Chapter 570 - Towering (7) (2/2)

But, at this point, it didn't matter.

In the mind of all those who laid eyes on that back of his from the distance, all they saw was a young man fighting with his life on the line for their sake.

If Leonel's actions had really only been about getting revenge for Aina, is this the approach he would have chosen? At the very least, shouldn't he have dealt with Anared first so there wasn't a constant looming threat to his back?

It was obvious that despite his words, he had risked it all to bring the Invalid out sooner than it would have otherwise. Just those few precious moments saved hundreds more from succumbing to their fates.

Such a hero couldn't be left to die alone.

Noah clenched his jaw, the youths to his back fighting with more fervor than they ever had before.

They had to break through enemy lines. They had to reach Hargrove City.

Leonel gripped his spear, blood sliding between his fingers and coating its black body.

The drizzle of crimson snaked through the chains, dropping to the ground in small droplets.

Universal Force shook Leonel's surroundings, his vacant eyes seemingly gazing at empty space.

The Puppet Master's flushed excitement only grew.

Its feet stamped hard on the ground, crossing the final distance between the two in just a few breaths.

It rose a hand high up, clawing down toward Leonel. This single strike would not only take a large portion of Leonel's face away, but it would also hook into his collarbone, ripping the front of his body away from the back.

It was the kind of vicious strike that reaped lives with overwhelming strength.

But... Leonel sidestepped it, the flat of the Puppet Master's nails just barely grazing the tip of his nose as he struck out with his spear.

The Puppet Master reacted quickly, parrying Leonel's pierce with the back of its hand and reaching the other toward Leonel's throat.

With a flicker, a black chain darted out from Leonel's Chain Domain, rebounding against the Puppet Master's claw and giving Leonel time to lean his head to the side and sweep his spear for the Puppet Master's waist.

A scorching heat followed Leonel's sweeping motion.

The Puppet Master frowned, not understanding the changes going on before it. But, its reaction was swift.

Instead of dodging, it took a step forward.

In this range, the blade of Leonel's spear missed it as its polearm crashed into the Puppet Master's hip.

The strike should have been enough to shatter bones and splinter flesh. But, the Variant was completely unmoved, booming a knee directly into Leonel's open wound.

Leonel coughed up another mouthful of blood, his body curling as it flew through the air once again.

Even though Leonel had lost the quick exchange, the Puppet Master's head tilted, its eyes, which had once been tainted with hunger and blood lust dimming.

It was certain that it had wanted to devour Leonel right here and now. So, why did it kick him away again?