NOVEL NEXT Chapter 496: Retreat
The crystal hurtled toward them, a massive blur of force and jagged edges. Just as it was about to crash into him, Masabi shot his hand out, gripping the edge with such strength that the crystal shuddered to a halt. The impact was intense; the crystal cracked under his grip, large pieces breaking off and falling to the ground as he held it steady.
His fingers dug deep into the surface, and tiny fractures spread outward from where his hand had clamped down. The sharp crack of splitting stone echoed around him, but Masabi didn't flinch. Dust and shards rained down, but his focus was elsewhere.
This crystal… it shouldn't crack like this, Masabi thought. It's been weakened. Someone must have helped them get it out of the core.
As he carefully placed the crystal down, his attention snapped back to the pink-haired woman who had closed in on him with startling speed. She swung a fist at his chest, and Masabi moved to counter, but she feinted, spinning smoothly and delivering a solid kick to his head. The force sent him skidding back, his balance momentarily lost.
He quickly regained his footing, eyes darting toward where the boy and Kieran had been. But the boy was already moving, stepping toward the portal he had opened, a smug grin on his face.
"It's been fun," the boy sneered, stepping backward into the portal. "But I must go before she figures out how to break free."
But instead of disappearing into the portal, the boy slammed into something solid. He staggered, confusion flashing across his face.
Masabi's gaze locked onto him, but before he could move, Ashaki's voice cut through the tension. "I've been listening, and while you two were busy, I made sure you weren't going anywhere!"
The boy looked down, realizing he had backed into an energy field, a containment barrier that flickered with technological precision.
Regaku slammed his fist into the ground, frustration etched across his face as the earth cracked and crumbled beneath the force. He spun around, his eyes catching sight of the pink-haired woman, but it was what he saw behind her that truly shocked him. The black-haired man he had shot through—Oscar—was standing there, very much alive.
"H-how is he even still alive?" Regaku stammered, disbelief clear in his voice.
Oscar's gaze was cold and unwavering as he stared down Regaku. "It'll take more than that to kill me," he replied, his voice steady. The bullet wound was still there, but it was healing at an unnatural rate. The truth was, when Masabi had thrown his sword back to him, Oscar had used the last of his energy to channel a protective aura through the blade.
The aura had not only shielded him from further harm but also began to heal the damage that had been done.
Your journey continues at empire
Oscar's sword was plunged into the ground, its blade glowing with a powerful energy that spread outwards, forming a barrier around them. "This is our perfect barrier," Oscar declared, his voice filled with resolve. "It's meant to keep disgusting creatures like you trapped until you can be purged!"
Masabi's eyes widened as he watched Oscar speak. "This ability," Masabi said, his voice tinged with curiosity, "where did you get it from?"
But Oscar didn't answer. He was too focused on maintaining the barrier, knowing that his strength was rapidly depleting. I can't hold this much longer, he thought, sweat dripping down his face as the energy around the sword flickered and pulsed.
"Master, please go," Oscar called out, his voice strained. "I can't hold out for much longer!"
Ashaiki nodded sharply, her attention already shifting as Masabi leaped back, giving her the room she needed. Dimitri, still unsure, looked at Masabi, his voice laced with concern. "You're not going to help the humans?"
Masabi's gaze remained steady. "No. They've learned to fight on their own. I've got more questions than answers, but I'll get what I need soon enough."
Without another word, Ashaiki rocketed toward Regaku, moving so fast she seemed to blur. As she closed the distance, her hand flicked, and a cluster of 5.56 rounds spun out of her pocket, hanging in mid-air for a heartbeat. Blue energy crackled along their surfaces, and then, like guided missiles, they plummeted toward Regaku.
Regaku's lip curled in a sneer, dismissing her as just another human who overestimated her strength. He readied himself to brush off the attack, confident he could handle whatever she threw at him. But Ashaiki wasn't done. She darted around him, every movement fluid, dodging his counters by mere inches. Each time he swung, she was already gone, slipping just out of reach.
With a sudden, graceful flip, Ashaiki somersaulted backward, landing lightly on her feet. She clapped her hands together, and a searing light flared from her palms. The energy surged through her body, causing her hair to lift as if electrified. In an instant, thousands of needle-thin projectiles shot from her hair, swarming Regaku like a storm.
Regaku swatted at the needles with casual ease, smirking as they bounced off his defenses. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt.
But as the last needle clattered to the ground, his smirk faltered. Ashaiki had vanished. His eyes darted around, scanning the battlefield, until a hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder. He whipped around, only to find Ashaiki standing beside Kieran.
"We'll be taking her back," Ashaiki said, her voice calm, as her hand rested firmly on Kieran's shoulder.
Before Regaku could even process what was happening, Kieran disappeared from his grasp, leaving him standing there, bewildered. Rage flashed in his eyes, and with a snarl, he lunged at Ashaiki. But Masabi appeared in a flash, his arm a blur as he brought a crushing chop down on Regaku, driving him into the ground with brutal force.
When the dust settled, Regaku lay in the dirt, the eyes covering his body shut tight. Blood dripped from his lips, and his skin took on a pale, bluish hue. Desperation flashed across his face as he struggled to his feet, his form flickering.