Tome of Paladins : The DawnLight

16. Explosion Of Fire And Fury

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The Mourning Templars are Undead wearing worn and rusty drab armor, with remnants of dirt and mud.

With lots of damage and cracks in its armor, one could also see the brownish flesh, rotting with full of holes and maggots squirming in and out freely as if it was a natural thing in the house they lived in. While the maggots also have many irregularities with their pale pink color.

And if observed closely, the maggots were also larger than what's in general, along with sharp teeth adorning the part that could be guessed as the head.

The Mourning Templar also didn't wear the iron helmet that was supposed to be part of its armor. All that was revealed was a decayed head, melted eyes and loose wrinkled skin with few hairs stuck by some slush.

Teared rotten flesh on its cheek also revealed brownish yellow teeth and dried blood.

The rest of the body was basically pasty and rotten like a corpse should be, but had a lot of flesh missing or in the verge of falling off, including an awfully putrid smell.

There was a black mist escaping from the gaping mouth as it let out a groan. Anyone who heard it, especially the commoners who were unable to feel the Life Energy, would feel deep pain and sorrow.

And whoever inhales the mist that comes out from its mouth will get the Curse of Sorrow.

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The Raging Shade is a Spirit that apart from its visible arms and skull, is mostly an amalgamation of shadow and smoke, forming an irregular cloak as if blown by the wind, twisted and encompassing the skeleton of a human child hidden beneath its cloak.

There was a red glow in the center of the eye sockets that the Igniters still weren't sure if it was what they use to see.

Its own two arms that were exposed by the shadows and smoke looked long and thin like branches.

It is the only body part with skin and flesh, which also looks stretched.

Its fingers have nails that are quite long and sharp, which are used to make it easier when trying to reach the target's heart, only for the next moment to pull it out of the victim's body.

Raging Shade also has its own characteristic.

It had loud gasping breaths that echoes and sounds like someone whom holding back anger by breathing right next to the ear. It makes anyone who accidentally hears it nervous, unable to focus, followed by a sense of excessive and erratic anger.

… …

While Howling Widow is a Spirit who had the appearance of a woman, with a beautiful pale face that always looks down along with tear marks on both of its cheeks.

The head itself was also floated apart by the shoulders. With a cut mark that was a sign that something or someone had taken the neck.

All the horror and that sadism is covered and hidden by the long hair that reaches the hem of the white dress it wear. There was blood dripping from the head that had been cut off, staining the top of the white dress with red.

… …

While the Demon itself has a very thin human body and arms, with legs like a black-haired monkey.

On his shoulder rested a goat's head with a long neck and black fur, a outstretched mouth full of small, jagged and uneven yellowing teeth.

And the most important thing's is,it had a cloth from a tiger animal, covering what could be expected as its private part.

... ...

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Nilfour immediately formed Runes in his Soul Space. While evaluating the situation and thinking about the strategy and steps he would take.

Nilfour then got into a fighting stance by placing his left foot in front and slightly bent knee. He put his left hand in front with his fingers outstretched and his thumb flexed, forming a knife hand.

While the right hand forms a fist.

Though it's all was just diversion and trickery, since his left kick and punch are his dominant part.

The Raging Shade was the first to move by gliding, flying towards 04. Its speed was quite fast compared to ordinary humans that it quickly arrived on 04 side, who felt lucky that all of his gear was active.

Only during rest did he let it off.

The Raging Shade used its long slender arms to reach his heart, while behind followed by the same kind of Spirit.

04 dodge to the right by pressing the right foot to move quickly to the side, while his left foot moving back.

He immediately used his left hand to hold onto the skull of the Raging Shade, then forcefully pushed and threw it at another Raging Shade that was approaching him. Causing them to collide with each other, roll over and crashing into the ground, that they quickly floated up and flew apart to the side.

Trying to find another chance to attack again.

While the Mourning Templar was still running at a somewhat normal speed, though it was still extremely fast by human standards. Its hand outstretched towards Nilfour, along with its mouth wide open, let out a hoarse growl.

*Rawwrr*

Suddenly, Howling Widow appeared behind Nilfour while lifting its face and opened its mouth wide, until the tear marks on its cheeks burst open, with blood dripping that somehow look like sutures.

