A Trip Gone Wrong (3)

Lancell and Aerym both prepared themselves as they checked their current condition.

For Lancell, he wasn't exactly tired nor wounded as he was never hit a single time during the entire time of his rampage. Even though he loses his sanity when on a killing-frenzy, his survival instincts still remain, and his instinct properly perceived the fact that a single hit would cause heavy damage as Lancell's body was way weaker than a somewhat strong warrior with the same Levels.

On the other hand, Aerym was a bit troubled as she didn't have much mana left. After all, unlike Lancell who had the ability to absorb mana from the corpses of magic beasts and monsters, or anything that has mana, she was just a common knight of the kingdom.

Aerym hesitated to tell Lancell, but still decided her life was worth more than pride.

"U-Um..." she spoke up.

Lancell glanced at her with curiosity. This girl had been meek ever since earlier. Did something happen? He asked, "Is something wrong?"

Aerym who heard his not-so-friendly inquiry, gathered her courage and spoke as she raised a hand, "I-I think I..." she paused, "...don't have enough mana..."

Somehow, Aerym felt like giving herself a pat on the back. After all, she actually managed to speak up against this insane murder machine disguised as a human being. Ever since she saw his rampage earlier, a faint feeling of terror was planted inside her, and she most likely would be unable to interact with him like before.

As for Lancell who actually had an inkling that this may happen, merely sighed. Well, what can't be done, cannot be done. It was as simple as that, so he only said, "Fine," his tone wasn't so pleasant, but he acquiesced anyway, "you stay in the back, away from the combat."

If possible, Lancell didn't want her to enter the Teleportation Circle, but for reasons unknown, Teleportation Circles vanish after use. Scholars had theorized it was the world fixing a seam in space that teleportation makes use of, but the Truthseekers confirmed it as false. And so, the mystery deepens.

In any case, Lancell couldn't use the Teleportation Circle alone—unless he wanted to leave her here—so she had to stay back when the battles begin.

Aerym nodded at his statement with glee inside her chest, as well as the mild thought that Lancell wasn't actually as unreasonable as she initially thought.

And so, together, they entered the Teleportation Circle.

◇ ◇ ◇

"Fuck!"

A feeling of Deja vu filled Lancell's mind, as the moment they reappeared, a long sweeping kick was coming across their way.

He instantly carried Aerym as he leaped into the air, and then started running back as to avoid a series of light spears chasing them in mid-air after they landed on the ground.

Glancing behind him with a sidelong glance, Lancell evaded the incoming spears with minimal movements as he predicted the trajectory of each spear, and cutting them by group with Void Slash.

When the spears finally were all cut down, he suddenly threw Aerym to the side.

"Aaaahh!!" Aerym screamed both in surprise and protest as she flew for a dozen meters.

As for Lancell, he grit his teeth as he twisted his body, and pushed right foot's muscles and tendons to the limit, in order to push him back as it could. And why would he do that? The answer revealed itself as the next instant...

BOOOM!!!

...an explosion resounded as something large landed in the position where Lancell used to stand.

Lancell was blown back in mid-air from the force of the shockwave brought about by the impact of the fall. He tried to regain his balance in mid-air, but unfortunately, the opponent was far smarter than a troll.

Lancell's instincts suddenly screamed at him as he twisted his body in mid-air once more, while unconsciously activating Void Sensitivity and Void Wind Guidance. The world slowed down, as Lancell's both body and mind accelerated along with his perception. And thus he saw it...

It was a humanoid pitch-black being, exuding a black terrifying aura, as its fist was already nearing his flank...

'A Daemon?!' Lancell inwardly exclaimed.

The Daemon's fist connected to his flank, but Lancell had already formed a shock-absorbing mana wall in his skin. Even so, it still managed to go through as the remnant force from its fist damaged several organs inside.

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Lancell was instantly blown back by two dozen meters as he continued to gain momentum and flew back in mid-air.

Lancell quickly materialized Arkenvalle as he then regained balance in while still in the air, and landed on his feet. He then wiped the blood near his mouth as he heaved a heavy sigh, and his concentration rose to its peak.

However, when the Daemon saw Arkenvalle in Lancell's hand, it made an interested expression. "Oh?" it uttered curiously.

"A Hero, huh?" it then added with a grin. Exposing its long sharp teeth.

Lancell tensed even further. 'A Daemon with sentience?! Would that mean it's a Transcendent?!' Lancell inwardly exclaimed.

Transcendence. A realm that existed beyond the first realm of the Paths. From the Three Steps of Mortality, to the next stage, the Transcendence Realm. A stage where one truly becomes a real warrior or mage, and the starting line of being able to harness the power that exists beyond mortals.

If the Daemon was truly in the Realm of Transcendence, then Lancell would have no hopes of defeating it, no matter which trick he used. After all, the power of Laws was not yet something he could use. And as one who once used such power, Lancell knew that it was a power that was nothing to scoff at.

Lancell started to grow uneasy at his current plight, as he began to think of ways to get himself out of the situation. However, he was once again reminded that he was not alone, and that his being not alone was a disaster.

"Ugh..." a groan reached Lancell's ears, as his eyes widened. He then turned to where it came from, and saw Aerym, clutching her head as she complained once more, "Hey! What was that for, you jerk!"

This had gone to the worst.