Infinite Mage — Chapter 157: The Second Encounter (5)

Chapter 157: The Second Encounter (5)

“Freeman, thank you.”

“Hehe, it’s nothing. Let’s⁠‌ get out of‍ this dreadful place⁠ quickly. I can‍ take care of⁠ you anywhere.”

Caught‍ off guard by‍‌ his words, Marsha was flustered. Then,‍‌ realizing the time‍ had come, she⁠‍ spoke in a sad voice.

“Freeman, I’m sorry. I’m‍ leaving alone. I won’t take you‍‍ with me.”

“What? Why? How can‌ a woman alone‌‍ do anything? The‌ outside world is‌⁠ dangerous.”

“It’s⁠‍ okay. I think‌ I can handle‌‌ whatever comes now.”‍

“No!‌⁠ I don’t like⁠‌ it! I’m coming‍ too! I won’t let you go⁠‍⁠ alone.”

Marsha‍ thought it over‌ one last time, but no matter how much she⁠ pondered, she couldn’t⁠‌ bring herself to‌‍ take him with⁠ her.

Freeman‍ had a family.

Although‍ he was practically‌‍ no different from‌ her own adoptive‌‍ father, he was‍ still her true⁠ father by blood.⁠

“Freeman,‌‍ I don’t love‌⁠ you.”

Freeman’s face flushed with‍‍ Marsha’s blunt words.‍

“What are you talking⁠ about all of‌ a sudden?”

“You are a really good friend. But⁠⁠ I will never⁠‍ accept you as a man. It⁠ would be unhappy for you to‌ follow me. I might marry another‌ man.”

Freeman‌⁠ felt as if‌ his heart was⁠‌ being torn apart.‍‍⁠ It was cruel.‌⁠ So cruel, Marsha.⁠‍‍

How could she say⁠ such a thing‌⁠ in this situation?‌⁠⁠ Maybe this was‌ their last moment together.

Freeman⁠‌‍ clenched his fists⁠‍ and gritted his‌ teeth.

If‍‌ that’s how Marsha‌ feels, then so⁠‌‌ be it. Hanging⁠‌ around her would‍‌ only end up⁠⁠‍ hurting him.

“I‌ don’t care. I’m still going with‍ you. I hate‌‌ living with a drunken father who⁠ calls me an idiot. It’s my⁠ choice.”

Marsha⁠‍ was furious. Freeman’s⁠ suffocating personality was‍⁠ driving her insane.‌⁠

“You‍ idiot! Why can’t you understand? I don’t like you!”⁠

“So‌⁠‍ what? If you‌‍ don’t want to‍‍ like me, then⁠‌‍ don’t! I’ll just keep liking you!‌⁠ You have no‌ right to say‍⁠ anything about that!”

Marsha yelled back, her⁠ anger spilling over.

“Ah,⁠ is that so?‍‌‍ Good for you.‌‌‌ Just keep looking‍ at me until‍‌‌ you die old‌ and alone. Shall⁠⁠ I tell you⁠ the truth? Having⁠ you with me is a burden.‌‌‌ How long should⁠ I take care‍⁠ of a coward‌ who can’t even‍‌ kill a single⁠‍‌ ant? It only⁠‍ makes things harder‍‌ for me!”

“I’m‍⁠ not a coward!‌‍ I will protect‌‌ you!”

“And⁠ how exactly are‌ you going to⁠‌ protect me? What‌⁠ can you even⁠‌ do?”

“Arrrrgh!”‍⁠

Freeman⁠⁠‌ screamed towards the‍ ground. He then⁠⁠⁠ picked up a sharp stone and⁠‍ began scraping off⁠‍ his eyebrows.

Marsha‌‌ was startled and⁠⁠‍ tried to stop‌‍‌ Freeman.

“What⁠ are you doing,⁠ you fool!”

“Let⁠ go! Just let‍ me be!”

Freeman‍ was relentless.

The⁠‌‌ sound of his‌ skin tearing made⁠ Marsha’s skin crawl. She watched in⁠⁠ disbelief as he‌⁠ continued to rub‌⁠ the stone against‌⁠ his eyebrows until‌ they were completely⁠ gone. Throwing the‌‍ stone to the‍‌ ground, his face,‍⁠‌ now covered in blood, looked demonic.‌

“How‌ about that? Now⁠ I look scary, don’t I? Being a coward was‌‍ all because of‌ my eyebrows. Now⁠‍ no one can‍‌ mess with me. So, I won’t be a burden⁠‌ to you.”

