He showed no fear. No apprehension. To Cohen, this meant that this person is hiding more power, but he was not showing it. He wanted to see the extent of this guy's power.
The ten guards had lost their jobs as they were quickly taken down and transformed into rubble. The rest of the team soon came to reinforce Cohen in his fight against the ten-meter monster.
As soon as the tanks came in, Cohen moved back to get a breather. The two tanks worked together to deflect the punches that were barreling down as the mages cast their specialty spell and more dark clouds formed overhead with lightning striking down, chipping at the huge body of the TITAN
Blade edges were coming out of Rachel's sword as she continued to release the red crescent blinding lights. Noah's skill was more straightforward where his rapidly spinning disk of flames had been borrowing itself onto the knees of the huge beast trying to quickly cut off its legs and make it lose mobility.
He would not succeed though. As the TITAN was quickly enraged by the continuing damage that it was taking, and the fact that none of the ants that were dealing it damage were taken care of.
OOOOH!!!
A loud roar resounded from the Titan as Cohen yelled "Take cover!"
The mages ran behind the tanks who lifted their shields up while the TITAN was roaring. Cohen went towards Rachel and Noah and stood in front of them as the whole place seemed to shake as huge boulders then began falling from the ceiling.
This was the Titans skill. A type of skill that only began appearing on rank C BOSSes and above. At the moment it was dealt a certain amount of damage, the skill was activated and boulders would begin raining from the sky.
If you were slow in responding for even a second. You would find yourself squashed on the ground.
The stones began falling down and heavily hitting the ground. The 2 tanks had their shields lifted up slanted at an angle. Whenever the stones hit the skills on their body shined and they grunted, but they survived. The two mages beneath them were still safe and sound.
As for Anderson, he was even more straightforward, keeping his eyes on the ceiling and using his blade to strike down any incoming stones. If he missed any of the boulders fallen from the ceiling, Rachel would quickly move in and release another one of her plate lights, striking the huge stones and veering them away from their location.
Noah as a mage should be taking cover with his weaker defenses, and could only have his skill ready to be fired in the case any stone were to come his way.
As the huge stones fell down with everyone focusing on keeping their lives, Anderson turned towards Noah as there was something we wanted to confirm. He wanted to know the extent of this guy's power and what exactly he was hiding.
The TITAN's skill was about to finish, and three more boulders that were heading their way. Anderson put on a fierce expression as his sword struck out towards the incoming stones.
Rachel took care of the second stone and Noah cast his spinning line of flames towards the third stone that was nearing his side
At this instant, though, an...accident occurred. The stone that Cohen was taking care of did not break and veered off-track. He made a sound as if he had slipped and his blade just quickly grazed over the boulder that was coming down. The boulder that was now coincidentally heading towards the mage beside him
Noah returned his face up in the direction of the boulder with a surprised face as it quickly struck him.
PAH!
The sound caused the party members' faces to turn ashen. The two tanks and two mages off by the side quickly turning around to look at Cohen with an unbelievable expression
Rachel had an expression of disbelief on her face as well as she stared at Anderson and looked over the rubble where Noah was supposed to be.
A brief second passed before a movement was heard and a person came out of the rubble. The sight they feared to see did not actually happen, as the hands there were reaching out to push the rubble of the stones aside were clear. His face was clear. There wasn't a single spec of damage on the man's body.
The four party members quickly let out a relieved sigh and returned their sight towards the boss, as they couldn't spare a single other second with their eyes off the huge monster
Cohen spared Noah a glance before he quickly turned around and dashed towards the boss.
The disbelieving expression did not leave Rachel's face as she was very close and saw exactly what happened. There had been no accident, and that was all intentional. So, she was shocked and didn't understand. Just what sort of irreconcilable problem had occurred between these two hunters that would cause something like this?
Noah was coming out of the rubble with a surprisingly calm expression and dusted himself off as he looked at Anderson that was rushing towards the boss.
How was he taking this so naturally? Did he not almost die? Rachel had a complex expression on her face as she shook her head and focused on the fight at hand.
The two tanks were quickly blown away and Anderson filled in their spots to hold the boss at bay. The Thunderclouds from the mages were above them again, constant streaks of lightning striking down on the body of the TITAN
Rachel held her Blade behind her as a blinding light was becoming more and more apparent on her sword. This continued on for 10 seconds before she released the blade of light, that was not more than 2 meters long towards the leg of the BOSS. Noah was not far behind, quickly throwing his signature disk of flames towards the same location he was attacking before.
With this teamwork, it didn't take long for one of the legs of the huge statue to start cracking before it could not support its entire weight. Its left leg had shattered from the constant damage that was being dealt
Its upper body had huge dents and scratches from the lightning that was falling down and the blade attacks that Anderson kept sending its way. The huge TITAN quickly fell on its knees, Its hands smacking on the ground and sending a shock wave that disoriented the party members.
