Chapter 238: Battles End (1/2)

”Rae,” Arthur walked slowly toward her. ”I thought you'd be helping your team, not running toward the flag on your own.”

”I guess you don't know me enough.” Rae smiled as her white scarf surrounded Jonah. ”If I did as you told me, I would be playing into your own hands. I knew you were up to something, but I had to know what exactly.”

”Smart,” Arthur raised his hands and started clapping with a smile. ”I still don't understand one thing. If you doubted me, why didn't you try eliminating me when we met earlier?”

”Are you trying to stall for time?”

”Yes.”

”Alright, it's because I didn't want to choose the easy way,” Rae said with pride. ”I wanted to find out your plan and foil it.”

”As if you can eliminate me, to begin with.” Arthur's lips arched upward in mockery. ”I was the one to defeat the Great Knight before you intervened.”

”Are you bitter about being beaten to a pulp?” Rae grinned at him. ”If you think you can take revenge, go ahead and try.”

”I'm bitter about betrayal and cowardice, you're a fine example of both.” Arthur used his art to control his mana that started surrounding his body. ”You act high and mighty, but you're nothing more than an insecure kid trying to prove their strength.”

”I'm not trying to prove anything.” Rae scowled at him. ”I have no reason to prove anything to anyone.”

”Isn't that why you rushed on your own to grab the flag? To prove you're not a failure who can't function in a team? I've seen that firsthand when we worked together against the ancient knight.”

”You bastard!” Rae gritted her teeth as her eyes turned into blood-scarlet. Her hair rose like her scarf as Jonah looked out with worry at Arthur, imploring for help.

”Yes, I'm a bastard.” Arthur shrugged. ”But that's something I can't control. You refuse to grow up from thinking that everyone is your enemy.” Arthur provoked further as he saw the scarf retreat into Rae's possession.

”You have no idea what you're talking about…” Rae's voice was muffled and Arthur flinched when he saw tears form in her eyes. Two red pools of scarlet glowing water looked at him with both rage and sorrow that he couldn't fathom.

It was then that Arthur knew he had taken it too far. He thought these provocations meant nothing to Rae, but she appeared in front of him with her scarf turning into a glove.

From the silk-like texture it had, the scarf crystalized into a glove that made Arthur feel oppressed with its power. With haste, he threw a barrier and turned used his iron-skin skill to block with his arms crossed.

Rae's fist came like a cannonball and Arthur flew away like a broken kite. He crashed into the wall that Moli built but didn't stop flying and crashing into the walls of the maze behind him.

When he finally stopped, Arthur examined himself and found that his arms were bleeding but no fracture was made. Rae appeared above him with the eyes of a demon and her leg descended on Arthur like an ax.

'I guess I have no choice,' Arthur frowned and breathed in. Using the back of his hand, he changed the direction of the kick and it descended on the ground to leave a giant gash in the earth.

Before he could counterattack, Rae's fist was already inches away from his face and Arthur slipped partially into his shadow for the punch to go above his head.

Without a pause, he punched toward Rae's chin but the scarf unfolded and blocked his attack easily. Their eyes met for a second and Arthur could see the signs of tears around her eyes.

”I'm sorry for what I said,” He whispered and Rae looked at him silently, her eyes still blood-scarlet. It was a few moments of stillness later that her eyes went back to their normal shade.

Without saying anything, Rae walked away from him and Arthur had to take himself out of the rabble. She headed directly toward Jonah with her scarf floating on the tips of her fingers.

”I know how to work in a team and that's why I'm winning this.” She struck toward Jonah who tried to dodge but couldn't do it in time. The moment that her attack connected; Jonah disappeared from the world along with the flag. There was another silence before Rae turned to look at Arthur with a blush. ”You fucker…”

Arthur coughed as he cringed. After the dramatic words of Rae, she fell into another trap of their plan. However, this wasn't thought of by Arthur. He had no intention of using Jonah's ability like this, it was Jonah's idea to run away with the flag and only leaving a decoy here.

Even though he wished to keep Jonah's ability a secret, it was unrealistic for Jonah to follow his wishes. If Jonah didn't show his worth to the college, he would compromise his future. On the other hand, Jonah would feel useless.

”Where is the flag?” Rae gritted her teeth and asked. ”Where is it, you shrewd piece of shit!”

”I have nothing to do with this,” Arthur raised his hands. ”I have no idea where it is at the moment. I'm not the leader and I don't get much information.”

”You wouldn't tell me even if you knew.”

”That's true. After all, we would lose.”

”You want to win that much? Over a silly class?” Rae looked at him coldly.