234 Assault
Sylas' actions were sharp and ruthless. He had already come to understand the layout and exact positions of the pig demons thanks to his Astral Will. So there wasn't the slightest hesitation in his actions.
With billowing flames as his backdrop and a massive tower shield standing before him, he sent out a rain of fists. Every time he struck out, fist shadows would magically appear on the other side of the tower shield as though they had all appeared on their own.
<Madness Control> was in full effect. His telekinesis and Physical strength layered on top of one another, forming an average Strength that was less than his usual Madness-boosted telekinesis at just around 170 or so, and yet far more flexible and lethal.
Green fist shadows filled the skies as he emptied his Aether reserves like he was firing from his hip. Without missing a beat, an Aether Replenishment Elixir came out from his Madness Key and he chugged it using his telekinesis.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye, and Streak, the pig demon elite, and the others to his back seemed a bit slow to react. None of them seemed to expect that Sylas would hop out like this, and once again, they had been caught off guard.
They tried to block the green fist shadows, but the Strength was beyond their imaginations. It felt like they were facing off against towering mountains, and the only one who seemed capable of blocking steadily was Streak itself. However, what they expected even less was that the moment the fists were barely dealt with, kunai would surge in from the darkness.
Sylas sent them flying out like arrows and, at the same time, he activated <Mirror Step>. He let his kunai fly through pre-destined gaps, releasing them from his Madness and then controlling his Mirror Images to rush out from around his shield, catching them all off guard.
Several of the Level 10s were so shocked by the scene that they didn't register the appearance of the kunai at all. Seeing this, Sylas released his control over his mirror images, letting them flounder about just as his kunai struck home.
One pig demon had their throat ripped out. The second was pierced right through the chest. The third barely managed to use its crossbow to block at the last moment, realizing that something was wrong. But that still cost it several fingers.
By this point, Sylas felt that his Aether had already been topped up, a few seconds flashing in the blink of an eye. Now, he had one injured pig demon, two dead, and three more living and breathing.
It was then that he summoned the Shadow Blade, and as expected, it had the exact reaction he wanted. The fear on Streak's expression was palpable. He recognized the blade immediately. But the result was still far better than anything Sylas could have expected. The pig demon elite actually turned and ran, not even trying to look back.
It was then that Sylas used Basic Aetherflow to pool his Aether into the hovering blade. At that moment, his mirror images dispersed completely and the skies were filled with blade shadows. Fear crossed the faces of the other elites, but this only made their situation worse.
Their minds were enraptured by the blade shadows, so much so that they didn't notice the kunai wrapping around their backs and reaping their lives. The last pig demons had fallen, but Sylas didn't even look at them, his focus on the pig demon elite that was rushing into the distance. Sylas could see that it was running not toward an exit or a gate, but the center of the village where the Nexus was.
Flames billowed all about and the raging storm seemed to only be getting worse with every passing second. Soon, it seemed like the entire village would be engulfed.
Sylas realized that he had to stop the pig demon elite. There were too many variables that could crop up. Not only could there be some sort of trump card in there, but even if there wasn't, with enough time the acting City Lord could exchange for something from the Nexus, or even activate some sort of protective barrier.
Making a quick decision, Sylas put away the tower shield and accelerated forward. He used Sudden Burst for the first time in a while, hitting his top Speed almost instantly. Though the pig demon's Physical was beyond his, Speed and Dexterity were clearly not its strong suits. In just a few strides, Sylas was already closing the distance and the pig demon seemed to sense something.
It turned back with a panicked expression and haphazardly fired a crossbow bolt. Three shimmering bolts moved through the air swiftly, and it seemed to be a modified treasure of some sort. Even the bolts seemed to suddenly further accelerate through the air, appearing before Sylas in the blink of an eye.
There wasn't enough time to change their trajectories normally. Sylas could only dig deep, touching upon the Gluttony Seed and exerting more force through his telekinesis. His Will surged out like a torrent and flicked the bolts away, veering them around himself.
His gut plummeted and a wave of fatigue hit him, but he focused on <Maddened Enlightenment>, his mind hitting a state of unprecedented focus. Just as the pig demon elite was a step away from the core of the village, Sylas finally felt that he was in range.
His gaze flashed and he pulled back a hand. His feet skidded to a stop and his hips dropped in a powerful stance. At that moment, a pair of golden eyes appeared to his back and his momentum loomed mightily.
<Psychedelic Punch>.
A roar shot through the skies, a fist shadow wreathed in greenish-gold shot through the skies just as Sylas activated <Stunning Spike>. The pig demon froze, and then its mind was assaulted by the greatest fear it had ever experienced.