The two mages were quickly knocked back from the blast as the tanks were not there in time to prevent the blast from reaching them. Rachel and Anderson seemed fairly okay and surprisingly, so was Noah.
The TITAN guided its right hand that had fallen down, formed a huge fist, and swiped towards the puny ants around it. This attack would take out all the party members if it was not stopped.
Cohen had his face in a twisted expression as he began to feed more anger to bubble inside of him. This was good. This was what he wanted. The angrier he was, the stronger he became. That was the inherent skill that he awakened. Wrathful.
It fed on his anger. The angrier he got, the more energy he had, the more power he had, and the more destructive he became. He wanted to show these people just what true strength was.
He reactivated his highest skill that took most of his energy as his anger kept on rising. [Giant's Strength] was activated once more. A dark, baleful energy was permeating from his body as he grabbed his sword and rushed towards the incoming fist.
BOOM!
A resounding sound was heard as the fist was stopped on its tracks, causing the titan to scream once more. Anderson kept the momentum going, using his increased anger as a source of fuel and propelled himself towards the face of the ten-meter monster that was now crouching down.
The red energy released from his body mixed with the lightning that began appearing on his blade. [Blade of Lightning] was activated, its color quickly becoming tinged red and forcefully smacking on the head of the kneeling TITAN
BOOOM!!!
After the sound that almost ruptured the hunter's eardrums disappeared, half the head of the BOSS went with it. The TITAN breathed its last as it's huge body crumbled to the ground, the force holding it together thoroughly gone.
Cohen Anderson stood atop the rubble releasing a pulsating red light. He looked down at the hunters staring at him as his blade released the last sparks of lightning. This was strength. This was the power that allowed him to do whatever he wanted. This was
what he wanted these hunters to have ingrained in their minds.
Chapter 16 - Deterioration
Anderson was standing majestically, atop the rubble as his skills effects finished. A green crystal was rising up as the boss had been killed and he walked down to observe the expressions that he had wanted to see so badly. The expressions of fear and reverence from the people below him
He saw these usual expressions on his old party members, and turned his gaze towards the two new ones.
As soon as he looked over though, a piercing voice rang throughout the destroyed hall. "What the hell were you doing? Why did you play around and almost kill your teammate?" Rachel, the berserker that was shooting blade lights all this time had a questioning look on her face as she directly asked this question.
Anderson seemed to be surprised as if he did not expect this type of reaction at all. He looked over at Rachel in a skeptical tone and asked her. "Oh? What's giving you the balls to talk to me like that? Were you watching the same scene as everyone else?"
Rachel defiantly replied with "Why the hell does that matter? I'm asking you, the leader of this party, why you would purposefully act negligent and try to harm your party member when you were in the position to protect them. How can they feel comfortable to hunt with you again? You've lost all trust, starting with me"
An incredulous expression arose on Anderson's face as something seemed to have clicked in his mind. He gave a loud laugh as he spoke. "My goodness. I am so sorry. I seem to have not gotten my point through. If it wasn't extremely clear from my actions and from my words, I don't give a damn." Anderson finished with these words in a condescending tone.
Rachel didn't stand down as she continued. "So what? Because you have a higher rank skill and are more powerful than us, that means you can choose to do whatever you want? You would endanger your party members just to get your point across? For what?"
Anderson was startled once again and said. "For what? For what? How dense are you for the message to not be coming across? Party members? Trust? Haha!" He looked towards the four Hunter's that had been clearing the dungeon with him these past weeks "Do you see them? They have families here. They have friends here. This is their city, and they have nowhere else to go. Do you think anyone cares about this city? Do you think the big wigs care what happens to a trashy city around the perimeter of the Empire?"
His words were becoming louder and more piercing as he kept on talking while walking towards Rachel. He continued with a cold tone" It's me. I am the only one keeping this city afloat. I am the only one that gives a damn and stays here. I prevent the dungeon break of this dungeon that you can never clear without me. It is my strength. And because of this, I can do what I want. I can call them" He pointed at his party members once more
"I can call them fools right now, and they will be back with me right in this same place in a few days giving their lives to clear this dungeon. You may have only been in this city for a week, but you should learn now than later about how things really work. You should know how to talk to people that stand above you." As he finished these words, he had reached Rachel, who still staring at him with a defiant expression
His anger was near his peak, allowing his skill {INHERENT-WRATHFUL} to provide him with even more strength. He moved at a quick speed, and a loud smack was heard, with Rachel smashing on the floor a second after.
A large hand mark laid across her face. She touched her cheek in a dazed expression as if this was the last thing she ever expected to happen. She looked at the four that were recuperating the side, and all of them turned their heads away
Anderson walked up to her, clasping her clear neck in his hands and asked. "Do you realize it now? When I say I can do whatever I want? You cannot do anything to stop it" He said as he lifted her up by her neck.
"They cannot do anything to stop it." He continued while pointing at his old party members. "And he...certainly cannot do anything to stop it" His hand moved once more as he pointed towards Noah
The person in question being pointed at had a surprised expression as he let out a soft sigh and said. "Let the girl go dude. What the hell is wrong with you?"
