Chapter 58 - Not Done Yet

Her glittery eyes turned back. Ilinore, a demon with angelic beauty was a moment away from killing Alice when something caught her attention.

I shot through the air like an arrow; streams of white aura followed my feet. I ran straight, I made sure to run ahead and keep low to the ground. Her eyebrow rose.

“What’s this—he’s faster than before?”

Ilinore kept her hand straightened out and sliced it through the air at my head but ultimately hit through smoke.

I appeared above Alice on the wall with my head leaned forward and my legs bent. I broke off from the wall with a massive burst of force and caused a large crater in the spot from where my feet jumped from.

{Rush Activated}

{Strike Kick Activated}

After bursting off from the wall I flipped forward and plunged my feet against her guard, both arms took the full brunt of my attack. Ilinore’s soft gaze suddenly hardened as the force behind my feet pushed her back and the air around us vibrated on impact.

{Chain skill successfully unlocked} – {Rush Strike has been used successfully}

“Tch! Insolent creature, don’t get cocky.”

The force of my double kick forced her feet back a meter or two. She broke free and I flipped back onto the ground.

She wasted no time and charged at me with blinding speed, her arm was raised and looked ready to swing.

Her eyes jolted wide open as a pool of shadowy spikes rose from the ground, trapping her in its snare. None of them were strong enough to pierce her body but it seemed to be strong enough to hold her in place at least.

Her expression soured even further. Her body twitched slightly before a massive burst of pressure shattered the spikes.

Ilinore’s arm rested back on her side and the black pool beneath her retreated into my shadow.

I wasn’t finished.

I flipped over her and swung my hands through the air, two large shadowy arms followed my commands and thrashed at her. She had still been much faster than me and by extension, my skills.

“Shadow Claw!”

The shadowed arms thrashed at the open air, missing her by inches each time as she carefully dodged and stepped out of reach before each attack.

I got too close and with a swift strike, she sent her palm directly into my chest and a mouthful of spit left my body. I wanted to fall over and gasp for air but I knew I didn’t have the luxury. If I stopped, even for a single moment then it would all be over.

I need to move…MOVE!

My thoughts grew louder and clearer, each hit I received only fuelled me to move faster.

Ilinore stepped forward to deliver her last attack but my hand was already in place. I held out my empty palm and with the small amount of air left in my lungs I muttered,

“Flare—”

A burst of fire exploded out from my hand and into her face. She cocked her head back to avoid it and I had my chance. I activated Rush and leapt as far back as I could.

She’s moving way too fast—I can’t keep up with her! If this continues, I’ll run out of mana…

My body tingled, it felt as though a finger had run up my spine. I glanced back and it was her.

I wouldn’t make it in time, her hand was already in position and rushing in to strike. All I could do was watch from the corner of my eye as her straightened fingers and sharp pink nails pierced through the air toward my back.

This can’t be it, this isn't how I die—is it?!

A sudden burst of white aura surrounded me, curling around my torso like a tube. A long thin shape had been formed in an instant—a snake made from the same white light.

The snake's red eyes flashed as its large jaw opened and revealed a row of razor-sharp fangs.

I recognised them, it was the same Basilisk that I had killed before, only much smaller.

It curled around my body with no weight at all, it didn’t look real. If I reached out to grab it I’m sure my hand would have passed right through it, like some sort of spectral snake.

So why was it wrapped around me? No, why was it here at all?

The Basilisk's head struck forward and bit down on her arm, stopping it from impaling me. The four large fangs in each corner of its mouth sunk into her skin. My eyes flashed wide open—it went in!

She winced her face and pulled away, then took a massive leap back to create distance between us. As her body travelled back a sudden swish through the air intercepted her.

Arga’s full force travelled behind her swing and collided with Ilinore’s back, stopping her cold in her tracks. Her body bent at the angle of the sword, causing a chunk of her HP to fall away.

I glanced back to Alice, half expecting her to be full of tears and crying. My mouth nearly dropped to the floor as her starry eyes and wriggly smile shone back at me. I felt my body lighten and I was reminded why I needed to fight, why I needed to win.

I smiled back, delivering a final wink before turning back to the fight.

“I’m not done yet.