Seeds of Chaos: Chapter 51 (Possession Pt. 1)

 Chapter 51

“Rennel, are you really doing this? Isn’t that person very dangerous?” Pina asked worriedly.

“Yes. He’s very dangerous. Possibly the strongest I’ve faced so far,” Rennel openly admitted. “But that’s exactly the reason why I needed to fight and subdue him. If not he'll be a danger to everyone here. Do you understand?”

Pina shakes her head as if she doesn’t understand, “But does it have to be you? There’s so many people here, surely… surely someone could take him on, right?”

Hearing her friend’s question, frown appeared on Rennel’s face. It was as if she’s struggling to say something. Finally she sighed. “I'm not trying to look down on anyone but… aside from me (and teacher) no one else is his match. Truth be told, I don’t even know how the prince manages to convince that person to cooperate with him till now. If not for the fact that that person seemed to value his promises, the prince and his crew would have long been dead,” Rennel explained further.

“What…? How could that be? Surely the prince…”

“No, she’s right. It’s only due to our agreement that he hasn’t slaughtered us yet.” The prince suddenly cuts into the conversation. “To be honest, he’s rather strange among the envoys of the void. Maybe he’s just trying to live to his namesake as the 'Gentleman' but our cooperation would most likely end once we find the thing we needed to escape this place,” said the prince with a mirthless smile on his face.

The prince turned towards Rennel and asked, “I don’t want to dull your confidence young lady… but are you that confident in defeating him? No matter how I look at it, your chance of winning is very slim.”

“Hard to say which one of us is going to win or lose this fight…? After all no one really knows the result of a fight till a winner is declared,” Rennel replied. “That said you need to act no matter the result, Your Highness. Because if things really turned bad, I would prioritize mine and Pina’s safety.”

Rennel walk towards her opponent without waiting for a reply from the prince. On the other hand, the Sorceress Cassandra, Miranda, Lucata and the other gnomes fell into silence after hearing what she'd said. Unless they were fool, there’s no way that they wouldn’t understand the hidden meaning behind the girl’s words.

I will try to defeat the envoy from the sect but if I failed, I’ll focus on ensuring my safety and that of Pina. When that happened, you’re all on your own. Those were the meaning behind the girl’s words.

“What a good friend,” whispered the sorceress feeling rather envious that her student manages to make such a good friend.

“Indeed. She’s probably aware that you’ll take both Pina and I to the expedition. To prevent any mishaps from happening to my junior sister, she decided to come along." Miranda explained.

The sorceress nodded her head in agreement to Miranda’s explanation. The silver-haired girl’s confident action through the entire expedition told her that Rennel was more than capable of entering and exiting the Dark Sea even if she was alone. So if things really turned for the worse she'll be able to escape with Pina.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Rennel stopped not too far away from the envoy Carl, and apologized for taking her time.

Carl gave the girl a gentlemanly smile, and spoke, “Have you said everything you wanted to say to your friend?”

‘Yes, I’ve said what needed to be said,” she answered.

“Very good. Then shall we begin?”

Rennel nodded and brandished her right hand, and before everyone’s eyes, a beautiful jade-green spear, Jade thorn, appeared on her hand. Once Jade Thorn appeared a terrible pressure engulfs everyone present.

Not only that, they also noticed that the girl’s aura completely changed. Before them was no longer the delicate-looking girl but a warrior that had fought countless battle. Even Carl’s expression changed greatly after seeing the current Rennel.

“How could she change so much by simply brandishing her spear?” Carl thought while looking at the girl with a grim expression. “Also, it’s obvious that her spear is a powerful magic artifact but where did she hides it?”

Carl was thinking of the answer to his question deeply but the answer he came with made his expression more severe. Aside from that, he’s also feeling some terror. Yes terror. After all if his hunch was right, then the girl possessed a space ring!

The ring itself was not the problem but rather where she'd gotten the ring. Was the ring accidentally found inside a ruin? Or was it given by someone else? If it were the first option then there’s nothing much to fear. But if it was the second option then things might become more complicated.

The envoy, Carl, wasn’t the only one that was surprise. People like the sorceress and the prince were also greatly taken aback upon realizing where the girl pulls out her spear!

