Strongest Among the Heavens
Chapter 295: Kibiwott vs Na Fancani IV

Chapter 295: Kibiwott vs Na Fancani IV

KIBIWOTT POV

The Archer’s presence was close now, a faint silhouette standing at the top of the tree. Kibiwott’s eyes were locked onto the figure’s back. He noted the distinctive bow and arrow that glowed faintly in the darkness of the woodlands. Magic maybe? Maybe definitely.

[ Name: Na Fancani IV

Level: 33

Class: Intermediate Archer ]

’The fourth? Ah, this must be the human-Fating’ho hybrid,’ Kibiwott realized. ’A descendent. The fourth.’

Either that or there were four more of these things.

Kibiwott crouched behind a thick tree trunk, observing Na Fancani. He could see the tension in her body, the way it scanned a far away distance with a predator’s gaze. Was it Kazi it was attacking? The village? Kibiwott could not tell. Na Fancani was on high alert and on the attack, but she hadn’t spotted him yet. Kibiwott’s hand tightened around the hilt of his sword.

He was waiting for her to shoot. Once it shot, he would strike. Except for a good two minutes, it didn’t.

’Why isn’t it shooting arrows anymore? Did it lose its prey?’

It wasn’t impossible, that was what happened with him. With two arrows stuck in his legs, Kibiwott just barely managed to hide away in one of the Booa trap holes and wait it out. He was going to have to thank Kazi or Remmy for the get away.

Na Fancani moved again, jumping onto another tree. A tree closer to him. Kibiwott seized the opportunity and silently climbed. A quiet climb that he had already mapped out the movements for. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He was underneath his prey now, close enough to see the details of the archer’s face—sharp features, a blend of human and Fating’ho traits.

He lifted himself up and onto the branch. Quiet as a mouse. Quiet as he could possibly be.

Na Fancani turned.

’Shit!’

So close and running on instinct, Kibiwott threw his sword. The weapon spun, a lethal blur aimed to chop off a limb or the head. The hybrid was fast and swerved her body away, the sword grazing the arm and flying into the abyss.

All that training...just to miss.

Na Fancani hissed in pain, her red eyes flaring with anger. She took a step forward and spun, nocking an arrow in one smooth motion and aiming at Kibiwott. He dived out of the way, grabbing onto a nearby branch and flinging himself to his feet. Delicate balance was necessary here. This was a battle of tree hopping; of land that did not have many inches.

Kibiwott didn’t give the archer a chance for a second arrow. He charged forward and jumped to join the archer again. Na Fancani jumped back to another branch and Kibiwott chased. The archer loosed another arrow. Time slowed. Starting his jump, an arrow roaring at him, Kibiwott thought he was going to die. His knees ached. His arm felt wobbly. Yet in between death and loss came understanding.

Not a skill, not an arbitrary technique—but belief. Belief that he could dodge. Belief that his training would mean something here.

He jerked his head to the side, the arrow slicing through the air. It went for the killing blow, just as his instincts knew it would.

Na Fancani’s eyes widened in surprise when Kibiwott landed on the branch. He tackled the archer and the pair punched and kicked and fought through the air. Kibiwott refused to lose here, however. He carried the monster until CRUNCH! Her spine slammed into the ground. Something broke. Kibiwott wasn’t sure what. The fight wasn’t over, after all.

They rolled. They fought. He punched. He overwhelmed. The bow could not offer a defence. The female hybrid could not put up a defence. It became apparent why.

This monster solely specialized in archery. Close-quarter combat like this did not suite it. So he attacked. He slammed punch after punch, ignoring the shrieking kicks to his stomach and his knee. Blood gargled out. A monster was a monster. Still strong, still defiant, still wanting to live. He did not care. He slammed a fist to her throat and earned a moment of peace, sitting on top of it.

"It’s over," Kibiwott growled. "Equip!" His sword didn’t return to him. Must have been too far.

Fuck it. He yanked the bow from the Na Fancani and began beating the archer with it. Na Fancani grappled and fought back but her fists were nothing. Kibiwott pummelled and pummelled and pummelled until the victory screen was bestowed to him.

[ You defeated Mini Boss: Na Fancani ]

[ Receive:

48,000 XP ]

[ Level up! ]

"Ha...ha..." Kibiwott rolled over, breath ragged, blood spilling down his arms and legs. "I...I did it."