Chapter 127: Coordination
Hearing Adam say "again," Cael's lips twitched uncontrollably.
'Am I back in military training again…?'
[ivylynx has donated an F-tier gift]
[You have received] : +3 Soul Core
[ivylynx] : Hehe, torture them Adam! Go go go!
[Prankster of Kingdom thinks you misspelled "train" for "torture"]
[RajehAbdullah has donated an F-tier gift]
[You have received] : +4 Soul Core
[RajehAbdullah says they're the same thing.]
Steel Hydra's members gritted their teeth as they struggled to stand up...
Their bodies still trembling from being flung and restrained like ragdolls.
The shieldbearer slammed his shield on the ground with a loud clang, glaring at Adam with narrowed eyes.
"What is he… a monster…?"
The Steel Hydra shieldbearer's voice trembled.
Their weapon wielder wiped the blood from his lips, rage flashing in his eyes.
"He's treating us like practice dummies…!"
As the two B-rankers steadied themselves, their mage stepped forward, chanting under her breath.
Bright blue runes circled her staff as she raised it toward the sky.
Kristoff's eyes widened in alarm.
"Magic incoming!"
In an instant, a giant ice spear formed above the Steel Hydra mage, crackling with freezing energy as it aimed straight down at Adam's group.
But before it could fall, thick black chains erupted from the ground.
They coiled tightly around the ice spear, halting its movement mid-air before crushing it into shards of glowing frost.
The mage's eyes widened in shock.
'What… those chains…'
Seizing the opening, Cael reached out, lightly touching Leila's shoulder as he cast his mark on her before dashing forward in a blur of flames.
His target was clear.
The mage!
If he could target her first, they would be too focus on defending and not have a chance at retaliating!
Leila's eyes glowed faintly as insights from fate filled her mind.
"Cael! There's a barrier trap five meters ahead of you!"
Hearing her warning, Cael instantly leapt to the side mid-dash.
A faint shimmer flickered where he would've stepped as the trap activated harmlessly in the air.
"Tsk…"
The B-ranked barrier user clicked his tongue in disappointment, his eyes narrowing.
Flames roared from Cael's boots, boosting his speed as he charged at the mage again.
But Steel Hydra wasn't just going to stand by.
Their rogue dashed in swiftly, his poisoned daggers flashing as he tried to intercept Cael's movements.
However, just as he approached—
Clang!
Black chains slithered across the stone floor like snakes, aiming to wrap around his ankles.
"Damn it—!"
The rogue cursed, leaping back at the last second to avoid being restrained, his feet barely touching the ground.
At the same time, the B-ranked weapon master clenched his fist, murmuring under his breath.
Illusory swords materialized in the air, shimmering blue as they aimed directly at Cael and flew at him in all directions like a rain of blades.
"Cael!"
Alarmed, Cael raised his arm, flames bursting from his palm to block a few swords, but dozens more approached from his blind spots.
Boom!
From the inferno, Kristoff emerged, shield raised high as he stood between Cael and the rain of swords.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The illusory blades clashed against his shield, sparks flying in all directions.
Kristoff roared, his boots digging into the stone ground as he pushed forward, holy flames blazing from his shield.
With a powerful swing, he released the accumulated flames in a brilliant arc towards the weapon master.
The holy flames shot forward like a beam of golden light.
But just before it could hit its target—
Bam!
A translucent barrier formed in front of the weapon master, blocking the flames completely.
The barrier caster stood behind him, his staff glowing faintly as he grunted with exertion.
"Don't let them break through!"
The weapon master shouted.
The rogue dashed back into the fray, his daggers glowing with a poisonous green sheen.
Meanwhile, the mage, now trembling slightly, raised her staff once more as blue lightning began to gather around it.
Her eyes flickered toward Adam, who still stood there calmly, arms crossed, merely observing everything with cold, unfeeling eyes.
'Why… why isn't he moving…?'
Her hands shook.
'Does he not even need to…?'
Her thoughts were interrupted as Cael dashed forward again, fire bursting from his feet as he aimed his blade straight at her chest.
The rogue intercepted once more, clashing his daggers against Cael's blade, but this time Cael twisted his wrist, parrying the rogue's strike and kicking him hard in the gut, sending him stumbling back with a pained grunt.
Kristoff moved forward, shield raised, as he stood firmly beside Cael to cover his side.
"Push forward! Don't let them regroup!"
He shouted.
Chains slithered across the ground again, aiming to wrap around the legs of the weapon master.
"Barrier!"
The barrier user shouted, slamming his staff down as another dome appeared, blocking the chains.
But just then—
Boom!
A deafening sound rang out as Leila's mana beam struck the stone floor where the Steel Hydra mage once stood, leaving behind a glowing crater.
The mage's eyes widened in fear, sweat dripping down her temples.
"She's aiming for me…!"
She gritted her teeth, raising her staff again to chant another spell, but her hands were trembling.
Seeing this, Cael clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"She's too well guarded… Xel'Shaar!"
Xel'Shaar silently raised his hand as shadows gathered around his palm, forming a black spear of compressed darkness.
With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it forward.
The shadow spear split into countless smaller shards mid-flight, raining down toward the enemy's frontline.
"Barrier up!"
The Steel Hydra barrier user shouted, slamming his staff onto the ground.
A translucent dome covered their entire team, shielding them from the rain of shadows.
Kristoff narrowed his eyes.
"They're defending too well…!"
"Then let's break it."
Adam's calm voice echoed from behind them.
His eyes, cold and expressionless, locked onto Steel Hydra's barrier user.
"Leila."
She flinched lightly.
"Yes…?"
"Disrupt the barrier caster's focus. Xel'Shaar, coordinate with her. Cael, keep pressure on their mage. Kristoff, stand by to defend Leila."
His orders came out flat, devoid of emotion, but carried an unquestionable weight.
"Understood."
Xel'Shaar's shadows slithered under the barrier like thin snakes, curling around the barrier user's feet.
The man's eyes widened.
"What the—!"
At the same time, Leila raised her staff and chanted quickly.
A sphere of glowing mana formed around her before shooting out like a bullet, colliding with the barrier.
Crack—!
Thin fractures formed on the dome.
"Now!"
Cael dashed forward again, flames igniting from his boots as he zigzagged towards the mage, who screamed in fear and began another chant.
"Don't let him through!"
The rogue moved to intercept again, daggers gleaming with poison.
But before he could even reach Cael—
Thump!
Kristoff slammed his shield straight into the rogue's chest, sending him flying backward with a pained grunt.
Another one of their teammates tried to intercept but was quickly blocked off by the flames that were erupting from Kristoff's shield.
"Go!"
Kristoff roared.
"Thanks!"
Cael smirked, his speed doubling as he reached the mage.
His blade glowed a deep crimson as he slashed down, aiming for her staff.
The mage shrieked and raised her staff to block, but Cael's blade sliced through it like butter, splitting it clean in half.
"N-No—!"