545 Sneak Attack, The Consequence of Trying Too Hard to Hide His Cards (1/2)

Day 129 - 04:10 PM - Newton Lake, Veteran's Memorial Park, Oakly, Camden County, New Jersey, United States of America

Knowing that his farce seemed to have some effect, Mark felt a bit relaxed. Furthermore, while no one could easily see it, his eyes were glowing red. He was trying to affect the minds of these people to a degree.

With these arrangements, even if these people did not leave, they would not make a move. At least, not until they realize that Chimetrice had no way of moving currently.

Mark only needed another half hour. That was what he estimated from how fast Chimetrice was absorbing the energy from the crystals.

Sure enough, Chimetrice's body was far more powerful compared to anyone he encountered before. Even the rate of his absorption was inhumane.

Everyone that he gave a crystal so far needed at least a half-day or more to absorb the crystals. It was the case even though what Mark gave them were those non-attributed ones that contained only an eighth of the energy compared to attributed crystals.

Chimetrice, however, only needed a few hours to absorb the energy from three attributed crystals.

If Mark could stall these guests in another half hour, they would be able to leave this place without the need to show his cards. It was the best situation to happen.

But then, at the slight moment that Mark took his attention away from the guests, a foreboding feeling overwhelmed him.

Mark raised his face a glare towards the guests. His eyes brightly glowed as he dropped any notion of concealing it.

But it was no use.

Only those that had stable minds and a few that had no greed in their hearts managed to retain their sanity.

As for the others...

Their minds turned into a chaotic mess where their greed consumed their rationality.

”NOT GOOD!”

The elder among cultivators shouted as he noticed the sudden changes in the members of his group. He also heard that voice that whispered into their heads, but only he and a young girl among his group managed to resist the temptation.

As for the first group that arrived, the white-haired man and the red-haired witch did not know what to do. All their members seemed to have gone crazy and could not hear them at all.

And for the other groups, all of them succumbed to the whispers of the devil.

Except for four people, all those that came charged towards Mark and his group in one go. They looked like a bunch of crazed animals.

”Mei'er! Illia! Get ready to fight!”

Mark shouted as he conjured his blood scythe. Mei also redied her [Shooting Moon Blade], while Illia wielded her daggers.

Gritting his teeth, Mark cursed in his heart. There was no need to know what was happening. Without a doubt, the Eye was playing with them.

Mark turned towards the elder that was chasing after the members of his group.

The elder could not help but turn to Mark just to see him beheading the first creature to approach. A display of ruthlessness without hesitation. If he did not hurry, the younger cultivators that came with him would have the same fate.

BANG!

Mei's weapon loudly echoed as she shot a bird-like humanoid that swooped towards her.

On the other hand, Illia agilely brandished her dagger as she stabbed the neck of an Imp that approached her.

CLANG! CLANG!

Metallic sounds echoed as Mark parried to swords that slashed at him. In front of Mark, two young cultivators held the swords.

Comparing physical strength, these two were far weaker compared to Huo Long Yue. Thus, with a quick push, Mark made the two men stagger backward.

There, Mark stretched both hands to his right, extending the range of his scythe.

”STOP!”

The elder that managed to catch two members of his group shouted.

However, Mark only glanced at him.

SHING! PLOP! PLOP!

Mark's scythe moved in a wide swing, beheading the two young cultivators. Their heads plopped down to the ground in front of the elder and the young girl in their group.

The elder rushed down, but he was already late. He could only land in front of the two headless corpses.

”Do you have to be that ruthless?”

The elder questioned Mark, who was currently blocking a golem-like creature. The group of cultivators only had seven people, including the elder. He managed to restrain two, and the girl managed to catch one. The other two, however, were already beheaded by Mark.

”I don't have the time to argue with you and your bullsh*t nonsense. I already told everyone to leave. Don't blame me if any of you die because of your stupidity.”

”Y-you!”

The elder was thoroughly infuriated.

Sure enough, narrow-minded people hated to be blamed for the consequences of their own actions.

BANG! BANG!

Mei shot her sniper rifle continuously after each time she reloaded. These creatures were not easy enemies. They might have turned berserk, but they still had some senses remaining. Not all of them were blindly charging at Mark's group, and many were able to evade Mei's bullets. And the worst part...

Some of them were not even hurt after being shot by Mei.

CRACKLE!

A loud, crisp sound echoed in the surroundings.

”Oh, sh*t.”

Mark could only curse as he stared above.

The Thunderbird was going for a lightning attack.

”Gather!”

Mark shouted as he retreated towards Chimetrice. Mei and Illia did the same, although Illia seemed to be at a loss of what to do. She immediately embraced Chimetrice to shield him. One of the banes of Evil beings were lightning attacks. Even though the Thunderbird could not kill Chimetrice, he would receive injuries, especially since he basically had no defenses at this moment.

THOOM!

Thick branches of lightning fell to the ground as if a different end of the world came.

At the last moment, Mark pulled Mei behind him as he stood in front of Illia and Chimetrice.

Stretching his right hand forward, the [Photokinesis Mental Crystal] flew in front of his palm. As the crystal glowed, all the branches of lightning that were about to hit them changed directions.

Mark, Mei, and Illia could feel the stinging and numbing sensation on their skin as the electricity from the lightning strikes scattered around them.

The attack from the Thunderbird caused the remaining trees and plants to burst into flames.

The small peninsula where the cursed tree stood before was now engulfed in flames.

As the lightning attack ended, Mark stared at the sky.

Several ugly winged demons were gathered, performing some sort of ritual. They chanted a language Mark never heard before conjuring a large magic circle in front of them.

”Mei'er, Illia. Take care of this place.”