Display of Strength

With Akt joining the group's efforts in fending off the demonized wolves, the situation got a bit better. Although his strength was still not quite there, he was able to plug the holes in the formation that emerged when Dalt covered for Kark earlier with his skills and ability to read the flow of the battle.

By using his [Analyze], it was quite easy for him to know where his presence was needed the most. His eyes scanned everything in his vision and fed his mind with information. With the spots he could not see, he made use of his hearing as a substitute. He made use of this to pinpoint the wolf pack's weak points and disrupt their momentum in order to ease the load for the other members of the party.

His work was subtle and unnoticeable to the untrained eyes. However, Dalt was astonished as he was able to see through this. How could Dalt not know what he was doing? Dalt was still a leader after all even if the group was only made out of five members. It was usually his position to command the others and place them in places where they could best exert their strengths.

'This is insane. Maybe Kark's nonsense about a hidden clan was real after all...' Dalt thought.

It was not only that point that had Dalt startled. He watched countless times how Akt moved in smooth, trained movements whenever he swung his sword. His swordsmanship was unfettered in the battlefield, akin to a bird flying freely in the sky. Sometimes, his sword was unbridled and wild like that of a tempest. He would come like the wind, slashing and thrusting with accuracy. The other times, he was gentle like that of an early morning breeze. His swings were careful, soft, and tender as he blocked, parried, and deflected the strikes that came for him.

Dalt thought that it was not a far-fetched claim to assume that this kid might be from a powerful secluded clan somewhere out there. Otherwise, how could Akt's ability to read the flow of the battlefield and sublime swordsmanship be explained while he was only at the Body Tempering realm? Isn't that too strange then if that was not the case?

Of course, one could also say that he might be from a powerful martial sect with his talent. However, it would be quite boring for Dalt to think of it in this way. Only with mystery could his imagination be satisfied. Men should be allowed to dream!

Still, Dalt felt that it was a pity. Although the situation managed to maintain its equilibrium with Akt's help, it was still worse than what they had earlier before he got injured by a wolf. If only Akt had a cultivation at the same level as theirs, things might have turned out for the better. Sadly, this was not their reality.

"Damn... I never knew you were this good, kid," Kark hollered. "Maybe, you should bring us back to your clan and have us join after we get out of this!"

The others laughed amidst the battle after hearing this.

Akt rolled his eyes as he swung his sword, "You still have not given up on that? As I said, I'm from a normal rural village! Would I be adventuring like this if I have a clan to rely on?"

When they heard this, the rest of the party members felt that it did make sense. If it was them, they would definitely stay cooped up inside their clan and cultivate with all the resources available to them. Yet, here he was. However, upon remembering his show of strength just now, they "realized" that things were not so simple. How could someone from a rural village develop such profound swordplay? They could only think that, maybe, Akt just did not want to say something about it.

Of course, as kind-hearted seniors, they nodded in "understanding". But whether they accepted his claims was something unknown to him.

"Less speaking and focus. We might get in trouble again if any of you get distracted." Dalt scolded.

---

Time went by and it had already been two hours since Akt joined in the defense. Pants and Gasps for air could be heard along with the sounds of a battle between beasts and adventurers. Although the group could still hold on for a bit longer, it was quite obvious that their party was an arrow at the end of its flight.

They had already made it in the outer areas of the forest with the speed they were going, but it would still take quite a while to reach the outside of the forest and the city walls with their current speed. As it was already in the middle of the night, they could not count on the possibility of encountering adventurers to help them.

Kark, riddled with gruesome wounds, spoke, "Shadow, are you still good?"

"Kark?" Puzzled, Shadow asked as he panted. "What is it?"

"Let's switch up. I'll take the front. I can't handle any more than this."

As much as Kark did not want to admit it, it was the truth. Unlike Dalt and Akt going in tandem, he had to do the blocking and attacking by himself. It was already a feat that he managed to last this long. While Shadow felt his body growing heavier from the fatigue, he knew how tired and worn-out Kark was compared to his condition. He thought that it would be better to switch up now than have Kark pass out later.

"Shit... Alright, come here!"

"Thanks..."

Moments later, Dalt's voice sounded, "Alia, cover them first the moment they switch up. We can still handle it without your support for a minute. Make sure the formation does not get messed up."

"Alright. I'm running out of arrows though. You all should get ready." Alia reminded in a somber tone.

Their faces turned grim when they heard this. Although Dalt and the others' roles at the back were the most important ones, it was Alia's support that kept all of them afloat. Her arrows were equivalent to life-saving artifacts that had saved them countless times.

Of course, she did not run out of arrows by shooting every beast her vision met. She only shot for defensive purposes, and her running out of ammunition only showed how overwhelming and dire their situation was. It was her who dealt with sneak attacks and helped when someone was about to be overwhelmed. Now that the lifeline they were relying on was about to disappear, anxiousness sprouted in their minds.

They knew that while Alia was capable of doing the same with her dagger, her proficiency in it was not on par with her skills with the bow. And she would also be losing the wide point of view of an archer by engaging in close combat. The holes that they had tried so hard to cover up would definitely resurface at that time, quickening the pace at which their formation would crumble.

Akt was also feeling the fatigue settling in his body. Even though he had the body of a superhuman, his physical capabilities were still below that of Baron-class cultivators. Without Alia's arrows, he would have to deal with even more attacks. And dealing with more while analyzing the battlefield with his Ability would drain him out of his stamina even more.

"I've run out!" Alia cried out.

Everyone felt their hearts tighten at that moment. It finally came. The final straw that would break the camel's back finally happened.