Chapter 86 - Time for the Counterattack

“... How long until that wound closes?” 

“I will be fine in four hours,” 

Health: 1240/1900

Magic: 660/660

Stamina: 1180/1780

Strength: 93

Vigor:97

Precision: 81

Wisdom: 20

Willpower: 46

Traits: Regeneration Lv 90

Zelos actually needed six hours, and that was only for the wound to close. Any too much of an effort would make the wound open once again. Still, he just didn’t have to use his right side and that would be enough.

“... We will have to use your strategy once again to get rid of the others. These guys know how to avoid being caught off guard and the others working with Loan don’t have the means to get closer to them. Come here.”

“To do what?” 

“Just come here,” 

Zelos sighed… he had no idea what Liry had in mind, but she knew that there was no time to waste. In the end, she closed her eyes and then she started humming quite low. Even Edea on her side couldn’t hear her. Still, Zelos soon felt his body becoming lighter and then he felt his stamina returning a lot faster than before while his health regeneration tripled. 

The wound in Zelos’s shoulder began to close, the flesh repairing itself with astonishing speed. It was a strange and eerie sight, one that left those nearby in awe and disbelief.

The torn flesh slowly knit itself back together, the jagged edges smoothing out as if time itself were being rewound. The bleeding stopped, and within moments, there was barely a trace of the injury that had marred Zelos’s shoulder.

The onlookers watched in amazement, their eyes widening with incredulity at the miraculous sight before them. But there was something more to it than just Zelos’s innate healing prowess. Liry, standing nearby, focused her attention on Zelos, her voice resonating with a concentrated intensity. It was as if she were channeling her energy into him, aiding his recovery with the power of her voice alone.

The effect was remarkable, and it seemed that Liry possessed a unique ability to use her voice in a highly focused manner, enhancing the natural healing process. It was a rare and extraordinary gift, one that left those witnessing it in awe of her abilities.

That kind of trait had more than one use, it seemed that Liry had full control over it, but it was still impossible to tell how it could affect her. 

“This is enough. The wound is already closed.”

Zelos moved away and then moved his left shoulder, there was a stinging pain there, but it was bearable.

“It isn’t closed, only the surface is. I can tell just by looking at you. The interior is still far from healed.”

“This is child’s play for me. Anyway, we don’t have time. The others need to fall.”

Around that time that Zelos began to move, Heirina and Irlan returned after passing the message. At the same time, the cavalry began to attack the sides of the enemies formation, but they weren’t making much progress there.

“They have put some heavy fighters on the sides of their army… I guess I will have to.”

“Just leave this to us. Kaitrine and I can stop those archers and once Zelos deals with them, their morale will drop and ours will skyrocket.”

After hearing Irlan’s idea, Liry considered what to do for a moment… Zelos left the area without wasting any more time, so she decided to make that move as well.

“All right, I will be counting on you.”

Irlan and Kaitrine left in a hurry and the other three stayed behind watching the battle unfold. Things were too chaotic for any idea to come to mind of what they should do, so they couldn’t help but bite their fingernails.

“... Let’s get closer, we need to motivate our soldiers and put more pressure on the enemies.” 

Heirina and Edea didn’t like the idea at all, but the truth was hard to deny. The battle had reached a stalemate, and with the enemy outnumbering them, it was clear that they would eventually prevail if things continue as they were.

In the face of this reality, they reluctantly acknowledged that Liry’s plan was the best option they had. While it went against their instincts, they couldn’t deny the logic of her strategy.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but they knew that they had to put aside their personal reservations and do what was necessary for the greater good. With no better alternative in sight, they reluctantly fell in line, their reluctance evident in their expressions and body language.

… …

When Zelos returned to the battlefield, he soon noticed that the allies were getting even more riled up. He didn’t have to turn around to know that Liry was doing something insane again. Fortunately, Zelos was able to see two of the targets firing their arrows, and then he was able to analyze that and tell where the other two would be as well.

