'...no way I'm fighting five people at the same time! The only thing I can do now is try to split them up and take them one by one...'
'...there are still two three stars among them, and I can only handle those one on one with no distraction, and even then, it's not guaranteed!...'
The forest blurred around him as he dodged around trees, curving around them at the last instant.
Suddenly, his eyes widened and he forcefully jumped out of the way just as a bolt of lightning tore through the air, cracking and sparking.
"You think you can run from a three star?"
The voice was close.
And it was then that Eldros suddenly stopped running, turned in the direction of the voice, and ran toward it at top speed.
The silver rune provided a boost to his overall power, putting him near the three star.
When he suddenly turned on the Magus of three stars, the Skullhowl member was shocked when the pressure that now rolled off Eldros was close to his own rank!
The Magus had used his lightning power to increase his speed, leaving the others behind as he closed the distance on Eldros. Now he realized it was a trap.
Instantly, without slowing down, he gestured with his hand and pointed it forward. Lightning formed around his hand in sparking white and blue, condensing into an orb that flew straight at Eldros.
Eldros twisted his body to dodge, but his speed made it difficult and some of the energy hit his side.
He gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes.
The Arcane Art of Hand of the Demon didn't have external control techniques for now, so Eldros could only use the strength that his hands provided to throw things with abnormal speed and power.
He threw a dagger at the Magus's head at normal speed. The man snorted and snapped his finger; a bolt of lightning energy hit the dagger and melted it.
But the distraction Eldros used worked, because the man saw the iron disc too late!
Eldros had used his Demon Hand strength to throw it, and it was like a bullet, simply too fast.
Crack!
The disc hit the Magus in the side, snapping ribs and crushing flesh in an instant. The force slammed the man into the nearest tree, and the next instant, Eldros was looming over him.
"Wait, wait! We can talk things through...!"
Eldros didn't slow down, his expression remained the same as his right hand clawed down on the man's throat.
That was when his eyes flared, a spell gathering around his eyes, but Eldros was faster than he expected and he tore his jaws together with his throat away, splattering warm blood in the air.
Three gone. Remaining four.
Eldros's face narrowed. '...should I just run away? This is Jarek's fight... but, she showed kindness...'
He gritted his teeth.
Even in the gangs. In the street.
Kindness is for kindness. Evil is for evil.
It's that simple.
Besides, he was now a team member of Jarek's team.
Eldros decided to stop thinking about it.
Instead of running into the forest, he faced the incoming Magus and ran to them.
The three star Magus let the others run ahead so that they would be the ones to test the brat.
Eldros didn't wait as he saw them approach. With his hand filled with demonic strength, he sped up.
When they saw him increase his speed, they snorted and stopped running. "Let's use the three-way formation on the bastard! You create the shield while the two of us bring him down!"
The Magus in the middle raised his hands, whispered a small chant, and a look of concentration appeared on his face. A glittering translucent golden orb shield appeared around them. "You can take him down now! The shield allows you to shoot from the inside while we are protected! Nothing can come through!"
The two Magus nodded and their hands began to shine with blinding silver light that gathered at the tips of their fingers, then it shot forward.
The light tore through the air with a howl, passed through the shield with ease. One of the lights transformed into a snarling dog while the other one sank into the ground and disappeared.
Eldros didn't slow, but his body was suddenly filled with a clear intent of danger!
He raised his hands, claws seemingly drinking in the light.
He slashed at the dog, digging his fingers into its head and trying to rip it apart, but the dog made of mana simply fell apart in his hands and formed into something that resembled a shackle. At the same time, the light that sank into the ground suddenly erupted and wound around his feet!
Eldros shrugged, trying to break free, but the more he tried, the tighter the light binding him became. What's more, the light began to grow thorns that dug into his body, making his body flare with pain.
He gritted his teeth and his eyes narrowed.
"You fool! You can't get out of this! We practice the Arcane Arts of the Binding Shackles! Our job is to capture people! The more you try, the more pain and damage you'll cause to yourself! And the longer the shackle is on you, the more mana is going to drain from you!
"We are experienced in capturing people like you!"
It was the truth.
Eldros could feel the pain that tore through his body, stiffening his nerves and twisting his muscles. But his face was cold as he raised his eyes and stared at the three Magus.