Free Web NovelChapter 173: Overwhelmed (1)
As the battle raged on, Alex’s sinister smile widened. With a swift motion, he flung a small, strange device towards the Phoenixes.
The device landed amidst the defenders, emitting a piercing buzzing noise that cut through the chaos. Immediately, the air crackled with unsettling energy, and a sense of unease settled over the Phoenixes.
Sable was the first to react. She raised her hands, summoning a wave of fire to destroy the device. But to her shock, her abilities failed to respond. Her fire flickered weakly before dissipating entirely, leaving her empty-handed and vulnerable. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"What the hell... what’s happening?" Sable exclaimed as, despite her attempts, she couldn’t call forth the fire she was so proud of. "Someone destroy that device!"
"On it!" Selena replied, but even the weapons didn’t work at the hands of the ’battlemaster’.
A wave of panic washed over the Phoenixes as they attempted to call upon their abilities one by one, only to realise that they, too, were devoid of their powers.
Lova’s psychic energy fizzled out, Kira’s control over plant life withered away, and Selena’s weapon mastery ceased to exist. A collective gasp escaped their lips as they stood defenceless, their hope for victory extinguishing swiftly.
Alex, his laughter echoing through the battlefield, stepped forward confidently.
"It seems fate has dealt you a cruel hand, Phoenixes. Your powers, the very essence of your strength, have been nullified. Surrender now, and perhaps I will spare you further suffering while dragging you back to Lord Aric’s palace."
His words hung heavily in the air, the weight of defeat pressing upon the settlers. They stood in stunned silence, their eyes flickering with despair and defiance.
They knew that without their abilities, the odds were stacked against them. Their hopes for victory seemed to slip through their fingers like grains of sand.
But just as despair threatened to consume them, a figure emerged from the ranks of the settlers. It was Rico, someone who had never been bestowed with supernatural abilities.
He stepped forward, his gaze unyielding, his determination burning bright alongside his flaming machete, Inferno’s Edge.
"Enough, you piece of shit!" Rico’s voice carried a resolute determination. "We will not bow to your tyranny. Our power does not lie solely in our abilities but in our unity, our spirit, and our unwavering will to protect what we hold dear. A power someone like you would never achieve."
Inspired by Rico’s courage, the settlers rallied behind him, forming a protective wall before the Phoenixes. Their faces reflected defiance and determination as they stood shoulder to shoulder, their unity a powerful force in the face of adversity.
"Yeah! We won’t let you take anyone away!" someone yelled from the crowd.
"Go tell your lord to take his palace and shove it up his ass!" yet another chimed in.
Alex’s confident smirk faltered momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure. "You think fools like you can challenge me? You are nothing compared to the might I possess!"
With a sudden burst of energy, Alex charged towards Rico, his sword held high. The settlers braced themselves, ready to defend against the onslaught of their formidable foe. The clash of metal echoed through the battlefield as Alex and Rico engaged in a fierce duel.
"How is your blade exhibiting such a dense aura?" Alex asked Rico once he realised that the flames enveloping the blades were magical rather than simply being lit on fire.
"You’ll know when I shove it in you," Rico replied through gritted teeth as Alex dodged yet another one of his attacks.
With a confident smirk, Alex raised his sword, his eyes filled with an air of superiority. "You think an ordinary human like you can defeat me? I can predict your every move, you fool. You stand no chance."
"Abilities or not, I will never let you bastards touch anyone here!" Rico’s eyes narrowed, his resolve unyielding. He twirled the blazing machetes, flames dancing along the blades.
"What a fool... I could have used someone like you as my dog. Oh well, it’ll be easier to cut you down than to try and tame you."
With a swift movement, Alex lunged forward, his blade aimed at Rico’s heart. His ability to predict his opponent’s movements granted him an edge, but Rico was determined to defy the odds.
He evaded the strike with a quick step to the side, the rush of air from Alex’s blade grazing his skin.
Rico retaliated with a series of precise strikes, his machetes blazing with fiery energy. The weapons sliced through the air, arcs of flames trailing in their wake. Each swing was calculated and fierce, aimed at exploiting any opening in Alex’s defences.
But Alex, utilising his premonitory ability, deftly dodged every attack, his movements seemingly effortless. His sword danced through the air with graceful precision, parrying Rico’s strikes with a seemingly unbreakable defence.
It was as if he was always one step ahead, his predictions allowing him to anticipate Rico’s every move.
However, unbeknownst to Alex, Rico had devised his own plan amidst their battle. As they clashed, Rico strategically manoeuvred himself closer to the device Alex had thrown earlier.
If it could affect them, Rico surmised that it should also have the same effect on Alex.
Rico closed the distance between himself and the device with each calculated step. His heart pounded in his chest as he anticipated the moment when he could neutralise Alex’s advantage.
He was confident that without his supernatural abilities, Alex would be vulnerable, either to Rico’s blade or the combined force of the settlers fighting alongside him. Victory seemed within their grasp.
But not all plans unfold as intended.
As Rico prepared to make his move, he unleashed a fierce attack against Alex, his fiery machetes whirling through the air. To his astonishment, Alex dodged the strike effortlessly, evading the attack despite standing mere inches from the device.
A look of frustration and disbelief crossed Rico’s face as he shouted, "How can you still use your abilities? We’re standing right next to the device!"
Alex’s eyes glimmered with amusement as he glanced at the device and then locked eyes with Rico. A chilling smile spread across his face, and he began to laugh, his laughter echoing like a deranged symphony amidst the chaos of battle.
"Oh, so this was your plan. I must say, I am impressed by your audacity. But perhaps your expectations were set too high."
Rico’s brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to comprehend Alex’s reaction. The realisation dawned upon him that there must be a reason why the ability negator had failed to affect Alex.
With a sly smirk, Alex raised an eyebrow and revealed the truth. "You see, my abilities are not solely based on supernatural powers like those of the Phoenixes."
He continued, "My gift lies within my physical prowess, instinct, and years of honed skill. The device may neutralise their powers, but it cannot dampen what is inherently part of me."
Rico’s eyes widened in realisation. The device had been explicitly designed to nullify supernatural abilities, but it was unable to strip away the expertise and training that made Alex a formidable adversary.
Alex’s strength lay in his mastery of combat, his ability to predict movements and his cunning strategies.
"You thought you could level the playing field, didn’t you? But you underestimated the depth of my capabilities." Alex’s laughter rang through the air as he taunted Rico further. "Your plan has failed, much like your hopes of survival. And now, it is time for you to witness the true extent of my power."
