Sno Re and Cho Re were having their life energy slowly drained from them as time went on. Soon they would lose their lives. Fang Zuwa and Peizhi Xiuying on the other hand were at the verge of being hit by a move that would surely kill them in an instant.

Akata’s crimson eyes looked as cold as ice as he gazed upon the fairy above him. Two things were going through his mind right now, how to save his friends and how to kill this fairy.

At this point in time Akata was truly enraged and couldn’t care less what methods he used as long as he killed this fairy. With a flash of black light Akata, along with his new element, appeared in front of the fairy and he swung with his scythe aiming to knock the fairy down to the ground.

“You overestimate your abilities. Even though I’m weak in close combat, I still have the body of a Second Rank cultivator. Your measily strength won’t be able to compare with the difference of a whole Rank.” The fairy snickered and it seemed that its mood drastically changed from the shock it had before.

Akata didn’t listen to any of this as he still swung out. His arms were filled with the rage in his heart and as he swung black light gathered on his scythe. Looking at the scythe that came closer to him, even the fairy couldn’t help but shudder. It felt as if his soul was shaking as the scythe was approaching him. He immediately summoned a leaf sword and swung out to meet the scythe head on.

Boom!

Akata was thrown back from the collision but he was already filled with rage and hatred so he recovered nearly instantly and went back on the assault. The fairy remained in the same place but a weird look was in his eyes.

‘It feels as if something was taken from my leaf sword and it became weaker and more fragile.’ The fairy frowned. He couldn’t figure out what happened in that collision. But how could it guess that Akata used a peerless technique created by a Fourth Rank cultivator. It was exactly the first stance of the Underdark Arts created by Cultist Soulfire, Soul Swipe. It was a super fast skill that swiped past everything, even souls. Being attacked by this would drain an opponent of some of their soul. It was a miniscule amount but given enough hits it would be enough to make the whole soul crumble.

The fairy didn’t even think of the possibility of Akata having some insights into the Outer Element of Souls. Not only was the soul element an Outer Element, it was also the most supreme of Outer Elements. Even if Akata was a monster in his eyes, there was no way he could control the power of such a supreme element.

Akata rushed back in toward the fairy. Although the fairy was at the Second Rank, it wasn’t a close combat fighter. In fact, Akata could tell that the fairy really wasn’t a fighter at all. If anything, he was a defensive fighter that looked to always protect itself or find opportunities to run away.

The reason he could tell this was by the moves the fairy had unleashed already. None of the skills the fairy used were truly offensive. Even the Draining Leaf Rain that shot out earlier was meant to split the group up so the fairy could fight them one on one. Akata wasn’t scared at all facing the fairy in close combat.

How good were Akata’s close combat skills? His insights into the scythe reached the Third Rank long ago. His body was perfectly remade by the World Omen of Lord Dullahan to use various assassination methods and the scythe. He trained in a Fourth Rank Art and an Immortal Art. His soul was powerful to the point he achieved Soul Foresight. He had many cultivation bases that weren’t weak and his own skills were very profound.

Akata appeared in front of the fairy again and raised his scythe to hit again. Bam! The fairy met Akata’s scythe with his leaf sword once again and pushed him back. ‘This child is too strong. I can’t do anything besides pushing him back.’ The fairy’s eyes couldn’t help but slightly widen at the prowess Akata displayed.

Akata was pushed back again but this time he didn’t rush back in. He instead used the force of being pushed back to go toward where Peizhi Xiuying was at. Fang Zuwa had a weird ghost like form that made it easier for him to hold back the fairy’s attack. Peizhi Xiuying was also a False Plant Cultivator which granted her plenty of lifeforce, so she was also able to hold back the fairy’s attack with little difficulty.

Akata still wanted to rescue them as fast as he could. Not only would their lives be out of danger but they could also help him against this fairy. But, how would the fairy let him do that? As soon as the fairy saw Akata heading in that direction a smile surfaced on his face.

“Ahahaha! You think I’ll let you try to save them? Think again!” The fairy waved its hand as multiple Grand Yaga Leaves appeared in front of his figure. One golden leaf wrapped up the fairy and was made into the appearance of a golden robe, another rolled up and became a sword while the others took on the shape of shields and swirled around his body in a defensive manner. The Grand Yaga Leaves glowed with a golden glow that radiated over the area and made for a celestial scene. The fairy dashed toward where Akata was at and arrived their in the blink of an eye. His speed was truly shocking.

Akata couldn’t even comprehend how the fairy suddenly appeared in front of him. He just had time to instinctively use his scythe to block his front. Bang! He was thrown back from the collision of scythe and sword.

