CHAPTER 269: CHAPTER 268- DEFEAT ME

"Khik—" Allen hissed as he tightened the torn fabric around his forearm, trying to stop the bleeding. It burned and he has already lost quite an amount of blood.

He had been ambushed.

When he saw Elizabeth wounded, he rushed her to safety—only for several Acolytes to spring out and attack. But the one who cut him wasn’t them.

It was Elizabeth.

Or rather, the man pretending to be her. Vincent—one of the Aegis Academy students.

He had switched sides. He was with the Acolytes now.

"Come on now, where are you hiding?" Vincent’s voice rang out, sharp and filled with killing intent. He wasn’t even trying to hide his bloodlust.

Allen had somehow evaded his vicious spells but failed to inflict any damage in return. In the end, all Allen could do was to abandon the camp and hide here.

Rustling sounds echoed from the shadows. The other Acolytes were searching too.

’Damn it... I dropped my sword...’

During the scuffle, Vincent had knocked it from his hands. At least his right hand is still fine. But still it would be quite difficult to fight.

[I can help you.]

The voice spoke from within.

[I can sense them. I can guide you straight to them. But—you must promise me one thing.]

Allen clenched his teeth. ’Even now, you’re trying to make a deal?’

[This is for your sake. So listen carefully.]

Silence. He had no choice but to hear it out.

[I’m planting a sword technique into your mind. Don’t hesitate. Follow it exactly. If you slip even once... you die.]

Allen’s hand closed around a fallen branch, rough bark digging into his palm. He drew in a breath and shut his eyes.

At first, it was nothing—a faint spark in the darkness of his mind.

And then—

"...!!" His eyes flew wide in shock.

He could feel them.

Not just hear, not just guess—he could sense it. Their mana.

Faint, glowing outlines moving in the dark. Surrounding him. Closing in.

[Good. Now—don’t open your eyes. Trust your instincts. Follow them.]

Allen inhaled slowly, branch firm in his grip. Then—he moved.

It felt a map was projected inside his head.

His steps were weightless, making not a single sound.

He was like a gentle breeze, phasing through the places where he could sense the mana from the Acolytes.

They could only feel a presence buzzing past them but too fast to dodge or even react.

Allen moved like a serene wave, flawless and undisturbed.

His eyes remained closed all this time as he finally came to a pause, far away from his initial point, all the Acolytes behind him now.

No one moved for a moment, and then,

*THUD* *THUD* *THUD*

Heads began to roll down, one after another.

Their bodies soon followed as thirteen Acolytes died in a swift single breath attack and they didn’t even see what caused their demise.

By the time he halted, the forest floor was littered with their bodies.

Necks severed. Faces frozen in terror.

Allen stood among them, chest heaving, the branch dripping scarlet.

A faint whisper stirred within him—

[Good. You’re learning.]

Allen turned his gaze back to the carnage he had wrought. Severed heads, lifeless bodies, blood soaking into the earth. He muttered under his breath, half in disbelief, half in awe,

"And here I thought I had already reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship-"

"Allen?!"

The familiar voice snapped him out of it. He turned sharply—Aries was rushing toward him.

Without thinking, Allen raised the blood-soaked branch and barked, "Halt right there!"

Aries skidded to a stop, eyes narrowing as he felt the suffocating bloodlust rolling off Allen.

"What is the meaning of this?"

That cold, commanding tone cut through the tension. Allen spun around—Elana and Altia stood behind him.

Elana’s face and white dress were streaked with blood, her sharp eyes fixed on him. The pressure she exuded left no doubt who she was, yet paranoia still gnawed at Allen’s mind.

Gritting his teeth, he demanded, "I was just attacked by someone impersonating Elizabeth... I can’t take any chances."

Aries frowned, then asked bluntly, "Was it that person who cut off your hand?"

Allen gave a curt nod before shifting his gaze back to Elana. His grip on the branch tightened as he spoke,

"Then prove it. Tell me... during our last training, which part of my body did you nearly break?"

Elana didn’t hesitate. Her voice was flat, certain. "Your neck."

The answer knocked the breath from his lungs. Relief poured in like cold water over fire.

Allen exhaled a long sigh and slowly lowered the branch.

"...Forgive me, Captain. I had to be sure."

Elana didn’t respond to Allen’s apology. Instead, her cold voice cut through the air.

"The whole venue is under attack."

Allen’s eyes widened. "What? That’s impossible! There are so many high-ranking wardens guarding the place!"

Aries exhaled heavily. "We heard it from Professor Adrian. He reached us through an artifact he entrusted to Elana."

Allen’s brow furrowed. "Then shouldn’t we go out there? There are countless people who need help—"

"You can’t."

The indifferent voice slithered into the clearing, forcing them all to turn.

And there he stood.

Allen’s grip tightened on the branch, rage burning in his chest. "You bastard... he is the one who cut off my hand."

Vincent only smirked, raising a bloodied trophy in his hand—Allen’s severed limb. With a mocking wave, he greeted, "Hello. Long time no see."

Elana took a deliberate step forward, her eyes sharp as ice. "Where is Brendon?"

Vincent’s smile widened. "So it is you. Elana—the Ice Princess. The strongest student of Runebound Academy." His tone was dripping with mockery, but beneath it, a flicker of genuine interest gleamed.

Tilting his head, he continued, "Don’t worry. I’ll tell you where your teammates—and the others—are being kept."

He lifted his saber, the blade glinting crimson under the blood-soaked light of the forest.

"But first..." His grin turned feral. "You’ll have to defeat me."

°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading