Chapter 31 - End of the Crisis (1/2)
But before Krune or the enemy leader could attack, Yusa came forward to talk.
”Shouldn't you give up by now? I don't know who you are but you are definitely not bandits, bandits can't possibly have such refined skills, which means that you were sent here by someone. You should know that with my, Ao and Krune's power it is impossible for you to kill everyone now, and that is considering that you will end in the winning side. Are you sure you want the Mercenary Guild to investigate this incident where there is survivals?”
The leader felt helpless, he knows that Yusa is telling the truth, not to mention that he can't see through this Krune fella, he received information that he could use wind and fire element to summon some king of fire type wind blades which as really powerful, the reason that he was assigned as the group leader is exactly because he is a water element user, he was supposed to be Krune's nemesis, but after seeing the he can also use water element attacks that are by no means any weaker than his own, his confidence is now gone, and it would be bad if he could use lightning based abilities too.
”Very well, but I want their corpses”
He then pointed at the corpse pieces of his companions, Yusa agreed with that, if they can leave without any losses that would be for the best.
Krunes group retreated while those men stayed behind to recover the corpses of their companions, they still had one chance, if they are capable of reaching Kaley City fast enough and inform their clan to send reinforcements before Krune's group reach the city, they might be able to salvage the situation.
After walking for over two hours the group finally stopped to rest, everyone had used everything they had in the last battle, Krune wasn't much better either, to create such a gigantic water prison, control the water blades and still keep his Divine Sense active all the time, it took a great tool on him. He took a few spirit stones from his spatial ring and started to recover, while everyone was meditating, Yusa, Krune and Ao went to the side to discuss about what happened. Ao Sulian was first one to talk.
”You said that they were not bandits, that they were sent by someone, mind to explain?”
Yusa nodded
”In fact I'm not sure either, but a bandit group shouldn't have such coordination, it was good that my guess was right and their leader agreed to give up. You don't know it but Krune has a Four Stars Mercenary Badge, I think it might have been because of this that we were attacked by them.”
Ao was surprised!
”Four Stars? You are joking, right? Only those at the Core Formation Realm can apply for those, why would he have a Four Stars Badge?”
Krune looked a little embarrassed.
”I think I used a little bit too much strength during the test, for some reason they decided to give me this badge.”
Yusa's mouth twitched.
”A little bit your head! Then what if you had used your full power? Would you bring the entire guild down?”
Krune looked away and pretended that he didn't hear anything.
Yusa then explained what happened during the mercenary exam. Ao looked at Krune strangely, he was very surprised with his battle strength since he was even able to imprison four Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, but in the end he was using water element alone, he didn't use two elements at the same time. But now he knows that Krune can do that and even use Skill Merge!
”I understand now, they were probably after him! But who would dare to buy a fight with the mercenary guild? To kill a genius like him under the guild's nose is almost the same as bring destruction to ones clan or sect.”
Krune was the one to talk this time.
”I don't think they wanted to kill me, that 5th stage Foundation Establishment cultivator that was fighting me at first wasn't using any lethal damage attacks, it was as if he didn't want me to die.”
Yusa eyes then lit up.
”Blood contract! They probably wanted to capture and force you to sign a blood contract, with your talent you are definitely becoming a great figure in the future, they wanted to have you for themselves.”
She then laughed a little
”Look! The mister famous had done it again!”
Another blade passed through Krune's heart, it's very effective! He couldn't help but think again while crying inside.
'Low key is really the sages path...'
Ao felt awkward at their weird relationship, but then he came back to the main topic.
”Which means that they will probably try again, we are running against time here, after we arrive at Kaley City they won't be able to do anything anymore, even if we leave the city later, the mercenary guild will be on guard waiting for someone to eat the bait that is Krune, not to mention that I don't think they will escape the mercenary's guild intelligence network to start with, the guild will probably root them out even before they need to use a bait plan.”
Krune didn't understand much but Yusa did, the mercenary guild is a behemoth around the world, very few would oppose it, she then said.
”It won't be a problem, it has only been two hours since we left, not to mention that their companions also have to stop to rest, we already left the most dangerous area on the way here, if I and Krune press forward just the two of us, there is no way they will have time to get there and assemble another team.”
Ao then said
”They could simply communicate with their clan or sect, no wait, they can't, the signal won't be able to arrive here.”
Yusa nodded
”Exactly, danger zones don't have signal towers since bandits would most likely take the equipment down to sell, it's a wasted effort, we all know that danger zones are left like that not only because it would be too troublesome to keep watch over them, but also because they are good places to refine ones skills, so they will have to get closer to Kaley City to be able to communicate with their superiors, then to summon the necessary personal and leave the city again will take time too. Of course, if we want to prevent that, we need to leave immediately.”
Krune nodded, he had already restored his spiritual energy and could go at any moment.
”Then we should be going, Yusa. If I'm not wrong, their leader, that 6th stage Foundation Establishment will probably separate from their group and rush forward alone, we can't wait anymore.”
Ao Sulian then said.
”In that case let me tell the others that I'm leaving too, I'm a wind element specialized cultivator, I won't drag you back, with the three of us it will be easier to deal with any bandits on the way, like this it will be safer to the others too.”
Krune and Yusa agreed with his proposal.
Ao talked a little with his two friends and with the Qi Condensation cultivators, after that the three of them left, they rushed all the way until the night of the next day, Ao and Krune were fine, they both can use wind element easily, specially Krune, but Yusa is a water element specialized cultivator, she couldn't keep going anymore. Ao then came forward to carry her. She was about to refuse when Krune remembered her.
”You won't be able to do anything if you don't rest, the both of us can use wind element so we can continue without stop but you can't, remember that we are running against time.”
She then left a helpless sigh, Ao then carried her on her back, Krune isn't very strong when you consider his physical strength, so Ao was a much better option for the job.
Two days later they finally could see the city walls in the distance, fortunately for them, they just arrived when the enemy was about to send reinforcements to stop them on the way. Krune was right in the end, the enemy leader had rushed forward alone to pass over the information, unfortunately for him, he was a water element user just like Yusa, even with his higher cultivation level he couldn't compare in endurance against wind element cultivators, they could use the wind to make their bodies lighter helping them to press forward much easier.
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