18 The Power
'He's too fast!', Allen knew that he wouldn't be able to get out of the way in time, even though the enemy's build was huge, he was still very fast.
'Looks like I have to use that movement technique.', Allen then initiated Shadow Steps.
Allen has already trained with the said movement technique in the training grounds before practicing Melissa's skill.
There, he found out that the technique wasn't really for increasing his speed, but for dodging.
-whoosh-
Like a steps of a phantom, the boy dodged the barbarian necromancer's strike, but it was immediately followed with another one.
-whoosh-
-sou-
However, Allen dodged it again and he immediately backed away while sending dagger flashes towards the man.
-clang-
The barbarian necromancer; however, didn't have the plan to dodge and let the (Dagger Flash) hit his body, it only created a clanging sound while leaving behind an irritating, scratchy red line.
"That attack could actually affect my body! Hmph!", the barbarian necromancer rushed towards Allen again, but this time, the latter was prepared and kept backing off while making sure he won't get cornered to the walls.
He then noticed at the other side of the tavern Kate was still running away from the invisible ghosts. As the said creatures doesn't have any intelligence, they would only chase the target from behind, unless the summoner would command them, but he's currently trying to kill Allen and didn't pay attention to the girl.
Suddenly, the barbarian made some sort of gesture with his other hand pointing towards Allen.
'Summoning again?', Allen immediately got out of the way. However, the coldness didn't appear, but somebody that looks like the barbarian necromancer emerged from his path of direction.
It was his clone!
Originally, the enemy has two clones, but the other one was already beheaded by Drake, while the other one was in the hotel. Now, he used some sort of teleportation spell to summon the one at the hotel.
'Impossible! Necromancers, specially this one couldn't possibly have a teleportation spell!', Allen was startled by the sudden entrance of his clone. The clone was holding a staff, one could see that the staff was charged with some sort of power, however, rather than casting spells, it instead tried to hit Allen with it!
Due to the kid's continous momentum, he couldn't dodge it, so, Allen blocked it with his dagger.
-bam-
Just like Warren's staff, it made a repulsive force which made Allen's arm go numb, and he was thrown towards the middle of the tavern. Good thing for the kid, the repulsive force that came from the staff wasn't as powerful as Warren's staff, or else he might've flown to the other side of the building, or even break through the walls!
Meanwhile, while his mask fell to the ground, his dagger flew out of his hands towards the other side of the tavern, almost hitting Kate.
-whoosh-
The barbarian necromancer rushed and slashed down with his axe towards Allen. The latter rolled away in time; however, the enemy sent out a punch with one of his hands.
'Firm Fists.', Allen met the enemy's fist head on with his own.
-bam-
The fists hit each other, the enemy was surprised that Allen's seemingly fragile hands didn't break!
Meanwhile, even though he stopped the barbarian necromancer's punch, the kid felt pain stabbing through his hand and towards his shoulder. Barbarians' bodies like this one were as tougher than stone, that's why they're almost impervous to any physical damage done by blunt weapons.
Allen immediately stood up and increased his distance between him and the barbarian necromancer. Luckily, there were no broken bones on his arm, but his shoulder was dislocated.
He saw that the enemy's clone was slowly charging up the staff. He then heaved a sigh of relief, because it would probably take at least a minute to fully charge it up again.
'What to do?', Allen pondered. He was battling the fast and strong barbarian necromancer, and his clone with the annoying staff that could send out repulsive force. While Kate was still busy dodging the ghosts so as not be caught by them.
As more time passed, he couldn't think of any way. He started to get anxious but still tried to calm himself down.
If he tried to escape, could he even be able to do that? Then what about Kate?
What if he called for help? Should he call for help; after all, the barracks was near their location? But what could mere normal guards do against the barbarian?
How about he keep fighting and hope for the best? He doesn't even know if Drake was alright. As for Mr. Sanchez, could he get in time to save them?
How about he'll let Kate escape? Could he even survive the enemy alone? Then what if he get killed? What will happen to William? To his father?
There were so many possibilities of what could even happen!
As time passed, he started to get a notion within his mind, that this battle was impossible win.
'Give me something? Anything? For the weapon's power?' S8uddenly, it was as if the whole world stopped moving including himself, and the devil's enticing voice echoed within his mind.
"No!", Allen resolutely said.
'Do you want to live? Do you want to kill that man? You know yourself that you won't survive this battle a bit longer if this situation continues.'
"No!"
'Well then, let me show you something...', suddenly, the frozen scene around him changed, and he saw himself, being lifted up by one hand on his neck and being choked to death. While Kate was unconsciously lying on the ground and the clone was slowly approaching her with its fully charged staff.
