38 Chapter 38 ~ Caiden and the Trio - P2 (1/2)

[ This is bad! There's no way I could run from this. ]

A few minutes had now passed after the last Antlion Cainden was supposed to kill made an ear-piercing screech that called out its fellow Antlions of different variations. Of course, there's no need to say that Caiden is now in grave danger.

The ones he had fought earlier was only a single variation of the Antlions which resembles dragonflies, now, he's fighting two other more that looks like ants and bees.

All the ant-looking Antlions that comes close to his range to attack him with the pincers on their heads, he bashes them with his axe - the same he does to the dragonfly Antlions. Caiden wouldn't have that much problem if those two variations were the only ones he was fighting, he was confident that he has a high chance of surviving their attacks.

But of course, there were the bee-looking Antlions too - that shoot exoskeletal spikes that grow not only on their butts but also on all the edges of their many limbs.

Having to defend himself from the sharp razor-like pincers and the polished fangs of the other two variations, Caiden was having a hard time dealing with the spikes that are being shot at him; he could barely dodge them because of his large body - also because of this particular attacks, his armour and his exposed skin are now cut and damaged.

[ Haa! ] swinging down his battle-axe again to smash another Antlion's head, his body was left wide open again for the spikes to hit him.

[ Tsk! ] realizing that he was now about to get hit by another, he pulled his axe back again to block the attacks and then countering by swiping his axe very hard in a circle, clearing and knocking back off all the enemies in front of him.

[ Aah...! ] but with his attack, he screamed in pain. It turns out, because of the speed of the unexpected and instant pulling of his axe up, he ended up spraining his muscles as he did so, and it causes him to feel intense pain.

And because of the pain and the injuries he now suffered, he decided to take out his last vile of potion and drink it.

It takes a few minutes before it actually works, but right now, at least, the pain went off and a little of Caiden's anxiousness went away with it.

But no matter what, as he faces his eyes in his front, the anxiousness that is telling him that he will not be able survive his current situation only grew bigger again.

[ This... Will I able to survive this...? ] Caiden could only mutter as he looks at his enemies.

Caiden's front and back are now filled with Antlions. The ones in his back that just arrived are now just waiting for an opportunity to attack while the ones in front of him backed up a little when they saw their companions cornering their preys up. Now, all they need to do was to compete within themselves to see who first can kill their single prey.

Caiden could see and understand the behaviour they were showing, and honestly, to him, he felt very proud of himself. Killing this many Antlions that all the country and the guilds all over the world are having trouble dealing with was worthy of praise, not to mention that the said Antlions are now afraid of him. They are afraid of charging at him even if they have the advantage at numbers.

( They're afraid, huh...? So they're no different than any armies and people I fought... They lose their formation and fighting spirit when faced with someone they know are stronger than them. ) seeing the actions they are now doing, he was reminded of the time he fought as a knight against an enemy country.

( But still... Right now... I don't have the right to criticize them... )

Being called the 'Goliath of the Kingdom's Knights', Caiden's strength and looks are not just for show. He really was a one-man-army who can drastically kill the enemies spirit just by showing off his strength, not to mention when he really gets serious. He was the kind of guy who recklessly charges to the enemy ranks without the thought of him dying from the enemy attacks. That what he was, but right now, he was not that Caiden; right now, he's the Caiden who evaluates himself lower than his enemy. Right now, he's a coward who thinks he would surely die from the enemies in front of him.

[ Does seeing someone a lot stronger than I actually made my spirit weak...? Did I unconsciously lowered my evaluation of my self after seeing how strong Vlad-san was...? What is it that made me this weak...? ]

( No... I'm strong...! I'm stronger than the enemies currently in front of me...! I promised myself... That I will only coward from those who are stronger than me, and not those who are weaker...! ) with this realization, Caiden tightens his grip on his axe. He lifted his face and looks at the direction in front of him.

[ They're merely insects... There's nothing for me to be afraid of! ] as he shouted those words, he immediately dashes to the enemies in front of him.

[ Arc Slash! ] slashing his axe horizontally with his full power, he cuts through all the Antlions that was on the white visible arc his axe made.

[ Haa!!! ]

After that attack, he continues his rampage, not minding the consequences that he would get extremely exhausted as he just lost a ton amount of blood just earlier, and while also ignoring all the cuts he's receiving from his enemies.

*Swish! *Swoosh! *Slash

Slashing sounds resounded from his heavy axe as he skillfully swings it around his enemies while also creating slashing winds that also cuts through the enemies.

Carcasses, hard exoskeletons, and green goos were exploding every single time Caiden swings his axe.

Right now, Caiden is showing the part of him that only thinks of fighting, surviving, and killing; not the weak one who only thinks of dying.