290 Chapter 290: The role of an antagonis (1/2)
”White Tiger! Help Anastasia!”
At my order, my immense Celestial Guardian roared his acknowledgement before twisting in midair to pounce on Xue Tu. With so many of the Bog Ghouls eliminated by his lightning, there wasn't much left for him to do. Besides, by now I was able to conjure up a new pride of Constellation spirits who could help mop up the remaining rank F Minions.
”Leo! Leo Minor!”
I had chosen the majestic lion for a reason. Leo's element was fire, and fire was particularly effective against the undead.
”Regulus!”
A golden beam of light seared through the marsh, disintegrating scores of Bog Ghouls. Those that escaped the blinding spell's wrath were eviscerated and beheaded by the smaller Leo Minor, their lithe forms leaping nimbly across the swamp.
”Kuh!”
While my newly appeared Constellation spirits, the Silver Wolves mercenaries and I were taking care of the Bog Ghouls, Anastasia began to pressure Xue Tu back with the assistance of my White Tiger. White lightning danced across the clearing, illuminating the swamp and temporarily lifting the gloom that had permeated it since primordial times. Gritting his teeth, the leader of the Blood Slaughter Sect threw out his hand desperately in an attempt to conjure a new blood barrier to defend himself.
”!!!”
However, while he was distracted by the ferocious Celestial Guardian, Anastasia seized the opportunity to sneak up upon him and stab him in the back. Fortunately, Xue Tu's reflexes saved him and he dodged it by a hair's breadth before countering with a blood spear that coalesced around his arm and thrust out with incredible velocity.
Anastasia flipped backward, the bloody spear succeeding only in cutting a small segment of her dress, splitting the fabric apart to reveal white skin. Adjusting her position, Anastasia whirled around and kicked Xue Tu in the neck, causing the poor guy to topple over facedown into the mud.
”Gah!”
Coughing and spluttering, Xue Tu hurled another barrage of blood spikes at her, but Anastasia succeeded in vaulting over the crimson thorns and landed a few meters away. As she did so, while Xue Tu's eyes were fixed on her, White Tiger mauled him from behind, causing a fountain of blood to spurt into the air.
Xue Tu staggered, but he swung his hand back to launch another volley of gigantic blood spears behind. White Tiger agilely leaped up, bouncing from one spear to the next and swiping those that he was unable to evade, shattering them into red crystals. Spinning around in midair, the immense Guardian of the West slashed at the blood mage, who conjured a shield to defend himself. Despite the protection from the physical attack, torrents of deadly electricity streamed forward to electrocute him. Crying out, Xue Tu backed away as his body began to fume.
At that moment, Anastasia closed in with her daggers, but he managed to kick his foot upward and sending a blood blade flying at her face. Throwing her head back, Anastasia just barely avoided the hurtling blood bladed, which passed centimeters away from her retreating chin, and flipped backward elegantly to land on both feet again.
Gnashing his teeth in frustration, Xue Tu prepared to launch another attack, but his spell was interrupted by White Tiger. The enormous beast raked his claws against his back, or tried to, but the blood mage was quick to react, ducking under the lethal claws before spinning away to safety. He bought himself more time by throwing another row of blood lances at the advancing Celestial Guardian, forcing the latter to keep his distance.
The guy was truly skilled. I couldn't help but be impressed. Even when facing an ex-Assassin and one of my Celestial Guardians at the same time, he was still able to hold his own.
But not for long.
”UGH! I can't believe a Divine Spirit Realm practitioner like me is being suppressed by a couple of Spirit Rotation Realm brats!” Xue Tu bellowed in rage.
I actually stopped in the middle of battle to stare at him in utter astonishment.
”…huh? What realm? Did he just say practitioner? What the fuck is he talking about?”
”No idea,” Anastasia said with a shake of her head, looking equally bewildered.
”He's gone nuts,” one of the Silver Wolves mercenary muttered. The rest of his comrades murmured in agreement and nodded. All of them held blank stares, while a couple exchanged weird glances.
”That lunatic sounds like he's fantasizing about some cultivation novel or something,” one of those who had weird glances said.
”Oh, God…” I groaned as I buried my face in my palm. ”I hate that fucking word. Please, stop using those terms 'cultivation,''realms' or 'practitioner.' I'm begging you.”
Xue Tu must have heard me, for him suddenly rounded on me, his face contorted in fury. To my incredible surprise, he began jabbing his finger in my direction and ranting wildly, spittle flying out of his frothing mouth.
”MU CHEN! You son of a bitch! I'm going to kill you! I swear I'll kill you!”
”WHO THE HELL IS MU CHEN!?” I bellowed back, a vein popping in my temple. ”You've got the wrong guy! My name is Richard! I'm the protagonist of Summoner Sovereign, not The Great Ruler! Get your facts right!”
”I don't care! Since you're the protagonist, I must harbor an inexplicable and illogical hatred against you!”
”What the fuck?! Why?! At least come up with a legitimate reason, or this is just lazy writing!”
”B…because…” Xue Tu stammered, and then straightened up. ”How dare you breathe in front of me?! You're courting death! I'm going to kill you in broad daylight!”
”…”
”…ahem. Kneel!”
”Excuse me?”
”How dare you still stand in front of me?! Die!”
”Come on, dude.” I was clutching at my head. ”You've got to come up with something better than that.”
”How dare you not kiss my feet?! I'll have you crippled!”