571 I'm Enough
The numbers alone made their hearts squeeze with pain; this was bound to be utter failure.
Alystren's clenched fist trembled as he took sight of them all, turning his eyes around.
'I'm going to die...'
He lowered his brows, and a dark, broken expression appeared on his face.
Shin was beside him but did not have time to see how the old joker was doing. He was equally as conflicted as Alystren was, after all.
Every single one of them, except Northern's summons, wore an expression of failure on their faces.
Ryan had light concern on his, but the depth of his gaze insinuated that the gravity of the situation had set in.
He, however, in contrast to the rest, had a faint glimmer of hope burning in his cold eyes. He turned to Northern.
"What are we going to do?"
"That's quite an obvious question you ask, boy."
Northern jammed his fists together, taking a few steps closer to the monsters with a mad grin.
"We fight. No one rests until every single one of these rotten creatures is lying dead."
"Are you insane?!" Panting, Shane interrupted before he could launch forward.
Northern, raising a brow, slowly turned back.
'I've been observing that girl since... she's beginning to get on my nerves.' Northern made a small frown but dissolved it barely a moment later.
'I shouldn't be bullying the weak...'
He looked away from her and turned back to the looming flood of abominations.
"I think surviving shouldn't be hard. I will take care of these monsters with or without you people. I guess what I'm saying is I don't think anyone should be reckless because I alone am enough to handle this."
Northern let out a small smile, looking at Lieutenant Dante.
"Besides, we have a Paragon here with us... Things can't possibly go so wrong?"
His latter statement didn't register well. They didn't need to be told; they could read the hidden meaning behind those words.
...things can't possibly go wrong? Surrounded by a flood of monsters from all sides and things can't possibly go wrong?
So, what if things were to go wrong? What would be the definition of their circumstances?
And all of that, with a Paragon, one incredibly strong amongst them.
Even though he was standing right with them, booming with tremendous strength, would he be able to save them?
Northern had seemed more of a helpful resource than the Lieutenant himself.
They all saw what he did with the monstrous entity of the rift. He was also the one that spoke out about the mist.
If he had not been there to assist the Lieutenant, was there even an assurance that the Lieutenant would have defeated the grotesque existence before it reaped their souls?
Although their eyes still held that stubborn and sentimental resolve that praised their Lieutenant in high esteem, their hearts were secretly and faintly yearning for the hope Northern's presence radiated.
Dante, after fixing Northern a long stern glare, turned around to the west, while Northern faced east.
"I'll take half of this side; you can take the other side. I can't make any promises, but those that want to live through this should not stay far away from me. I will protect as many as I can."
Northern suppressed a smile and looked at the flood of monsters. The only thing that was stopping them now was that perhaps they too had a sense of foreboding—that something incredibly dangerous was beyond.
The void mist had left them with an indelible sense of despair. But it was only a matter of time before its effects wore out.
"Master..." Jeci approached Northern's back, but he interrupted before she could speak any further.
"Every other person help the Lieutenant, protect my father and every other person. And make sure not to die too." He commanded her and glanced at Lynus too.
Then he faced Night Terror, Black Mamba, and Revant.
"The same goes for all of you."
"But my lord—"
"No questions, Revant. Just do as you are told."
With a furious expression on his face, Revant ate his words with pain and bowed his head.
"Understood, my lord."
He stood up, his face becoming blank and unapproachable. He brought out a pair of white gloves that Northern for a moment wondered where he'd seen, wore them, and without delay, plunged into the looming flood.
Lieutenant Dante watched him enter the battle but did not see him move; all he felt was the violent brush of the wind against his face, scurrying strands of his darkened hair. His eyes widened.
'Such speed? It... surpasses mine...' He couldn't help but admit.
He was shocked by such an existence but wasn't downed at all. After all, speed was not his own forte. It was only a flaw, in fact.
His talent abilities would be much more potent if his speed flaw wasn't there. And that is why he had tried his best to reduce it.
That speed of his was a blessing and a curse. And there was not one moment where he had not cursed it.
However right now, something different was swelling inside of him the moment he felt the man move just now.
Still unsure why he was suddenly feeling like using his speed to its maximum capacity, he shook his head and threw the thoughts away.
Instead, he drew his sword and also plunged forward, joining the fray.
Following the Lieutenant, his subordinates jumped into the flood, lashing out their weapons furiously.
Jeci and Lynus also joined; Black Mamba and Night Terror turned into black blurs, their colors getting lost in the thick crimson throng.
Alystren followed also, despite the pale face, leaving Shin and Ryan.
Shin looked at his son with a slightly pained expression. "Let me..."
"It's fine, Father. This will be over before you know it. I don't need anyone's help."
Shin swallowed the words and stared at Northern with concern. With no time to waste on an intense battlefield such as this one, he pulled back and joined the fray towards the west.
Northern extended both his hands, and two daggers wove themselves from the embrace of his soul.
He leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the red abominations that were not breaking off the despairing state they were in.
"You heard me. I'll be fine on my own," he said without looking at Ryan.
Ryan exhaled and turned away. "Well then, don't die..."
He stepped away and launched into the battlefield. A massive explosion resonated through the field, and ice cones shot out of the ground, piercing several abominations and scattering their formation in the middle.
Lieutenant Dante clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Drama."