327 Retreat When Difficult? (2/2)
”Someone's here!” Under the heavy rain, Colt Flagg suddenly opened his eyes. The mark he had buried at the end of the road had been activated. He sensed that someone was crashing through the rain on horseback.
The apparition of a giant whale appeared beside him. Rather than stopping it, the torrential rain became the whale's aid and helped it fly. The huge shadow floated across the sky with a mournful song. The whale song shattered the sheets of rain, transforming the world into an ocean.
Sensing the animosity from the city gates, the musician on the horse sneered and sped up. The whale sang loudly, creating rolling echoes.
”Summoning?” Colt distinguished the musician's beastly nature. ”Seems to have great attainments too.”
”It's just for looks,” someone replied huskily. ”It's not the bigger the better. Enlarging the whale to such a laughable size without caring about its limits is just…shallow.”
The one who spoke stood at the end of the crowd. He looked like a twin with two people joined at the shoulder. Only one spoke while the other stayed silent. They were the Hauser brothers from Burgundy.
The one who spoke was Terry, the elder brother. He looked down and said something to his brother Kasper, who nodded. Under the hood of the heavy raincoat, he opened his mouth, took a deep breath, and screamed.
Thunder clapped in the sky.
Boom!
The giant whale apparition wailed. The pouring rain curled back and the whale broke apart abruptly. The musician on horseback was lifted up from the backlash. He fell off the horse and rolled in the mud. In the end, blood spewed from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Convulsing, he could barely climb up. His sound of heart had been disrupted.
He struggled in the mud. In the end, his energy spent, he stopped moving. He looked up with difficulty and saw a traveler in the distance. Another person had come.
Seeing the musician's pathetic state, the newcomer was stunned. He looked toward the city gates and felt the tangible animosity even across more than a thousand miles.
Then…he grew excited! He stepped forward.
Boom! An earth-shattering boom exploded under his feet. He advanced forward, drummed his sound of heart, awakened his instrument, and…the mountains shook!
”Copper mountain?” Many of the musicians recognized the instrument. One man's expression changed. ”Someone can actually receive recognition from a saint's relic of this level?”
The rumbles got closer. Immense amounts of aether crashed, creating sparks. Practically all the rain had evaporated; the figure grew blurry as well. Each step he took was like a copper mountain and steel drum banging against each other. Ear-splitting thunder rumbled.
However, the large amount of aether and wild changes were restricted inside the formula. They raged with furious fire but could not break free. It was unbelievable that this immense power was controlled by one person.
”Interesting.” A Modifications musician at the gate looked up. He slammed down and a roar shot out from his fingers. A majestic melody resounded and collided with the earth-moving sound in the air.
The sheets of rain shook; a vast amount of rain evaporated, turning to steam. However, the heavy footsteps continued forward. The attacker at the gate stumbled back. He panted heavily and even coughed out blood. His face was stark white. He was completely defeated before an actual round. It had just been a virtual test!
Everyone's expression changed.
”No sign of borrowing power from the saint,” Colt Flagg said hoarsely. ”I can't believe he had used his will to break through the Barrier of Knowledge and received recognition from a saint's relic.”
”Finally someone's here to challenge me!” Amidst the approaching thunder, the newcomer was enthusiastic. His eyes flashed. ”Does someone want to fight? Come on, come on.”
”Sam?” Colt was stunned and his eyes darkened. ”How come you…aren't you still practicing asceticism in the Lava Dungeon?”
Why was he here?
Colt had a headache.