Chapter 23 - Threatening

"You! How dare a commoner—"

[Power Off]

As one of the robed men directed his shout at Luke, he couldn't bear to listen to yet another clichéd line. Without hesitation, he employed his skill to silence the man.

A momentary shock washed over the robed person as he lost the ability to make a sound. However, after just a few seconds, his voice returned, and he was able to speak again.

"What did you do to me you bastard?"

Luke was taken aback, perplexed by how the robed person could still produce sound despite his attempt to silence him.

He gazed at the man in disbelief and then decided to scan both of the robed individuals to understand what was happening.

[ SCAN ]

[ Name: Alan Sacredhart

Gender: Male

Age: 31 years old

Race: Human

Profession: Rank 3 Priest

Status: Confuse, Angry, in disguise]

[Name: Argo Faithshield

Gender: Male

Age: 37 years old

Race: Human

Profession: Rank 4 Priest

Status: wary, curious, in disguise]

Luke's skills had been specifically targeted at the younger robed man named Alan, whose blabbering mouth appeared as though it could cut someone with its sharp and venomous words.

Upon meticulous examination of the situation, Luke's astonishment deepened. His skills were effective even against a formidable Rank 6 like Lunaria. Yet, he found himself perplexed by their comparatively diminished impact on the two individuals of Rank 3 and 4.

Lost in contemplation, he delved into the intricacies of the matter, striving to unveil the underlying disparities.

In a prior encounter, Lunaria had been caught off guard by Luke's skill, a circumstance that sharply contrasted with the present situation. Here, the two cloaked men maintained an unwavering vigilance, leaving no room for surprises.

Additionally, Luke considered the possibility that Lunaria's mental fortitude or resistance to psychic assaults might be lacking. As he contemplated this, he speculated that their peace-loving nature as a race could render them more susceptible to such types of attacks.

Moreover, Luke entertained the notion that the two priests might wield countermeasures, allowing them to thwart or nullify his skills. The enigma of an undisclosed factor, possibly a latent resistance to his skills, also loomed large in his considerations.

To have any direct impact on them in this current situation, he estimated that he had to significantly increase the intensity of his skills to their maximum level. However, this realization made him apprehensive, as unleashing such power would consume all his energy and might even take a great toll on his body.

The thought of these consequences made him grow increasingly wary.

Fortunately, Luke took solace in the fact that he had discovered a way to replenish his energy; otherwise, he knew he might have found himself in dire straits.

Meanwhile, Lunaria became aware of the situation due to the commotion. She could sense from their aura that the two robed men hailed from the holy nation, which fueled her hostility towards them. Despite this, she assumed that Luke would handle them with ease, considering they were merely Rank 3 and 4 individuals.

Observing the intense hostility emanating from the robed men, Luke realized that any suspicious move on his part could prompt an immediate and ruthless attack from them without a moment's hesitation. The tension in the air was palpable, and he knew he had to be cautious in his actions to avoid any confrontation.

[Power On]

This time, Luke muttered quietly, focusing on using the skill on his own body to power on all his senses. He was well aware that the robed men were stronger than him, as indicated by the information he had gathered.

Breaking the tension, the older robed person spoke up, seeking to resolve the situation.

"Enough. Let's finish our business and continue our mission," the older robed man said sternly.

He then turned his attention to Luke and addressed him, "Hey, Owner, hand that girl over. She is a plague in this world, a witch that would kill thousands by merely existing."

The words of the robed men ignited a fire of anger within Luke.

'You want me to hand her over? She still owes me a debt!'

However, deep down, Luke knew that his anger was not solely fueled by their demand. There was something more to it, a hidden reason that added intensity to his emotions.

"What would you do to such a frail girl? I see. You two are nothing but perverted old men. If your grandma were to hear your words, she would be deeply saddened."

"Such blasphemy!" retorted Alan, his indignation evident.

In a blaze of fury, the hotheaded Alan could no longer restrain himself, and he unleashed a relentless attack on Luke.

With a masterful gesture of his hand, an overwhelming wave of light attribute magic surged forward, hurtling towards Luke at an astonishing speed.

"Damn"

In the face of the lightning-fast light wave, Luke's heightened senses granted him a remarkable advantage. As time seemed to slow around him, he saw the trajectory of the magical attack with stunning clarity. He could feel the immense power contained within the wave, threatening to engulf him if he didn't act swiftly.

Summoning his own inner strength, he raised his hand with unwavering determination and shouted with force. His voice echoed through the internet cafe, carrying with it a surge of power that seemed to match the intensity of the incoming light wave.

[Power Off]!

As the force of the light wave continued to intensify, Luke realized that his normal usage of power off was inadequate to counter its strength. The gravity of the situation demanded more, pushing him to increase the intensity of his abilities to a level he had rarely ventured before.

His power surged forth, and a remarkable transformation occurred. A bright, devouring black hole materialized in Luke's hand, appearing as if it were ready to consume the powerful light wave.

Luke sweated as he carried such great force. He almost fell on his feet as the black hole in his hands tried to devour the steong force of light wave. But he persevered.

However, wielding such immense force took its toll on Luke. He felt beads of sweat forming on his brow as he struggled to maintain control over the devouring black hole. The sheer magnitude of the power he was harnessing threatened to overwhelm him, almost causing him to stumble on his feet.

As the intense struggle to devour the light wave finally came to an end, Luke felt an overwhelming sense of fatigue wash over him. The tremendous effort he exerted to control and manipulate such powerful forces had taken a toll on his energy reserves, leaving him feeling drained and weary.

