However, the perfectly timed strike was ineffective, blocked by a Rapier.
"This guy is tough. Let's both gang up on him!"
After that brief exchange, the two glanced at each other and attacked Bain simultaneously.
The man with the Giant Axe charged toward the remaining three.
He swung the Giant Axe in his hands, bringing it down from above.
Evan's eyes betrayed his panic. Despite having nearly two years of adventuring experience, his past opponents had been nothing more than Low Level Demons like Goblins, who were in a completely different league in terms of Combat Power.
Even when they encountered a slightly stronger Goblin, he would hide behind his uncle and watch Uncle Bain take care of it.
But now, he was facing a brawny opponent who was clearly much stronger than him.
Evan gritted his teeth and, as if throwing caution to the wind, gripped his Sword hilt with both hands and met the attack head-on.
"CLANG—!"
A force far greater than he had imagined slammed into him, nearly making him lose his grip on his Sword. His entire body trembled as he forced his aching arms to push back, barely managing to hold a brief stalemate.
The next moment, a rush of wind came from the side as a Short Knife thrust toward the brawny man's neck.
The Giant Axe Warrior was clearly aware of the flank attack and had no choice but to pull back, dodging the strike.
The sudden release of pressure made Evan collapse to his knees, gasping for breath. His body felt as if it were filled with lead, making it difficult to move.
But the battlefield offered no time for rest. The next moment, a carefully aimed Arrow shot straight toward him.
"Watch out!"
Kent the Assassin had the sharpest eyes. He spotted the danger immediately and kicked Evan.
Evan tumbled over, and the Arrow grazed his arm as it flew past, leaving a bloody gash.
"HISS—!"
The searing pain made Evan suck in a sharp breath. At the same time, the Giant Axe Warrior who had been forced back regrouped and charged in again.
"Get up, Evan!"
Kent urged anxiously. As an Assassin, he couldn't face a Warrior head-on. They needed Evan to tie up the opponent to have any chance of winning.
Behind them, Millian wasn't just watching, either. Though she was a bit slower than the enemy, her Arrow flew at that moment, aimed straight at the brawny man with the Giant Axe.
But their opponent was no rookie like Evan. His combat experience was obviously far richer. He stopped in his tracks and sidestepped, dodging the Arrow.
The brief moment Millian had bought him was enough for Evan to recover. He gripped his Sword, let out a roar, and charged forward.
The brawny man met his attack hastily. Sword and axe collided, and both were pushed back two steps—a draw.
"You little brat!"
The man across from him flew into a rage. With a great roar, he swung his Giant Axe down in a powerful, heavy chop, a strike clearly different from his earlier rushed counterattack.
But Evan wasn't a fool. Knowing he couldn't match his opponent in Strength, he had anticipated the counterattack and already retreated to create distance. Then, seizing the opening just as the man committed to his swing, he thrust his Sword straight forward.
"CLINK—"
The tip of his Sword struck the flat of the axe, creating a crisp sound.
A Giant Axe certainly had the advantage in a head-on Collision, but it also had the obvious drawback of being much clumsier. Evan exploited this well, creating a temporary stalemate.
"Millian!"
The next moment, he yelled. The girl, who had been hesitating for a long time, seemed to finally make up her mind and released the bowstring. A sharp Arrow flew out, grazed Evan's scalp, and sank deep into the brawny man's right shoulder.
The intense pain caused the man's grip to slacken. Evan seized the opportunity, swung his Sword in a wide arc, and lopped off his opponent's head.
After that final swing, he was completely spent. No longer able to hold his Sword, he collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
Meanwhile, Kent had circled around to the enemy's rear. A Short Knife moved quickly and precisely, striking at the enemy Ranger from behind.
As an Assassin, his job was to harass the flanks and threaten the enemy's backline.
From that perspective, Kent's strategy was flawless.
But—
The Ranger, who had been Gathering Strength to take aim, suddenly spun around. The white fletching of the Arrow brushed past her fingertips as a swift, precise shot flew out in an instant, sinking accurately into his heart.
Kent had no time to react. He felt a sudden tightness in his chest before his whole body fell backward, his vision blurring...
