Ch 8: Berg and Ali

Ali chugged down a healing concoction with difficulties. His wounds healed gradually. But he didn't feel relieved. His most potent lightning magic doesn't seem to be working.

'Looks like they came prepared.'Ali clicked his tongue. If it were only an ordinary Alixqes, he wouldn't have any problems dealing with it. However, the Alixqes in front of him had resistance toward Lightning Element magic.

'This bitch is a bit tricky to kill,' Ali thought. He felt very agitated as time goes on.

He might be old, but the aura coming from his body was strong enough to disturb the Alixqes. The Alixqes were known for their sharp sense of danger.

"Die!" Berus yelled and charged at Ali. He released a burst of flames that formed a flaming sword in his hand. He slashed down, planning to cleave Ali in half.

Ali also released a grey-colored smoke that formed a sword in his hand. He defended the attack with difficulty. Ali wasn't as strong as Berus physically.

After stopping his sword from splitting him down, Ali continued casting more magic. He created a bunch of spinning cones made of rubble that were lethal and launched them at Berus.

"Heh, I hope you didn't think this little flaming sword could possibly kill me, did you?" Ali replied with a smug smile on his old face.

'Damn! This old man is the real deal.'

Ali was helpless against Berus's mad rush. He was an influential character, being the executor of the Stygian - a criminal organization of the east. So it's no wonder that he is more powerful than most. But when it comes to magic, Berus is still behind Ali.

Ali used offensive magic one after another and overwhelmed Berus.

Immediately, Berus's countenance changed. He entered a berserk state which multiplied his powers threefold.

The battle continued for an hour and both of them felt their magic power is depleted. The area is completely destroyed by the two of them. Fires have spread far and wide in their surroundings. Buildings have fallen due to powerful aftershocks.

'How long has it been? Minutes? Hours? Who knows. Somebody will find me soon though.' Ali thought, his mind felt exhausted due to magic overuse. Meanwhile more thick and more dark clouds gathered overhead blocking out any chances of sunlight gleaming through.

Berus already lost his voice after screaming and shouting during the battle. His attack also slowed down a lot.

Right then a person appeared next to Ali. Berus was startled by his sudden appearance.

"Who?" he croaked. At least he had his voice back, raw and hoarse though it was. Berus was shocked to see a person teleport here.

Ali was also surprised to see Berg. As it turned out, the two of them stumbled upon one another, but after learning that Ali was trapped here due to fighting the Alixqes. He chose not to lend the old alchemist a helping hand.

"Ali, how did you end up like this?"

"Boy, You don't need to worry about me. You have to get out of here." Ali's eyes were shaking as fear struck his heart. Ali knew that Berg can cast powerful magic but the problem is none of them helped much in a battle.

Like the teleportation magic, Berg used just now to arrive here. This is one of the rare magic very few people can cast but it doesn't hurt anyone. So it is useless in a fight. Ali feared that something wrong might happen to Berg.

Ali looked at Berus. His face was pale, and cold sweat was raining down from his face. His faint breathing showed just how weak of a state he was in at the moment. If Ali wants to kill him, this is the right moment. But Ali was too weak to lift a finger. He was standing in depending on solely sheer will.

A strong wind suddenly caused a barely standing destroyed building to collapse on the ground.

"A little brat? Where did you come from?" Berus asked in a hoarse voice. He swallows down some pills from a small bottle of glass. After he swallowed those pills, he regained his lost magic power and his complexion also improved slightly.

Berg ignores him. He cares more about the old alchemist. Seeing that he was ignored by a little brat, Berus felt an unbelievable amount of rage bubbling up in his heart.

Berus cast magic and red colored flame pillar descended on Ali and Berg.

It struck with earth-shattering force. This wasn't a normal fire.

It's the Alixqes race's special Alixqes flame.

The power is far more potent than mere normal fire.

Faced with such an attack, never mind the normal knight, even a fully armored knight would be burned to ashes!

Tragic screams filled the air as the fire burned Berg's hand as he cast a spell for protection. But the protection spell will only last a few seconds. But without that bit of protection, they will be turned into humanoid chunks of charcoal.

"Meaningless resistance!"

Berus continuously released two more flame attacks. Blood dripped from his mouth and nose in a straight line.

Berg felt pressured and then his magic protection wore off. So he grabbed Ali's shoulder and they both teleported from the range of the flame pillar.

But when he landed on the solid ground again, he was attacked by the blonde woman who was knocked out earlier by Ali. Berg didn't have any time to dodge or cast a spell.

The blonde woman's sudden attack caught him by surprise because he was distracted by Berus's flame pillar. Berg dropped to the ground in utter despair as he saw his death flashing in the eye of the woman.

'This is the end of the line for me, isn't it?'

'Oh god, I don't want to die like this, please find me.'

With but a single surprise attack, the enemy had already completely shattered Berg's will to fight back!

Berg was scared and crying in despair as the knife closed in on his face. He even forgot about Ali as all of this is happening in a split second. Even someone as cold and uncaring as Berg couldn't help but despair in front of certain death. Just then Ali pushed him, surprising Berg.

Ali elbowed Berg's left shoulder and shoved him out of the danger spot. But as a result, the knife instantly ripped through his chest, and he coughed blood. The unstoppable force behind it also threw him several meters away.

Ali saved Berg. But he couldn't save himself. His life is on the verge of ending now.

"Haha-ha, hey old man, finally got you." the woman who stabbed Ali laughed maniacally. Her distorted face plastered an ugly smile.

Berg who was feeling despaired from the thought of dying was shocked at first. Then he realized what had transpired now.

No!

He can't die!

How could Ali just die here?

Berg quickly pressed down on his wound with both hands. He used a healing concoction. Alas, this was completely useless in the face of the current situation though.

"Why isn't it working? Why? Why-yy?"

Ali was having a harder time breathing and he already lost a lot of blood. So his face turned pale and his lips are trembling as blood dripped from there. On the other hand, Berg was having a nervous breakdown thinking of ways to save Ali.

"Hey Ali, look at me. Keep your eyes open. Don't close them." Berg acted hasty but Ali did not hear him.

'Yes, I will die soon. Alone. Oh god, I'm going to die alone. Why hasn't anybody found me yet? What if they never find me?'

'I'm exhausted, I need to sleep. It may be my last, but I need to sleep. I'll just take a quick nap, after that we'll see what happens. I just really need to sleep.'

Ali groaned in pain as various unnecessary thoughts came to his mind as his consciousness drifted away.