73 Final Stand (1/2)
”So how do we enter the alchemist hall”, Long Yu asked the entrance of the hall was barred by a heavy door and a strong array was used preventing them from entering.
Bashista just smirked as he replied, ”Well there is an indirect route just follow me.”, as he led the group around the hall, as they were almost near the back of the Alchemy hall Ruth pointed towards a building just adjacent to the alchemist hall, ”See that building over their it is the herbarium.”
Long Yu watched in awe as he looked towards the herbarium, he also noticed that a big tower had broken and had fallen on top of the alchemist hall.
Ruth: ”That tower when it had fallen, it had destroyed the alchemist's roof and that is our entrance point.”
Long Yu: ”Woah how did the tower fall downmost of the place is intact well as much as possible after suffering from the adventurers hands, and does anyone know the purpose of the tower.”
Ryofu: ”Well no one knows it has been there like that since who knows how long and as for the tower well every respectable sect has at least one of those they are dubbed as 'Meditation tower', my sect has one such tower it gathers ki from surrounding area, it has multiple rooms in it each with varying amount of ki, as it is the prime location which enable the cultivators to cultivate at a faster pace, people like to book a room in the tower by paying appropriate prices in other words the point the acquire while doing missions for the sect can be utilized here.”
Long Yu was amazed at hearing such an amazing thing, he was really glad his sisters arranged for him to go on such an adventure.
They went towards the tower as they reached it Long Yu was disappointed to see tower up close specially the inside of the tower, if the outside looked like as if it was casted out of gold and then gilded with precious gems the inside was another matter it looked bland compared to it, there was just a reception area with a dozen of token lying around, Long Yu also noticed that the inside was also dark as the lights were off in this place, 'well the damage might have destroyed the array used to light this place', Long Yu mused idly.
They climbed up to the part where the cylindrical tower broke off, and Long Yu was right when he said the interior was bland at first he thought maybe it was because of low light but now he was certain such a thing was not the only case it really was bland and it kind of reminded him about those people he had the misfortune of making acquaintance with, looking vaunted and important but lacked any substance to back it up, they place did follow the look to a t,it felt as if it tried to tell others if you are just gilded on the outside but from the inside you do not have either the physical or mental strength to back it up you will fall.
Bashista: ”Everyone when we will be now entering the 'Death Corridor', there will be cultivators concealed her waiting to strike so keep your eyes opened and ears peeled for anything unusual.”
Long Yu gulped as he mentally prepared for the descend down the tower into the darkness, he tried to use his skills 'Divine Eyes' and 'Buddha's Mind', but unfortunately the tower itself was interfering whatever material was used clearly was interfering with his skills, he sighed with disappointment as he stopped using those skills.
They were moving through the fallen section of the tower when all of a sudden, there was a small 'swish' and Ayesha suddenly gave out a sought of pain, she was struck by an arrow from behind and before they could react they were completely surroundedby cultivators who had attacked them.
Bashista quickly barked out orders, ”Everyone try to stick together fall a circle keep the enemies outward, range attackers and wounded in the middle.”, but it was easier said than done these people were adept at using short swords, daggers and some only their fists, any weapons bigger than above mentioned ones had become useless which included Long Yu's sword, as the area was small any bigger weapon would get stuck and friendly fire was easy.
Although Bashista had ordered them to gather in a circle it was easier said than done currently they had to not only dodge the rain of arrows but had to protect themselves from the hit and run tactics employed by their attackers.
Long Yu was in a disadvantageous position he was a little further from his team and currently he was having a fist fight against an opponent who was many time bigger in size than him so big he could give Han the tallest of his team the run for money on top of that the person was agile, the darkness which inhibited Long Yu's vision was doing nothing to hinder this person. Long Yu knew he was fighting a losing battle and this person was pushing him further away from his team. Long Yu tried to put an array on him but the man dodged every time, on the other hand Long Yu was being beaten like a dog, suddenly Long Yu found an opening he went for his infamous Nut Cracker on this person, but unfortunately he fell into the ruse, the man not only dodged but slammed his left leg hard on Long Yu's outstretch right leg and with a sickening crunch his leg was snapped into two.