****

The envoy moved like a shadow. With every swing of his hands, a blade light flew towards Rennel. The speed behind every strike was beyond what Rennel had faced before. The trickiest part though was the fact that the girl couldn’t see the envoy’s weapon. It’s not that the weapon was swung so fast that it couldn’t be seen by the naked eyes but the weapon could not really be seen!

“An invisible weapon? What a tricky opponent…”

Although Rennel couldn’t see the weapon, she was fast enough to react to any incoming attack and was able to defend herself. But just defending won’t ensure her victory. She should also attack. It’s possible to simply wait it out till the envoy tire himself from attacking. But would the man called the “Gentleman” let himself be defeated by such a lousy method?

No, that’s impossible.

People on the top didn’t reach their position by simply relying on luck or talent alone. They’re all tenacious, scheming, and intelligent. So how could an envoy of the void not thought of such a lousy strategy?

“…At the end of the day, I just need to be more powerful than my opponent,” Rennel thought. “It hasn’t been too long ago that I had my second awakening. But it only put me on the same level as the person I’m fighting right now. Should I use the pressure and vie for third awakening?”

 Upon having such a thought, Rennel could not help by give herself a depreciating smile. How could it be that simple? It took her a lot just to stimulate her second awakening. Luck, timing, and of course the necessary method (that she’d yet to discover) was needed for her third awakening.

“I shouldn’t think of unrealistic things. I’m not weaker than this envoy, nor was my fighting experience lacking. The only thing he had advantage over me was the fact that he has lived longer, and might have faced all type of opponents. Moreover, my weapon, Jade Thorn should be a magic artifact with level higher than his own artifact.”

Rennel was contemplating how to defeat her opponent as she moves around, the “Gentleman”, was also doing the same thing. He was aware that the girl won’t be an easy opponent to defeat but he never expected that she’ll be this difficult.

What truly impresses him though was the fact that she could remain so calm while facing attacks that she couldn’t see. He had faced countless opponents before, many were tricky and troublesome to defeat. But at the end of all those fight, he always emerges as the victor.

But this fight was different. In his previous battles, he could at least see the sign of victory no matter how tricky or powerful his opponent was. After all one of his abilities, a gift from the god of the void allows him to 'read' his previous opponents like a book.

And yet he couldn’t 'read' anything from the girl at all. It’s not like she was especially powerful that he could not overcome her. But it was as if there’s a thick fog covering her which prevented him from getting a 'read' on her next movement.

“What’s going on? How could my ability not work on her?” Carl was feeling a little vexed. If she couldn’t use his ability to read the girl’s next move, attaining victory would be more difficult.

As Rennel was dodging her opponent’s attacks, she noticed that the envoy seemed to be a little pre-occupied. Although she didn’t know why her opponent’s movement became sloppy, Rennel was not the type to let such an opportunity go.

“Now!”

Rennel quickly charged her spear and quickly stabbed it forward towards the incoming sword light. Her spear, Jade thorn, released a piercing light that drilled into the sword light and continued towards the envoy. As the envoy was slightly pre-occupied, his reaction was a little slowed, forcing him to pathetically dodge to his right side just to avoid being seriously injured.

Although the envoy, Carl, was able to dodge the girl’s piercing attack, he was still not out of his precarious situation yet. He might have succeeded on protecting his life but that one attack completely destroyed his rhythm.

“Damn it! I got careless.” Carl cursed himself for his stupidity. He couldn’t believe that he let himself to be pre-occupied in the middle of a life and death fight. Fortunately, he still has other cards to play. Even though his in a disadvantage now. He still hasn’t lost.

Right, left, up, down… Carl desperately tried to dodge the spear that was trying to take him down. And yet not matter what he does, he couldn’t fully escape the girl’s ferocious attacks. Small wounds started appearing in his body, proving that he could only protect his life by exchanging some injuries.

What’s more terrifying though was the fact that the girl wasn’t even tired nor was she breathing hard despite unleashing attacks after attacks. It was as if she possessed endless stamina!

****

“Rennel…,” a sudden thought appeared on Pina’s mind as she watches her friend fighting. The way she moves; her every attack; her ever-changing expressions – every one of the girl’s movement was imprinted in the red-haired girl’s mind. Not only did Rennel’s appearance change greatly, her fighting capabilities also improved a lot. It was as if Pina was not watching her best friend but someone else entirely.

