Blade glints flickered amid the firelight. More than thirty bandits twisted around and lunged at Allen. He lowered his stance and crouched, his pupils rapidly sweeping his surroundings. Roars, curses, the shriek of blades cutting through the air, and the rustling of leaves battered by the north wind all reached his ears.
Shadows swayed, throwing the light and darkness in Allen's vision into chaos.
Yet he still heard it, mixed amid all those discordant sounds.
Killing intent that felt almost tangible, and the faint sound of a magic chant.
In that instant, Allen looked past the crowd toward Spotted Leopard in the distance. The other man was looking back at him. Farther away, dense firelight was gathering, stirring the night.
I see. A response entirely characteristic of the Qiba Faction. He noticed something strange about my Immovable Rock Secret Art, then personally tested me first to dispel his companions' fear, verbally leading them into attacking me together.
Then he treated them all as expendable pawns, using corpses and bones to obstruct me. Based on the information that I didn't know the Sword God Style, he instantly constructed a battle plan and bought time for the true killing blow. This mana fluctuation... an Advanced Magician, or Saint-class?
Not a bad idea, but what a pity.
Healing Spell Rune activated. Duration: ten seconds.
Dragon Saint Battle Qi erupted from the tree-pattern rune in a dazzling green radiance! Battle Qi and mana surged playfully through every part of Allen's body in an instant!
At the same time, the crowd crashed down on Allen like a flood, swallowing him whole!
A smile rippled across Allen's face in the night. His murmur was lighter than the wind, shredded in the air by the dense sound of swinging blades.
"When the Water God Style collides with