While Leon was standing still, his eyes looking dazed, Emily again flew back in the distance by a heavy blow. Blood trickled down from the corner of her lips.
She dug her sword into the ground to stop. ’Damn it. He is strong. Very strong. Can’t I even take care of just one person? What was all that training for then?’ She cursed inwardly.
Sol and the others were in no better shape. Sol and the other male hunter with the shield were both B-Class knights. Meridith and the other female hunter with the spear were both C-Class, whereas Noah was only a D-Class. But their opponents weren’t just more in number, they had high-class hunters too. Two of them were A-Class. At least five were B-Class. Without Emily, Sol’s group stood no chance.
Noah threw an arc of wind blade at one hunter. But a tank mage defended it with his body while a female fire mage threw a fiery sphere.
The fireball struck Noah hard. Meridith quickly reached for his help.
"Noah, there’s still time." Suddenly, Alex shouted. "Be wise and come join us." He and Willow were standing together. They hadn’t attacked yet, but they hadn’t helped Noah and others either.
"Shut up! Just shut up!" Noah shouted. He then raised his scepter. "I can be a weakling, but betrayal isn’t in my blood...
Air blade."
Another arc of sharp air shot forward. Willow slashed one of her daggers, dealing with the wind blade with ease. "Noah." She started. "Then this is where we part our ways. I will tell the guild master that you foolishly chose death."
"Yeah, go and tell him whatever you want. He doesn’t even care about me."
Willow looked like she wanted to attack Noah, but something still held her back. Like a guilty conscience.
But before she could decide, someone else took the initiative for her. A man in a robe raised his wand. "Lightning bolt." He chanted.
Instantly, white-blue energy crackled in his wand as a bolt of lightning shot forward in a zigzag way.
Noah’s eyes widened in fear. But just before the bolt could land on him, Sol appeared before him. "Watch out." He spoke and raised his left hand, an ice shield materializing in it.
Zaaaap!
The moment the lightning bolt touched the shield, it shattered instantly. The impact sent both Sol and Noah flying in the distance.
Blood gushed out from Noah’s mouth.
"Sol!" Emily’s veins bulged when she saw it. She was about to leave her fight and rush toward Sol.
But Nicholas appeared beside him. "Where do you think you are going, beautiful?"
Thud!
He threw a punch at her side. Her body curved like a bow before she was blasted away.
The person with the shield came for Emily’s help, his whole body covered in a silver layer.
But before he could attack, Nicholas raised his leg and threw a kick.
The hunter raised his shield.
Thud! The moment the kick landed, the hunter was sent flying.
Emily and all who were on her side lay sprawled on the ground.
Nicholas walked toward Emily. "You are doing a great job. You are giving everyone a chance to fight for their freedom. Your existence would just make the distribution imbalanced. You’re not feeling wronged for that, are you?"
Emily gritted her teeth and tried to get up, but Nicholas placed his leg on her and pinned her down. His lips curved into a cruel smile.
He raised his hand and clenched his fist. "I will make it quick. You won’t feel a thing."
He threw a punch, aiming at Emily’s head.
But just before his fist could touch Emily’s face...
A brilliant beam of light descended from the sky. With a boom, it directly fell where Leon was standing, dust and smoke exploding outward. It didn’t stop. Rather, it continued to shower over him.
Nicholas stopped. All eyes turned toward Leon. Even Emily tilted her head with great effort to see what was happening.
From wyvern’s back, Harold’s eyes narrowed. "Enlightenment? Is he a..." He whispered.
Nobody moved.
"What’s happening?" One of the hunters who was fighting against Emily asked.
"Is he from here? Why is he wearing a mask?"
"Don’t know. Maybe it’s some kind of power-up. But whose side is he on?"
Murmurs erupted. Even the monsters looked at each other.
After a few minutes, the light finally stopped. Leon slowly opened his eyes. His pupils seemed focused. The air around him seemed different. He didn’t look like he had achieved any breakthrough. But suddenly it felt like his whole persona had changed. As if a boy had suddenly grown into a mature person. He looked at the scene before him.
Emily and others were all defeated. Nicholas was torturing Emily, or at least it looked like that.
’What just happened? Suddenly, he seems like a different guy.’ Sol wondered as he forced himself to stand up. Nobody stopped him. Not humans, not monsters. Everyone looked bewildered at what had just happened.
Contrary to them, Leon looked calm. ’I understand it now. It was never about a technique. Berserk Mode is all about my emotions. It’s the way to mold my rage into a sharp weapon. So the whole comprehension thing was about how to control my anger, even when I am not mad, how to channel it.’
Notifications popped up in the panel.
[Host has mastered a special ability.]
[Ability: Berserk Mode
Description: Host can activate Berserk Mode at will. The ability multiplies user’s all the stats by 20. It lasts for 60 seconds. Once the ability is deactivated, the user will be paralysed for the next few hours due to the severe strain on the body. It can be activated only once in 24 hours.]
’60 seconds. Can I do it within that short time? Yes. I think I can.’
"The sword." Leon whispered.
The frost blade emerged from the panel. Leon grabbed it gracefully. ’Because for 60 seconds, I will be equal to an S-Class hunter. No. Not just S-Class. It should be....’
"Disaster class..." He whispered.
"Berserk Mode...
Activate."
The moment he said that, a ripple exploded outward from where he stood.
Leon leaned forward instantly.
"First form...
Sword dance."