Showdown [4]

"Ashtarh! I didn't expect this from you of all people." A cold blue sword appeared in Sarah's hand and she said in a chilly tone.

Ashtarh swung his spear and said. "It goes both ways, Sarah. I didn't expect you of all people to set the beast tide."

When he thought of the eliminated Maissa and Tiama, his grip on the spear tightened and he struck her with a dangerous speed.

Clang!

Sarah parried the spear with her sword and they both took a step back.

Even though Sarah's peak was significantly less than Ashtarh's, the difference in their injuries brought them to the same level.

In fact, everyone on the field was barely able to exert the strength of mid level 6. Their injuries caught up to them.

"Beast Tide? Me? It's Xavier's plan, dammit!" Sarah jumped into the air and ice blue wings appeared on her back.

With a snap, thick ice spears shining a dangerous white blue shot at Ashtarh.

Ashtarh kicked the ground and skillfully evaded most of them. The ones he couldn't, he struck them down with his spear.

"Xavier? Do you think he has the leisure to set up the bombs on a mountain peak?

Their team also went to the Vine Forest. They had no time. Don't bullshit me, Sarah. Accept your own actions."

Ashtarh's body blurred and he appeared in front of Sarah in the next moment and swung his spear.

It vibrated violently and clashed with the ice sword.

Kacha!

The ice sword broke and Sarah took a step back.

Ashtarh wasn't in a better condition. His right arm shook severely and almost went numb.

"Then you think we have the time to go to the Thunder Regions? How can we predict your time of arrival?" Sarah yelled as she struck him with new ice swords, one after another.

"And most of all, how the fuck do you think I'll know that your team will come to Ice Region?"

Sarah asked the most important question, causing Ashtarh's brows to knit, if only for a split second.

"It doesn't matter." He said and kicked at her temple.

"You're a fool. Xavier is the only one benefitting from our fight." She said and dodged the attack before covering her fist in a blue hue and punching him at the throat.

Ashtarh and Sarah continued to fight.

Boom!

Boom!

Fists clashed with fists.

Swords danced with spears.

Blood flew and ice shook.

Their injuries rose with time and before they knew it, they were both covered in the red liquid.

Fortunately, they were both Body Awakeners and could keep going.

But the atmosphere of their fight went from rage to gloomy.

Even though none of them said it explicitly, they both understood something.

Xavier couldn't cause the beast tide. Because they just had no time.

Sarah couldn't either.

Because she couldn't predict when Ashtarh's team was going to enter the Ice Region. In fact, she probably never thought they'd enter the region.

'Why did I enter there?'

'Yes! Ahri called me and said she saw Helia's traces outside the islands. Then we also saw a messenger sending a message [Hel] and deduced that it was about Helia.'

Ashtarh's thoughts spun as his body blurred and blood spilled.

He didn't stop fighting while he thought. His opponent didn't allow him to.

'But…as a peak level 6, even if she's injured, how can she leave behind traces? I wanted to ask Ahri, but she already went to Vine forest and was quickly eliminate…wait!'

Ashtarh's eyes widened and as a result, he could barely block Sarha's sword, causing a long cut to appear on his arm which quickly spurted blood.

The hot liquid snapped Ashtarh out of his thoughts, but he was already sure of his conclusion.

Ahri informing that she found the traces, then going to Vine Forest and being quickly eliminated!

They asked other messengers to check for traces, they found none!

But Ashtarh trusted his sister's judgement and after confirming that a messenger in Ice Region was knocked out shortly after Helia's departure, he concluded that Helia did indeed leave.

…It was definitely someone's doing.

They used Ahri's comm. Eliminated her. They even knocked out the messenger in Ice Region.

Not only that, this person also knew that Helia's team was going to the Ice Region.

What the actual fuck?

It wasn't Xavier, it wasn't Charles, it wasn't Sarah, it wasn't Helia, it obviously wasn't him.

Then who the hell was it?

Before he knew it, Ashtarh's back was drenched in sweat.

Ting!

T—aang!

Sarah's sword once again broke through his defense and this time, it pierced his shoulder, freezing his blood around the region upon contact.

"kuk!"

Ashtarh quickly pulled back, and channeled his chi, trying to dispel the coldness. But he was in the middle of a battle, his mind was in the middle of a shocking secret and he was in the middle of failing to block another attack.

T-aang!

Splurt!

Sarah's sword nearly severed his arm.

Ashtarh's mindset wasn't allowing him to make optimal choices.

Sarah saw that his state of mind wasn't right, but she didn't bother to ask why. His performance only benefitted her.

On the other hand, Ashtarh's eyes finally sharpened and focused on the battle.

Whoever this person was, they were going to be miserable.

All the high level 6s promised them personally not to interfere in the competition.

"If we do, you guys will eliminate us quickly. We won't win treasures and lose this golden opportunity for nothing.

We just want treasures. We'll not interfere." They said.

If someone stayed behind and tried to win, then…

They would face the personal wrath of the top geniuses of the Federation. No one could save them!

But could they actually win?

Impossible!

"Sarah, things aren't what you think. There is someone else manipulati—" Ashtarh tried to explain, but he was interrupted by an ice spear.

Ting!

He parried it off and said. "Just listen! There's someone else other than us!"

Ting!

T—ang!

The injured Ashtarh couldn't dodge her next attack and a large cut appeared on his chest.

"I'm not interested." Sarah said curtly and raised her sword.

"Kuh!" Suddenly, a scream from the distance caused both Sarah and Ashtarh's to turn around.

Until now, Sarah's focus was on Ashtarh as she didn't dare to slip up. She was angry at his backstabbing and wanted revenge more than anything else.

Xavier?

He was exhausted by what he had done so far and she left him to William.

Given Xavier's current state, they were almost equal.

But why did William suddenly scream?

As she looked at the source of the scream, she only saw a silver light before William vanished.

'Xavier still has this much strength?' She was shocked and looked at the telepath in seriousness.

Ashtarh didn't try to attack and he too glanced at Xavier in surprise.

Then both of them saw that Xavier's face was abnormally pale. It must be due to his mental power exhaustion, they thought.

Then they also saw his lips quiver and his wide eyes like he saw a ghost.

What the hell?

They both thought and the next moment, Xavier's teeth chattered as he gazed into the distance and muttered, almost incoherently.

"C…Cha..rles."