Chapter 263: Mans Best Friend (1/2)
Warning bells were going off in Zac’s mind and he quickly slammed his axe into the ground right next by the stump of Ylvas’ leg. [Verun’s Bite] sucked in a bit more E-Grade blood from the pool that had formed beneath it making the fractal on the handle blaze in crimson red, allowing Zac to unleash his final trump card. He squeezed some of his remaining Cosmic Energy into his axe, and the enormous form of Verun appeared.
The Tool Spirit was able to localize the threat as if by instinct, and it immediately pounced to the left and swiped its large claws seemingly into the air. A groan could be heard as a young man appeared out of nowhere, sinister energies swirling around his hands. It almost looked like stars were hovering around them, and the skill reminded Zac of Abby’s large eye.
A large gash stretched across the man's whole upper body from Verun’s surprise attack. He barely had time to land before the enormous beast bit at him with almost impossible speed. The primordial beast ruthlessly swung his head back and forth in an effort to rip his prey to shreds, blood cascaded all over the area. Unfortunately, Zac sensed no incoming Cosmic Energy, indicating that the man was still alive.
The assassin had been taken by surprise by the sudden appearance, but he managed to avoid any fatal injuries even when he was in the maw of the tool spirit. A purple light suddenly shone through the teeth of Verun, and it grew in intensity until it was almost blinding in just a second.
The next moment the light quickly disappeared, before a huge explosion took place inside Verun's maw. The Tool Spirit's semi-corporeal form was completely obliterated, and Zac was forced a few steps back from the intense energies from the explosion.
Worry filled his heart when he saw Verun's shape fall apart, but he soon breathed out in relief as he sensed the spirit returning to the axe, while the red fractal dimmed down. It only sent him a sense of frustration that it had failed, and that it needed to rest again.
The assassin had managed to stave of Verun, but he was in a pitiful state. Grisly wounds covered his whole body, especially around his stomach where Verun had chomped down with its massive teeth. Zac could see his innards and a few wounds through the huge wounds, and he was surprised the assassin could even stand up from how he looked.
However, Zac wasn’t completely relieved even though his body was in disrepair. The man’s aura was completely unstable as it fluctuated around him, but the energy the guy emitted was no joke. His eyes were also sharp as he glared at Zac, indicating he hadn’t completely lost his fighting strength. Judging by the energy fluctuations and clothes from the man in front of them Zac knew this could only be one person.
“Vasidas,” Ylvas growled as he aimed his sword at him, arduously getting back on his leg.
However, Zac knew that it was just empty bluster. The old champion’s body was completely wrung out from his last attacks, and he was only conscious by sheer will-power. If he squeezed out any more life-force to attack, he would either turn into a cripple or die.
The situation was the worst-case scenario. He knew there was a decent risk of Vasidas doing this, and it was one of the reasons he had tried to end the fight as quickly as possible. He had also entered the weakened state since the boost from [Hatchetman's Rage] had run out.
But he knew he couldn't show weakness at this juncture, and resolutely gripped his axe while his other hand moved toward his Cosmos Sack. He didn't have some secret weapon there, but his mind went to the Spiritual Pill he found on the Alchemist's Mountain.
Just a whiff from the vapors accumulated in the cauldron had not only restored his energy and given him a level, it had also revived him out of his weakened state. He wasn't sure what would happen if he ingested the pill in his current situation, but he didn't really have many other alternatives if the man in front of him tried something.
“Well played, I did not see that coming. Owning a weapon with a spiritual form, impressive,” the man panted before looking down at his wretched appearance. “I guess today’s game is over. But I have a feeling we will see each other again.”
“Where’s Thea?” Zac said with a frown while he held his axe at the ready.
It sounded like Vasidas would give up since his sneak attack failed, but Zac wouldn’t take his word for it.
“Ms. Marshall is having tea over in the gazebo on the other side of the summit,” Vasidas said. “I always uphold my promises.”
“Today is my loss, but The Great Redeemer’s machinations are unavoidable,” the voice of Vasidas echoed across the summit, drawing glares from the Berum forces who stood in the distance.
Zac hesitated for a second, but in the end, he chose to not force a battle or try a sneak attack. Killing this man wasn't his main goal, and it had a high risk of back-firing. Zac knew he had made the right decision, when Vasidas just slowly faded into nothingness, both his aura and body suddenly gone.
“I don’t believe that,” Ylvas said with a sigh, plopping down on the ground. ”Fate is everchanging.”
“Are you okay by yourself?” Zac asked, eager to head in the direction that Vasidas indicated.
“Go, find your lass. My men will keep me safe,” Ylvas said as he popped another healing pill.
The moment that Vasidas left, the few remaining Medhin warriors heedlessly fled down the mountain, abandoning any thought of resistance. Of the Berum warriors, only a handful remained as well, most having died by the Emperor’s final attack.
Everyone sported heavy wounds, but they formed a three-layer thick shield wall around Ylvas, allowing their leader to heal up. Zac wasn't sure they would really amount to much if Vasidas came back, but he needed to get going and didn't say anything. As Zac left Ylvas side the soldiers all also wordlessly bowed in his direction, showing their thanks for his part in the war.
“Do you know if Billy okay?” Zac asked one of the guards surrounding Ylvas before he left.
“The large one? He fell asleep some ways down the mountain, a few people are guarding him,” the man said. “That smash was amazing.”
Zac nodded in relief before he started running over toward the ruins of the summit palace. He was about to enter it, but he stopped himself the last moment to pop one of his top-grade healing pills in his mouth. He also took out both a Divine Crystal and an E-Grade Nexus Crystal to both heal and restore himself as quickly as possible.
He was extremely wrung out, and if he wasn’t careful he’d turn into his Draugr-form again, which might lead to untold problems. He also was in no condition to assault a summit array. The frenzied strikes of the emperor’s spear-world had turned the palace into ruins, but Zac didn’t dare bet his life that it had also destroyed the protective arrays surrounding it.
It was only twenty minutes later he felt strong enough to go ahead. During that time there hadn’t been any real changes on the summit. The squads that had veered to the sides to intercept any potential backup had rushed up the mountain after hearing the results of the battle, and they had taken over the task of protecting Ylvas.
A few even stood vigil over Zac while he recuperated, though it wasn’t really necessary. While he was spent, it was not to the same degree as when he fought Salvation. The emperor had been far stronger, but Zac had gained a huge upgrade in both survivability and Cosmic Energy reserves due to his frantic leveling while in his Draugr-form.