Berbeda dari serangan pertama ketika mereka diserang, di mana panah itu memberi tanda bahwa ini hanya serangan biasa, kali ini serangan itu sunyi, cepat, dan membunuh. Kelompok itu terlalu terpecah untuk Lex membela mereka, dan meski ia berhasil menghindari panah yang menyenggatnya dan melindungi Cwenhild dari panah lainnya, sisanya yang lain ditinggal untuk membela diri sendiri.
Surprisingnya, Patrick berhasil menghindari panah yang menyenggatnya, bahkan berhasil menyelamatkan Silvia, penyembuh itu. Semua orang yang lain, namun, tidak dapat menghindar. Karena peringatan Lex, mereka telah menghindar dari serangan yang dapat mengakibatkan kematian, tetapi dari Bearin hingga Ness hingga Jovi dan sebagainya, semua telah terluka. Cindy dan Jade 1 terluka paling parah, panahnya menembus dada mereka, dan mereka mundur dengan wajah pallor, hanya karena fakta bahwa mereka juga kultivator tubuh membuat mereka tidak langsung kolaps.
Waktu serangannya sangat pas, bukan hanya memastikan Lex terlalu jauh untuk membantu, tetapi juga terjadi begitu saja ketika semua orang masih menghadapi serangan jiwa Kraven. Mangkatan tidak ada jika bukan karena peringatan Lex, serangan surpresa sederhana ini akan berakhir dengan mengakhiri seluruh kelompok.
Lex sangat menyadari fakta bahwa seorang Kraven marah berada di belakang mereka, Lex melompat ke depan untuk mendapatkan jarak sambil Cwenhild yang sura marah mencari penyerang. Tak terduga, mereka tidak menyembunyikan diri kali ini. Dua belas ekor yang menutupi kepala sampai kaki dengan baju hitam, semua memegang anak panah, berdiri pada jarak pendek.
Ia mengintip. Jumlah penyerang itu tidak bisa dijadikan kebetulan. Seseorang telah menyasar mereka sejak awal. Tapi siapa yang sanea yang melakukannya? Bahkan jika ia putus dari ayahnya, ia tetap memiliki dukungan ibunya, tak tolong mengisyaratkan bahwa setiap anggota grupnya berasal dari latar belakang yang kuat.
Jika bahkan satu orang dari mereka meninggal, itu tidak bisa ditutupi, akan ada penyelidikan penuh dengan Immortal di dasarnya.
Namun, tidak ada artinya. Mereka berada dalam posisi yang sulit sekarang. Karena tidak ada gangguan, mereka punya peluang baik untuk membunuh Kraven. Tapi dengan penyerang yang menyerang dari belakang, mereka telah kehilangan semuanya.
"Lex, bisa kamu tunda Kraven itu?" tanya-nanya dengan desperasi mencari rencana.
"Untuk waktu singkat, pasti saja."
"Beri saya lima menit," katanya, sambil menginjakkan kaki ke tanah. Dari saat ia menyelamatkan Cwenhild, Lex telah berlari sambil membawa bambutan.
"Lima adalah batasnya, target tiganya. Aku hanya manusia di alam Fondasi, dan itu adalah Kraven di Golden Core. Setiap detik aku menghabiskan waktunya adalah setinggi keajaiban, secara teknis."
Cwenhild menganggu pada catatan Lex. Tekanan situasi dan kemarahan yang muncul tidak berarti ia tidak mencatat ketiadaan kekhawatiran atau ketegangan dalam suaranya. Itu bukan nada seseorang yang berdoa untuk keajaiban, melainkan seseorang yang merasa segalanya berada dalam kendali.
Selama berkumpul bersama, ia telah mencatat selves resistance yang lembut Lex bungkuk mengikuti perintahnya, meskipun dengan waktu, ia telah belajar untuk menyembunyikannya dengan baik. Tapi karena ia sudah tahu apa yang harus dicari, selalu menemukannya.
Pandangan di matanya, caranya berdiri, bahkan caranya berbicara semua menyiratkan fakta bahwa ia terbiasa dengan otoritas, didukung kekuatan yang sebenarnya. Irah bahwa ia, adik laki-laki yang tidak mengenakan nama keluarganya, mengemukan bangga bangsawan darah agungnya yang terbaik.
Bahkan saat ini, sambil mencoba menyembunyikan ekstensi kemampuan di balik kata-kata sopan, temperaturnya tidak memizkai citra yang dihambat oleh kata-katanya.
Semua itu hanyalah pikiran singkat sebagai Cwenhild mengalihkan perhatiannya ke penyerang yang kembali menyuntik panah, dan menyelamatkan mereka dengan cepat reoganisasi formasi kelompok untuk menyerang penyerang, membenarkan yang terluka untuk mundur.