"Kent!"
Bain noticed what had happened and shouted, but he was currently under siege by two opponents and completely on the defensive, unable to spare even a sliver of his attention.
Although neither of the two was as strong as him, two fists are no match for four hands. Before one truly becomes a Professional, an advantage in numbers is difficult to overcome.
If it weren't for the fact that Bain belonged to the Knight Professions and specialized in defense, he would have been defeated long ago.
Even though Evan and Millian had teamed up to take down one enemy, their own side had also lost a member. Moreover, Evan was completely exhausted and clearly out of the fight. For the Adventurer Squad, the situation was dire.
Millian looked at the fallen Kent and Evan, her expression momentarily lost. Her arm trembled uncontrollably.
In the distance, a mocking smile seemed to appear on the enemy Ranger's face. She nocked another Arrow, her target set on Millian!
Millian seemed to understand something. With a trembling hand, she drew an Arrow from her Quiver.
This was clearly going to be a duel between Rangers. If Millian lost, their squad would be wiped out. And the enemy Ranger was far superior to Millian in every aspect—experience, strength, and even mentality.
She could already see the naive young girl on the other side falling to an Arrow, wailing in despair and pain.
However, just as the bowstring in her hands was drawn to its limit, about to be released, a sudden chill washed over her from behind, making her feel as if she had been plunged into an Ice cellar.
'Someone else?!'
She spun around quickly and fired an Arrow in the same manner as before, only to see a thrown Short Knife, which fell to the ground upon colliding with her Arrow.
The next moment, a blurry figure flashed in the corner of her eye. The world suddenly turned upside down, and she saw her own body falling...
Lin Mo kicked away the head that had rolled to his feet and spat. "So you're the bastard who just ambushed me?"
After witnessing Kent's failed sneak attack, he certainly wasn't going to fall for the same trick. So he had intentionally thrown the Short Knife to draw her attention, then quickly circled to her flank and delivered the fatal blow.
With the help of his Stealth Skill, his plan went off without a hitch.
[Slashing] Skill Level +1
[Stealth] Skill Level +1
His eyes scanned the notifications in the corner of his vision. It wasn't just Demons; killing humans could also increase his Skills' Skill Levels.
Lin Mo had already learned this when he took care of that other Assassin.
"You—!"
Noticing the Ranger had been cut down, the remaining two panicked. They stared in horror at Lin Mo, who had a Short Knife stuck in his chest.
'Tai'en actually failed?'
Tai'en was the Assassin among them.
They had assigned their tasks earlier. Tai'en was responsible for dealing with Lin Mo, and they had all but assumed the kid who fled in panic would soon be a corpse.
After all, Tai'en had never failed before. As a veteran Assassin, he had even once killed a Quasi-Professional Warrior with a sneak attack!
But now, the sight of Lin Mo standing before them was undeniable proof that Tai'en was dead.
"Retreat!"
Realizing the situation had turned sour, the man with the Rapier quickly disengaged and fled.
The other Warrior, who used a Heavy Sword, also hastily pulled back his attack, intending to retreat.
But at that exact moment, a Feathered Arrow suddenly shot out, accurately striking him in the calf.
It was Millian!
Bain also reacted in time, swiftly changing his posture from defensive to offensive.
"Trying to run?!"
They had been attacked for no reason, lost a team member, and he himself had been ganged up on by two people and beaten down for some time. He had been bottling up his anger, and it finally erupted.
"Shield Strike!"
His heavy Square Shield shot out, slamming hard into the opponent. The Warrior instantly spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying.
Bain quickly followed up, his Sword falling—
This strike didn't hit a vital spot but instead pierced through the man's thigh, pinning him to the ground.
On the other side, Lin Mo tried to chase the man with the Rapier. His injuries, however, hindered his movement. His target was also an Agile Warrior who specialized in speed and was running very fast. After a brief pursuit, Lin Mo saw it was fruitless and gave up.
The battle came to a close. Lin Mo's and Bain's gazes both fell on the Warrior who was now screaming in pain.
They both had many unanswered questions about this baffling battle...