In those fleeting moments of battle, time seemed to slow down as if an eternity had passed, even though only seconds had ticked by in reality. The adrenaline-fueled encounter had tested his limits, pushing him to the edge of his capabilities.

Despite the exhaustion that enveloped him, Luke knew he couldn't afford to remain vulnerable. With a practiced ease, he quickly regained his composure, drawing on his experience to manage the situation. Without hesitation, he reached for an energy gem, knowing that replenishing his energy reserves was crucial for the challenges that lay ahead.

As he consumed the energy gem, a renewed vigor surged through his body. The gem's restorative properties revitalized him, bolstering his strength and willpower.

As the blinding lights settled and the shock of the moment subsided, everyone present in the internet cafe was left in awe of Luke's display of power.

To them, it had seemed as if he had effortlessly devoured the formidable light wave, a feat that should have been impossible without using any specific attribute in response.

Light attribute magic was known to be exceptionally potent, with no apparent weaknesses except for the dark attribute, its rival. This might also explain why the holy nation, renowned for its abundance of light attribute users, often propagated negative opinions about dark magicians.

The puzzling aspect for everyone present was that they sensed no attribute being employed by Luke during this display of power. It was as though he had harnessed an entirely different force to overcome the light wave.

This enigmatic feat left the two robed men with a foreboding feeling.

Ophelia was left utterly shocked by the extraordinary events unfolding before her eyes. Meeting Luke seemed nothing short of a miracle, and witnessing his incredible power had piqued her curiosity to its peak. The encounter with this enigmatic expert heightened her fascination with the hidden mysteries of the world.

Conversely, Lunaria remained remarkably composed, unaffected by the unfolding spectacle. She had anticipated these events, having a keen foresight into the situation. The sight of the robed men quivering before Luke's might left her unimpressed, even bored.

In her mind, she couldn't help but disdainfully curse them as brainless hypocrites, deserving of their current predicament. Her calm and calculated demeanor made her seem almost unfazed by the unfolding chaos.

Finally, Luke resorted to unleashing his full powered skill once more, directing it at the two robed men.

[Power Off]

Simultaneously, Luke swiftly tossed an Energy Gem into his mouth, fortifying himself for what was to come.

The two robed men felt an inexplicable shackle bind their very souls. They sensed their strength being sealed, leaving them stunned and disbelieving as they glanced at Luke in disbelief.

With Luke's current full power, he could only manage to seal a portion of their strength.

But the realization that their formidable abilities were partially suppressed added to the robed men's growing concern.

Having received the debuff, the robed men desperately attempted every means to free themselves from the shackles on their souls. With haste, they casted purification magic upon themselves and consumed rare elixirs in hopes of breaking free from the binding force. However, to their dismay, their efforts proved futile, and the shackle remained steadfast.

Despite being restrained, their arrogance and overconfidence showed no sign of waning. Even in their weakened state, they still clung to a misplaced sense of superiority, refusing to back down or show any sign of submission. Their unwavering arrogance only added to the complexity of the situation.

"How dare you! The holy nation will not tolerate this! Remove the shackles from our souls, or else you will be branded as a blasphemer!" one of the robed men angrily retorted.

"Blablabla. I'm a blasphemer, so what?" Luke retorted, exasperated. He couldn't help but be annoyed by the clichéd lines spewing from the villains. Their threats and posturing did little to faze him, and he was growing tired of their predictable attempts to intimidate him.

Argo, being more experienced and perceptive, remained silent. He sensed that prolonging their stay in this situation could lead to unfavorable consequences. As he gazed at Luke, a glint of caution and calculation shimmered in his eyes.

"Enough. We will remember this. And you!" Argo declared, his voice laced with veiled threats and a hint of warning.

"You should stick your nose where it belongs, or you will face the wrath of the holy nation."

With his piece said, Argo firmly grasped Alan's shoulder and began walking towards the exit, implying that they would leave the situation for the time being.

With determination, Argo gripped the handle to open the door, only to be met with surprise when it didn't budge.

"HAHAHA, what did you say again?" Luke burst into laughter, mocking Argo's earlier threatening voice. "Enough. We will remember this. Pft HAHAHA!"

Amused by the turn of events, Luke couldn't help but find humor in the situation. By nullifying the door's opening ability with his [Power Off], he had effectively blocked Argo's exit, turning his intimidating words into a humorous twist.

Luke's laughter proved to be infectious, spreading like wildfire. Ophelia, unable to contain herself any longer, joined in the laughter, feeling the tension dissipate.

Even from a distance, Lunaria couldn't help but laugh loudly, her amusement clear as she took joy in belittling the two robed men and their failed attempts to escape.

Argo's face flushed with embarrassment and frustration, but he refused to turn his head, trying to hide his feelings. Determined to unlock the door, he exerted even greater force, but to no avail. The door remained stubbornly sealed shut, much to the amusement of the group.

Witnessing Argo's futile efforts, the laughter erupted again, making Alan feel even more self-conscious. The robed men's pride and arrogance had been deflated, and they found themselves at the mercy of the situation, much to the delight of Luke and his companions.

"Sir Argo, what are you doing! Do you want to get mocked this much? Let's just kill them! Remember, we still have that thing!" Alan urged, his frustration and impatience evident.

Recalling something, Argo shifted his attention to the group, who were still laughing heartily at their predicament.

His expression turned sour as he rummaged through his pockets, searching for something with a determined grimace on his face. The group's laughter continued, seemingly unfazed by Argo's actions, as they found his attempts to regain control of the situation amusing.