NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: Chapter 15 - what just happened !?
Ishida stood tall in the hallway, right before the grand entrance of the Mansion. He wasn't alone; three demons were standing in his path. It looked like he had to take them all down if he wanted to finish his quest.
The challenge was that these demons were far more powerful than the ones he had battled before. They were nearly as strong as he was, making the fight tough because he had to face three formidable foes at once.
The air was thick with tension, and the powerful presence behind the gate loomed large in Ishida's mind, but he forced himself to focus on the immediate threat.
The demons moved with an unsettling grace, their eyes locked onto Ishida with predatory intent. The first two, both level 7, began to circle him, while the third, a level 8 demon, remained slightly behind, watching and waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Ishida knew he had to act quickly. He couldn't afford to be overwhelmed by their coordinated assault. Taking a deep breath, and focusing his mind on himself and the blade in his hands, "Moon Breathing Second Form: Pearl Flowers Moongazing!" he shouted, launching into the attack with a flurry of crescent-shaped slashes. The shimmering petals spun through the air, aimed at the two level 7 demons.
The demons responded with surprising agility, dodging and weaving through the barrage of attacks. One managed to leap over a crescent, closing the distance between them. Ishida barely had time to react, twisting his body just in time to avoid a vicious swipe aimed at his torso.
The second demon lunged from the side, claws outstretched. Ishida parried the blow with his blade, the force of the impact reverberating through his arms. He staggered back, trying to regain his footing as the demons pressed their advantage.
[FATIGUE : 30/100]
[HP : 190/280]
The third demon, seeing an opening, charged in with a feral snarl. Ishida braced himself, knowing this attack would be even more powerful. The demon's claws slashed through the air, and Ishida barely managed to deflect them with his sword, but the force sent him skidding across the corridor floor.
"Stay focused," Ishida muttered to himself, pushing through the fatigue that threatened to slow his movements. He knew he had to end this quickly before his energy ran out.
Drawing on his remaining strength, Ishida executed a daring maneuver. He feigned a stumble, luring the closest demon into striking. As it lunged, Ishida pivoted sharply, using its momentum against it.
His blade cut through the air in a rapid arc, catching the demon off guard and slicing through its neck swiftly. The demon's eyes widened in shock before its body dissolved into ash.
Ishida found himself on the defensive once again, parrying their relentless blows as he searched for an opening.
'I can do this, just a little more!' Ishida thought trying to self-motivate himself for continuing the fight, 'Now, I have to do it!' he thought, as he finally found the opening he was looking for.
"Moon Breathing Third Form: Loathsome Moon, Chains" He shouted , as His blade moved in intricate patterns, creating a chaotic web of slashes that expanded outward.
The second demon [LV.7] , caught in the flurry, struggled to evade the attack. The chains ensnared it, leaving it vulnerable.
With a swift, decisive motion, Ishida delivered the blow, again at the same place as the previous demon, at the neck. that reduced the demon to ashes. Only the level 8 demon remained.
"Pant... pant... pant..."
Ishida was breathing heavily, feeling his exhaustion build up quickly, even faster than before. His face began to lose color as he struggled to keep his concentration on the battle. With each passing moment, it became increasingly difficult to stay focused.
The demon was relentless, charging at Ishida with its next attack. Just in the nick of time, Ishida managed to raise his blade and block the strike. However, he barely had a moment to catch his breath before another attack aimed straight for his head.
With his blade already engaged in one hand, Ishida realized he couldn't block this next blow in the same way. Thinking quickly, he used his free hand to grab the demon's arm, halting the attack just before it connected. Mustering every ounce of strength left in him, he pushed the demon back just enough to create a small gap between them.
Fatigue gnawed at his muscles, 'I can't be defeated now. I can't lose... I didn't come all this way to lose, losing is not an option anymore , after all the hard works I put in. Nah, I have to fight' He thought, He remembered his training, the countless hours spent honing his skills, and the determination that had brought him this far.
In a moment of clarity, Ishida saw his chance. He sidestepped a vicious swing, countering with a precise thrust that pierced the demon's defenses. The demon staggered, its movements faltering, 'Now is my chance!'
Seizing the opening, Ishida channeled every ounce of his remaining energy into one final attack. "Moon Breathing First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace!" he shouted, unleashing a powerful horizontal slash that cleaved through the air with deadly precision.
The crescent-shaped energy swept over the demon, tearing through its form. The demon let out a final, anguished cry before disintegrating into ash, leaving Ishida standing victorious.
[Fatigue : 90/100]
[HP : 52/280]
[Reward : EX.P - 4000]
[Reward : Instant Heal Available, Do you want to take it ?] [Y/N]
"Instant healing? How's that even possible?" Ishida wondered to himself. Despite his skepticism, he couldn't afford to refuse the chance given his current state. So, he eagerly agreed, "Yes!"
In the blink of an eye, all his tiredness vanished completely, and his HP was restored to full almost immediately, just like it was before.
"Wait a minute... The quest isn't over, and I've already received the Instant Heal?" Ishida asked himself, turning to face the massive door. A realization struck him: "Do I need to finish the quest by taking down whatever's behind that door? Is that why I got the instant heal now, because my next opponent is incredibly strong?"
"I barely survived the battle with those demons, and if the power I felt coming from that room is anything to go by, it must be at least twice as strong as the demons I just faced. Does this mean I'm outmatched against the enemy !?" he wondered. But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he brushed it off with determination. "No, I can't afford to lose. I have to win, no matter what!"