“You… are you insane?”

Marsha‍ was speechless, but‍ Freeman was serious.⁠‍

His‍‍ eyebrow-less face indeed‌‍‍ looked frightening, but‌ in reality, it bore the saddest⁠‌ expression.

“I⁠ will become stronger. I will do whatever it takes.‌ Just let me stay by your‍ side, please? I promise I won’t⁠‌ ask you to⁠ like me if⁠‍‍ you just let‌ me come with⁠‌ you.”

“You…‍ oh, you fool.”‍⁠

Marsha‍‍ sighed deeply. She‌‌ felt it was⁠‍‍ wrong, but even‍‌ that thought seemed‌ to be drowned‍⁠ out by her sigh.

***‌‍

“Marsha.”‌

Freeman’s‍ eyes sparkled. His‍ face, which had been distorted by‍‌ burns, was now‍ perfectly regenerated.

How⁠ much time had⁠ passed? It might⁠⁠ already be too late. But he‍ had to go.‌ He had promised.‌ Until Marsha was⁠‍ dead, his life‍‍ wasn’t his own.‌‍‍

“I’m‍‍‍ going now. Wait‍‌‌ for me.”

The‍ energy he poured⁠ into choosing life‍‍ over death at‌⁠‍ the brink was‌ tremendous. His body⁠ was heavy, and‌ his legs barely‌ carried him.

But Freeman walked without⁠ rest.

To‍‍ where Marsha was.‌

***

Amy‍‍ gritted her teeth⁠ as she raced‌⁠ up the mountain‌⁠ trail. Her mental‍ strength had recovered‌‌ enough to think‍⁠⁠ clearly, but casting⁠⁠⁠ magic was still⁠‌ too much to‌‌ handle.

She‍ couldn’t afford to⁠‍ slow down. The⁠ battle was not⁠‍‌ yet over. Freeman‌ had been dealt with, but another‌ formidable enemy, Falcoa,‍‌ still remained.

“Just‌ a little more!”‌

As‍ the destination came‍ into view, Amy⁠‍ increased her speed.‍ And just as‌ she crested the⁠ hill, she was‍‌⁠ met with an unexpected sight.

Rian, battered and bruised,⁠‍ was holding Falcoa⁠⁠ from behind.

But⁠ what shocked Amy‌‍‌ was something else.‍⁠

Tess, running at full⁠‌ speed, was stabbing⁠ Falcoa with her‌ sabre.

Tess’s⁠⁠ eyes were wilder⁠‌ than ever. If‍‌ things continued this‍ way, even Rian‍‍ could be impaled‌‍ by her sword.‍‍⁠ However, the two⁠ seemed to have⁠‍ reached an unspoken‍‍ agreement, as they‌‌ hesitated not at⁠ all.

Finally,‌‍ Tess’s sabre pierced‌⁠‌ through Falcoa. Rian’s‍ pupils dilated, and⁠⁠ his shoulders convulsed.‍‍⁠

Moments⁠⁠ later, blood spurted⁠‍ from Rian’s mouth.‍

***‍‌

20 minutes before Amy’s⁠‍‍ arrival.

Falcoa’s‌ attack was the‍‍‍ epitome of flashy‌‍ brutality. But it‌ was not finesse‍ that shone through,‍⁠ but a beast-like⁠‍⁠ savagery.

Rian‍ couldn’t afford to⁠‌⁠ think about techniques.‌‌‌ Just enduring the shock had already‌‌‌ drained him to‌ his limits.

Falcoa‌⁠‍ found an opening‌⁠⁠ and sliced through⁠ Rian’s thigh.

“Rian!”‍ Tess’s voice echoed.‍

Although‌ Rian had held up better than expected, having his‌⁠ lower body injured‌ meant he had‍‌‌ lost half his⁠⁠ strength.

Angered by her friend’s‍ injury, Tess launched‌⁠ an attack, but‌ Falcoa was worthy‍⁠⁠ of being called⁠ a demon of the battlefield.

