Domain

volume 2 upgrade specialist chapter 14 - vice chieftain Yang Tian

10 men, fully equipped with metal armour and swords left the stronghold's gate. After leaving they broke into a sprint, and they were heading right for us.

Solomon: shit, we've been found. Run back towards Yunfei. I'll catch up after dealing with these guys.

Aries: wait, shouldn’t we deal with them together? From the speed their moving they're all soul cultivators.

Though it was good she was worried about me now as not the time to dawdle.

Solomon: GO NOW! There isn't much time I'll explain later.

For a second Aries stood still, stunned by my sudden outburst.

Aries: you better have a good explanation, or I'll break your legs.

Leaving behind her threat she disappeared into the forest.

Solomon: that gets rid of one problem, now for the other.

Turning back to the approaching bandits I saw they were half way to me. Knowing we had been exposed I walked out of the forest. As I left the cover of the forest the bandits became more cautious. As I scanned the group I could guess as to their levels. One man in the front had roughly the same strength as Chenfeng making him a late soul apprentice. As for the others 2 were moderately strong but the rest were only equal to a goblie in combat power. From this I could say that two of them were middle apprentices and the rest were early.

Late apprentice: so you show yourself. But it matters not, we would have dragged you out of the forest anyway.

Wearing shiny armour and speaking like so he came of as a pompous man.

Solomon: oh, you think people of your level have the strength to force me.

Saying this I tried to provoke him.

Late apprentice: haha, don’t worry about that, I assure you we are more than enough. And once were done with you we will have some "fun" with that friend of yours.

Hearing this man threaten to rape my companion made my blood boil. The scene a few days prior, when Alice was threatened, had left me with a deep hate for men like this.

Solomon: che, let's see if you can still have "fun" after I'm done with you.

Though I wanted to gain more info from the man my anger overtook me. Raising the arcane orb I fuelled it with a little qi. Shooting out it hit the head of one of the weakest men. Though the stronger fighter could have stopped the attack they let it hit. Either they didn’t think it was strong enough to hurt the man, or they didn't care about their comrade.

Man: AAAAAAGGGHHHH.

Falling to his knees the man screamed. From the clutching at his chest I could tell my attack was successful. Though it hadn't killed him, he couldn’t fight anymore. This was the effect of the mutated arcane orb. Originally it would suck the life force out of those it hit. But with the addition of my fire based qi it had changed. Along with stealing their life force it would cause them severe pain. This was probably by injecting some qi into the person.

In truth I had no idea how well the orb would work against someone with energy. Though I knew it would one hit normal people I had no chance to test this effect on energy users. Feeling satisfied with the result I brought the orb back to me.

Solomon: still think you can handle me?

Dumfounded, the bandits lost most of their morale. Making it worse was that this was a casual attack. To be able to bring a cultivator, no matter the level, down so easily made it look like I was extremely strong. In truth though it was due to my equipment. In the future I had to be sure to thank the old man who sold it to me.

Late apprentice: don’t waver, he may be strong but he can't beat all of us. RUSH HIM!

After rallying his men they all charged forward. Being only 10 meters away I they would reach me before I killed them. Knowing so I gathered a 8th of my qi into the orb. Having followed the flame serpent art a melon sized lizards head covered the orb. As the head finished forming it was sent at the late apprentice.

By killing the leader I hopped the other bandits would retreat. Even if they didn't I thought it would at least cause them to hesitate.

Watching the flame head shoot forward towards the man I began walking backwards. If I reached the forest then there number would mean nothing. As the man saw it coming despair filled his eyes. In a last ditch effort he held up his energy infused arms. As I watched the flames tore through his arms, before scorching his face. Though he was still alive he had lost both his eyes, and his arms. making him useless.

Seeing their leader writhing the bandits froze. Trying to regain control of the men one of the 2 middle apprentices spoke.

Middle apprentice: QUICKLY, RETREAT! Bring the hall master to safety. We will hold off the intruder.

The two middle apprentices then stood forward. Unfortunately for them, I had now learnt that this was the hall master, Xiao Chen, that we had to kill. Though that wasn’t his only use.

Dashing forward I held the arcane orb in one hand. Pulling a quarter of my qi I split it into 2 halves. My training had done more than just increase my qi. It had also gave me more control over it. With this new control I moved each of the halves into a different arm, before sending two lizard heads at the middle apprentices.

Having not anticipated my serious attack they were hit before they knew what happened. As the two charred husks fell to the ground I heard Ourous's angelic voice.

Ourous: two bandits killed, 4 points earned.

Seeing their last hope crumble the remaining bandits tried to run away. Within a few seconds I had hit each of them with the arcane orb, leaving them collapsed on the ground. Just as I finished a loud shout came from the fortress. Now pouring out of the gates was a huge group of bandits. Even though they were not cultivators I could not face this many men. Especially when considering my enhancement was not good at fighting many enemies.

Moving fast I silenced all of the bandits except for Xiao Chen.

