The Stonehearted Knight-Chapter 459: The Wrixians again (2)

Author’s Note: Don’t buy privileges, if you were planning to. Those Chapters aren’t edited or even a continuation. I messed up in the past and haven’t been able to resolve the issue even now.

Thank you for your support and patience so far with me.

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"You guys sure are like pests," Hex smirked at the Wrixians Heroes. Vonbeak screamed in fury. He didn’t take her seriously. But he had to admit, their presence surprised him a little.

After defeating them once, he hoped they would quit. Instead, they teamed up with the Dryads and laid an ambush.

"You aren’t scared. Even now, against six of us. A brave man like you is rare," said Sister Lily, Touch of Life’s captain. A beautiful woman with a gentle demeanor. She looked at him like he had seen people look at unfamiliar domesticated animals, with care while contemplating whether it could be eaten.

"He is just stupid." Vonbeak hissed. She moved her arms, swiftly turning into her bird-like appearance. "Let’s kill him before the others arrive." She rose in the air and readied herself.

Vonfang and Vonhorst exchanged a glance before following suit. They transformed too.

"No matter how much I dislike your impatience, little sister, I admit, you are right. Time is of the essence. He holds the flag. If we manage to defeat him, we can skip the twelfth branch and perhaps be the first to arrive on the thirteenth, winning it all."

Sister Lily’s voice caressed the air itself, it appeared. The surrounding nature element obeyed her will and moved in harmony with her tone.

Hex observed all of it. Having faced the three Druids, he knew their strengths and weaknesses. The issue would be the three Dryads. Their command over the nature element exceeded his.

Taking them out would require time too. Their diamond-shaped formation with the Druids as vanguard and the Dryads at the back, obstructed his reach to them.

’Blink Step will not work, with the space locked out. I can force through it but even then I need time.’

...

Vonhorst attacked first. He aimed a jump kick at his face. A straightforward approach. Like the last time.

Flex Step

Hex pushed against the ground, pushing himself back. The kick missed his head, barely. But the centaur wasn’t done. As soon as his kicks missed Hex’s head, he pushed his hind legs against the ground and struck with his staff.

Flex Step - Second Step

Vonhorst had hoped to land a hit when Hex was still backing up. Hex evaded again, this time, pushing against the air and moving toward Vonhorst. The distance decreased before Vonhorst could react.

Hex channeled his strength and struck. Vonhorst couldn’t dodge. Just before Hex’s punch connected with the centaur’s side, Vonfang speared toward Hex.

Hex felt the air being struck out of his lungs. Vonfang came into him like a boulder being shot through air. He flew back. Vonfang howled and pierced his skin with his claws. It dug deep.

A growl escaped Hex’s throat. It hurt. He raised his elbow and slammed into Vonfang’s back. The wolfman cried in pain and released his grip.

He flew off him, and Hex used his perfect control over his body to stabilize. Before he could land still, however, he sensed someone above him. He didn’t look and dropped to the floor. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

A powerful gust of wind slammed into him, pressing him against the ground. The jolt of his nose slamming into the thick wood below wasn’t pleasant. He couldn’t focus on that now, though. He sensed a second person arriving, followed by the sound of hooves kicking off against the ground.

’This Vonhorst seems to be a one trick pony.’

Hex grimaced and pushed his palms against the branch. The wood splintered as he jumped up. A kick grazed his forehead, leaving a prickling sensation. A cut, perhaps. Not important for now. A third presence was closing in.

A glance at Vonfang and Hex realized the guy was healed. His elbow had broken a shoulder blade. And yet, the guy seemed fine, actually too fine, at the speed he ran toward him.

’Those wretches at the back.’

Hex used Blink Step again to evade the incoming attack. And then again. And again. He had to move out every time he made a move, which was irritating. The three Druids worked shockingly well as a single unit.

Facing the three of them, on his own, turned out to be more challenging than he initially thought. A challenge he welcomed.

Hex grinned. Sweat rolled over his back and forehead. It had been some time since his physical strength was pushed toward its limit. It felt...exhilarating.

Boom!

His heart pumped energy and elements as he welcomed the charging Vonhorst. The sudden shift in direction caught the centaur off guard. His hesitation broke his gallop.

Perfect.

Hex’s grin grew wider. He reached Vonhorst before either could blink. Hex felt his body heat up. Power, raw and berserk, coursed through his veins as his punch flew toward his opponent.

As expected, Vonhorst met his punch with his. Hex felt the bones crumble upon impact, he saw his opponent’s arm bend...and then snap, he heard his agony escape his throat accompanied with specks of saliva and blood.

Vonhorst skidded over the floor before coming to halt. He thrashed around, neighing in pain.

Hex didn’t go after him. He sensed Vonfang reach him, before he heard his claws grate against the wood below them. At his speed, the wolfman needed everything to stop his charge.

Hex turned just in time to see the panic reflect in his eyes. The pain in Vonhorst’s scream shackled Vonfang in fear.

"You wish to flee, right?" Hex asked, stepping toward the wolfman. Vonfang trembled and moved his limbs. Indeed, he attempted to get away. But fear weighed his body down. He scrambled and yet the distance between Hex and him didn’t increase. On the contrary, it decreased with each step Hex took.

Hex stood over Vonfang, with his foot raised. The man squirmed below, his face contorting, his eyes shut. Tears streamed toward the side. Snot and saliva gathered around the mouth and nose.

Hex slammed his foot down.

Bam.

Vonfang fainted, not even noticing the kick landing beside him instead of on him.

"YOU–!"

Vonbeak screeched, but her voice cut off.

"You thought the air would keep you safe, right?" Hex said, standing behind her, hovering in the same air she flapped her winds.

Vonbeak looked over his shoulder, her eyes wide open. The shock of seeing Hex in her domain drove her thoughts out of her mind. She didn’t get away from him.

"Thanks." Hex smiled, grabbing her wings. She was stupid but vicious. He spared her once. If he spared her again, he would be the stupid one.

He braced his knee against her back and with one pull, tore the wings from her back. The pain jolted her awake. She screeched as she fell. With a thud she hit the branch below.

Three out, three to go.

Hex sensed the air stir suddenly. He snapped back toward the Dryads. They stood in a triangular formation.

"Well done. But the jobe isn’t done." Sister Lily laughed, her voice like drops of water hitting the leaves in the morning.

The nature element swirled and shrouded the three Druids. Hex raised his brow. All the injuries disappeared. That wasn’t strange. He expected it. What was strange was the feeling of their blood burning.

The three Druids stood up, like wooden dolls. Their eyes stared at him, devoid of pain, fear, panic...and life.