Akata landed on the ground and as he looked back up his cold eyes that could pierce through the warmest of hearts caused the fairy to inwardly shiver. Akata was truly getting angry. Time and time again he was being pushed back while his friends were slowly dying. He was right there but he could nothing to even get near them.

He couldn’t fly until he reached the Second Rank and even if he could, the fairy was many times faster than him. That was because fairies were able to start flying as soon as they were born. Fairy wings made that possible and also increased their speed to insane amounts. If it could be said that beasts had the toughest bodies compared to mortals within the same Rank and Grade then fairies had the fastest speed compared to mortals.

‘I’m going to utterly kill this person and refine his soul for my use.’ Akata could think of nothing besides killing this fairy. The sect’s trials had taught him to not have any mercy with his enemies. He was taught to be efficient when fighting and only make reasonable movements. Akata had carved this into his heart. He wouldn’t be rash, especially in this type of situation.

‘Since he won’t let me personally go there and destroy those life draining techniques I’ll just have to trick him.’ Akata’s eyes flashed with a golden sheen. He started to rotate his golden rune and as he did golden light sprang up around his body and shone on everything. The light was really bright and mysterious, even the fairy wasn’t able to see through it.

‘What’s he planning now?’ The fairy was on high alert. Although Akata was weak, he couldn’t take his tactics and power lightly. The Grand Yaga Leaves swirled around his figure quicker.

Whoosh!

A figure shot out of the golden light and right for the fairy.

“You aren’t fast enough to get by me with that kind of speed.” The fairy snorted. He waved his hand and the leaves around his body moved to guard against Akata who shot out from the golden light.

Bang!

Akata collided with the shields with a strong force. The fairy was prepared and as soon as Akata collided he struck out with his sword, sending it through the Grand Yaga Leaf in front of him.

Si!

The golden leaf sword stabbed through the Grand Yaga Leaf shield and into Akata’s body. “Ha! You used this kind of tactic to fight me? You really overestimated yourself. Heh. I really overestimated you as well so it can’t be blamed.” The fairy laughed out. But soon his face became stiff and his pupils constricted. After that utter rage filled his face.

Akata who was stabbed with the leaf sword suddenly shattered into purple motes of light. The fairy could then instantly tell that the ‘Akata’ he just stabbed was an illusion from the beginning. His face became stiff from seeing Akata shatter, his pupils constricted because he realized it was a powerful illusion, but then he realized he had been tricked. He was tricked by a mortal cultivator at the First Rank, a mere kid!

Akata, who was within the golden light still instantly shot out right after his illusory figure did. This time, instead of heading toward Fang Zuwa or Peizhi Xiuying who were in the air, he went to save Sno Re and Cho Re. If the fairy wanted to stop him now, he would have to come in person. Akata could definitely fight the fairy on the ground. Either way the fairy had a choice and that was either to fight Akata on the ground or let him save two of the monsters.

The fairy hesitated and that gave Akata enough time to get near Cho Re. Akata raised his Bludhaven Scythe in the air and channeled the soul element into it. Soul Swipe! The scythe slashed down with the full power Akata could muster. Clang! The scythe simply bounced off the leaf above Cho Re’s head. Akata frowned but then his crimson eyes flashed with coldness. His golden plant arm stretched out and along with it an azure vine shot toward the leaf.

The azure vine seemed capable of devouring everything. Once it came into contact with the leaf it instantly covered over its surface. In a mere instant the leaf was fully devoured with nothing remaining. Akata immediately recalled his azure vine. He was still scared of this power and didn’t dare to use it constantly.

Cho Re was released from the burden of having his life energy drained. He was in more danger of dying than the others. Fang Zuwa and Peizhi Xiuying had their methods of lasting longer and although Sno Re didn’t have those methods, he cultivated a peerless defensive art. Cho Re on the other hand had no way to defend himself so his life was being absorbed the fastest of the four.

“Cover me so I can save your brother!” Akata yelled as he dashed toward the direction of Sno Re. If he had the brothers by his side they could keep the fairy busy while he concentrated on saving the others.

However, how would the now enraged fairy let that happen? “Might of Aura!” The fairy said through gritted teeth. Whoosh! An intense wave of pressure washed over the area and crushed down on everything. Beasts and cultivators alike were affected by this pressure and could do nothing but be forced on the ground and try to hold back this pressure.

Cho Re knelt on the ground and looked at the fairy in shock. He gritted his teeth and low roars could be heard coming from his mouth but he was unable to move. Akata similarly had a knee on the ground and was unable to move as well. ‘What is this power?’ Shock appeared within Akata’s eyes.