Then with mouth wide open, it screamed in a shrill voice.

*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA*

Even the Raging Shade and Mourning Templar at the side were affected, frozen in place.

However, all of it are ineffective against Nilfour due to the thin membrane protecting him.

It emerging just as the Howling Widow screamed.

There is also a slightly transparent Rune attached to one of the membranes, right in front of her.

Along with the Howling Widow's scream, the Rune also gradually began to fill with arctic blue mist.

After the Howling Widow stopped screaming, the Rune then disappeared along with the membrane enveloping Nilfour.

The Howling Widow looked confused as to why, the man in front of it was unfazed by the scream. It made its cold and dead heart somewhat enraged.

04 only took a glance, looked at the Rune that was almost half filled, 'not bad'.

Then he hit Howling Widow with the back of his right hand which end with the latter thrown to the back.

He saw the Mourning Templar who had just come back, regaining his senses.

It's all 'cause Howling Widow's Screech effect was rather weak, against Spirits and other Undead whom Death Energy also reside in them.

If it was an unprotected human, they would basically fall asleep, trapped in an Illusion, or drown into a state of confusion which the Howling Widow quick took a bite and feast on the flesh.

Until the victim is awakened by the pain that fills their senses.

Or not at all.

Because sometimes there are several victims whom, immediately die after Howling Widow bites and rip on their necks.

Nilfour running approaching Mourning Templar.

He tried to restrain himself and deliberately left some gap open for several times.

Because the thing he was most worried about was the Demon who quietly watching, observing the fight.

Nilfour had another Rune, which he prepared in case the Demon moved and started to joining on the fight.

One hit is enough to end the fight if a Demon lands a direct hit on the Igniters' bodies. Even with Rune (Protection) in between.

The Demon's attack was very well passing the limits of Reality, which would definitely leave a hole in Nilfour's body that he himself was aware of.

Nilfour who was now at the Mourning Templar's side immediately dodged its grasp. Then with the position he had determined, accurately punched his rotten face with the Rune (Flame).

A red Rune suddenly appeared horizontally in front of his fist which then shattered just before his fist reached the Mourning Templar's face.

When the Matrix Rune array broke, from it appeared flames that stretched out to cover his clenched left hand along with half of his forearm.

*Bang*

There is sensation in his fists.

The texture of a skull but with a strong resistance to his blows that actually could made crack on the walls.

The Mourning Templar was indeed extremely tough in terms of defence, which allowed it to only slide back a little about five meters while remaining in a standing posture.

*Graaaawwll*

The Mourning Templar snarled in pain, for there was an extra burn of rotten flesh on its face, sizzling with smoke rising from it.

'I know it hurts, heh'. Nilfour thought in his heart.

There was a sudden attack on the back of Nilfour.

Howling Widow tried to reach out, grabbing his head, but Nilfour nimbly dodged its attack while also bend down his head.

He stepped to the front right with his left foot, dodged while turning, pivoting with his left heel, then stepped creating foothold with his right foot, which made the Howling Widow's attack only pass through the side of his body.

However, Nilfour did not miss the opportunity.

He deftly grabbed hold of its long hair, pulled it hard forward to his front.

Then landed a swift blow with his still burning left hand towards the face of the Howling Widow. Coupled with jumping forward and hitting it in the face with his right knee.

When his right foot lands, he uses the Rune (Impel) to turn and spin using his right heel, then continue using his left foot.

Using his left hand which was still burning with the flames of the Rune (Flame), he deflected the sudden attack of the Raging Shade by pushing it to the left with his palm.

Followed by a roundhouse kick with his right leg.

*cracks*

There is a sound of bones cracked and breaking. Before the hit, he used the Origin Spell "Proma Tentia" (Force) together with the Rune (Iron). An iron-like surface covering Nilfour's lower leg, which soon disappeared.

Still no time to rest!

There's another Raging Shade attack coming from above behind Nilfour.

He turned around while his hands that were burning with flame's back to normal again.

It was replaced with a black commando knife, which was taken from the back of his waist. Often hidden, covered by his black waistcoat.

When he held it, there were three runes that glowed with gold on the body of the knife.

Nilfour simultaneously jumped back while kicking the Raging Shade right on its skull face.

The Shade that attacked from above was immediately knocked back by the kick from Nilfour.

