Chapter XLIV - Back On Track (part 2)

TAP!!!

Very suddenly, the mantis once more appeared. However this time, right in front of the one who is the least ready.

Cony's entire body was shivering from fear. She could never react properly, even when danger is right in front of her.

She tried lifting her sword to block, but I knew from experience that the swing of the mantis is very powerful.

"KEGH!!!!--"

With my all, I pulled Cony's jacket to the side. Her entire body was forcefully moved away while my right hand placed my blade right in front of her.

FTAAANNNNGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!

My orcish sword very easily clashed with the mantis's blade arm. It manages to protect Cony, who only stared at the scene happening from confusion. However, I wasn't done.

VWOOSSHHH!!!!!

I tried swinging my sword again from such a horrible position, but the mantis disappeared again. Cony is now sitting on the ground, but I quickly placed my entire body in front of her.

Now, me and Valey is back to back, with Cony sitting on the ground right between our legs.

"Wake up, Cony!!! This isn't the moment to be terrified--"

"I'm sorry!!! But I can't do this!!!"

Cony shouted while shaking her head, and her hand wasn't even holding a weapon anymore. Hearing that answer, Valey only clicked her tongue.

Her reaction is very normal. What we're facing is pure terror. The mantis is for sure very strong, but we are incapable of dealing with it. Especially not in this condition.

We have to... make this situation beneficial somehow.

"Flares! Take out your flares!"

I shouted, and both Valey and Cony quickly shook out of their daze and took out their flares. They lit it up using the torch in my hand and threw it towards different spots in the cave. 

With this, we can see much better. The cave was lit up, and we can see the walls on all sides now.

But, it didn't do much.

TAP!!!

This bastard became faster!?!?

BAAKKK!!!!!!!!!

The red mantis pops up again right next to Valey and kicks her with the strength of ten horses. Valey flew towards the walls at a speed faster than Barett, and I only opened my eyes widely.

However, I can't even--

FTANNNGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!

My sword was very easily punched back by the mantis's raw power, but it has another hand capable of cutting.

VWOOSSHHH!!!!!!

The sharp razor-like bladed hand slices right above my head, right after I ducked down. Realizing that I dodged its attack, the mantis quickly did another follow up attack. 

BAKKK!!!!!!

It used its leg to hit me with a very heavy force. I tried protecting my cheeks using my hands, but it's no use. I can feel the bones on my hands breaking as I get thrown far away from to the other side of the room.

By the time I looked up, the monster was already gone. Only Cony was there, and she has done her best to stand back up.

"Cony!!!!"

I shouted with my all, and Cony turned her terrified gaze to me.

"Take them outside!"

I shouted to her, and COny did not think even for a second. She quickly started running towards where Barett and Valey were, and I started running towards her.

And as I expected, the mantis is chasing after her.

This motherfucker. Not on my watch.

JREB!!!!

Finally, a hit lands on the red mantis. Just when the mantis landed on the ground right behind Cony, a throwing knife landed on its red-skinned back.

The mantis turned its angered and shocked gaze to me, and I only grinned madly at it.

That throw was a gamble. I knew that the mantis would've landed right behind Cony, so I threw the knife before it even appeared.

Had that bastard not appear... that knife would've landed on Cony's. However, my predictions were never wrong.

Cony stopped her running and became aware of the mantis right behind her, but the mantis no longer minds her presence.

Yeah. Focus only on me.

"Go, Cony! They're more important!" 

I said to Cony as I rushed towards the mantis, and the mantis calmly waited for me. I swung my sword blindly to it, but the mantis only moved backwards to dodge it.

I continued swinging my sword, but the mantis very easily dodged and parried my attacks. I knew that this isn't a battle I can win, especially not in my current state.

However, my goal isn't to kill this thing. I just need to buy enough time so Cony can take Barett and Valey out of here.

And from the corner of my eyes, I can see that she is succeeding. She already got both of them in her arms, and she is carrying them out to the exit not far from Barett's position. 

All right... they're safe.

Now, what?

It quickly dashed again. Just like before, I couldn't sense it nor see it. The flames are dim, and it doesn't really light up every corner of the room properly. It's like playing a blind game.

The mantis quickly pops up right in front of me, completely startling me. It used the two giant sword hands and tried to cut my body in four, but I already leaped backwards.

It follows the attack with another slash, but I can see it perfectly. I dropped the torch and held my sword in two hands. The sharp claw clashed with my orcish sword, creating a spark when hit. Another attack is coming again, and my eyes can slowly follow its movements now. I blocked it with my sword again, and the mantis is not done with its swings.

The mantis has gone full offensive, and I've gone defensive. The complete opposite of what occurred just now. Both of my hands held the orcish sword, and I used it to hold the mantis's incredible swinging force. It's amazing how I can stand my ground with this thing having two blades on its hands, not to mention its insane strength.

I quickly jumped backwards to try and take a little breather, but the mantis didn't chase. It immediately looked around and hissed loudly, then it disappeared again.

I looked one last time at the entrance. Cony had pulled the others and had already moved out of the cave. They're probably in the dark paths right now, and I wonder if Cony can really carry the other two out while being in the dark. 

Deep down, I hoped that the mantis didn't go out and chase them. And just a second after I wished for it, my wish came true.

However... with a twist.

One by one, the light on the flares we threw out earlier was put out. The whole cave is now completely dark, leaving only one source of light, which is the torch that is right next to my feet.

I can hear the mantis running and jumping here and there inside this cave, but I couldn't pinpoint its exact location.

Suddenly, it pops on my right. But thanks to that previous short fight earlier, I was already accustomed to its movements.

It tried attacking me from a lower angle, but I managed to block it. However, this clever thing wasn't aiming at me. Using its other hand, it struck the torch on the ground right next to my feet, making everything dark before jumping away again.

And now, everything is pitch black. Leaving me with this deadly blind game.

"Tch..."

This guy... he is incredibly intelligent. 

It knows that I can't fight what I can't see, and that thing can see just fine in the dark. It completely removes my eyesight, all done by purposely aiming for the lights around me.

I... don't have much of a choice anymore. It's now or never.

I tried activating my magic again on my left hand, but nothing came out. Seeing that my magic is still not activating, even at such a crucial moment, I can only let out a sigh of despair.

"I guess this is the end."

I closed my eyes and rested my whole body. The mantis must have seen this, because it immediately moved towards me at high speed.

However... it was something I did on purpose.

With one quick slash, I attacked the mantis. I can feel the mantis got cut, but it wasn't that deep. It immediately jumped out again, away from me.

Ah... thank you, meditation.

The reason I closed my eyes wasn't because I gave up. It's so that I can focus my brain on the other four senses. As a result, my ears and skin were somehow able to detect when the mantis was approaching. Very accurately.

Thank god I learned meditation during my two weeks of doing absolutely nothing. Who could've known learning weird things like that can actually help out situations like this?

This is good. I can fight with this.

And just when I thought I had a chance... the mantis shouted again.

"SHRIIEEEKK!!!!"

A small glimmer of light can be seen behind me, at the other end of the cave from the entrance. And my whole life just somehow flashes in front of me.

It never occurred to me... that there was more than one mantis.

At the far end of the cave, there was a hole on the ceiling. From that hole, three bright red eggs that illuminate in the dark dropped down when the mantis screamed.

The eggs dropped and cracked immediately. From the small glimmers of the light coming from the eggs, I can see the three huge mantises crawling out. The size is nearly as big as the one I fought, but they looked more vicious.

Shit... I can't fight four of them. This is not fair.

It all started when the glimmers from the egg suddenly grew darker. 

And the screams of the mantises... somehow became four times louder.