Lex ditinggalkan untuk menghadapi Kraven. Adikannya, Lex berbalik menuju Kraven dengan kebingungan - ia mengharapkan balasan yang cepat yang tak datang. Tapi ia langsung menyadari mengapa. Kraven telah mengambil tangannya dan menyambungkannya kembali ke tubuhnya, memegangnya dengan banyak lendir.
"Kamu tahu, sebenarnya tidak pernah kulihatkan bahwa Kraven bisa berbicara. Meski begitu, semua orang mempertimbangkan pengetahuan ini terlalu dasar untuk bahkan disebutkan padaku. Apa perlakuan? Hallo. Aku Lex. Sepertinya kita mulai dengan salah. Kenapa tidak kita coba bicara? Aku selalu sangat penasaran dengan Kraven, aku punya banyak pertanyaan."
Kraven mengedipkan mata di bawah Lex dengan kepalanya accspin, seperti melihat pada sesuatu yang aneh. Lex bisa melihatnya mencoba untuk memgerakkan telakpnya. Sepertinya proses menyambungkannya tidak mudah.
"Resonansi? Apakah itu yang menyebabkan serangan jiwa dalam suaranya? Apa itu?" tidak jawab Kraven, dan mengubah kepalanya untuk menghadap kembali ke erangnya. Telakpnya sedang memulihkan gerakannya.
"Kamu benar, itu pertanyaan yang buruk. Mari kita fokus pada pertanyaan yang lebih penting. Kamu lihat, aku memiliki perspektif unik saat melihat ke gambaran yang lebih besar. Aku bisa melihat hal-hal yang orang lain tidak bisa. Tapi aku masih tidak paham - mengapa Kraven berperang dengan seluruh realm? Apa tujuan mereka untuk bertempur bersama semua orang?"
Lex sedang berjalan sambil berbicara, menyusun tempatnya di antara Kraven dan sisanya. Dalam huru-hara untuk menyelamatkan Cwenhild, ia telah meletakkan pedangnya di suatu tempat, tapi pendinginya tetap berada di tangannya.
"Menurut guru-guduku, kamu tidak memiliki kebutuhan biologis sebagai dorongan untuk menyembunyikan ras lain. Kamu tidak perlu membunuh semua ras secara berkelanjutan untuk bertahan hidup, dan aku ragu konsumsi sumber dayanya tidak begitu tinggi sehingga butuh seluruh realm."
Kraven tetap tidak bicara. Ia telah memulihkan hampir kendali sempurna atas tangannya, tubuhnya dan perlahan mulai mengeluarkan lendir seperti yang biasanya menutupinya.
"Baiklah, kalau kamu tidak..." Pertanyaan berikutnya Lex dipotong oleh Kraven yang meledak dalam gerakan. Satu saat ia diam, selanjutnya miliknya memiliki kecepatan dan kekuatan penuh seperti avalanche. Ia bukan berlari menuju Lex, namun mataknya membara pada Cwenhild. Namun, tak peduli seberapa mendadaknya ia berpindah, Lex telah memperkirakan hal itu.
Dengan menggenggam kedua tangannya, Lex muncul di putaran Kraven, membuatnya langsung menabrak petambakan itu. Karena ledakan tidak sebagai serangan, petambakan Lex dengan mudah menahan gaya kekerasan, tapi Lex masih hampir tersentuh.
"Keluar dari jalan, seekor!" meluapkan Kraven sambil tidak memperhatikan Lex.
"Aku bisa melihat bahwa kamu pikir kamu adalah ras yang lebih baik," kata Lex dengan suara yang aneh, tetap tenang dan penasaran meskipun berlari untuk sekali lagi memblokir Kraven.
"TAPI KENAPA KRAVEN MEMERLUK DIRI SEBAGAI PUPPET OLEH RAS-RAS LAIN?"
Ke-benaran sulihan dalam suara Lex sebagai ia bertanya membuatnya lebih menyindir daripada pertanyaannya sendiri.
"KITAKA BUKAN PUPPET! ALAM SEMUAIAN MERAYUKAN DI BAWAH KEKUATAN KAMI!"
Dengan jelas, Larangan Kebangkitan Terakhir, Kraven melepaskan serangan dua tangan ke arah Lex, sekali lagi secara rapat pecah menghajar petambakan! Lex mencoba melompatmundur, tapi satu telakpnya yang kokoh menempel di dada Lex, memotong armornya menjadi benang kusoh. Tiga luka yang busuk memotong terbuka di dada-nya - meski tidak berdarah, karena lendirnya menutupinya! Baiklah, itu adalah sesuatu yang bagus ia telah Ripple shell dig pakai pada dirinya sepanjang hari, alternatively daripada beberapa gash, ia akan memiliki lubang di tubuhnya. Tentu saja, satu serangan itu telah menghancurkan shell itu, jadi kecuali ia menggunakan tekniknya lagi, terbaik tidak untuk bertahan tembakan.