He had been watching the scene in front of him play out being ever so surprised as the events unfolded. He didn't care when Anderson supposedly had his 'accidental' slip up that he easily brushed off by activating [Arcanist's Sphere of Protection]. He didn't care when he was talked on upon. What he didn't like were the arrogant words coming from him, and worst of all the beating he had given someone who stood up to him
He was happy at the thought that the first party hunt he was in just finished successfully and he could use his experiences here to dive into this dungeon in the future. But this guy just had to go and ruin it. So he repeated himself again and said "Let the girl go."
Another loud laughter was heard in the clearing as Anderson pushed the girl aside. And looked towards Noah. He looked him up and down and said "This entire time I've been trying to figure out exactly where the level of your power stands. I was not thinking correctly just keeping tabs on you and feeling you out little by little. I should have done what I'm about to do now a long time ago. Do you have an inkling of what I'm about to do right now?"
Noah looked at the man that was gradually getting red color on his body back again and calmly replied "No. I don't know. What exactly are you about to do?"
Anderson had a cold smirk as he said, "I am about to teach you the rankings of the city. I am about to let you know that I am on top and you are on the bottom. I'm going to teach you what strength really is. Because apparently, watching me take down a ten meter tall giant was not intimidating enough."
As Noah listened to the enraged mad man's speech. He turned his head towards his team members. There were two fully grown men that were the Knights on the party and the two women that were the mages. He looked over to them and asked "Are you guys going to do or say anything about this?"
The four of them gave him a blank stare before they shook their heads in a depressing manner and turned their faces away.
Noah shook his head as he saw this and he looked back towards Anderson who was speaking with a fully furious expression.
"Haha. I have been talking too much. Words were never my forte. I always let my strength do the talking. After my strength was registered, everybody fell in line. Now, be prepared, because you...are about to fall in line." A hazy red smoke was coming off Anderson's body as he finished, tightened his muscles, and sprung forth
I looked at the man that was flying towards me and sighed at the complete breakdown of everything. I then casted [Arcanist's Sphere of Protection], [Aura of Haste], [Life Essence], [Increased Penetration], [Arctic Armor] and…[Whirlwind].
My body shone iridescent colors as multiple defense and support skills were activated. I looked at Anderson and I was surprisingly calm facing him. I didn't feel angry at him or hate him in any sort of way, I just...pitied him. Maybe this was what happened after facing the pressures of this new world and not coping well. I did not want to become someone like him in the future. My gaze seemed to have made the charging bull even more furious though, as his power seemed to increase further. But...none of it would be of any use against the current me. With a sad sigh, gales of wind surrounded my body as [Whirlwind] was fully activated and I made my move.
Chapter 17 - Fight!
A thunderous impact resounded soon after as gales of wind rushed about in the clearing. Anderson was surprised at the speed that Noah rushed to him, observing that he had already cast multiple skills on his body, his exterior surrounded by a transparent bubble and body covered in an icy armor He couldn't help but ask "Just how much energy do you have in your body to be casting this many skills as if it's nothing?"
As Anderson was talking, the impact pushed both of them back. The red energy kept on enveloping Anderson's body as his rank C skill [Blast] was used. His fist carried the momentum with it as he flew towards Noah. The fist met the first layer of protection, quickly ca
using a shock wave that pushed each of them away once more.
Anderson kept his eyes on Noah as he saw the man was not ever remotely hurt. He smiled as he dashed in again and began talking "Do you know why I adopted my principles on strength? I used to be poor. I had nothing, no job, no family, no friends. I used to look up at those that were rich above me with their extravagant amount of money and the clothes and food they bought."
His words carried traces of anger as his body continued clashing with Noah's defensive skills. The thing that puzzled him the most was how Noah chose to use his hands or palm to hit back when the transparent shield he cast on himself protected him fully, and did not even cast the signature pillar of flames he had seen him using throughout the day
He brought his focus back on the fight at hand and stopped overthinking things. "I looked up to these people. Those rich assholes. I wanted to be like them. I kept on saying to myself, If I just had that money, If I just had that power, oh the things I could do!"
Anderson continued smacking into the defensive skill and saw that his attacks with his bare hands weren't working. So he increased the pressure and pulled out his sword. He wanted to see just how long this guy could keep all of these skills active before running out of energy.
Lightning began to crackle around his sword as he dashed towards Noah and continued talking. "Do you know what happened next? Something incredible occurred and I actually did get the power. The whole world went to shit and it was me who received the power. ME!" The longer he talked, the more his anger and power seemed to increase.
His sword was already pulled down, swiping towards the pest in front of him. An ark of red lightning was released towards the man that kept on standing calmly in the face of all these attacks
ZING!
Once the red lightning struck a figure flew backwards at a high speed and kicked up some dust. And yet, he soon stood up without a single hair damaged on his body.
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