Chapter 652 (Patreon)

Ajax could feel the Mana being gathered by the enemy elites. They were responding to his presence, his surprise attack had been too effective and they had already killed one champion with Aurexion keeping another at bay Ajax was sure the second mage was about to fall so they were trying to slow him down. 

Ajax had to fight his own instincts that were screaming at him to back down, use [Mana Syphon] to weaken the spells coming at him from the elites and make a solid retreat with Aurexion now that they killed a champion. But that wasn’t their plan, they needed more than a single weak champion to die to swing the battle. 

Instead of backing off Ajax stopped using [Mana Syphon] to drain the Mana surrounding him and focused it solely on boosting his own physical prowess. He trusted his movements solely to his Style Skill as he pushed off with Vibration Mana off the ground, his step causing a shockwave from the launch as he dashed towards the second mage.

The two champions he had felt pulling back were almost upon him but Ajax was closer to the mage. Better yet he could tell that these two champions were the same ones he faced before so he was sure they had no way to get to him before he got to the mage.

Ajax brought his axe down looking to follow through on killing the mage before targeting the hybrid champion that was charging him all while keeping away from the physically focused beastkin. That’s when the mage’s spell finished, instead of something offensive or defensive like he had expected the mage had opted to go for a spell based on movement. Encased in a layer of rock the mage threw itself out of the way Ajax’s axe barely clipping the hardened shell of his self imposed prison and shattering a part of it.

Spells of the elites landed all around him but since they couldn’t risk hitting their own champion none of them were actually that powerful so Ajax simply increased the amount of Life Mana and ignored the damage as the other two champions were about to arrive.

“You’ll die this time little boy!” The physical champion snarled as he raised his own axe ready to clash with Ajax.

Ajax prepared to charge head first into the other champion when it happened. With Life Mana healing his body, Vibration Mana empowering the impact of his every step, [Mana Syphoon] increasing the power of his muscle far past what his body should be able to handle, [Last Stand] hardening his body so it could endure and his style balancing everything together, it all clicked.

Ajax’s mind couldn’t even keep up with his own actions. He had severely overshot his target having dashed straight past the other champion, the place he launched himself from having shattered from the power of his step. A dull pain in his left leg got his attention just in time to see his own bone poking out through the skin for a brief moment before his leg straightened back up and healed.

In the air above him Ajax caught sight of his opponent's axe as it was spinning with the severed hand still attached. Ajax’s swing might not have landed where he had initially planned but he had still taken the arm off his opponent, he had been moving so fast that his own leg gave out and broke when he tried to stop too quickly. More than everything else however Ajax was worried about how much Mana and Stamina he was burning through with every passing instant.

Ajax knew he had achieved it, his Pseudo-Mythic Skill was active right now but he didn’t even have a moment to spare as it was draining him dry. The power he felt pulsing through his body was beyond anything he could hope to control so he blindly trusted in his Skill and instead focused on actions, he still had a target so his eyes moved towards impact crater caused by the mages escape spell.

Before he had even locked on to the mage his body was already moving, his Skill adapting to his empowered body so that he wouldn’t overshoot his stopping point this time or snap his leg upon arrival. Despite the adjustment being made Ajax could still feel the tendon in his knee snap and Life Mana pulse as it already started to heal as he stopped to transfer the power of his momentum through to the swing of his axe, the movement of the swing crisp enough to make use of [Spell Direction] to empower the Magma infused swing. 

While everything seemed to be happening in slow motion to Ajax the rest of champions fighting didn’t have the same luxury. The shock of losing an arm was still hitting the physical champion the hybrid fighter’s eyes had barely been able to keep track of Ajax’s movements. One quick dash had been enough to dismember one of his allies and a second had put him in the perfect spot to cut another in half.

