The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 182: Against the Calamity (1)

Chapter 182: Against the Calamity (1)

Shing!

From the corner of his eyes, Hex noticed a bright glimmering light shoot toward him. He tried to evade but the star-like light adjusted its trajectory. Its speed surpassed Hex’s greatly, hitting him square in the chest.

’Wait. What the hell?’

The light shattered into specks and spread rapidly around him, encasing him in an oval transparent nebula. Flabbergasted, he looked at the glittering layer, unsure how to interpret it. He felt no different than before.

"Woah!"

"Ah!"

"What is this?!"

Hex turned his gaze to his surroundings, hearing the various shouts and cries. He noticed similar layers around the others.

"That is the Nebula Shield, the Stellar Shield’s Technique," Hex heard Marzo shout. "The shield is capable of blocking an attack at the Refined stage. Try to maintain it as long as you can."

’There are at least thirty of us here. He sure is amazing.’

Hex stared at the burly figure in the middle of the crowd, marveling at the Templar’s sublime control and ability. His shields provided the thirty Knights with an extra life.

All these occurred in less than a minute. The screeches coming from the horde before them increased in intensity.

"Gather in small teams and spread out. Keep the creatures spread over the terrain," Marzo urged the Knights to get in battle formation.

Hex understood the intent behind the order. Smaller groups could huddle and keep a Disaster occupied. The distance was important. At close distance, the Disasters would gang up against a single team. And Hex knew, even the strongest team of Knights wouldn’t survive long against multiple Disasters.

Initially, Hex considered teaming up with Althea but he noticed her already in a group with other Hawks. She and Marzo took the lead of the Hawks present. She gestured for Hex to join but he saw another group looking at him.

Hex waved at Althea and hurried to the other group, who stared at him with scowls on their faces. It didn’t seem they liked him, although, they didn’t stop him from standing with them.

"Ah, I prefer sweet smiles instead of sour growls," Hex cheerfully quipped, irritating the others even more.

"Shut up," Gabriella snapped. "We only allow your presence because you can take a decent punch."

"Yes," Tarquin growled. "I hope you continue to smile when taking a Disaster’s punch in your face."

Elsa didn’t say anything. In fact, she ignored him entirely. Only Quid smiled warmly at him. Hex didn’t see the other two who acted as their support. But he didn’t ask anything. Tarquin’s old servant stood at the front. Not once did he turn to look at the additional member.

"ATTACK!"

Marzo’s shout reverberated in the air, signaling the start of the fight. At the same time, Hex noticed the Calamity lift its limb and hiss. Hex’s heart trembled. The creature was intelligent and only attacked once the humans organized themselves, indicating that it didn’t consider the humans a threat.

Hex’s team stood at the front, forming a triangle with two other teams. The foremost team consisted of Marzo and his elites. As a soldier and a commanding officer, Marzo disliked being behind others. He commanded by leading his team.

On the other side, Hex saw a team with the Countess and the old butler from the governor’s office. They had two Refined Knights.

Behind them stood Althea’s team, the Star Sword’s team, and the Templar, who was on his own. The last line held the others, with Gronke on his own.

It only took a glance for Hex to study the entire layout. He sensed the creatures and turned to face them. The distance wasn’t great so the Disasters were already close.

"Golden Wings!"

Marzo stepped forward with a shout. His body glowed, releasing bright yellow light. The outline of two wings appeared, wrapping around him. He looked like a golden giant, wielding a massive hammer.

He swung the hammer, causing the air to crack and whistle.

Boom!

The hammer hit the first wave of Disasters, sending them flying to the side. The second wave did get past him. The elites behind Marzo stood back to back, taking the brunt of the attacks. Their objective was simple, to disrupt the waves of incoming Disasters.

Just as the hammer fell, Tarquin’s butler spread his arms, swung them upward, and clenched his hands together. Then with a forward lunge, he slammed his hands against the ground. The ground trembled and then moved like a forward wave.