Lex menatap jahatnya. Kekuatan brute Kraven sudah mengganggu menghadapi, tapi telakpnya hanya terlalu membunuh. Dengan lendir... Lex menatap ke bawah, lalu mengabaikannya. Jika ia mencoba untuk mengizinkannya, hanya akan menempelkan tangannya pada dada. Lendir akan perlahan membunuhnya, tapi ia harus ada sebars resistance terhadap racun.
Ia akan dapat menghapusnya jika ia menggunakan array, tapi Kraven tidak akan memberikannya waktu untuk membentuknya. Ia benar-benar membutuhkan berlatih dengan mereka lebih banyak.
"Ya benar, realm itu aman dengan diserang oleh Kraven, dan semua orang kehilangan, dan ada banyak kekhawatiran, kata-katanya seolah-olah air itu basah."
"Dan ya, kamu berhasil dengan cara menguasai wilayah dari ras lain secara penuh. Tapi sejak saat itu, apa yang kamu lakukan? Ada progres konstan, tapi lambat. Ancaman Kraven selalu hadir, tapi kamu tahu..."
Lex menggunakan bicara ke tangan dengan kedua tangannya, tapi juga melompat kembali ketika Kraven menyerang lagi. Ia tidak dapat menghindar terlalu banyak atau Kraven akan pergi ke arah Cwenhild, tapi ia juga tidak dapat menahan serangan berdepan. Mengapa kehidupan begitu sulit?
Unlike the first time they were attacked, when the arrow had all the indications of just being a normal attack, this time, the attack was silent, swift, and deadly. The group was too split up for Lex to defend them, and while he had perfectly dodged the arrow aiming for him and protected Cwenhild from hers, the rest of the group were left to defend themselves.
Surprisingly, Patrick had managed to dodge the arrow aiming for him perfectly, and even managed to save Silvia, the healer. Everyone else, however, was unable to dodge. Due to Lex's warning, they had dodged a fatal attack, but from Bearin to Ness to Jovi and the rest, everyone had suffered. Cindy and Jade 1 were hurt the worst, with the arrow tearing through their torsos, and were retreating with pale faces, only the fact that they were also body cultivators kept them from immediately collapsing.
The timing of the attack had been perfect, not only ensuring Lex was too far to help but also happened just as everyone was coping with the Kraven's spirit attack. Had it not been for Lex's warning, this simple surprise attack would have ended the entire group.
Very aware of the fact that an angry Kraven was right behind them, Lex leapt forward to get some distance while a furious Cwenhild searched for the attackers. Unexpectedly, they did not hide this time. Twelve figures covered from head to toe in black clothes, all holding bows stood a short distance from them.
She squinted. The number of attackers could not have been a coincidence. Someone had been aiming for them from the very start. But who was crazy enough to do that? Even if she cut her ties with her father, she still had her mothers support, not to mention that each one of the members of her group came from one powerful background or another.
If even a single one of them died, it was not something that could be suppressed, and there would be a full investigation, with Immortals at the lead.
But, it did not matter. They were in a tough spot now. Had there been no interference, they had a good chance of killing the Kraven. But with these assassins attacking from the back, they were done for.
"Lex, can you delay the Kraven?" she asked, desperately thinking of a plan.
"For a short time, sure."
"Give me five minutes," she said, as she stepped to the ground. From the moment he saved her, Lex had been running while carrying her.
"Five is pushing it, aim for 3. I'm just a man in the Foundation realm, and that's a Kraven in the Golden core. Every second I occupy his time is a miracle, technically."
Cwenhild snorted at Lex's remark. The urgency of the situation and her erupting anger did not mean she didn't notice the complete lack of anxiety or tension in his voice. It was not the tone of one praying for a miracle, but that of one who had the situation completely under control.
During their time together, she had noticed a mild resistance Lex exhibited when following her orders, though with time, he had managed to learn how to hide it better. But since she already knew what to look for, she always found it.
The look in his eyes, the way he stood, even the way he spoke all hinted at the fact that he was used to authority, backed by real power. It was ironic that he, the one sibling of hers who went without his family name, carried the nobility of his royal bloodline the best.
Even now, while he tried to hide the true extent of his abilities behind modest words, his temperament did not allow his diminishing words to actually diminish his image.
All of that was but a passing thought as Cwenhild turned her attention towards the assassins who were once again nocking their arrows, and bolted off. She yelled orders as she ran, quickly reorganizing the groups formation towards attacking the assassins, and allowing the injured to retreat.
