Determination (2)

BOOM

Sebastian's arrow had hit its mark. The flames spread on the ceiling but it wasn't damaged in the least.

"Did you really think that a mere Apprentice's power can damage my tree?"

"No, but it won't hurt to try."

Because his arrow hadn't done any damage, Sebastian tried taking down the wooden structures and the walls with his spear and daggers but they didn't even do so much as a scratch. The only thing Sebastian hadn't tried was his black arrows. Unfortunately, he didn't have the leisure to try if they worked.

He had already lost one, if he were to lose more then he'd never get more of them in his lifetime. He could only use them when he was sure that it'd work against his enemies and that he could retrieve them after. Other than that, he would only use them when his or his loved one's lives were in danger.

Or at least that was the decision that he made.

'I really want to fire one of them to just see if it works...'

Sebastian had already taken around three minutes with his continuous attacks but the wooden structures he destroyed kept reforming themselves and the walls and ceilings didn't have a single scratch.

"I admit, I've underestimated you. I didn't think you'd be able to destroy any of my structures but it's far from enough. I don't want to waste any more of my time on you."

All of a sudden, the entire scenery collapsed after a brief quake. The walls, ceilings, and the wooden structures all broke apart leaving only the floor made of the tree's body.

Expecting roots to suddenly sprout from the ground and walls, Sebastian raised his spear in preparation. However, there weren't any signs of roots sprouting out from anywhere.

Instead, a woman manifested in front of him. Roots, vines, and leaves covered the various part of her skin, much like Balanos' real body. Her face was similar to Balanos as well, they could even be called sisters with just their features alone.

However, there was a big difference that couldn't be covered.

Ptelea's entire presence radiated danger. Sebastian had felt death brush against him many times but he hadn't felt it as close as this. One misstep would cost him his life, that was what he believed.

As if reading his thoughts, Ptelea talked coldly, "you've witnessed far too much. I've no choice but to end your life."

'If I move, I die. If I don't move, I die.'

It wasn't just any random thought. Sebastian believed them.

When he had first acquired power, he could feel the gap between him and Gilbert. He could feel how much stronger he had to be to defeat his foe.

But... it was a different case for Ptelea. Sebastian felt that no matter how much stronger he could be in the future, he would never surpass her. It was just a feeling but the current him was almost certain of it.

The gap between him and Ptelea was like a normal human hoping to pluck the stars from the sky. It was impossible.

Even so, he couldn't call on Balanos' power just yet. He only had one shot. If somehow, the body in front of him was just a fake, then his death is certain once Balanos' power runs out.

Sebastian had to make it count.

"You've no intention of escaping? I had you pegged as a smarter fellow."

The way she talked was reminiscent of Balanos. Her face wasn't expressive either. They were truly sisters.

Though, it wasn't all alike. If a stranger were to talk to Balanos, they'd be unsettled with her lack of emotions but there wouldn't be any other feelings. Ptelea, on the other hand, had bloodlust traced within each word she spoke.

Sebastian felt as if dozens of knives pressed against his throat.

Nevertheless, he had a task to accomplish. There was no use cowering in fear.

Taking a deep breath, Sebastian charged forward and thrust his spear. "Monochrome Flame Thrust!" The spear covered in the orange flames was aimed at Ptelea.

Immediately after stepping forward, the light in Ptelea's eyes faded. The curiosity was completely replaced by bloodlust.

She waved her hand a giant hand made of wood crushed Sebastian.

"Agh!"

Even though Sebastian had confidence in his speed, he was still caught. From the moment she waved her hand to the moment he was crushed by the giant wooden hand, only an instant had passed.

'Competing with that... is impossible!'

Even Amy wouldn't be able to react to something so fast.

Sebastian tried to struggle free from the hand's grasp but it was futile. Roots and vines soon stretched out and began wrapping his body and further solidified his position.

Though Wisteria had trained him extensively and he had confidence fighting opponents with strength many times above his own, he wasn't capable of skipping ranks. No—who would actually be capable of doing something so outrageous?

He had heard of Amy's capabilities before. When she was still a Novice, she had managed to defeat someone about to become an Apprentice and there was also a time where she had truly defied common sense and defeated an Adept as an Apprentice though he had yet to confirm it with the person herself.

However, it was a different story with Sebastian and Ptelea. He was an Apprentice and his opponent was at the very least, a Magus and maybe even a Sage. There was a wide gap between the ranks—a Sage is not just double that of a Magus' power. The higher the rank, the bigger the difference between the previous one.