“Time for the counterattack.”

Zelos charged toward the enemies with his sword in hand this time. He didn’t have time for anything else. He looked ahead and estimated the positions of the four archers before putting his plan in motion. This time, he had a better idea in mind…

When the enemies charged toward him, Zelos swung his sword first and then repelled his weapon. While the enemy’s arm was trembling, he kicked them in the stomach and then pierced their stomachs with his sword, moving on before the enemy could fall.

He did the same thing several times while protecting his left shoulder, which was still hurting a bit. Zelos learned in the last battle that the enemies didn’t know how to face people when they charged at them… they were too used to scaring their targets, after all.

It didn’t take long before Zelos found the first enemy archer… the first archer also found him as well and soon adjusted his aim to Zelos’ head. Without hesitation, Zelos raised his left hand and then used his charging technique. Both of them felt the pain at the same time… Zelos, even with his glove, felt his hand burning when he tried to block the arrow with his special glove. All his mana hadn’t been enough to stop that. 

Still, his plan worked since his sword pierced the stomach of the enemy completely all the way to the other side. The enemies around had the same reactions as before, so Zelos had the time to charge to the side and disappear using his charging technique.

Ignoring the searing pain that shot through his left hand, Zelos clenched his fist around the shaft of the arrow that had pierced it. The sensation was like a white-hot poker being driven into his flesh, every nerve screaming in protest as he applied pressure to the wound.

With a grunt of effort, he snapped the arrow in two, the sound of splintering wood drowned out by the rush of blood in his ears. The pain intensified an agony that radiated from his hand and seemed to engulf his entire arm in a blaze of torment.

It felt like a thousand needles stabbing into his flesh, each movement sending waves of excruciating pain coursing through his body. Every muscle screamed in protest, threatening to give out under the onslaught of agony.

But despite the pain, Zelos refused to give in. With gritted teeth and clenched fists, he forced himself to push through the agony, and his mind focused on the task at hand. He knew that he couldn’t afford to let the pain overwhelm him, not in the midst of battle.

“I can still move my hand… the pain is annoying, but it seems that my defenses aren’t half bad. Perhaps I can use them and decrease the damage…”

Zelos didn’t know if he would regrow his ear, so he couldn’t say that he would regrow his hand if he lost it, but he was willing to test that theory since the blood rushed to his head, and considering the future right now wasn’t a priority. 

Since the enemies didn’t imagine that someone would close from the sides to attack them, Zelos caught a lot of enemies off guard and had an easy time cutting through the enemies’ lines. The sound and the chaos of the battlefield also helped to make him hard to identify… but it looked like those archers had the uncanny ability to sense the right target and where they were…

When Zelos found the next enemy, his arrow was already aimed at his head… and then unleashed on him. This time, the arrow hit his wrist between the bones… the pain made Zelos flinch for a moment, but that didn’t stop him from charging and swinging down his sword… the enemy tried to block the attack with his dark bow, but Zelos’ sword pierced through the metal and slashed deeply the chest of the enemy.

The enemy fell on his knees while blood gushed from the wound like a waterfall, but Zelos still swung his sword and beheaded him… in the next moment, Zelos was bombarded by a rain of spears around him, which was the guard of the enemy and they acted fast.

Zelos ran, his movements quick as he dodged the spears raining down on him. His legs were beginning to ache, a dull throb that threatened to slow him down, so he focused on avoiding any further injury to them while he still had two enemies to deal with.

With swift, evasive maneuvers, he weaved between the deadly projectiles, his senses sharp as he anticipated their trajectories. Each spear that whistled past him was a near miss, the rush of air brushing against his skin as he narrowly avoided being impaled.

But despite his best efforts, he couldn’t evade them all. A sudden impact sent a jolt of pain shooting through his back, and he stumbled, a spear grazing him before falling harmlessly to the ground. The pain was sharp, but thankfully, it didn’t pierce deeply, yet it was enough to make him flinch.