“It’s just three years, no maybe its four now?” In just a timespan of several years, her weak, shy and innocent friend was no more. Like a caterpillar, she shed her shell to become a beautiful butterfly but not just any butterfly but a butterfly that people could only admire from a distant.

A hand suddenly appeared on the red-haired girl’s shoulder which startled her. Turning around she saw her senior sister with a very expression on her face.

“Don’t over think it. She might have changed greatly but she’s still your best friend,” she said.

Pina smiled at her senior sister after hearing her words. “I know that. I’m just feeling a little regretful that our situation was reversed. Back in the village, I was the one protecting Rennel but now, she’s the one doing the protecting. I’m just not use to it yet,” Pina replied.

Sorceress Cassandra who was not too far away heard the entire conversation but chooses not say anything, and let the girls resolve whatever issue they have. She then secretly glanced at Chaos’ direction. And as always he looks perpetually bored…

“That human girl… I didn’t expect that she’s that strong,” Russell commented as she watches the fight with amazement. “Hey, Lucata, where did you find her anyway?”

Lucata, who was watching the fight with great concentration turned towards the prince after hearing his question. “I didn’t find her. She came along when I asked for the sorceress’ help. I heard she’s Pina, the red-haired girl’s good friend” she answered.

“Are you serious? You mean to tell me that that girl was just a tag-along? Russel asked in disbelief.

“More or less... To be honest I’m also very surprise at how strong she is. Although she played a big role in finding your whereabouts, this was actually the first time we saw her fight.” Lucata explained, and then breathe out a sigh.

“Wow… so we luck out, huh…,” the prince softly said. “Hmm?”

Prince Russel turned his eyes towards Carl’s companions, the acolytes, and noticed that they were acting suspiciously. He motioned at the gnome beside him, the prince’s aide, with his eyes. The Aide nodded and signaled the other gnomes. The gnomes surrounded the acolytes and aimed their crossbows at them.

“I suggest you stop whatever you’re doing.” The aide said with a very serious expression on his child-like face.

Seeing the crossbows aiming at them, the acolytes stopped and stared at the gnomes. One of them, a female acolyte spoke: ”What’s the meaning of this? Why are you aiming your weapons at us?” She questioned

“We should be the one asking you that,” the aide questioned back with a face that lacks amusement. “This is an honorable fight between two warriors. Do not interfere!”

 Although the gnomes were not sure what the acolytes were planning, they at least knew that they weren't planning anything good. The most likely case was that these acolytes, seeing the envoy on the losing end, decided that they needed to interfere. Knowing this, the gnomes will not just stay quiet and do nothing.

The woman and the other acolytes glared at the gnomes without saying a single word. As the gnomes have guessed, they were indeed planning on doing something to help the envoy. Unfortunately, the gnomes seemed to have noticed their plan and acted first…

While the prince’s men and the acolytes where eyeing each other suspiciously, the two combatants completely ignored what was happening around them. As they were basically on the same level of power, the victor could not be easily decided. And even though Carl was currently in a disadvantage position, he wasn’t out for the count yet. Besides, in a high level fight, a single stimulus could turn the situation around.

“As expected… “

Seeing that the envoy was still able to hold on despite her unrelenting attack, a frown appeared on the girl’s face. To ensure that the envoy would not be able to pull off a powerful attack to overturn the situation, she was timing some of her attacks at the right moment, interrupting him at before he could do anything.

This was actually very difficult thing to do but Rennel was able to pull it off successfully. However, using this strategy also limits the things that she could do.

“I can’t keep this up. Although I still have a lot of energy to spare, the stress on my mind would just keep on increasing if I tardy for too long.”

Knowing that fight can’t continue as it was, Rennel decided to change her strategy. Instead of just interrupting her opponent while inflicting small wounds on him, her attacks grew fiercer. This sudden change of attack pattern greatly surprised Carl who was now getting use to the girl’s tempo.

“Damn it! What’s up with this girl? She just won’t let up!”

Carl could not help but curse the girl through his gritted teeth. He was finally starting to get use to the girl’s fighting style when she her attack patter suddenly changes!

“Do I really need to use ‘that’ to defeat this girl? But if I really use 'that' then will I still be me?”

****

To be continued

Previous Chapters: https://read.cash/@beastion