As‌‌ long as he⁠ didn’t die, it⁠‍ seemed he didn’t‍ care how injured⁠ he got, focusing‍ most of his⁠⁠ movements on attack.⁠‌‍

This actually caused Tess’s‌ attack frequency to‍ drop. It was‌‍ a moment that‌‌ proved the adage:‌‍ the best defense⁠ is a good‌ offense.

As‍ the battle continued, the scratches on‍‍ Rian and Tess’s‍⁠ bodies multiplied. They‌ avoided fatal wounds,⁠‌ but after ten⁠‍ minuTess, their bodies‌‍⁠ were nearly ragged‌⁠⁠ like cloth.

“Hahaha!‍ Is this the‌ end? It’s been⁠‌ fun.”

Ignoring‌‌‍ Falcoa’s taunts, Tess‌ looked back at‌ Rian, who was‌⁠ gasping for breath.⁠⁠‍

“Rian,‍ are you okay?”‌‍

“Yeah, I can manage.‌ What about you?”‌⁠

Tears‌⁠‍ welled up in‍⁠‍ Tess’s eyes, unable⁠ to continue her words. What did‍⁠‍ he mean he‌ could manage? His‍ body was clearly⁠ marked by the‌‌ path of Falcoa’s sword.

It‌ was the first‌‍⁠ time she had‌⁠ felt so heartbroken.‌ What was this‍‍ trash of a person to hurt‌ Rian like this?‌‍

Tess‍ gripped the handle‌ of her sabre‌‌ tightly. Even if⁠‍⁠ it meant risking‍‌ her life, she‍⁠ was determined to‍‍ cut off Falcoa’s‍ breath.

“Yaaaaa!”

Tess‌ pulled the sabre⁠ towards her body‍ and charged. It⁠ was a charge‍ unique to the‌ Elzain family.

However,⁠‌ the gap in⁠⁠ their power was too great to⁠ bridge with just‌‍‍ willpower.

Although⁠ Tess’s charge was‍ fast, Falcoa retreated‌‍ even faster.

As he created distance, his intention became⁠‌ clear. With a wicked grin, Falcoa⁠‌ suddenly kicked off‍‍ the ground and‌ advanced. With a smooth move, he‌‍‌ deflected Tess’s sabre.‌

“Huh!”⁠‍

Falcoa⁠ spun around to⁠‍ Tess’s side and‌‍ slammed his knee⁠‌ into her ribs.‍‌ Her lungs were‌ compressed, cutting off‌ her breath momentarily.‌‍

“Kek,‍ not bad, but‍⁠ you still smell⁠‍‌ green.”

Falcoa’s‌ long sword descended towards Tess.

To‌ Tess, time seemed‌ to slow. She‌‌ could clearly see⁠‍ the trajectory of⁠ the sword coming‍‌ down to slice‌‌‌ her neck.

But‌⁠ she was paralyzed.‌‍ As time slowed,⁠ so did her⁠⁠‌ body.

‘I’m‍‌‍ sorry… Rian. I wanted to at⁠ least strike back‌‍ once.’

At that moment, Rian charged like a bull at Falcoa.‌‌

“Aaaargh!”‌⁠‌

Falcoa’s‌‌ legs were lifted‍‌ off the ground.‍⁠ But Rian’s tackle⁠⁠⁠ was unsuccessful. Even⁠‌⁠ in mid-air, Falcoa‍‍ maintained a terrifying‍‍ balance, landed smoothly,‌ and pulled Rian’s⁠⁠ neck forward while⁠ raising his knee.‍

“Kuh!”‌

The‌⁠⁠ impact seemed to⁠ go through the⁠⁠‍ solar plexus, through the stomach, and‍ out the back.‌⁠

Was⁠‍‌ this the combat‍⁠ ability of a demon who thrived‍‌⁠ in war? It seemed impossible to‌ shake Falcoa by‍ any means.

“Don’t‌ fret too much.‌‍ I’ll take good‍ care of your⁠‌ woman.”

Rian’s⁠⁠ fading consciousness snapped‍ back. Despite their‌ usual bickering, Tess‍ was a good‌‌ friend, someone he‍‍ respected and acknowledged⁠ as a fellow swordsman.

“Not‍⁠ to someone like‍ you…”

Gripping‌ Falcoa’s collar, Rian‌ summoned all his‍ strength as if burning his whole‌⁠ body.

“I⁠ won’t hand over‍⁠⁠ my friend, you‍ bastard!”

