Chapter 16 - Fighting To Live

The mantis was dark green with purple outlines and an extremely thin build, its body was glossy and covered with small sharp thorns. Two sharp blade-like arms were positioned in front of its body. It looked just like the praying mantis from Earth as the only difference was the height and the shiny blade-like arms.

"Now!" Marcos screamed once more, taking everyone out of their daydream. The monster had struck fear into the hearts of everyone. Everyone began to prepare and use their skills, however, unlike before there was slight confidence on their faces.

[Crown of Strenght]!

[Careful Protection]!

[Giant Candle of Nature]!

Skills were used one after the other. A white translucent crown appeared on the head of Marcos as well as a slight pink aura that surrounded his body. Simon's candle was erected from the ground once more, slightly healing anyone with an injury.

"All close combat fighters follow me! Attack only when you see an opening or if you see it being distracted then retreat, if you aren't confident in your ability then do not approach it, he is still too strong for you." Marcos commanded once more as he began to walk forwards with a few people behind him.

Niko and his group stayed behind as well as a few other people who did not possess an offensive skill. The bald monk from before also stayed behind as his hand was still injured even after Simon's healing.

The crazy man with a mohawk stayed back as his tongue hung from his mouth. He looked excited at the mantis as if he was watching a thriller movie. His back was hunched and his eyes wide and a slight tremble was seen on his body.

Niko began to command his orbs to follow Marcos, and distract the mantis. He made all three of his rankless spirits go, however, he kept his Steampunk Bee spirit with himself, as he didn't know the things that could transpire.

Watching the mantis and the people get closer and closer to each other, Niko couldn't help but feel his heart pump faster. This looked like a scene from a movie, valiant heroes facing off against a huge monster, truly something incredible. Adding to that the surrounding was magical, the blue hue that the candle created along with many other mystical skills was truly a sight to behold.

"Create space! Move apart!! Get ready!" Marcos yelled as people began to space out and move around the mantis. The mantis didn't seem to mind as it felt like it was superior to everyone.

The mantis wasn't too far away from Niko, as he raised his hand and began to command the weak spirits to float around the mantis and strike it. Niko felt a slight headache as he controlled the spirits, however, he continued on controlling them.

The mantis looked at the orbs that floated around its face completely distracted. Seeing this, Marcos, as well as all of those near the mantis felt like this was an opportunity to strike. Marcos was the first to act as he slashed one of the four legs and retreated backward. The slash caused a small scar to appear on the mantis' leg that caused green blood to ooze out. Others tried their luck as well, however, they barely left a mark on the Mantis.

Feeling the pain, the mantis completely ignored the spirits and focused its glossy eyes on the people surrounding it. As the people felt its gaze upon them a cold chill ran down their neck. The mantis slowly raised its blade-like arms above its head.

"Hahaha! Daddy will kill you, dumb green thing!!" The crazy man laughed maniacally towards the sky. His tongue which hung from his mouth was becoming longer and longer, then suddenly, the pink tongue changed its color into a green hue and flew towards the mantis at a speed comparable to Louis. The tongue wrapped around the Mantis' arm and as the crazy man laughed the mantis pulled its arm back making the crazy man fly towards it.

"Slash!

The crazy man that flew towards the mantis after his tongue was pulled, was sliced in half gushing blood and guts everywhere. Everyone was disappointed, however, everything happened so quickly that there was no time to react. As if it was one motion, the mantis swung the other blade towards the people and a man whose hands glowed with a blue aura was beheaded. All of this in a few seconds.

"Monster!"

"Can we win this!?!"

At this moment Niko looked at Marcos with a serious expression, "Why isn't he using his skill…" is that monster that strong? Do we really have no hope?"

A man whose left arm had transformed into a huge hatchet swung towards the Mantis, however, in a matter of seconds he was beheaded gruesomely as his body fell. The mantis' arms were so fast that only Marcos could perceive its movements, while everyone else saw blurs.

The people around the mantis were afraid, however, being brought into this world and witnessing the many deaths caused their mentality to change greatly. They were changed in a strange way as courage filled their bodies. Adrenaline had overtaken their bodies and if there were signs of fear it would be discarded with extreme ease.

The mantis raised its bloody blade-like arm once more causing the people around it to step back o. Niko began to command his spirits even more ferociously now, as the spirits struck the head of the mantis over and over with force. Even though his head was filled with pain, he persevered through it. The aura surrounding his body began to act up. The greenish hue began to become much more prominent, the aura turned into tentacle-like arms that swayed towards the sky slowly.

Louis who was next to Niko began to move back slowly, "Niko… What's going on with you…"

Louis wasn't the only person feeling like this as the other people near Niko felt strange as well. Their body was feeling colder and their heart trembled slightly. When they looked at Niko they felt more fear than when they looked at the mantis.

"Is this another skill!?" Simon asked as his eyes were amazed.

Niko was in his own world at this moment as all of his concentration was in controlling the spirits, however, as he saw the mantis raise its bloody blade-like arms he turned his now bloodshot eyes towards Mata and said, "Marta! Aim for the head, use your skill!" Niko ordered with seriousness.

"Un!" Marta nodded and quickly aimed her hand upward.

[Silver Trapping Net]!

A silver silhouette flew towards the mantis at a tremendous speed and as it approached the mantis, it opened up, tangling the blade-like arm and the head together.

"Screech!!!" The mantis gave an unbearable screech as it began to try to escape the net. Marcos looked towards Marta and then the mantis.

"Everyone move away from the Mantis now!!!" Marcos screamed as he gripped his blade with both hands.

People began to move away from the mantis as fast as they could.

The blade that Marcos gripped began to glow orange as an aura began to surround it. The aura began to glow brighter and brighter as it suddenly.

"Fire! It caught on fire!" Someone in the crowd shouted.

The sword on Marcos' hand caught on fire, however, that wasn't it. The mantis continued to struggle with the net as the sword was no longer visible and a flame was all that could be seen, it was a sword made out of flames.

"Aghhhh!!" Marcus ran towards the Mantis with his flaming sword gripped by his side. His eyes looked serious towards the mantis as it was about to strike.

"Die!!"