The Decisive Arrow

"What you did turn this one-sided in a blink. That's what you also did back at our tribe, right?"

Since he's next to me. There's no way he wouldn't notice that Aura of Enhancement which covered a circular area with me as the center, and that includes him.

"Eh. Yes"

I'm not inclined to answer but since it's this Old Man, I guess it's fine. There's a risk that the enemies will hear about me but they're far away anyway.

For now, I have to stay low key and draw all their attention to the heroes. I'll try and keep my existence to be obscured. Not until I have enough strength to support myself. Right now, I'm more than happy to be just a support character. 

"Don't worry, I won't ask about the origin of that somewhat broken ability of yours. We all have our own secrets. You have to choose carefully who you will put your trust in."

Old Man Reol's voice contained a hint of regret. Did someone betray him before?

"I can put my trust in you, at least."

I don't know if the system will be absolute, but Erin's name also appeared in it even without completing any pledge with her, right below Zerina and Avelin. He's her grandfather and someone who I know I can rely on.

"Not even with me. Even if that brat took a liking to you, you shouldn't blindly trust someone who can crush you anytime they wish."

Brat? Ah. He's talking about Erin. His words make sense but with everything he showed me, it's not blind trust that I have for him. If I could describe it, then it's trust and respect for a wise elder.

"Only fools trust someone blindly, by the way, Old man, where are Erin's parents?"

I nodded and asked something I am curious at. Avelin told me her parents abandoned her when she was young and the Whiteshade Tribe took her in. If they were still alive, she didn't know and she didn't have any plan to know. For her blood ties aren't strong, especially for someone abandoned, the whole Whiteshade Tribe who took her in was her family.

"Dead. It was already years ago so don't ask."

Using a stern tone, Old Man Reol cut off any follow-up questions I might have.

Ten minutes soon passed and the enhancement from the Orb wore off.

Feeling the sudden weakness, some of the barbarians on our side moved sluggishly resulting in them performing poorly and falling into a dangerous situation.

Since I didn't tell them about the existence of my Orb, I also didn't tell them about its limitations.

We got our desired outcome earlier so this should be fine. I feel sorry for the casualties that resulted but it's already too late. They have to cope with the sudden change in strength by themselves.

Though Raiden's group didn't feel it that much, the momentum of our side really suffered from it.

And seeing that, the Beastmaster hovering above waved his hand and all the other Beastmasters, who until now never made a move, waved their hands and different kinds of unknown beasts appeared out of nowhere.

With varying degrees of strength, the beasts started engaging our side while the Beastmasters specifically targeted the barbarians that are standing out.

Especially Raiden's group, they started to be besieged by the towering beasts and Beastmasters who most likely have the strength of King Realm. 4-star Beastmasters? There's three of them in total, not including the leader of the Beastmasters who's still calmly watching the chaos and bloodshed.

Apart from Raiden, the others around him are having a hard time.

Then two Barbarians jumped out from behind them, with bright Crowns on their head. Two King Realm experts. Back in that Great Hall, I didn't see these two. I guess they didn't come or they were deployed somewhere.

They fought two Beastmasters but since those Beastmasters also have the support of their own beasts, it's like fighting two King Realm by themselves.

One of them produced 2 Pillars and the other produced 1.

They're King Realms but they still fall short compared to the Old Man.

And Raiden, left with only one 4-star Beastmaster, he's faring better than the two King Realm even without the support of a Crown.

The Temporal Acceleration he's been keeping up his sleeve was unleashed and that immediately gave the towering beast of unknown species and origin various wounds all over its body, it hobbled for a bit before collapsing on the ground, lifeless. With various holes as big as Raiden's sledgehammer dotted its body, it's reddish-black blood dyed the ground.

And it didn't stop at that, the Beastmaster above it was also seemingly smashed, the right side of his face was beaten to a pulp with his brain matter scattered from behind his head.

That terrifying Temporal Acceleration instantly defeated not only a gigantic beast but also its master who has the same strength.

The hovering Beastmaster finally got alarmed upon seeing that spectacle, and with a wave of his hand, a beast. Ah. No. A giant bipedal monster appeared out of nowhere. With a huge axe in its hands, it went straight towards Raiden who was currently gasping for breath.

Of course, that ability of his exerted not only his mental strength but also his physical strength. How many attacks did he unleash within that time frame?

I'm too far away from him to throw the Physique and Psyche Boost.

Luckily, the Old Man was also watching closely, when that leader of the enemies waved his hand, he already leapt and traversed the distance between us and Raiden. With a Crown and his four Pillars, he appeared above shielding Raiden from the giant monster.

But the lead Beastmaster probably predicted that, at the same time as the giant monster appeared, he also dived down towards Raiden, with an abyss-black spear in his hand, he lunged from up above.

The Old Man was occupied so this is the time for me to support him. He only needed a few seconds to catch his breath.

Because of my Adaptability and the increase in my total stats, watching a battle at this level became possible for me.

I immediately considered that a Dispelling Arrow using Brute Energy won't be able to stop him.

But I still have another type of Energy!

Using the Psyche Energy, the 5 charges of Psyche Boost turned into an arrow, nocking it to the bow, I aimed at the diving Beastmaster.

I'm gambling in here with my guess. Their inherent Energy was something higher, a Level 2. And this Psyche Energy was probably at the same level.

Condensing a dispelling arrow using it might counter and throw him in disarray.

The world seemed to stop around me with all my focus trained on the decisive Dispelling Arrow I just shot. It went past many heads of barbarians and beasts before reaching its desired target.

Relying on my Adaptability to accurately aim at the enemy, it successfully hit, a few centimeters before the tip of his spear pierced Raiden's head.

As the Dispelling Arrow spread throughout the Beastmasters body, he turned stiff before falling to the ground with his previous momentum gone.

Raiden, seeing that spectacle, was surprised at first before he collected himself and smashed his weapon down on the Beastmaster that fell in front of him.

With a resounding explosion, 2 Halos appeared above his head as he kept pounding the ground. Debris of the smashed ground came flying off and some of it even hit the barbarians and beasts alike.

Old Man Reol also looked down as he successfully stalled the Giant Monster. Restraining it using his four Pillars.

As to what happened to that Beastmaster. I don't know, I couldn't see what happened there and with that explosion of the ground, the visibility lowered.

But yeah. My decisive arrow hit him and Raiden finished him off. Is it over?