Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

"Phew, they don't rest, do they?" Said Anton, finishing up the last of the Infectors. His face was tense after the battle, though there were no apparent wounds on his body.

It was about an hour since they entered the Infector Nest, and all they came across was the Infectors. They came in dozens in numbers, screeching all the way. It's good that none of them were heavily injured. Anton, Davin, and Wrik did have some scratches on their bodies, but nothing else.

"We don't have time for small talk, let's get moving," Wrik said.

Anton nodded as he took the lead again. While Wrik checked the map, now the map differed from the previous time he had checked. The red dot was moving, which meant An Byul and Kevin were moving. But the direction was away from them. His lips tightened as a frown appeared on his brows.

"What is it?" Tanya asked, noticing his unnatural expressions.

"Check the map."

Tanya compiled, opened the window. A frown appeared instantly on her brows. "They were moving deeper, exactly opposite from here."

"What does that mean?" Davin asked.

"That means, we have to hurry," Wrik sighed. "Ton, let's go faster, do not need to worry about the infectors."

On the other hand, Anton didn't reply. He stood there in the front before putting his ears on the sidewalls. His expression turned from grim to serious, then to normal.

"What is it?" Wrik asked. "Is it more Infectors?"

"Yes, but it looks like it isn't just Infectors alone," Anton answered, moving his ear from the wall.

"That means. . ."

"Yes, other participants." Anton nodded. "They were fighting the Infectors approximately half a mile from here."

"Well, we don't have time, let's go."

They started moving again in the same formation. It's been their most favourable position up till now. The main reason was: Tanya could look over everyone's back from the middle, so they could combat without worrying about any sneak attack or anything. And another addition was Evan, that guy knows what he's doing, he made his side secure. He was quite experienced in this sort of battle. Being an inquisitor acolyte had its perks.

Soon they arrived where the battle was taking place, five humans against two dozen infectors. They were holding it in the stalemate, but it won't last long.

With a bit of hesitation, Wrik activated his [Eye of Insights], a white silvery glow appeared around his pupil before condensing into a ring. Now he could see better. Actually, the battle was in two groups: a man and woman of his age were fighting on one side, while on the other were three men of various ages, from mid-twenties to the late thirties.

The girl was doing more than well actually, firing flame balls all around. She alone was holding half the numbers here. But her companion, in comparison, was in a poor state. He seemed to be an Archer, but he was playing twin-blade as there's no arrow left. His forms were awful, like a kid with no training. On the other hand, the other three were more desperate, the youngest looked severely injured while the middle-aged man in a mercenary getup did the most work. And the last man was horrible, barely holding it in.

"That girl is good," Tanya appreciated, seeing the rapid casting of flame spells.

Yes, she was good, but it would have been better if she knew what she was doing. They would have been in much better condition if they were working together, but it looks like they were diverging more from each other.

"Ton?"

"On it," Anton nodded, equipping the bow, he pulled in the string as the arrow was coated in black smoke-like substance—shadow element. The moment he released the string, the arrow pierced the head of an infector, assaulting the desperate man with the twin blade.

Tanya didn't rest either, a spike was released attacking the weak spot—neck of the infector. She didn't rest with just one as she started assaulting the infector in full swing.

Wrik and others also got their hands dirty in the tussle as well.

The Archer with the twin-blade sighed in relief. He glanced in their direction with a small nod, before continuing the battle.

Wrik and Davin helped the group of three while Anton, Evan, and Tanya helped the girl and the man. The former group said nothing, just reinforced the battle more vigorously.

The one that finished their battle first was the group of Tanya and others, as most firepower was in that group. They helped Wrik and Davin settling in the few that remained.

Wrik closed off his eye as the battle ended, when he opened it again it lost all the silvery hue in it, regained all its blackness.

"Thank you for your help. . ." the red-haired girl said, before collapsing on the ground.

"Michelle," the archer of her team tried to catch her but failed. He called her again, but it looked like the redhead was already unconscious.

"Let me see," Tanya approached the unconscious body. The man seemed unconvinced, but nodded upon recalling their situation. Tanya put her palm on the red hairs' forehead, then on her pulse. "It's nothing serious, she over-exhausted her mana to the limit."

"We have some mana replenishing serum," the archer tried to open the bag of the girl but was halted.

"No, those serums might be good for short-term recovery, but it's horrible for the long term. I wouldn't recommend that." Tanya said. "Just let her rest a couple of hours, she would be fine."

The archer pondered for a moment, and nodded, looking at the face of the red-haired girl. She was quite young, to be honest, maybe not even an adult yet. Even though she was unconscious, she still had a frown on her eyebrows.

"Well, if everyone is alright, we need to move the right way," Wrik called out from behind. They had more severe things to worry about.

Tanya and others nodded as they prepared to leave, but another voice halted them.

"Wait."

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