Then it turned to a scene where Kate getting tormented by the barbarian. He panted at the sight and closed his eyes; however, he couldn't cover his ears as he was rendered from moving.
Allen heard all the anguish shouts of the girl. He got chills on his back, like he was the one being tormented instead.
Drake arrived at that location, but it was too late and was for nothing, he too suffered under the man.
After which, the scene changed back to the way it was.
'So, did that change your mind?', the devil's voice asked.
This time, there was a trace of hesitation on Allen's face, he doesn't know if what the devil showed was real or not, but there was one thing that's believable, and it was he couldn't keep up with the enemy any longer.
"No! Somebody else will come.", Allen said. He knew whatever happens, he couldn't sell anything part of him to the devil.
'You know yourself that you and your companion will die before somebody comes to help you.'
"No!"
'Oh, well then, you can just die along with your beloved companions.'
"Wait!", Allen suddenly called out.
'What is it?'
"Can... I sell something that's not part of me?"
'Of course, why didn't you say so earlier!' The voice chuckled.
Heaving a sigh of relief, he asked "Then, what is it that you want?"
'That barbarian's blood, it's such a rare thing to see that such an undisciplined animal could become a necromancer.', the devil's voice chuckled again within his mind.
"But I can't even wound him!"
'Oh, well then... I'm going to let you use the Erchian Dagger for five seconds, if you could stab it to any part of the barbarian, then I could suck out his vitality. However, if you fail, I won't help you anymore.'
"I guess... that's enough for me.", Allen agreed to the terms.
Afterwards, a dagger appeared on his hands, and everything in the surroundings slowly came back to normal.
"JUST DIE ALREADY!", the barbarian became larger and charged towards Allen at a faster speed while slashing down with his axe.
Five seconds...
However, Allen didn't show any panic on his face and met the axe head on with the Erchian Dagger.
-clang- -boom-
When both of the weapons met, a clanging sound could be heard and then the axe exploded into bits, startling the enemy.
Four seconds...
"You! DIE ALREADY DIE!!!" When the barbarian witnessed how his axe was easily destroyed, his anger didn't even subside and even punched Allen! However, the kid only slashed with the (Erchian Dagger) once again.
-sou- -pshew-
The hand of the barbarian was then separated from his wrist!
Three seconds...
"GAHHH...", the barbarian shouted in pain and furiously punched at Allen yet again! This time, the fast punch in the kid's eyes was seemingly slow, which was probably due to the weapon he was holding!
Two seconds...
He dodged the numerous punches everytime it struck out, after which, he stabbed the dagger towards the heart of the enemy.
One second...
-pshew-
The dagger accurately hit the heart of the enemy, piercing through it, after which, the Erchian Dagger disappeared.
The enemy's eyes widened in horror, he suddenly felt coldness all over his body and his knees fell to the ground.
"What did you do?!", the barbarian fiercely looked at Allen. Even if he was stabbed in the heart, he knew that he shouldn't be this weak in such a short time! He then thought that there must be something on that weapon!
"Killing you.", Allen replied.
"Hmph! Then I won't be the only one dying here.", the barbarian pushed his will to the limit and grabbed Allen's head with his large hand. The kid couldn't dodge on time now because he lost the support of the Erchian Dagger.
After which, he threw Allen towards the walls, instantly knocking him out and making blood trickled down from behind his head.
Then, the barbarian collapsed to the ground, his body withering at very fast rate, aswell as his clone.
A few seconds later, the barbarian died, and the clone returned back to an aged man and collapsed to the ground.
The feeling of coldness left Kate, which meant that the ghosts had dispersed. The girl immediately rushed towards Allen, checking if he's fine or not.
***
Meanwhile, in an another location in the southern region of the kingdom...
There was a caravan of merchants on the road. On the first, they might really seem like merchants, but were in fact, the people from that organization!
Suddenly, one of the people felt pain from his head and a scene played on his mind.
He blurted out, "B-brother just died?!"
The other people heard what he said and they asked what was the problem.
"Somebody killed my brother!", the man angrily shouted, making the people around him not to make any noise. They knew that a barbarian's temper was not to be taken lightly.
He recalled back the scene that he saw in his mind, and saw a kid that killed his brother! Of course, the kid was none other than Allen!
Allen wasn't wearing his mask when he killed the man, so his face was seen by the barbarian!
Nevertheless, the caravan continued with their journey, as if nothing ever happened.
However, the man's eyes became watery, but he resisted crying, he inwardly promised to himself, 'I'll kill that kid... no, I'm going to make him suffer first! Whoever he is, I'm going to get him!'
