Chapter 180: Attackers

    Woah, woah, woah Derek ran up to Rayna. Take a breath calm down then tell me whats going on.

    Rayna took a deep breath and let it out. Jacks we were finishing up training and about to come back when we were ambushed. Theyre not that strong. I think Jacks is stronger than any one of them, but there are a lot. He sent me back here and stopped them from chasing after me.

    Where is he? Jake stepped forth.

    Rayna only just then seen that there were others there besides Derek. Who it doesnt matter She shook her head. We were training at the apes

    The Cudgel Apes? Jake asked.

    Yes. Rayna confirmed. We were just inside their territory when we were ambushed.

    Do you know where that is? Derek asked Jake.

    I do.

    Good. Can you lead the way?

    I can. Lets go. Jake was already moving towards the door.

    Malorie! Derek yelled upstairs. Take care of Rayna well be back soon.

    Derek ran out the door and followed Jake, who was already a good distance away.

    Im coming too! Edgar shouted, as he caught up with Derek in an instant.

    Fast! Derek thought, seeing the man move.

    Soon, all three of them were together, with Jake in the lead.

    ***

    Dammit! Jacks spit out a mouthful of blood as fist sized rock struck him in his chest. Twelve, there were twelve hooded figures who ambushed him and Rayna. All of them had the strength of someone in the Platinum Ranks at the Adventurers Guild.

    He had blocked them all from pursuing Rayna with a giant wall of fire surrounding them. It lasted long enough for the woman to get away. Since she was a wind user and had increased her level so much over the last few days, there wasnt much of a chance of her being chased down. The group that attacked seemed to know this as well, and chose not to chase once the wall of fire calmed down.

    The remaining attackers grabbed their fallen comrades and backed away, causing Jacks to release another sigh. It looked like his final attack would fail. Who in their right mind would stand still for an attack like the one he was charging? Who except for Derek?

    The attackers all spread out. Jackss eyes locked on one of the half elves. The archer that hit him with the toxin. Since he could only go after one, he chose the archer. If Jacks was going out, he would take that bastard out with him.

    Jacks shifted his weight to his back foot and prepared to launch himself forward. With a vast amount of effort, he pushed off the ground but didnt move. He couldnt move. A weight had fallen on his shoulder, one that held him down.

    Looks like we made it. A voice that struck joy into Jackss heart sounded in his ear.

    Jacks turned his head only to see a set of cold purple eyes staring back at him. Jacks heaved a sigh and released all his skills. He fell onto one knee.

    She made it, then? He managed to ask between pants. His Stamina was dangerously low.

    She did. Derek answered. Whats wrong with you? He asked in a concerned tone.

    Toxin eats Stamina. Jacks gasped.

    A wave of something then fell over Jacks. Healing? No this is a curative skill Jacks glanced at his status to see his Stamina slowly going up. The skill didnt completely removed the toxin, but it slowed it down enough for his potions to recover some. In any case, Jacks was no longer in risk of losing consciousness.

    Another wave of mana fell over him. This one is healing. He still managed to have a decent amount of health left, so whatever skill Derek used only topped him off on health. It was his Mana and Stamina that were critically low, but they were recovering.

    Theyre running. Dereks voice broke him out of his thoughts.

    No theyre not. A voice Jacks didnt recognize came from above. Thats when he realized that more than just Derek came.

    Jacks tilted his head up to see the newcomer. An attractive young man with white hair floated in the air above them. Small charges of lightning shot out at different angles from his feet. Crown Prince Edward? Jacks thought, then immediately dismissed it. The man looked like the Crown Prince, but he was younger.

    It had been over a decade since Jacks caught sight of the Crown Prince. He already looked older than the man above him. Hes definitely related to the Cydaria family. He thought.

    The young man clapped, and Jackss ears nearly exploded. Thunder reverberated for miles around the area.

    Jacks turned his head towards his attackers. Multiple small bolts of lightning fell from the sky and struck them. They had no chance to escape. Jacks was sure that none died, though. He moved his eyes back to the man in the sky, then shifted to behind the man.

    A young man who he hadnt seen before stood in the air behind the Cydarian Royal. Flames covered his feet, combusting to keep him in the air. It was a skill Jacks knew all to well, a skill he also had.

    But Jacks ignored all that as his eyes fell onto the young mans face. Jake!