The wave increased in size as it moved to the Disasters. The wave reached the Disasters that made it to the elites, hitting them from behind. After hitting them, the wave returned, taking a few Disasters away. The creatures scrambled up but they were already away from the first group. Some jumped toward the middle, while two jumped toward Hex’s team.

The Disasters swept away, were on their feet, and moved toward the team with the butler and the Countess. Immediately, the ground froze, with many ice crystals swirling in the air. At the same time, glistening needles appeared in the space between the crystals and shot toward the Disasters.

"Young master, take one. I will make it fast with the second," Tarquin’s servant shouted and intercepted one of the two Disasters coming their way.

Tarquin immediately transformed into a half-bull-like creature, with flaming horns appearing on his head. His increase in size and weight caused the floor under his hooves to crack.

Gabriella drew her sword, which increased in size too. When she dropped the tip on the ground Hex felt a muffled tremor under his feet.

The Disaster rushed to them, ignoring its partner. However, when it almost reached them it slid forward. It lost its footing on the ice-covered floor.

Hex, who cloaked himself in energy, and covered his sword with flames, glanced at her, before stepping forward to join Tarquin and Gabriella to face the creature. Elsa’s fine control remained better than his.

’I won’t reveal my Frost Techniques unless I am out of options.’

The three short-range Knights engaged in a frontal battle with the Disaster. They knew they had to be quick. The chances of another Disaster coming at them remained high.

Hex used his tremendous control and regeneration to take the creature’s attack. He blocked the attacks but grimaced in pain. The after-effects of his berserk state persisted. Thankfully, compared to the last time they fought as a team, Gabrialla and Tarquin improved tremendously. Hex almost felt grateful to see the refined crystals helping him indirectly.

The flames around the sword burnt the skin but didn’t injure the creature. But the attacks, on the other hand, shook his insides.

’This won’t do. My insides will turn into mush if this continues.’

Hex blocked another attack but failed to keep his footing. He slid backward across the ground, leaving a faint mark. He gritted his teeth in pain.

Tarquin and Gabriella combined their attacks hitting the Disaster with everything they had. At the same time, Elsa froze the creature’s feet but it broke the ice in a few seconds. But it was enough.

"Move back!"

Quid, who remained in the back, finally finished his preparations. Hex watched amazed at the tool he assembled. The tool looked like a tripod with a wide barrel mounted on top. Quid put a refined crystal inside and aimed at the creature.

Bang!

The barrel glowed bright red, shooting a short beam at the creature, hitting it in the chest. The beam exploded on contact. Seeing half of the creature’s torso disappear instantaneously, shocked Hex immensely.

His shock was short-lived though. The sight of black gasses evaporating jolted Hex.

’I forgot about the black swirl inside the inner space. Didn’t the baron say it would turn me berserk too?’

Putting his body through consecutive berserk state wouldn’t be beneficial but he couldn’t afford to hold back at such a time, not more than he already did by not using his frost abilities.

With a thought, he pulled the black swirl and made it flow to his heart. At the same time, he bolted toward the Disaster that was regenerating, despite the attacks launched at it.

The black swirl entered his heart when he jumped but to his dismay, it didn’t increase his attributes.

’What the heck!’

Hex exclaimed but he didn’t stop his attack. Even if it didn’t work as planned, at least he would slow down the Disaster’s recovery.

But just as he swung his blazing sword at the creature, he sensed the black swirl flow toward the fire element pouring into the sword. The flame darkened and emitted a sinister power.

’Chaotic energy?’

Hex’s eyes widened as he sensed the type of energy contained in the flame. The sword hit the neck and the fire became violent, as if devouring the creature’s flesh.

’Oh shit.’

Hex jumped back, leaving the sword embedded in the creature.

BANG!

The sword exploded. The dark flame engulfed the wound and sizzled when the Disaster’s black blood oozed out. It burnt the creature. Its screeches died out quickly, leaving a charred body behind.

At the same time, Hex saw the old servant reach them. Looking around, he noticed most Disasters either killed or incapacitated.

There were less than ten Disasters left and less than twenty people remained. It was a matter of time before they won. But right then, they heard a voice.

"Kill. You. Die."