Nubram tried all the common tricks he had, but it meant nothing to their attacker. Arkengrad barely heeded any of his efforts and kept chasing Macepaw.

The paladin was acting like she was being possessed by unknown spirits that had some grudge towards Macepaw. Nubram knew it was not some spirit, but rather some previous annoyance that made Arkengrad have some maddening resolution to smack the shaman.

On the other hand, Macepaw was still relatively relaxed. Perhaps because Renma kept on healing and shielding him.

Despite clearly being explosively angry, Arkengrad was able to put her wits in the chase. The paladin managed to trick Renma’s [Guarding Radiance] by performing a soft poke before striking harder. She was also able to obliterate other shields that Renma employed.

Even Macepaw’s wide array of quirky abilities was not as effective as before since Arkengrad took some distance away when Macepaw used those. The female paladin even managed to trick Macepaw once so that his hydro ball hit himself in the face.

“Old trick, Meispaw!” Arkengrad roared as she lunged quickly to stop Macepaw from casting his hydro ball thing.

Though the steel swords were threatening him, Macepaw asked with a rather flat tone and expression, “Who is Meispaw?”

“You! It’s you! [Consecrating Halo].” Arkengrad spun, creating a light disc from her swords.

“It’s not Meispaw,” answered Macepaw, who quickly ran to avoid the attack.

Nubram was already half giving up in helping Macepaw in addition to that he was in a dilemma between bursting into laughter or concerned with the whole situation. On one hand, he saw a comedic chase between an orc and a pretty elven lady. On the other, he knew exactly where the conversation was going.

“Then what’s that written above your nasty head?” Arkengrad shouted. “Get back here!”

“It’s Mah-check-pow, not Meispaw.”

Arkengrad stopped on her tracks. She was visibly shaking as if her anger was so great that her body and heart couldn’t contain it anymore.

“And who gives a DAMN?!”

“I do,” Macepaw answered nonchalantly.

The answer was enough to unleash the whole rage contained within Arkengrad. She was just wailing incomprehensibly while tackling Macepaw so hard that the orc’s body flew and slammed to a tree. Then, [Twin Flashing Blades] came to play.

Unlike Nubram, Renma was giving his all to help his nemesis in class. And as his [Guarding Radiance] failed once more due to the rapid strikes of Arkengrad’s light blades, Renma opted for a series of quick healing spells.

Nubram had something up his sleeve that might be able to slow down Arkengrad which is something he got inspiration from one of Manna’s custom abilities. However, he was hesitant to reveal the custom ability now without any significant impact. Arkengrad might spill it to Lyra and Nubram could lose a surprise factor in future encounters.

On the other hand, Nubram felt that Arkengrad’s chase was rather pointless. Nubram had analysed from the current and previous encounters with the paladin that, despite being a tempest paladin which has great offensive power, it seemed that Arkengrad was a bruiser type.

Those types usually played the role to break the opposing defences and thus would need to sacrifice some damage output for more defences and utility in order to survive longer. Therefore, Renma was the worst opponent for such a type.

As far as Nubram was aware, Renma had spent 100 points in discipline that gave him the much needed MP regeneration and conservation for longer fights. Not to mention all sorts of damage mitigation was also available in his arsenal of holy spells. And to add, their level difference damage reduction also played a role that caused the chase to last much much much longer.

Then, in the middle of boredom, Nubram got a whisper.

Incoming whisper from Manna. [Pitoy, where are you guys? What is the situation?]

“Command on: reply. Northeast of Arika Hills. Heh, there’s Arkengrad here. She’s chasing Alvin, but it would take a while because Ega could still heal him for long. No problem. It’s just that she kept interrupting if Alvin wanted to use [Smoketeam]. So, send someone if you guys are relatively safe.”

[Only Arkengrad?]

“Yup.”

[Then, please open a two-way portal, I will go there.]

“You?” Nubram frowned.” Where is Pras?”

[He… I mean, Grok is on the way to help him.]

