Chapter 104 (1/2)

Glendel and Regina stood in area with quite a clear view of the arena, and they saw the Ghosthound’s explosive initial offensive. Then as the Ghosthound turned casually, Glendel’s heart went cold. He seemed… untouchable.

But just as the Ghosthound turned, two individuals arrived at him, one with fists raised, one with knives dancing across his fingers.

“First one to touch him wins,” Paolo hissed, his eyes wide. But Glendel could tell the strain he was under. The Ghosthound was using a strange technique that made it incredibly painful to be close to him, and right now the two leaders of the squads were struggling under the oppressive weight of that spell.

Kayle simply narrowed his eyes, slashing forward with his knives. The Ghosthound easily deflected both the knives and a punch from Paolo, spinning his spear, knocking away strike after strike. But Donny had returned and he raised his shield, a golden aura spreading outwards.

“Aegis!”

Now insulated somewhat from the effects of Agony, Paolo and Kayle regained some of their usual competency, striking again as one.

But again, the Ghosthound moved with an impossible combination of strength and finesse, smashing them both backwards. Still, in that moment, three of Decklan’s squad appeared around the Ghosthound, their eyes blazing with bloodlust.

An arrow burning with a strange, dark energy shot towards his back.

With glittering eyes, the Ghosthound smiled. “Summon Pestilence.”

It must have taken quite a bit of mana, but a huge cloud of insects sprung into being around the Ghosthound, obscuring him and the nearby people. These insects flew angrily outward, finding and biting the nearest flesh. The arrow passed harmlessly through the pestilence and skittered out the other side, missing its target.

With a crash, the 3 members of Decklan’s squad were thrown out of the pestilence, as if smashed backwards. Glendel could see Donny’s frown, as he considered how to approach the situation.

But Dozer’s roar was what drew everyone’s attention, and they were shocked to find the Ghosthound standing in front of him, unleashing Phantom Onslaught after Phantom Onslaught, using pure power to push Dozer back.

Kayle arrived at almost the same time as everyone else’s gaze, demonstrating that he had followed the action much more closely than anyone else.

The Ghosthound spared him an annoyed glance, but was forced to jerk backward as an arrow shot out from beneath Dozer’s armpit.

“Pollen of the Rafflesia.” The Ghosthound spun quickly, a Phantom Thrust smashing in Kayle’s chest faster than he would have believed possible. Wincing, he stumbled back, knives raised. Paolo rushed up to assist him, but the Ghosthound had already turned and was rushing around Dozer’s side to attack Annie. She danced away and Dozer pivoted, desperately attempting to keep himself in front of the Ghosthound.

Ptolemy arrived and began healing Kayle, and Paolo rushed forward, but before he could arrive, Dozer stumbled uncharacteristically, suddenly seeming very woozy.

In that moment, the Ghosthound was past him, picking up Annie and throwing her unceremoniously out of the arena. Paolo arrived, throwing haymakers, but the Ghosthound seemed to suddenly appear several steps away from him, just outside of his range, and raised his hand.

“Fireball.”

The blast knocked Paolo back, more than a little stunned for the instantaneous heat and concussive force. But the Ghosthound didn’t stop there.

“Ghastly Slash.”

Glendel marveled at Paolo’s reactions as he managed to get his arm up in time to block the vicious blow that arced towards his temple, but there was still the audible snap of bone as Paolo’s forearm cracked.

Without even pausing, the Ghosthound rushed forward to Ptolemy, who was standing over Kayle. The surrounding members of the squad closed ranks, weapons raised, but once again, the Ghosthound simply smiled.

“Spearing Roots.”

Roots ripped upwards out of the ground, stabbing holes into the legs and thighs of the squad members defending Ptolemy. Then the roots flexed, throwing the squad members to the side, creating a path.

Kayle rose to his feet, seemingly completely recovered, and Ptolemy raised his hand.

“Healing Circle.”

But the Ghosthound just smiled, surging closer. Donny burst forward, stepping in front of the two, smashing his shield with his sword.

“Challenging Shout!”

The Ghosthound raised his spear, his shoulder flexing as he threw everything into the attack aiming towards Donny’s shield. But Donny was a veteran of being attacked, and so he threw a shield bash out at the last possible moment, aiming to completely neutralize the force of that attack by overpowering it at the point of impact.

But his shield bash met nothing. He blinked, looking uncomprehendingly as the Ghosthound just walked past him, binding Kayle with roots, and then cracking Ptolemy over the head.

Then as if this was his plan all along, the Ghosthound leapt again with that strange spear technique, crashing to the ground at his original starting place, instantly sitting down and closing his eyes.

“What….?” Glendel asked, confused.