Zami released Cassian and Ares, swiftly pulling the others floating in the distance away from the commotion. She could see the Rulers were fuming, and even though Kyle’s sword skills seemed powerful, the situation was far from their favor.
There were eleven Rulers, after all!
She would aid as much as she could; she wasn’t weak. But for now, her first priority was to get the others to a safe location.
Cassian’s followers, Gvette and Silver, did not dare voice any desire to join the battle.
They knew their involvement would only hinder the others, as they weren’t strong.
They followed Zami without protest.
Kyle waved the dust away in front of him, dragging the sword in his hand across the shattered ground as he floated toward Lui, who had already stood up and was angrily brushing the dust off her pristine clothes.
"Is that all you got?"
He had wanted to rile her even more, but she struck before he could continue. The sudden attack came so swiftly that Kyle hadn’t even seen it coming or recognized what it was. A hiss escaped his lips as he instinctively leapt back, but still couldn’t evade the blur aimed at his stomach.
Blood splattered from the corners of his lips as he forcefully tried to kick her away.
She evaded the kick and stared at him with a cold, unyielding expression. Lui snickered, wiping her bloody hand on a handkerchief.
"You bug. How dare you embarrass me in front of my friends. So weak, yet so bold. If I hadn’t been caught off guard, do you think you could have even touched my hair?"
Of course, she had been shaken when Kyle had attacked earlier—but she would never admit it. Not in front of the other Rulers!
That would’ve been utterly humiliating!
The shattered ground around them still smoked from Kyle’s earlier strike, dust drifting in the air as it tried to settle. The tension of their standoff crackled, every glance charged with unspoken threats.
In the distance, Nathaniel observed Kyle, his eyes calm as he came to a conclusion.
"He’s dangerous."
He shifted his gaze to Bastian.
"Finish him off the moment he’s distracted. I’m sure he still has tricks up his sleeve—he looks far too confident that he can survive."
Before Bastian could nod, both Ares and Cassian launched their attacks as well.
Nathaniel gestured for a Ruler to handle them too. The battle erupted around him, yet his gaze remained fixed on Kyle.
"Hmm... I can faintly sense something powerful within your body. What is it?"
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Something cold... but unfortunately, it’s faint, and I can’t see through your body. Well, I’ll find out soon enough, won’t I?"
He mused, conjuring a throne in mid-air to sit upon. Days of fruitlessly searching for an exit from this chamber had bored him. Finally, there was some entertainment.
Kyle wiped the blood from his mouth and glanced at the gaping hole in his stomach.
He had hissed earlier from the suddenness of the attack, yet there wasn’t even a hint of pain on his face as he prodded the wound.
Ice surged from his fingers, enveloping the area and healing it completely in no time.
He glanced at Lui, who looked shocked.
Even Rulers couldn’t heal that fast!
Kyle brushed off his torn clothes.
"Can’t even touch your hair?"
Then his whisper echoed behind her.
"Are you sure?"
He tsked as she attacked—but failed.
"By the way, I was caught off guard just now too. You were fast, after all—but do you want to see who’s really faster?"
His voice echoed in all directions.
Lui’s gaze flickered, trying to track him.
Although she could track his movements and pinpoint him each time he reappeared, he always managed to evade her attacks at the last possible moment. She blurted out.
"What kind of skill is this?? And how does he still have enough natural energy to use it? Even I drained so much energy fighting the giant! It’s not like we can replenish our energy here, where the air has no energy!"
Valance laughed from a distance.
"He’s toying with her. Damn."
She rose from the throne she had crafted for herself beside Nathaniel and gave his shoulder a pat, a smirk curling on her lips.
"That kid is fun. I’m going to play with him. Tell Lui to retreat—she’s dragging it out."
Her words were followed by a scream—a scream that did not come from the battles raging before their eyes, but from among the other Rulers hovering behind them.
"Hah?"
Both Valance and Nathaniel whipped their heads back simultaneously, only to meet a familiar pair of chilling, unyielding eyes.
Kyle kicked the Ruler whose arm he had severed and met their stunned gaze.
"What? You think I can’t play dirty?"
Valance’s eyes glittered with thrill.
"Haha, well played! Truly well played! But I believe that’s enough, don’t you agree?"
In the next instant, she disappeared from her place, reappearing to effortlessly drag Kyle from the space he was vanishing into.
He clenched his jaw as the interruption in his instant teleportation skill sent jolts of sharp pain ripping through his entire body.
He kicked at the woman grabbing his leg, but she was far stronger than Lui. With a hum, she slammed him to the ground, the impact sending shockwaves through his body and rattling everything below him.
Dust and debris erupted into the air, his vision spinning. However, when Valance finally appeared beside him, he met her gaze with a defiant, provoking smirk.
"Go on, kill me. You want to, don’t you? Then do it. But believe me—if you do, you’ll regret it as the biggest mistake of your life. I’ll come back and tear you to pieces."
She tilted her head.
"And how will you do that when you are dead and your soul no longer exists?"
Kyle chuckled amusedly at her words.
For the first time, he felt he should go and thank that bastard Azazeal for creating the ability to craft many decoy bodies—and for teaching it to one of his shadow generals. Otherwise, how could he have learned it?
He leaned toward her and whispered.
"Obviously, because I can’t die."