Minotaur Ambush (2)

As my eyes remained on the minotaur struggling to rise, I knew it was time for another member of the main cast to show up.

Adriel's depleted state left him teetering on the ground. His body was completely drained of energy after the last move he had pulled off. Every fiber of his being screamed out in protest against the comforting embrace of unconsciousness. It was a miracle that he hadn't lost consciousness by now.

On the other hand, Amelia desperately stared at the minotaur, too scared to act up.

'At this moment, Eleanor should arrive to save-'

"Hey! What do you think you are doing standing there like a bin? Get up and help them!"

As I turned towards the source of the commanding voice, my eyes met Eleanor's determined stare. Without hesitation, Eleanor went past me, her sword gleaming as she charged towards the minotaur. With a swift and fluid motion, she raised her weapon high, poised to deliver a decisive blow aimed at the beast's neck.

"Sigh... I shouldn't have chosen such a visible position to watch the battle."

Even if I didn't help her, she would be still able to kill the Minotaur. But not helping her and staying still would only make me a coward in her eyes. And the idea of being on the bad side of a member of the main cast didn't sound appealing.

On the other hand, I would probably be more of a burden than a support. I didn't know how to wield my divine energy, let alone if there were any within me. The only knowledge I had about fighting was hand-to-hand combat, which I had trained in my past life for quite a while. I had a black belt in many martial arts and many golden medals in worldwide tournaments.

Although I had quit almost every one of my hobbies, I stuck with martial arts. It was a tribute to the memory of my father. My father always looked proud while watching me fight, so I pursued martial arts to honor my father, even if he wasn't alive anymore.

It was the only thing I took seriously and put everything on the line. I was known as the genius of martial arts who became a world champion at the age of 15, which was an incredible feat. It was thanks to the sponsor and the money I earned from martial arts that I was able to sustain my financial life without parental support.

"Now that I look at it... Those battles I fought against challenging opponents were the only occasions I felt truly alive amidst the monotonous and numb life I had."

Still, I didn't think my black belt would be a match for a giant minotaur. What was going to happen—do a spin kick at its toe? I could be of help if only I could control my divine energy. I knew this body could likely use divine energy because it was the only explanation for the corpses of grey monsters back in the forest.

So I closed my eyes and concentrated. I tried to imagine the description of the feeling of using divine energy in the novel. I focused my senses on my heart, the pumping center of the body that distributes divine energy throughout the veins. I started to feel the rhythmic beating of my heart. It was a similar sensation to when I meditated before my martial arts fights. It was like opening your chakra points.

Then something eventually sparked in my mind, and with each beating of my heart, a relaxing sensation spread throughout my body. I could feel something other than my blood cruising within my veins. Something light but at the same time violent.

Upon opening my eyes, I witnessed a surge of black-red threads emanating from my body, infusing me with renewed vitality and vigor. Though I was uncertain of the extent of the power coursing through me, it was better than nothing. With that, I swiftly made my way towards the scene of the battle.

Drawing closer to the scene, my eyes fell upon Eleanor, who was trying to protect Amelia from the menacing advance of the minotaur. With the beast looming over them, its presence casting a pall of fear, Amelia had fainted, overwhelmed by the sheer terror of the moment. Meanwhile, Adriel remained immobilized, a helpless observer to the unfolding struggle.

With the minotaur's attention wholly fixated on Eleanor, it remained oblivious to my stealthy approach from behind. Taking advantage of this, I dashed forward, my sights set on its vulnerable right ankle. While wielding a weapon might have seemed more conventional, I believed in my limbs more than a blade.

Summoning forth the unfamiliar energy, I channeled it into my right hand, into a potent punch. With the minotaur's senses dulled by its weakened state, it remained unaware of my impending strike until the very last moment. By then, it was too late.

My fist connected with its ankle with a resounding impact, the force behind the blow was followed by a sickening crunch. The bone shattered beneath the force of my punch, and the minotaur staggered, collapsing to its knee.

*Roaar!*

Despite the daunting size of the beast before me, the minotaur's leg anatomy remained fundamentally humanoid. And one thing I mastered during my martial arts training was human anatomy and its weak points. I had directed my strike to the vulnerable junction where tendons and bones intertwined.

I must admit I was surprised by the sheer force of my punch. I watched as the minotaur writhed in agony from its tendon being torn apart. Not wasting this chance, Eleanor arced towards the minotaur. In a swift motion, Eleanor brought her blade down in a horizontal slash, delivering a crippling blow to the Minotaur's head.