Lex was left alone to deal with the Kraven. Speaking of which, Lex turned towards the Kraven in confusion - he was expecting a swift retaliation that never came. But he immediately realized why. The Kraven had picked up its hand and was reattaching it to its body, holding it in place with a lot of slime.
"You know, it actually never occurred to me that Kraven could talk. Though I guess everyone considered this knowledge too basic to even mention to me. Anyway, hi. I'm Lex. I think we got off on the wrong foot. Why don't we just talk this out. I've always been very curious about you Kraven, I have so many questions."
The Kraven looked at Lex with its head twisted, as if looking at something strange. Lex could see it trying to move the claws on its severed hand. It seemed the reattaching process was not so easy.
"It is because inferior races cannot understand our language, or tolerate the resonance our voice brings. How curious that you can understand."
A single claw flinched, but it had not yet perfected its
"Resonance? Is that what causes the spiritual attack in your voice? What is that?" The Kraven didn't answer, and turned its head to look back at its arm. It was regaining movement.
"You're right, that's a bad question. Let's focus on other, more important questions. You see, I have a unique perspective when it comes to looking at the bigger picture. I can see things that others really can't. But I still don't understand - why are the Kraven at war with the whole realm? What's the point of fighting everyone?"
Lex was walking as he talked, positioning himself between the Kraven and the rest. In a rush to save Cwenhild, he had dropped his sword somewhere, but his shield was very much still in his hand.
"According to my teachers, you don't have a biological need driving you. You don't need to slaughter all the races endlessly for your own survival, and I doubt your resource consumption is so high that you need the whole realm."
The Kraven still did not talk. It had regained almost perfect control of its hand, and its body and slowly started to once again secrete the slime that usually covered it.
"Alright, if you don't…" Lex's next question was cut short by the Kraven bursting into motion. One moment it was still, the next it had the full speed and ferocity of an avalanche. It was not running towards Lex, though, and instead its eyes glared angrily towards Cwenhild. But, regardless of how abruptly it had moved, Lex had been expecting it.
Holding out both his hands, Lex appeared in its paths, causing the Kraven to smash directly into the barrier. Since it was a crash instead of an attack, Lex's barrier withstood the force with comparative ease, but Lex was still almost knocked over.
"Move out of the way, vermin!" the Kraven roared, still not even bothering to look at Lex.
"I can tell that you think you're a superior race," Lex said, his voice somehow managing to retain its sense of calm and curiosity, even as he ran to once again block the Kraven.
"But if that's the case, why are the Kraven allowing themselves to be used like puppets by all the races?"
The genuine innocence in Lex's voice as he asked was somehow more grating than the question itself.
"WE ARE NO ONES PUPPETS!" the Kraven roared, finally turning to look at Lex. "THE ENTIRE REALM TREMBLES BENEATH OUT MIGHT!"
Lex should not have considered attracting the creature's fury an accomplishment, as the Kraven smashed towards Lex's barrier with both hands, this time firmly breaking it!
Lex tried to jump back, but one of its claws firmly landed on his chest, cutting his armor to ribbons. Three ugly gashes cut open on his chest - though he did not bleed, for slime had covered them up! Well, it was a good thing he had Ripple shell used on himself the entire time, or instead of a few gashes, he would have a hole in his body. Of course, that single attack had destroyed the shell, so unless he used the technique again, it was best not to get hit.
Lex grimaced. The Kraven's brute strength was already a hassle to face, but its claws were just too damn deadly. As for the slime… Lex looked down, then ignored it. If he tried to pull it off, it would only glue his hand to his chest. The slime would slowly poison him, but he should have some resistance to poison.
He would be able to get rid of it if he used an array, but the Kraven would not give him the time to form one. He really needed to practice with them more.
"Oh yes, the realm is firmly at war with the Kraven, and everyone is losing, and there's so much fear," Lex said blandly, as if he was that water was wet.
"And yeah, you managed to somehow take over the territory of an entire race. But since then, what have you done? There's constant progress, but it's slow. The threat of the Kraven is ever present, but you know…"
Lex used Talk to the Hand with both hands, but also jumped back as the Kraven attacked once again. He couldn't dodge too much or the Kraven would go towards Cwenhild, but he also couldn't take head-on attacks. Why was life so hard?
"But you know, like I said, I have a different perspective on things. Between all the fear, the propaganda, the fighting and mobilizing all the races' strength to fight against the Kraven, all you've really achieved… is strengthening the reign of each of the races respective King. After all, before the Kraven, none of the races had ever banded together to form a unified nation. Now… well yes, you take land each year, but it seems to me that the humans at least put up just enough resistance to slow down your approach to an acceptable level. Speaking just for the humans, all you've really done is strengthen the King's control on these lands. I can tell that much just by studying the basic history for the last few hundred years, so others should be able to tell that much as well, right? Which is why I asked… why are the Kraven acting like puppets?"
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