The kick sent it flying and tumbling again on the ground.

Nilfour with propulsion from the kick then made some distance, while silently looking at the Demon.

'It still watching', Nilfour who saw that the Demon was still watching without any intention of interfering in the fight, immediately threw his black commando knife quite far, especially from the Demon.

The Raging Shade floated again. It could be heard that its breathing quickened, seemingly impatient at the prospect it didn't yet pull the heart from the living person in front of it.

The pleasure when he imagined tearing someone's heart apart, made it go crazy. It craving for it.

And it hated the masked man who kept avoiding its grasp.

It all ignited. Fueling the raging fury within its Spirit. Which then manifested with red veins crawling across its skeleton which was now coming into view.

The skeleton of a small child with disproportionate hands and head due to its larger size than what it should be.

The Mourning Templar arrived, then tried to bite and scratch 04.

However, Nilfour dodged all of its frenzied and ferocious attacks.

Seeing chance, Nilfour then replied back with a left kick to the knee, then accompanied by Origin Spells "Igreta Accero" (Accelerate) along with 2 other Rune (Strength) (Rapid) that broke simultaneously.

Then came an uppercut to the chin that lifted the Templar up, followed by a torrent of swift blows that hurled bit of flesh and bone to scatter around. The punches not only crushed some of the armor, but also its face and jaw, which were crushed and broken.

Before being flung away and losing its magic effect, Nilfour quickly grabbed the Mourning Templar's shoulder which was almost dislodged from the joint, then brought it down to the ground.

When Howling Widow suddenly reappeared behind Nilfour, it immediately started using Phantasm Screech again.

Along with other failures that eventually fill the Rune that suddenly appear.

The Raging Shade that was about to attack also ended up being stunned by Howling Widow's scream.

And it was right at that moment that he immediately snapped his fingers. (Release)

The thin membrane and Rune that had almost disappeared, back reappeared. And like the sound of broken glass, the Rune filled with arctic blue mist immediately shattered and let out a shrill sound that was twice as loud as the one used by Howling Widow.

It made the Shade who had just woken up from the scream earlier, along with Howling Widow whom trying to bite Nilfour's neck freeze on the spot.

While Nilfour aren't affected because there is still a thin membrane that enveloped him.

"Linus Ferro" (Shift), the knife that had originally been thrown and lost its radiance, began to emit golden light again.

One of the shining Rune suddenly shattered as Nilfour cast the Origin Spell.

He then disappeared, replaced by that same black commando knife.

There are also three Rune (Fire) (Wind) (Blast) which are connected by a golden line forming a triangle with a small golden orb also rotating in the center.

Right at the chest area where Nilfour was standing before.

At the top of the knife that fell and stabbed on the ground.

"Iresti Acto" (Amplify)." Said by Nilfour.

*KABOOM*

A fire explosion then occurred at the place where Raging Shade, Howling Widow and Mourning Templar who tried to get up but were unsuccessful and instead ended up freezing and falling back down due to the Phantasm Screech reflected by 04.

The explosion end up enveloped the three of them.

There's shrill whimper of pain from Howling Widow, along with hoarse roar from the Mourning Templar which gradually grew fainter until they faded into silence.

There was still one more Raging Shade hovering silently looking at the direction of the explosion.

'Maybe scared' Thought Nilfour.

Then he turned his head towards the demon.

There was a strong sour feeling flowing from the bottom of his heart.

The flow which was initially gradual and steady now begins to well up from his heart, to fill something until it ends up overflowing.

'Am I being looked down upon?'

You're looking down on me?'

There is welling anger and pride in his heart that seems to burst.

He was one of the best Igniters in his year.

Someone who joined the Academy as Egrius Candidate.

There is a lot of people full of envy and jealousy at his talent and prowess.

He may not the best.

But he's clearly aware that he is the fastest Ranker to get promoted directly to the Second Digit on the Knights List.

He was even considered to have enough ability to immediately occupy the First Digit. If it weren't for his age, experience, and a bit of his... sloppy attitude.

'But this Demon. A demon that is still not listed dares to underestimate me. You may be strong.

But, so what? I'm not soft tofu either. Darn'it. I'll show you why I'm called Nilfour' thought Nilfour furiously.

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