"Well... there goes our negotiation." The masked entity was really planning on taking them on.
"I don't want to fight you all." The masked figure spoke with its deep voice, brandishing what looked like a Chinese hook blade in his hand, masked with leather gloves.
Zach had to make them listen; if he can't, he'll lose them.
Also, if they fought in this library, the commotion would be loud enough to attract an instructor, which would ultimately be in Zach's favor.
Darius moved first; his figure zipped past the library to Zach, swinging his sickle, leaving a crimson arc.
Zach moved like liquid. The reflex of the mantis kicked in as Zach dodged the attack coming his way.
The platinum knights watched as Zach defended two incoming slashes with effortless precision.
"Darius... you're always hot-tempered." Zach twisted his body, grabbing Darius's sickles with the hook of his blade.
Another moved, this time it was Seraphina; her long sword came down on Zach, and Zach instantly shifted into a snake, skidding through the shadows before reverting a few meters away.
Seraphina looked in shock as Zach seemed to just teleport.
Zach moved first, shifting his legs to a cheetah's; he closed the distance in an instant.
Boom. Seraphina's flames burst out in a single straight line, then, by twisting her blade, the ray of light traveled in an arc, slicing everything.
The shelves erupted in flames; chairs and tables all scorched; Zach stood in the midst of the flames; the hook blades in his hands reflected the chaos around them.
The rest of the platinum knights watched this in amazement.
"He's really keeping up with them." Valen's eyes flashed with genuine excitement.
Grey watched the spectacle, silent. "Those two..." He muttered, shaking his head.
The academy had consequences for fighting in non-combat zones; as for fighting in the library and destroying properties, the consequence was 10 days in the outskirts—well... that's if they're caught.
But the rest hadn't engaged, so they were safe for now. For now.
"I don't think they can handle him on their own..." Valen pointed to the battle unfolding with a straight face.
"You fight like a toddler..." Zach launched forward; his hind legs launched himself into the air; his robe swayed as he vaulted clean over Seraphina's swing; steel shrieked when his twin hook blades collided with Darius's sickles mid-air, hurdling the duo backwards.
Without wasting any time, Zach made his reflexes like that of a mantis, twisting impossibly and landing a slash on Darius's shoulder.
Valen's scythe flashed through the air; Zach blocked it, jumping off; the flames had illuminated the entire library, so the platinum knights could see Zach's shadowy figure even clearly.
Zach glanced at the idle knights, standing atop a high shelf.
"Standing idle won't save you." Zach flashed through the air, abandoning the trio.
Zach's goal wasn't to win the fight; it was to force all of them to fight, so they'd receive punishment from the higher-ups.
His hind legs, like that of a cheetah, surged forward before they could even reply, propelling him with terrifying acceleration towards the group still observing like a speeding blade.
The floor cracked as he landed and proceeded with a wide slash.
"You bastard...!" He heard Darius's enraged words from behind.
Orion barely got his shield up in time.
Bang. The clash rang like a gong through the library, pushing back a few.
Grey got up, unsheathing both blades to defend against Zach's barrage.
Lysander's greatsword darted in a golden streak, only for Zach to twist his torso at an unnatural angle, trapping the weapon in his blade's hooked tip.
Keal's daggers flashed the next second, showing that all the platinum knights never really intended to talk; Zach wasn't bothered, though; this was all a part of the plan.
But all the bursts of movement were really draining Zach's essence fast.
Her arm coiled like a chain, bending low, she slashed at Zach's legs.
Zach's spine flowed like liquid, mainly because he had the reflex of a mantis; he bent backwards; the blade whipped just inches from his knee.
Through the mask, Zach was sweating; Isolde's sword clashed with his with a violent spark.
One after the other, the platinum knights were forced into motion.
The chairs around shattered; Darius and Seraphina ahead caught up.
The shelves toppled; the glaves licked the room.
'I... just need... to hold on a bit longer.' Zach gritted.
[120/421]
It was getting harder and harder to hold off against the group; each of these guys could stand their ground against a star knight, so him holding his own against all of them was quite impressive.
From the sidelines, Grey's eyes narrowed; his body began radiating.
Arthur's hand tightened around his sword; his body began pulsating.
_They were now taking him seriously._
The library no longer looked like a library, more like a giant furnace of destruction and might.
Fire burned the fallen shelves; shadows flickered violently, and the sound of steel echoed like war.
Zach stood at the center; his black mask mirroring the world in front of it; his robe was torn, and shallow bruises and cuts were riddled around his body.
"Ha ha... Finally, the platinum knights are moving."
"Give it up." Seraphina spat, still unscathed.
In fact, all of the platinum knights were unscathed; only Zach had injuries, surrounded by everyone.
Arthur brandished his sword, staring at Zach with murderous intent; Lysander's greatsword screeched against the marble; his eyes locked on the masked figure in front of him.
Darius held a wide smile on his face; his sickles glowed brighter than ever, looking at Zach like a hunter looked at its prey.
"Who are you?" Seraphina asked, covering Zach's behind.
"Me?... Oh... I'm just a Mystic Arts Major." Seraphina gritted her teeth, transitioning into a lounging stance.
"Fine then... 'Dead meat' it is." Zach smiled.
Boom. The group charged at him; Darius swung his twin sickles; Seraphina waved her longsword, glowing with light; Lysander went for a thrust with his greatsword, and Isolde came from above, her body releasing an icy blast.
Zach had never tried this, mainly because he didn't have to previously, but now, he does.
[40/421]
Two huge wings sprouted from his back, covering him to protect himself.
Their weapons collided with the wings, and with an explosive movement, he sent a wind shock wave that spread all around the library; Isolde's ice blast mixed with the wind gale, creating a snow explosion that quenched a wide area of flames.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!!!!!!???"
'Time to bounce.' Zach instantly reverted to a hawk, flying above with speedy movement.
His shadowy figure crashed against the glass roof, sending shards toppling down.
He had escaped.
"God damnit!!" Darius gritted.