Ourous: 7 bandits killed, 14 points earned.

Having finished here I grabbed the hall master.

Solomon: okay then, let's go on our way.

Speeding of Into the forest I could hear the distant cries of the bandits. But ignoring them I ran at full speed towards Yunfei's location. Though I hoped I was wrong, there was only one way to be sure.

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After being shouted at by Solomon, Aries ran towards Yunfei's location.

Aries: that asshole, ordering me around. I should cut off his legs, no, I'll boil him alive, or maybe I'll beat him to death... haah, what's made him that worried. Ever since I met him he's been cold and calculating. Aaargh whatever, ill find out when I get there anyway.

After finishing her monolog, an odd habit she displayed when alone, Aries sped towards her target. Like most G ranks she had upgraded her body, making her faster, but being a back line fighter she had only done so slightly. Because of this it took her 15 minutes to reach Yunfei and Chenfeng.

As she was approaching she could hear the sounds of battle. Having been through several missions she was accustomed to the noise's and recognized them immediately. When she reached the battle she was confused by what she saw. Yunfei and Chenfeng were fighting against a group of 30 bandits. Yunfei was fighting a single man while Chenfeng was fighting the rest of the group.

She could tell that the man fighting Yunfei was stronger than him, it was only his equipment that let him fight this man equally. From what she'd heard from Solomon she thought this man was a late personage. On the other Chenfeng was fighting the remaining 29 bandits. She could tell that among them were 4 middle apprentices and 10 early apprentices

Unlike Yunfei who was holding his own Chenfeng was constantly pushed back. It was only a matter of time before Chenfeng died and Yunfei was swarmed. Rushing forward Aries hit two of the middle apprentices with a water surge. With the element of surprise she hit them before they even saw the attack. As she was conjuring water, rather than using a nearby water source, the spell was significantly weakened. Even so the two men had several broken bones, making them unable to fight.

Chenfeng: Aries, why are you here?

Turning to see Aries, Chenfeng was confused.

Chenfeng: aren't you supposed to be with Solomon.

Seeing as they were in such a situation she knew why Solomon had sent her here, what she wanted to know was why. She thought it would be impossible to know that they were bieng attacked yet it was the only thing that made sense. She would be sure to question him thoroughly later.

Aries: he sent me to help you, anyway now's not the time. I,ll support you from the back.

Nodding Chenfeng went back to attacking, and with the assistance of Aries, he quickly finished off all the bandits.

Just as the last man fell a large explosion caught their attention. Looking towards Yunfei they saw him collapsed on the floor, beaten and bloody. Standing opposite him was the late soul personage man.

Yang Tian: you did well to last this long against me, but as the vice chieftain I must put an end to you.

Standing above Yunfei the man, Yang tian, prepared to behead him.

Running forward Chenfeng attacked the man.

Chenfeng: STOP YOU BASTARD!

The vice chieftain swung his sword at Chenfeng, leaving a large gash across his torso. Taking this chance Aries shot a water surge at him. However he broke it apart with a slash from his sword.

Yang Tian: annoying bugs.

Dashing forward he stood before Aries. Before she could react he lifted his sword, preparing to bisect her. Then just as he was about to strike a fireball smashed into his side, pushing him a few meters from her.

Looking for the origin of the fireball she saw her saviour.

Solomon: did you miss me?

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Having escaped from the bandits Solomon was making his way towards Yunfei's location. As he neared it he began to hear battle sounds. As he we about 15 seconds away he heard a large explosion. Then a few seconds later he heard Chenfeng.

Chenfeng: STOP YOU BASTARD!

Then as he broke through to where they were he saw them. Yunfei and Chenfeng both collapsed, and Aries inches away from death. Reacting fast he pushed the last half of his qi into the arcane orb. Then charged with the last of his power it smashed into the side of the attacking man.

Having been saved from death Aries looked at her saviour, tears in her eyes.

Solomon: did you miss me?

Hearing my words she collapsed.

Walking over I gave her some order.

Solomon: listen Aries, I need you to take these 3 and escape back to base. No matter what don’t let them die, alright?

Saying so I put the hall master next down.

Aries: but, what will you do? I should stay and help you fight.

Solomon: NO! GO NOW.

By now the man had stood back up and was glaring at me.

Suppressing tears Aries dragged the three injured men away. Though she would struggle she should be to get to bob 1 from here.

Facing the man I asked him some questions.

Solomon: who are you? And how do you want to die?

Man: HAHAHA, trying to bluff, I can see you used all your energy in that attack. Though I should complement you for being able to injure me.

He then turned, showing me his side. A large portion of his skin was blackened.

Yang Tian: I'm Yang Tian, now tell me your name before I kill you.

Recognising him as the vice chieftain explained his strength. He was at the upper limit of G rank, most likely being unable to breakthrough he perfected the power he has.

Solomon: I am Solomon, and I must also complement you. You are forcing me to use my trump card.

Reaching behind my back I pulled out my trump card.