*Thud*

The minotaur's severed head tumbled to the ground, a torrent of black blood gushing forth from its sliced neck. As the threat dissipated with its demise, a wave of exhaustion washed over me, the adrenaline-fueled rush giving way to the dull ache of weary muscles and fatigue. I guess harnessing divine energy for the first time had exacted a toll on my body.

Unlike my weariness, Eleanor appeared unfazed by the ordeal. As I observed her, our gazes met.

"If you can, lend me a hand in bringing these two to the infirmary!"

"Yeah..."

After gathering some energy in my legs, I made my way over to where the main cast lay. Adriel, too, had succumbed to the overwhelming fatigue, lying unconscious.

"I will carry that girl, and you carry him."

"Sure."

I looked down at Adriel's body, which wasn't said to be in his best condition. I crouched down beside him and lifted him onto my back. Eleanor did the same, hoisting Amelia's unconscious body onto her shoulders, and we set out for the infirmary.

"Thanks for the help."

"Don't mention it. You would have dealt with it even if I had not intervened."

I was telling the truth. She was bound to kill the minotaur anyway.

"Still..."

As the demigods approached, their expressions a mixture of relief and apprehension, our conversation was interrupted by their arrival. While some seemed genuinely concerned about our well-being, the majority of their attention was fixated on the spectacle of the lightning that had brought down the minotaur. Though it was an understandable reaction. Only one lineage of demigods possessed the power to control lightning: the children of Zeus himself, the king of the Gods.

The revelation that Adriel was the son of Zeus was shocking, for it was an exceedingly rare occurrence for a child of the Big Three to make it to the camp, let alone be born. This was because it was very rare for the Big Three to have demigod children.

But what was more unbelievable was the arrival of Eleanor, another child of the Big Three, just the day before. The sudden appearance of not one, but two offspring of the most powerful gods in just two days was not something to scoff at.

"What was that lighting?!"

"How can someone control lighting?! What the hell?"

"First a daughter of Poseidon and now a son of Zeus! What's going on?"

As the crowd murmured with excitement and curiosity, a figure emerged from their midst, towering above the assembled demigods. At first, one would think he was just tall, as the crowd obstructed the view of his lower body. Yet, as he moved through the crowd, his lower half came into view, revealing a horse's body seamlessly melded with the torso of a human. He was a Centaur.

'Chiron, the director of Camp Twilight'

Chiron was the wisest of all the centaurs and served as a tutor for many heroes of Greek mythology. In this world, he was the director of Camp Twilight, a mentor for all the demigods here.

"Silence! Let them be, they are wounded and in need of immediate aid. Your curiosity can wait until nightfall around the campfire. But for now, disperse at once!"

Hearing the director, the crow was disbanded, and we were able to reach the infirmary where a pink-haired girl with pink eyes greeted us.

"Quick! Put them onto the beds!"

Although Amelia wasn't hurt at all, Adriel's terrible condition painted a different picture. His body bore the brunt of the minotaur's ferocity, with multiple broken bones and deep wounds marring his form. It was clear that he required urgent medical attention to address the severity of his injuries.

After diligently tending to Adriel's wounds, Grace's expression softened, the furrow of worry that had creased her brow now replaced by a sense of reassurance, as she ensured Adriel's life.

"He will be fine by night. His regeneration ability is exceptional."

Grace's gaze shifted towards me, a mischievous smile on her face. 

"You two just came here a day ago, and you already hunted down a minotaur. What a surprise."

Pointing at Eleanor, I said.

"I merely stood by. It was her and the white-haired guy who defeated the minotaur."

Eleanor arched an eyebrow upon hearing my response, realizing my attempt to deflect credit onto her. However, my intention wasn't to make it look like she single-handedly killed the minotaur but rather to avoid drawing attention to myself.

"Is that so?"

Although dissatisfied with my response, Grace chose to let the matter rest, opting not to press further.

"Okay, you two can leave now. I will handle the rest."

Exiting the infirmary with Eleanor, I began taking cumbersome steps toward the cafeteria, my stomach protesting loudly at the prolonged absence of food for over 16 hours.

But I was stopped by Eleanor half-way.

"Hey!"

As I looked into her eyes which were vast and deep like the endless domain of the ocean, I felt as if I were drowning beneath the sea waves.

"I am Eleanor Aiken. What's your name?"