Chapter 11: Surrounded 2

Gabriel found himself surrounded by a group of figures, each one wearing a same type of clothing.

One of them, dressed in a black robe with a scarf wrapped around his arm, asked him in a stern voice, "Where do you think you're going, boy?"

Upon hearing this question, Gabriel's senses were immediately heightened, and he knew he had to be on guard. He didn't want to take any chances in this situation, so he quickly cast the healing spell [Heal] on himself and activated his special talent to ensure he was prepared for any potential threats.

+320 HP

Despite feeling intimidated by the group's presence, Gabriel remained focused and determined to stay safe.

....

As Gabriel was lost in thought, a deep voice interrupted his musings, "A healer, eh?" Slowly, he turned his head to see a silhouette approaching him. The voice had caught his attention, and his curiosity was piqued. He studied the figure approaching him, and as the person came closer, Gabriel suddenly broke into a cold sweat.

The man was wearing a tank top outfit that showcased his bulging muscles. A scarf was wrapped around his neck, and he wore a skull-shaped mask that obscured his face. The man's aura exuded confidence and arrogance, and it was evident that he had a lot of experience in killing.

As Gabriel tried to assess the man's status panel, he was surprised to find that he couldn't see through him. The man was an enigma, and Gabriel couldn't tell whether he was a friend or a foe.

Gabriel stood frozen as the man with the skull mask sneered at him and scolded him for checking someone else's status. The sudden drop in temperature around him made him shiver, but he tried his best not to show any signs of fear. He could feel his heart beating very fast, and his mind was racing, trying to figure out what to do next.

Despite his nerves, Gabriel maintained his composure and remained silent as the masked man continued to taunt him. Suddenly, the man ordered his minions to knock Gabriel out, and they started to move towards him to carry out the command.

However, before the minions could reach Gabriel, he quickly cast a spell. The surrounding was filled with a bright light, and a gust of wind rushed through, the minion of the man with the skull mask was caught off guard.

"Spirit Curse (Yin)"

[AttkDown] Experienced effect! Reduced physical damage.

[Silence] Experienced effect! Can't use skill.

As Gabriel cast his powerful magic, he could see the surprise in the eyes of his opponents. They had not expected the debuff effect he had unleashed, and for a moment, they froze in their tracks. However, Gabriel was quick to take advantage of this momentary lapse in their guard. He turned and started running as fast as he could, his heart pounding in his chest.

As he ran, Gabriel could feel a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. The thrill of the chase, combined with the intensity of the situation, had triggered an excessive flow of energy in his body. Every muscle in his body was working in perfect harmony, propelling him forward at breakneck speed. Despite the danger that he faced, Gabriel couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration at the raw power that he had unleashed.

.......

Gabriel was overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions, his mind consumed by a deep sense of turmoil. Amidst this internal chaos, he failed to perceive the looming danger that was rapidly approaching him. A masked figure launched a sudden attack, catching Gabriel off guard and leaving him with no chance to react.

BOOOM!!!

BOOOM!!

"Ahhhh .... !!" Gabriel screamed with pain in his voice.

The aftermath of the explosion was chaotic, as thick smoke obscured the surroundings. Soon, Gabriel's opponents arrived at the scene, and they frantically searched the area for any sign of him. However, to their surprise, Gabriel was nowhere to be found. Instead, all they discovered was his tattered magic bag lying in a corner, shattered bottles of potent mana potion strewn around, and eerie traces of blood leading away from the site of the blast.

Meanwhile, the masked man who had caused the explosion was feeling frustrated. Upon checking his status window, he noticed that he had been afflicted with two debilitating debuffs - [AttkDown], which reduced his attack power, and [Silent], which prevented him from using any verbal spells or incantations.

He looked at the description of the de-buffs.

[Damage Reduction] - Reduce Physical attack (Magic Attack) by 15%.

Duration: 5 minutes

[Silent] - Curse that prevents the use of skills.

Duration: 10 seconds

As he stood amid his colleagues, his face contorted with rage and frustration. He clenched his fists tightly and then let out a deafening shout that echoed across the area. "Find him," he bellowed, his voice booming with authority.

His henchmen, who had been standing at attention, immediately sprang into action. "Yes, Boss," they responded in unison, their voices low and reverent. With a sense of urgency, they scattered in different directions, determined to carry out their leader's command with the utmost efficiency and precision.

.......

A few seconds ago

Gabriel was completely engrossed in his emotions when he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly turned around only to come face to face with a swift sword that was rapidly approaching him. In a desperate move to save himself, he instinctively raised his staff and tried to block the incoming sword.

As soon as the two weapons clashed, sparks flew in all directions, and Gabriel tried his best to twist and alter the path of the sword. But the force behind the sword was simply too strong for him to handle.

With no other option left, Gabriel decided to twist his body in the opposite direction of the sword's trajectory. However, this was a risky move, as one wrong move could lead to serious injury or even death.

On the brink of death, Gabriel suddenly noticed his surroundings slowing down. He quickly raised his right hand, holding one end of his staff, and lowered his left hand, holding the other end of his weapon. He then positioned his staff at an angle of 225 degrees and watched as the sword slid towards his side. He braced himself for the explosion that he knew was coming.

In a moment of quick thinking, Gabriel anticipated where the explosion would come from and decided to use its impact to get away from his opponents.

All of these events took place in just a few seconds, though it must have felt like an eternity to Gabriel.

BOOOM!!