Rei was observing the enemy before him, both of them were equally strong as each other as they immediately rushed towards each other again with his sickle clashing against the latter's Machete.
"Resonate: Blood Curl Scream!" The latter shouted as the blade immediately vibrated and made noises that made Rei gritted his teeth, feeling every inch of his body about to give up from enduring the insanity that they were emitting.
"Shadow Style: Voidless Stream." Rei uttered as he allowed his shadows to negate the effects from the attack they were doing.
"Damnit. This guy… Is this why Keith was making me spar against Eunji and him whenever we're training? It's no wonder why he was persistent…" He thought to himself as he immediately pushed the enemy away after negating the effects, "Soul based attacks coming from a prowess is surely deadly…" He gritted as he could feel his spiritual energy fluctuating crazy."
"If I keep this longer, I might lose." Rei immediately channeled his spiritual energy to gain total control and efficiency, already executing small yet deadly moves. "I have to use 'Harvest' and 'Recoil' in between slashes and clashes."
The black haired male immediately dashed in before kicking them right in the guts, pushing them far enough for Rei to send out his technique 'Recoil' which made them get covered in cuts and slashes.
"Now!" Rei uttered to himself before executing 'Harvest' as he slashed them with his sickles, making sure to land the hit as the enemy before him stumbled on their own footing, kneeling on one foot while trying to best to channel more from the relic.
"Not on my watch!" He shouted as he slashed them from the back, making them drop the relic as Rei immediately dashed in to retrieve it.
"Got it." Rei muttered to himself before hearing a statement from them.
"Rei Nishimura has the relic. Execute route C."
Rei's guts dropped, his fear suddenly spiked up as his prowess level was suddenly reduced to half of his power. "No… IT'S A TRAP!" He thought to himself as he immediately ran away, not wanting to risk everything again as he went over to his radio and signalled everyone.
"It's a trap! Their goal is unknown but be careful! They have the prowess to restrict our level!"
...…
Rinka and Jinwoo felt the difference in their prowess upon feeling a sudden stabbing sensation around their soul. Rei's voice from the communication earpiece confirmed their assumptions as both Jinwoo and Rinka went back to back to each other, trying their best to both defend each other while fighting the incoming enemies that kept on summoning.
"Cover me." Rinka said as Jinwoo did all his best to not get overwhelmed by the bombardment of enemies that were desperately trying to put them down.
"Blood Release: Maximum Pulse!" Rinka executed her technique with all her reserve to make it powerful and deadly as it landed onto the people that were in the area.
Splashes of blood coating the area from how they all coughed violently before dropping dead or unconscious onto the floor beneath them as both Rinka and Jinwoo were glad that it was over but still needed to get back with the rest.
"Let's go." Jinwoo said as Rinka nodded her head before manifesting a blood spear as the two immediately ran towards wherever they could to find the rest while constantly talking through the earpiece, Rei's signal was stable but Eunji's was silent.
Fear creeped up on the orange brown hair girl as she worried that the relic was just a distraction and the real target was Eunji herself, the best friend that she only had. "You better not lose. We promised to make our own division after our graduation!" She exclaimed to herself as Rinka continued to run faster despite feeling the exhaustion catching up to her after a long time of fighting moments ago.
...…
Eunji was struggling as she had to join Keith since they both felt their power decreased as the both of them were now doing their best. Keith had no troubles with defending himself but the only trouble was the number that continued to increase after they've both got rid of the two higher ranking individuals.
Keith pulled her close to him before raising his hand as he uttered a technique that she couldn't see and hear from his voice. The enemies before them immediately were cut down into small chunks as they both ran instantly.
"This isn't just lowering our level." The ancient being said.
Eunji could feel the right grip on her wrist from his hand. "I can feel my presence being affected when it shouldn't be even if I'm out of Rei's body according to our contract. It's mainly trying to restrict me." Keith said as he immediately pulled her without any difficulties, carrying her in his arms while Eunji was executing every ice manipulation technique to shoot onto the enemies that were chasing after them.
Keith could feel his presence being pushed back as he was doing all his best to push against it. "Bastards. I'm only four tails worth… Yet they're able to restrict me this much? That's impossible… Unless…"
The ancient being immediately went to locate either Rei or the blood manipulation awakener with his location type prowess, his eyes immediately locked onto Rinka's signature as he immediately threw her upon opening a portal to which surprised the orange brown haired girl who was running.
"EUNJI?!" Rinka exclaimed as the portal behind her immediately closed upon landing on her. "Rinka! Senior! Protocol Zero!" Eunji said to which the two immediately understood the reason.
In the 'Assault Division', there were three protocols. Protocol One: Students who are still in classes are required to leave as soon as possible without any consequences when there are emergency missions handed to them via phone messages or calls from the headmaster. Protocol Two: They are allowed to search the premises when they have no warrant if the situation is dire and needed from suspicious activities. Protocol Three: Students who are in the 'Assault Division' are always required to have a check up with their physical health for suitable working days and will always be in top condition before mission or after mission.
Protocol Zero, on the other hand, is an emergency use when students are in situations that are deadly and in troubles that are above their control or level. Which is why the three were immediately retreating.
"Rei. Where are you?" Eunji asked through the earpiece as he immediately responded back, "Around the alleyway in 'A' route, should we rendezvous back at the teleportation gate?"
Eunji answered immediately, "Yeah. Rendezvous at the teleportation gate. Protocol Zero is in use. Retreat and abandon our mission. Our main priority is our safety!"
The trio were fast upon leaving the area, feeling their prowess level immediately returning back to its full power. "Could be out of their vicinity? Either way, let's book it and return back safely." Rinka uttered as both of the Koreans agreed with her.
...…
Meanwhile, Rei was holding the relic tightly as he was already on route to the rendezvous point before feeling Keith's presence going back to him. "Brat! Quick! They are after Eunji!" He shouted as the black haired male ran with all his might to go quick rather than the rendezvous point.
The male felt his power returning slowly from his own shadow manipulation prowess then aura manipulation from Keith's power. Immediately using channel master from aura manipulation to boost his physical attributes especially with his speed.
Rei knew that if he gave out now at the rendezvous point then there was no doubt that things would go downhill even if retrieving the objective when one of their own people had become casualty or held hostage. "Shadow Release: Hellhounds" He uttered as he summoned shadow hellhounds that immediately dashed to where Eunji and the rest could be.
"Just be on time then we can return back safely!"Rei thought to himself as he was putting all his energy into making it back to them.
As Rei saw them, he didn't hesitate to go with them as they immediately regrouped as they were running towards the teleportation gates while his summons were handling the ones that were chasing them.
They felt like death was catching up to them as Keith manifested himself at the right moment which surprised them since a titan of a heathen appeared at the teleportation gate.
"Switch"
Suddenly, they were wrapped with golden yellow flames as they vanished from the enemy's sights while the hellhounds had vanished.
...…
The group were breathing heavily at Jinwoo's headquarters, all of them were glad that they were able to make it back safely. "That was close…" Jinwoo said to which they all agreed while Keith healed them by surrounding them with the same golden yellow flames.
"Anyways, why are they trying to get you when they have the relic?" Rinka asked Eunji who in response shook her shoulders, not knowing what to answer when she herself doesn't even know why they were targeting her.
"We should just go back to Ethereal and report this to the headmaster." Rei said as he showed them the relic that he managed to retrieve with him.
"Nice. Let's all just go back then. Thanks for the help, Jinwoo." Rinka said while Jinwoo diminished her gratitude, humbling her as he said it was just his duty to help another sorcerer.
...…
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