If Ptelea wasn't a Sage and was instead a Magus or a Caster, she would still hold power several dozens of times that of the current Sebastian.

"Is that all you've got?"

Sebastian forcefully raised his head and glared at Ptelea. Taunting her wouldn't work. The interest that Sebastian saw in her eyes earlier had already completely faded.

Ptelea raised her hand and a dark green light illuminated the area.

'I can feel it. I've found her main body.'

It wasn't Sebastian's capability, it was Balanos' soul that his body was housing.

'Just one chance...!'

"Balanos!"

A lightning strike. There was a fierce lightning strike that pierced through the tree that didn't seem like it would be damaged in the least and landed on Sebastian. Then, a bright light that caused Ptelea to close her eyes for just a second.

As soon as Sebastian felt the armor covering his body and the crumbling of the wooden hand, he charged forward.

He had reached his destination in an instant. His speed was incomparable to before.

"No!"

Sebastian ignored Ptelea's cries and hit the dark green light. She tried to attack him and recall the light but it was too late.

Sebastian heard the sound of glass cracking and turned to look at the light. The entire orb was cracked but it didn't shatter.

A few seconds had already passed and Sebastian prepared another attack but Ptelea reacted faster than he did. Roots wrapped around his outstretched arms and prevented him from attacking the light.

Although they only managed to hold him off for a few moments, the armor had disappeared. Sebastian tried his best to stop the armor from going away but his eyes turned red and he coughed up blood.

"You...!"

Ptelea's anger was visible on her face. Sebastian tried to fight back against the roots but he couldn't muster any power.

"You dare use Balanos' power to attack me!"

Sebastian smiled bitterly. It was the end for him.

'I'm sorry, mom. Looks like I won't be able to be there when my little brother is born.'

Ptelea summoned several tendrils made from the vines as they all aimed for Sebastian's heart.

Sebastian accepted his fate and closed his eyes.

"Unhand him."

"Who?!"

Ptelea turned her head but couldn't see even a shadow let alone a person.

"I can't have you bullying my future son-in-law after all."

"?!"

Sebastian couldn't see the other party but with those words, there could only be one person.

"Grand Judgment."

A giant beam of white light pierced through the darkness and completely enveloped Ptelea.

Sure enough, a man stood pointing a sword from the direction of the Grand Judgment's origin.

Markus Luna.

"How...?"

"That's my line. What is an Apprentice like you doing in a place like this?"

Though they exchanged words quite normally, Markus didn't miss a beat and broke Sebastian free from his restraints.

"Human!"

A loud shriek came from Ptelea. She waved her hands and dozens of the wooden hands that crushed Sebastian earlier threatened to flatten Markus.

"This is quite troublesome."

Markus stopped cutting apart the roots that restrained Sebastian and moved away. He had taken just a small leap backward but the distance widened greatly.

The hands that were going to crush Sebastian and Markus moved and chased after Markus alone.

"My lord!"

"Don't waste any time. Jericho, set that boy free and retreat with him. The rest will support me."

"""Yes!"""

Sebastian turned his head to see a lot of people with black hair and white clothes. Most of them had swords in their hands as well.

'Are they the House of Luna's main force?'

While Sebastian was thinking, the man, presumably Jericho, had walked over and released him from his bindings.

"Sir, what are you doing in this place?"

Of course they'd know Sebastian's face. They were from the House of Luna after all.

"I got caught while hunting monsters."

Sebastian looked at Markus Luna and his retainers fighting Ptelea. He was impressed.

Save for Markus, none of them could even hope to match Ptelea. But, with superior skill and teamwork, they were able to stand their ground.

Jericho gestured Sebastian.

"Let's move away."

"Aren't you going to join them?"

"My lord, Sir Markus, would be more focused if I were to stay here and protect his son-in-law to-be."

"I see."

Sebastian followed Jericho and retreated from what he could only describe as a war zone.

"It's rare for a being capable of matching Sir Markus to appear."

"..."

The two of them had been observing the battle for a few minutes. Sebastian scanned the area and the dark green light had disappeared.

"...Jericho, can you lend me a spear?"

"Hm? I understand. But, please don't go and attack the enemy."

"I won't."

Sebastian took the spear from Jericho's back and gripped it tightly. Then, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

'Find it.'

Sebastian's senses swept over the battlefield.

'I've already felt its presence before... find it!'

Sebastian utilized the remnants of Balanos' soul and finally found it just when Markus and the others were about to lose their ground.

Sebastian opened his eyes and rotated in his place. Exerting all of his energy, he threw the spear accompanied by an explosion.

BOOM