annoying,” I mumbled. ”Aegis.”

”Understood,” it replied. ”I'll release your physical limiters, alongside the Aegis formation limiter.”

After that, a jolt shot up throughout my body. I could feel the surging energy that came with it, allowing me to completely focus on that one male Aegis User.

He sprinted at me with his golden Aegis blade, and I formed a green blade at my left palm. It darted at him with blinding speed but he rolled to the side just in time. After that, he just crouched at his spot.

I frowned. 'What's happening?' I thought.

Certain that his mind was elsewhere, I instructed my green blade to strike at that guy again. Despite that, the User seemingly had snapped from his rail of thoughts and s.h.i.+elded himself with an Aegis blade.

However, my crimson blade pierced the air to slice at the male Aegis User. Unable to avoid that attack, it slashed at his throat in a blink of an eye. He gagged from that sudden attack, blood spluttered out from his mouth.

Seeing him vulnerable in front of me, my green, and crimson blades retracted to my side. It then went after him when a cl.u.s.ter of gray blades blocked its path.

My blades bounced off it. I gritted my teeth and glared at that purple-haired girl.

She was breathing heavily; holding onto her gray blades.

”You're holding back, Ava,” said Aegis in my mind.

I clicked my tongue. ”Ripping my jacket is not what I want, Aegis. If I move too much, my ident.i.ty would be revealed.”

”Surely you didn't have to go that far. After all, they will be dead after all of this is over. I'm certain you're planning on finis.h.i.+ng them off?”

”I want to . . . But--” I paused.

For some reason, I found myself admitting what Aegis had said.

'What is this?' I thought.

A sliver of sharp pain stabbed at my heart, somehow telling me to not kill them.

It was true that I didn't want to reveal who I was in front of those two Aegis Users. However, my body was unconsciously reserving its energy as I fought.

It was like, I didn't want to hurt them.

”What's wrong with me?!” I growled.

My body was not moving as it should, so I brushed off the idea of using anything else other than my white fire. I pointed the crystals at my right palm at those two, determined to burn them.

The purple-haired girl pulled at the guy beside her for him to move. However, it was too late.

White flames burst out of my right palm; engulfing the s.p.a.ce in front of me.

A soothing chill then wrapped my heart. In a way, I relished the emotions welling up inside me. Perhaps getting rid of those two purged those weird feelings at that time.

My crystals seeped back into my skin, as I watched for any movements from inside the burning white flames.

”I need to help Tuya,” I mumbled.

Certain that those Aegis Users had succ.u.mbed to my flames, I sprinted to the entrance of the building.

”Argh!” I stumbled when I avoided a gray blade that almost beheaded me. My eyes shot toward the direction of my rear, and a tall man with long, dark hair came into view. He, too, wore a hooded black jacket like the others.

”Who--”

My body rolled to the side when he swung his gray Aegis blade. His red eyes looked at me lazily.

”Vladimir!” yelled the purple-haired girl.

She emerged from the white flames unscathed, and so did the guy beside her.

”How?” I mumbled.