“Kugh!”‌‌

As⁠⁠‍ Rian was dragged⁠ along, Falcoa was puzzled. He knew⁠‌‌ Rian was strong,⁠ but this level‍ of power didn’t‌ match his previous‍‌ schema.

Where‌‍ had such strength‍‌ suddenly come from?

Rian‍ slipped behind Falcoa‍ and applied a wrestling hold. Once‌ Rian wedged his‍⁠ arm through Falcoa’s‍ armpit, raising his⁠‍ arms, Falcoa could⁠ no longer swing‍ his sword.

“This‍‌‍ bastard!”

Falcoa‍‌ flexed his trapezius‍⁠ muscles and pushed‌‍ his arms down.‍ Rian’s nose bridge‍⁠ twisted as if‌‌ ropes were tied⁠‍ around his shoulders‌‌‌ and pulled by⁠ horses, his body⁠‌ screaming in agony.‌‌

“Grrrr!”‌

But‌ Falcoa couldn’t break⁠‌ free.

It‍ was indeed strange.⁠ None of the‍‍ opponents he had⁠‍⁠ faced in combat⁠‍ had shown such‌ strength. How could Rian possibly exhibit‌ such power?

“Damn it! Let go,‍⁠‍ you bastard!”

“Try‍⁠ and get out.⁠⁠ This is what‌‍ they call an imaginary schema, you brat.”

Mages‍⁠ train their minds,⁠ swordsmen their bodies. Yet, there is one organ intimately⁠ connected to both—⁠‍ the brain.

Perhaps‍ thoughts also affect‌‌ the body?

Although very few do‌ it, some schema⁠⁠‌ users spend their‌‍‍ lives trying to‍ reconstruct the neural‍‍‍ schematic.

Unknown‌ to Rian, the⁠ term “imaginary schema”‌ was also coined‌ by them.

Does‌ the mere thought‌ of not letting‍ go influence the‍‌ body? If so,⁠⁠‌ would the intensity⁠‍ of the thought‌‍ change its effect?⁠

If‍‌‌ this was possible,‍‌ given that thoughts‌ have no limits,‍‌⁠ how much could‌⁠ the effects amplify⁠ if one intensely‍ focused their thoughts?‍‍

Rian‍‌⁠ decided not to‌⁠ move. He had‍‌ issued a command⁠⁠⁠ to his body⁠‌ and locked it⁠⁠‌ in that state.‍‌

This‌⁠ kind of mental‍⁠ lock wasn’t traditionally‌ considered a schema,‌ but Rian’s extraordinary‌ strength could be‌ explained no other‌⁠ way.

“Argh!‌‌ Let go! Let‌‌ go, you bastard!”‍

Falcoa⁠‌‍ thrashed wildly, but⁠ it felt as‍ if he wasn’t‌⁠‍ grappling with a living being. Rian’s‍‍ body was as⁠ unyielding as if‌⁠⁠ it had turned‍‍ to stone.

“Tess! Stab him!”

“But…”‍⁠

Tess‌ realized what Rian was suggesting. It‌⁠ was a logical⁠⁠‌ decision. If not⁠ now, there would⁠‍ never be another‍‍ chance to defeat‌⁠ Falcoa.

But‍ Tess couldn’t bring‍ herself to do‌ it. To kill‍ Rian, even if⁠ it meant dying‍⁠⁠ together. She couldn’t⁠ bear the thought‌ of stabbing him‌ with her own‌‍ hands.

“Rian…”‍

“Aaaargh!‌ Quickly! I can’t hold on much‍ longer!”

Danger⁠‍ signals were blaring⁠⁠ from all over⁠⁠‌ Rian’s body. His‍⁠‌ mind’s orders were‌ being executed by⁠ his body at⁠ 100%, but the⁠ limits were clear.‍ If Falcoa broke‍‌ free, Rian’s body‍ would likely be⁠‍ shattered into pieces.⁠

“Tess!‌‍ Do it now!”‍‍

“Yaaaah!”‌‍

Tears‌‌ streaming down her‍ face, Tess charged.‍ Rian was risking his life to‌ fulfill his duty.⁠⁠ Letting emotions interfere‌‍‌ and missing the‌‍ timing would make‌‌ him the world’s‍‍ biggest fool.

That‌‍ was the moment⁠ Amy arrived.

“Tess! No!”