There was a rather unusual shaking on Manna’s voice that made Nubram feel uneasy. He quickly guessed that Tier might have sacrificed himself again in order to let Manna escape and the bulk of Lyra’s gang might be there.

His good friend sacrificed another death counter for her and now Manna wanted to waste that by ‘trying’ to help Nubram, Renma, and Macepaw… was this some kind of sick joke?

“No,” Nubram firmly answered. “Send other people.”

[But… I….]

“No.”

Nubram groaned and closed the communication. Nubram suspected that Tier might have already died and thus leaving only two deaths left. If Lyra’s relentless disturbance to them continued, then it might be wise to let Manna group up with two other people that are not Tier.

Perhaps, from now on, Nubram should be the one accompanying Tier. Because, if a problem arises, he is sure both of them are capable enough to render the opposing side helpless while they escape.

“Who was it? Mana? [Heal]!” Renma asked Nubram as he steadily kept Macepaw alive.

“Yes.” Nubram nodded. “She asked me to open a two-way portal here so she can help.”

There was a slight concern showing up from the way Renma tilted his head when he asked again, “Where is Pras?”

“Love is blind and foolish, [Winterblade],” Nubram answered with a sigh as he finally decided to help slow down Arkengrad and buy more time. As much time as possible. Who knows that guy Grok or maybe Flick and Rushvatte could come to their rescue? Anyone but Manna.

“Ah, damnit,” Renma grumbled. “I know he doesn't want to be in Clashing Realms. But still… if he is eligible, one day he can join us again.”

Nubram shook his head. He lied, “I just hope with all that craftiness, he could somehow survive.”

“[Fearless Shield of Faith], you mean a miracle like the arcade thing?”

Nubram chuckled bitterly. “Perhaps, now focus on making sure Alvin survives longer. If things got worse, let’s sacrifice him. [Flash].”

“Sacrificing him sounds good.”

Arkengrad was blinded twice in a row. This caused Macepaw to prance around happily. The shaman clapped his hands in a manner mocking Arkengrad.

“What’s more blind than a mute bat?” Macepaw laughed. “It's Arkengrad the pretty… blind paladin.”

The mockery had caused Arkengrad to slash brutally. Nubram wondered if she was angry due to the clapping or the clearly not rhyming joke Macepaw had said with a weird singing rhythm.

“[Sulphuric Armor],” suddenly Macepaw casted a spell that enclosed himself in a very suspicious looking bubble of water.

Arkengrad stopped attacking and took a long deep breath. She smiled wittily as she said, “Do you think I’m that stupid? Sulfuric? That thing is definitely acidic, I’m not touching you.”

She then raised up her hands and casted, “[Lightword Prison].” Dozens of light swords appeared from the sky. They hovered around Macepaw like attempting to herd the shaman.

Nubram was about to cast his [Winterblades] when Arkengrad suddenly turned at him and Renma. She casually said, “Why are you still here? Just go already, I can’t make any excuses to Lyra to not kill you guys after this shaman is toast. Go, I don’t want to make more sins or problems or mistakes or whatever.”

Nubram frowned at the sentence. Nubram felt that from the previous encounters that Arkengrad was clearly different from Lyra’s gang, especially Slicer. Why is she doing all this other than being pissed off with Macepaw?

“Uuuh, how about a deal?” Renma suddenly spoke. Nubram clearly saw he was trying to be smart by delaying stuff.

“What deal?” Arkengrad crossed her arms under her bosom.

“You uhh.. Leave us all alone, then we give uh…” Renma scratched the nose part on his mask as he tried to find a reason. “...oh, we give you some gorilla potion.”

“Gorilla what?” Nubram snorted. He never heard of such a potion. Was that the one people used to transform into gorillas in the marsh in the Grand Continent?

“You mean the potion sold by that racist old monk Ril’Dil?” Arkengrad asked. Nubram couldn’t believe he saw her eyes widened in interest.

“Yes, that one.” Renma nodded.

“Oh my God…” Arkengrad suddenly looked happy.

Nubram was aghast that the whole random proposal actually worked. Now they can get away safely without much problem.