Long Lasting Rivalry (3)

The two groups maintained a stare down, the tails of the Lizardmen swishing, while the arms of the adventurers remained firmly on their weapons.

"I asked you a question, Lizard! Don't think you can get me as easily as you did last time; I came prepared for your poison this time!" Brutus spat out.

"I really thought we could do this without butting heads once, but it seems you are really bent on trying to get in my way, human." Michael's voice sounded colder with each second that passed. His blue eyes narrowed, turning into slits that really brought out the reptilian gaze that he lacked most of the time.

A tense, stiffling feeling slowly enveloped the open cavern with each passing moment.

[Skill - Intimidation, has been activated.]

A thick, rabid, aura spread out towards the adventurers, with Michael as its starting point. A heavy feeling settled on the shoulders of the adventurers as a malevolent aura seemed to radiate from the leader of the Yellow Scaled Lizardmen.

[Skill - Intimidation, has been upgraded to Bloodlust.]

An invisible pulse erupted from Michael's mind, slamming into the minds of the adventurers and making them stumble, their eyes wide.

"For your own good, I think it would be best not to provoke me and my people. I've been very generous with your ever since we first met, do not make me turn on you because it would definitely not en well for you, human." Michael's blue eyes glinted with a cold light, daring the adventurers to step out of line.

"You can forget about our previous deal as well. I don't need the help of your kind. You are all wicked at heart, and care for no one other than yourselves." He spat, turning off his newly gained Bloodlust Skill. The adventurers let out a deep breath that they had no idea they had taken as they were being subjected to the influence of Michael's overwhelming presence.

"Let's go." Michael turned his back on the frozen men and women. His Lizardmen did the same, moving forward with Michael taking up the rear just in case of a situation where the adventurers might make a move. He would rather get out of here with all of his men alive.

They move ahead, leaving the adventurer party behind to regain their bearings. They were still struck by how incredibly dense Michael's killing intent was. None of them had ever expected that a Lizardman, and one that was as simple looking as Michael could carry such an incredibly scary aura.

"What a monster..." The other man, aside from Brutus spoke slowly, his hand over his mouth, and his eyes wide.

"..." Brutus was eerily quiet, even the sounds of his breathing nearly non existent.

"Let's just go. At least, we can get out hands on that other thing we came here to get..." Eudora managed to gather her composure, tightening her grip around her staff. The blue, wooden staff let out a tiny creaking sound as she applied pressure onto it, reminding her of how truly fragile the equipment was.

They soon set off after the Lizardman group. After a few minutes of maneuvering in the dark, they finally managed to catch up to the Lizardman. She almost missed the short glance Michael threw her way, brushing it off and choosing to remain silent. The two groups maintained that silence until they ran into another Red Scaled Lizardman patrol.

The Lizardmen quickly rushed at it, overpowering it in an instant and holding it down until it lost consciousness. Michael and the adventurers didn't even have to do anything to help them.

'So this must be what my boss felt like in my past life...' Michael thought to himself as he watched the Lizardmen dispatch another enemy. The red Lizardmen didn't stand a chance against the overwhelming odds that were stacked against them.

The party moved quickly, not wasting any time. They had long stopped seeing the Red-Eyed and Red Winged Bats, having entered into the actual territory of the Lizardmen.

[Detecting multiple E ranked life forms ahead. Proceed with caution.] The game system warned Michael.

'Finally.' He thought to himself. "Everyone, prepare yourselves, we're about to run into the Lizardmen." He warned everyone. The party stopped for a moment as they listened to his words of warning.

"How do you know?" Eudora asked purely out of curiosity.

"I can smell them." Michael replied simply. The remaining people easily accepted this answer. It wasn't like they could make him say anything else if he didn't want to.

The party stopped for a moment, going over their plan once again.

"I know this might sound stupid, but I think we should just charge in there and do away with those things." Brutus' plan was simple and straight forward. No one in his team looked surprised when they heard him, and Michael had to resist the urge to shake his head.

"I believe it would be better if we baited them here. The passage is narrow, and we can use it to limit their movement and attacks." The Fire Mage spoke up. "If the Lizardman leader can use that his powered attack once again, then I believe it can help us deal some actual damage to their numbers." He turned to Michael as he spoke.

"Your plan makes sense, I have to admit, but there is only one issue... I can't use that attack from earlier. It is too taxing on my body, and will leave me rendered useless for the rest of the fight." Michael shook his head as he thought of the possibility of the attack working. If he used it, then it would leave his Energy reserves dangerously low. There was also the fact that he had to save up his Energy for the Red Scaled Lizardmen's leader. If it was anything like him, then it was sure to be much more powerful than an average Lizardman.

"Very well, then. We will stick with Brutus' plan. We rush in at them and hit them with all we have." Everyone nodded when they finalized the plan.

This was where the true fight would begin.