Long Yu gave a howl of pain, hearing him his teammates were worried but they did not have time to come to his help as they themselves were stuck in duel of life and death.
The broken leg caused Long Yu to fall down and the attacker then quickly took this opportunity produced a hidden dagger as he stomped again on Long Yu's leg breaking it further before thrusting the dagger towards Long Yu's brain. Long Yu sensing the attack on his person quickly raised his left hand which took the full brunt of the attack as the dagger stabbed through his palm stopping a few centimeters from his face as warm blood dripped on his face from the daggers tip.
By then the man had given up on the dagger as he jumped on Long Yu as he rained a barrage of punches on his face, suddenly the wall of the tower on which Long Yu was getting his beat down gave out, causing both the man and Long Yu to plummet down, the last Long Yu heard was Ryofu shouting out his name as he left the dark tower and continued falling down. Long Yu did not waste any time as he was falling as he no longer inside the tower he quickly unsheathed his sword as he used the strongest attack possible by him, 'Joyous Rain', with all of his strength , he watched in both fascination and horror as the man dodged the attack but it still took out the right hand of the person because of close proximity, before hitting the tower which broke in many places and looked as if it would fall any moment now, the man was now furious and shouted out in anger, ”You pipsqueak how dare you cut my right hand off I will skill you alive then cut your head off and use it as bedpan.”
The man suddenly took out a whip which he used to completely ensnare Long Yu as he pulled him towards him, before he brought his knees towards his as he delivered a powerful kick to Long Yu, who rocketed towards the ground but he instead crashed against the roof of a building breaking it and falling down to the floor of the said building, then man landed gracefully a few feet away from him, glaring at him with intense anger and hate.
Long Yu felt his head was throbbing in pain as warm blood dripped from his head, he puked out blood because of internal injury his left hand was badly injured as dagger went through his the palm of his hand, and his right leg was mangled broken in various places.
As Long Yu's vision cleared he was frozen stiff as because in front of him was his enemy who was standing perfectly well as perfect as someone with a single arm looking at him with all the hatred in the world, as he gulped trying to locate the nearest exist or way to turn the fight in his favor as he cursed his luck as he was currently not in any shape to fight the enemy but the next thing made his blood freeze in horror as he realized the place where he and his opponent have landed after breaking through the roof, 'Well it is confirmed now that I have the worst luck', he thought fearfully.
The place where he had fallen into was none other than the infamous Herbarium and the monster residing in their was none other than 'árbol que chupa sangre' tree, it was infamous for attacking creatures in order to get nourishment from them every part of the victim, including the soul of its victim.
The man did not even realize that he was being attacked, a branch suddenly moved before coiling around his legs before lifting him up and smashing him repeatedly on the floor hard so hard that even Long Yu was wincing at the sight, before the branch dragged the person and deposited it inside a flower like structure which closed after receiving its prey.
The branches then moved towards Long Yu trying to capture him, who by now had somehow managed to stand using his sword as a crutch blood dripping from his head and mouth, yet he stood tall favoring his left leg as the right was broken before he pointed his sword towards the 'árbol que chupa sangre' as way of showing his defiance, he knew there was no way he could escape this but that does not mean he would make it easy for the tree to eat him as he will fight till his last breath, he closed his eyes as his life till now flashed before his eyes his mother, aunt, his teachers, his sisters even all the people he came in contact during his short life bringing a smile to his face he had a wonderful life without any regrets, he opened his eyes which lacked any form of fear but was filled with calm and serenity a small smile etched on his face. 'So this is where I fall huh, oh wellif this is my Final Stand I will not go down with a fight.',he took a weird sword stance where he held the sword in reverse grip, as the branches moved to capture him.
Long Yu whispered faintly, ”Sorry Mama”, before he quickly activated his Divine body's power, which he had somehow learned to activate after a couple of times it activated because of his anger, then he went on to activate his real trump card.