Chapter 545 - To Bring Morals to a Gun Fight (2/2)

Seemingly renouncing the random evasive measures they had employed to avoid their opponent's ranged attacks so far, the champions of War suddenly released a large amount of power, and used it to boost their speed as they dashed towards the position of their injured companion. Once their movements came to a halt, however, the observing cultivators noticed that the soldiers had not moved in to rescue their companion, but instead, had formed a tightly packed formation composed of three ordered lines.

The soldier's formation was just the right size to grant each them a clear view of the warrior in golden armor, and was put in place so quickly, that the champions of Morality could do nothing but open in his in shock as the end of the barrel of the soldiers' guns charged with vast amount of power. All aimed at the heart of the warrior in golden armor, the soldiers pulled the trigger of their guns at the exact same moment, sending a shower of light beams through the thick vines.

As these beams of light made their way through, the summoner in control of the vine formation managed to deflect several of the beams, but not all.. Leaving it in the hands of the warrior in gold armor to defend himself from the remaining ones, which he did by raising his sword in an attempt to protect his c_h_e_s_t.

Out of time, the beams of light struck heavily against the warrior's sword, forcing his arm to jerk back due to the combined impact caused by the full power attack of half a dozen cultivators at a similar stage than his own. Most of these attacks dissipated after landing onto the flat part of the sword-All but two, which were instead deflected by the edge of the blade, and ended up striking the back of the female archer, injuring her severely.

Disappointed and enraged, the warrior in golden armor turned to look at the formation of soldiers, who, before he could say anything, turned into beams of light, and resumed their evasive manoeuvres.

”You were saying?” Asked the disembodied and proud voice of the champion of Dominance.. A question that was met with the silence of the champion of Collectiveness, and the faint laughs of the other observers, who were just there to enjoy the show.

Back on the battlefield, the party of Morality's domain reacted to the soldiers' surprise attack like anyone would have expected them to. Their focus shifted to defence, as shown by the ceasing of the barrage of attacks from the injured archer, and of light attacks from the priest, who was now tending to his injured companion while the other three focused on defending.. But, alas, that was not the only change in behavior within the battlefield.

Like a pack of hyenas stalking an injured prey, the formation of soldiers reformed below the defending party, with guns already charged, and aimed at the archer. To the eye of the observing cultivators, this attack was identical to the previous one, and was likely being performed not to further damage the enemy party, but to maintain the pressure on them.. Or at least, that was the case for those who did not know how the champions of War fought.

Another barrage of highly concentrated essence was shot out of the guns barrels of the soldiers' weapons, but this time, the aim was slightly off. Right before striking against the layer of vines, the twenty or so beams merged into one immensely powerful attack, which pierced through the vines like a hot knife through butter.

Unprepared for such a powerful attack, the giant in massive armor moved in front of the attack, with his towering shield covering not only his body, but that of his entire party. He then enhanced his shield with as much power he could spare before bracing for the impact.

Like a hammer striking a scorching bar of steel, the impact caused the shield to bend inward, and for the warrior's arm to break in several points.. However, it was only after his essence was exhausted, that his body jerked back to an unnatural degree, and he was thrown against the thick vines that formed their team's innermost layer of protection.

Shocked by the sudden turn of events, yet suspicious that such a powerful combined attack could not be repeated more than once, the summoner pushed herself to construct more vines that could cover the massive gaping hole within her protective formation. New and thinner vines emerged from the surface of the untouched ones, and quickly joined together in order to patch the hole, and give her companions a moment to breathe.. A kindness that her opponents did not possess.

Before the vines could widen and gain in resistance, the soldiers, still panting from the strain of the joint attack, injected a small portion of their power into their guns, and once again pulled the trigger.. This time, however, the powerful rays came out with a delay of, at most, a fraction of an instant between one another.. Each striking one of the newly formed vines, and blowing it to bits so that the following attacks could move through.

The vines kept reforming after being destroyed, but it soon became clear to the summoner that the consumption required to reform the vines was much higher than the alternated and infinite attacks of the champions of war. ”I can't resist much longer!” She shouted as her white hands tightened around her staff firmly enough to turn even paler.

In just a few minutes, the party of the man in white gold armor found itself on the losing end of the battle. Of their five members two were injured, and two were doing their best to protect, and aid their companions' recovery while the fifth member could do nothing but witness the events unfold, unable to help in any way.

With a grim expression hidden by his heroic helmet, the proud warrior in white gold armor swallowed the lump he was feeling in his throat. In his mind were the memories of the millions who had praised him, boosting his ego by assuring him that he was a hero among men, and that no fight could be lost as long as his cause was just.. A castle of sand that, after meeting with the experienced, disciplined, and relentless warrior of War's domain, had started to crumble as if caught under a flash flood.

”Argh!” Screamed the summoner, who, after finding herself unable to repair the barrier as fast as the attacks were thrown, had no choice but to shield her injured companions with her body. Unfortunately, despite her attempts to parry the blow with her staff, the shot broke her weapon, and went straight through her right shoulder, detaching her entire arm from the rest of her body.

Seeing the severity of his companions' injuries, the warrior in white gold armor gave up any idea of fighting, and instead, decided to retreat back to the safety of Polis.. where his companions could heal safely. In order to do that, he used the few moments of protection left from the vines formation to surround his companions' bodies with his essence, and without hesitation, he shot in the direction of the portal at full speed.

Behind them were the figures of the twenty-odd soldiers, who, unwilling to let the party escape, either gave chase, or prepared to hinder the party's retreat with ranged attacks.