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA” A harrowing laughter broke out over the battlefield as Aurexion didn’t even try to hide his glee at Ajax’s success. Unlike the his bond Aurexion wasn’t under any real pressure now that Ajax had gained his Pseudo-Mythic Skill and instead of focusing on his own opponent he was instead focusing on his bond’s Status and watching with increasing worry as hundreds of Mana and Stamina were being spent with every passing second.

Ajax’s Magma infused axe swing not only cut the enemy mage in two but it also scorched both halves, the lack of resistance actually coming as a surprise with a tendon in his elbow snapping the pain causing Ajax to let go of his axe launching the weapon like a missile towards the enemy elites.

Ajax didn’t have the time to worry about his weapon at the moment as his body was already moving on to his third victim. Taking his trusty hammer out of his spacial ring Ajax was already moving towards the hybrid champion. 

Not wanting a repeat of the last swing Ajax specifically chose to use Void Mana to stop the momentum of his weapon after the swing, he hoped by intentionally doing so his style should also be able to better anticipate the aftermath of the blow to stop himself from breaking his own body further.

The hybrid champion had barely had a moment to react yet in that moment he activated a rune that engulfed him in flames as he leaned into Ajax’s blow rather than away from it. Without [Mana Syphon] to weaken the spell Ajax could feel the heat even through his enchantment’s protection as his hammer made contact and all the momentum disappeared.

For once his attack didn’t disable his own limb though Ajax could tell it wasn’t far off and that under normal circumstances he would still have some torn muscles following the impact but his Life Mana had already healed them. 

As for the hybrid champion it had been his lucky break to lean into Ajax’s swing as this compressed his body into the blow causing the shifted point of impact to barely hit him on his opposite hip moving away from his body. 

A brief instant of stillness covered the battlefield before the void impact hit and the champion’s hip exploded in a shower of gore as the full impact of the blow blasted apart flesh and bone alike.

Ten seconds, that’s how long had passed since Ajax gained his Pseudo-Mythic Skill and already Aurexion was flying towards him. While Ajax hadn't had the liberty to keep a close eye on his own condition as he tried to get used to his newest Skill, Aurexion had been monitoring him closely and knew he was done for the day. 

Sensing Aurexion’s approach Ajax finally allowed his body to relax and a massive wave of exhaustion and pain hit him all at once a moment before the dragon’s claws latched on to him and the hybrid champion. The champion formerly locked in combat with Aurexion and the physically focused beastkin both were left surprised by the retreat but they couldn’t do anything as Aranor the dwarven champion and the squads backing them had already forced the other two champions to retreat.

Aurexion didn’t slow down as he flew straight past their own army and towards their camp, he wanted Ajax away from the battlefield now that the aftermath of his boosting Skill was hitting him, not only that but with the Skill no longer active his body would also be suffering the aftereffects of being pushed way past his limits.

Aurexion barely spared enough attention to toss their second prisoner in the direction of the trap the army had prepared ahead of time for any future champion level prisoners they might get before he flew Ajax towards the healing tent.

When he finally landed and took a look at his bond Aurexion was slightly worried by what he saw. Ajax’s eyes were a little glassy and unfocused, his arms and legs shaking under the strain of keeping him standing once he was placed on the ground. Worst of all however was the damp red liquid soaked into his armor, Ajax had pushed himself so hard he had sweated an alarming abound of blood through his skin.

“He needs supplements.” Aurexion growled getting the healers moving. “He can’t take any direct healing, any potion or salves you have use them now.” 

Aurexion knew it would only be a matter of time until the rest of the army returned and demanded some answers about what had happened. He wanted his bond to have received whatever aid the healers could provide before then.

“What caused something like this?” One of the healers asked but his question went unanswered as Aurexion inspected Ajax’s Status, focusing specifically on his Mana and Stamina. 

Less than a thousand of each was left. During those ten seconds where Ajax had activated his Pseudo-Mythic Skill he had spent more than three thousand Stamina and Mana, it was no wonder his body was in such bad shape. But now that he had gained the Skill Aurexion was sure Ajax would learn how to dial it back a little and not push himself this far every time.