The Stargazing Witch & The Dungeon Planet
Chapter 96: Fall Down

Chapter 96: Fall Down

“So much hate, it’s not worth capturing you for questioning.” Thomas' voice reminded me that day.

“Those with hate in their eyes ain’t worth taking.”

Ah… that day…

The day when I first met this bastard.

He would’ve never guessed his sick form of enjoyment would end up with me living.

A dark urge in me wanted to reveal myself, but every other slightly sane part of me would never allow it.

"Hate, you say? I mean, I do dislike you.” Sixteen more [Fire Arrows] were summoned behind me, along with many more I made inside the waves of fire to be hidden. I also created another [Solar Orb] now that I was in an environment of fire. 

He summoned a large rifle in his right hand while still holding onto an arrow. 

“But HATE? Isn’t that a bit much? I do think my dislike is justified though, I mean, have you seen the list of shit you have done?”

BURN!

Mana bullets and arrows flew off in both directions. A few shots nicked my armour and left a small dent with each shot. I had to be faster and more aware. 

“Now, now, there is nothing to be ashamed of, hating people is a perfectly natural phenomenon.” He jumped, bounced off their barrier, and flung himself towards me. 

I wasn’t clashing that, I [Burst] out of the way and climbed quickly above him. “I don't see where you got the ‘me hating you’ part.”

“I can smell it.”

(“ Lie ”) 

Lie? You being a lie detector now.

(“ I figured I would help you out, this is your chance for revenge after all ”) 

Figured you would celebrate, considering it was thanks to him that you met me.

(“ Haha, I’m not that cruel. Now, enjoy killing him ”) 

Hehehe, of course, I will! 

A brutal smile had emerged from underneath my helmet. I wanted to tear him limb from limb, smash his blood and bones into a paste, and maybe stab him with an arrow to let him have a taste of what it was like to lose everything he built.

“Saying I stick? How rude.” [Flame Jail].

The arena of [Flame Jail] formed, blocking entry and exit, and increasing the ferocity of other fire magic skills. I used enough mana for it to last only a minute.

The [Hungering Flame] rose in size with the amplifying effects of the jail.

“Damn you, pyromaniac, I’m starting to sweat.”

“I would prefer if you melted.”

“Haha, there's the hatred.”

“There’s nothing wrong with wishing for the death of an enemy in battle, no?” 

I had long checked Thomas out with my soul pressure, so I had a strong feeling I was at a higher level than him. However, that didn’t give me too much of an advantage. He was at the very least, in the high 200s, and more importantly, his equipment far surpassed mine.

My flame and his bullets sang across the battlefield as we each took evasive actions. I was saving on the Starlight for the moment and planned to only use it when I was forced to get close. On his end, Thomas kept his skill use to a minimum, using mostly only movement skills. I tried to keep my soul pressure wrapped around him to detect his skill use, but his movement speed made it hard to keep that detection up as it required me to focus on him. Not to mention I felt resistance when I was trying to feel his skill usage.

He asked as he stopped and allowed an arrow to fly past his face. “What are you doing? Trying to give me an uncomfortable hug? Because, to be honest, I don’t like the feeling.”

(“ True ”)

“Maybe that’s the point?” The natural mana emission of his gear and the strength of the artefacts he likely possessed would be protected from a soul pressure shock. He didn’t know how to use soul pressure, but like other very high-level individuals, he had a basic, weak passive form of it, and he was strong enough that he had a natural gut instinct when I was using mine to scan him.

Neither side relented, but it was likely I was the one losing when it came to mana reserves. 

(“ I do have to ask, why haven’t you used either [Primal Guardian Lord] & [Unleashed Awakening]? No, this isn’t an attempt to squeeze some levels out of you ”)

I can’t say I believe you, but I do plan to use one. 

Looking objectively from a uniformed outsider's view, I was a ranged fighter, so the easiest way to deal with me was to deliver a strong blow up-close.

Time wasn’t running out, and I needed to get Thomas in a good position, and I knew he would offer the opportunity to me soon.

“Though, I would ask if you took back the smell comment. I smell wonderfully.” The talking wasn’t without reason. Potentially a double-edged sword, it was meant to be a distraction.

He replied. “Honestly, I don’t know what you could smell like besides copious amounts of blood.”

The back and forth lasted a little longer, but Thomas went for the opportunity. In a glow of purple light, he rapidly circled behind me and tried to stab the arrow in my stomach.

[Primal Guardian Lord]!

Strength filled my body, and I swung my Starlight-encased arrow spear. 

Our weapons clashed, however, he didn’t expect my power. I pummelled him backwards and continually fired [Fire Arrows] as he was sent flying back up the side of the tower.

Moments later, the [Fire Jail] finished, weakening the fire in the area.

Thomas was ready to counter my assault the moment it weakened.

However, my companion acted just when I wanted to.

Jordan with golden wings from his back came flying down the moment the [Flame Jail] dispersed.

Thomas quickly turned to react as his body glowed a green light, but Jordan’s axe came crashing down too soon.

“Argh!” Jordan forced the axe into the bastard's armour.

His body glowed black and vanished much higher up the tower.

“Shit, he’s gone.” Said Jordan.

I swore, “He’s up. Fuck, it’s annoying to travel that far.”

It would take a solid thirty seconds of max speed to reach him, but I could see the injury. There was a deep cut that went into his shoulder. Oh, did I wish I had gotten to do that, but seeing him in pain was a good alternative.

Jordan asked, “Do you want to go up first, or are you fine if I do?”

“Can you keep up with his speed?”

“He’s injured, it will be no problem.”

In a sudden streak of crimson light, Thomas disappeared from his spot and blitzed past us, making a dangerous attack.

Ting!

Every single speck of my being screamed as I barely deflected the arrow strike and now faced Thomas, who was near the bottom of the tower.

I said, “What were you saying?”

“Shut up.” Replied Jordan. 

Thomas repeated the attack again but went for Jordan.

Ting!

I [Burst] into Jordan and blocked the blow, the Starlight around the arrow had completely shattered. 

“Defending your teammate, how lovely!” He yelled out, from high above again.

“We might need backup.” Jordan started talking to someone through his helmet. The voice was blocked, and I couldn’t hear him or the other party.

Then a missile came hurtling towards us. It was from outside the shield, so there should’ve been no issue, but as it neared, I felt an ominous pressure.

“Get out of the way! The thing is about to break through!” 

Jordan looked back but didn’t seem all too concerned. 

Thomas rushed down again and attacked me, throwing me down the tower.

Shit!

I turned and used [Burst] to fly up, that idiot showed no worry whatsoever as he talked to whoever.

That didn’t last long as the missile broke through the shield in black-violet light and crashed near Jordan.

“ARGH!” The armour around Jordan’s upper body peeled apart as his body was flung down the tower.

With [Star Mapping] I checked his condition. He was alive but a little bloody, I noticed an artefact around his neck, not sure if that was what saved him or not.

The missile’s body soon glowed and morphed into a woman, and she moved to stand beside Thomas, who had already moved to be next to it.

What the fuck did I just watch…?

If that wasn’t enough.

BOOM!!!

BOOOOOM!!!

BOOOM!!!

I felt multiple large explosions occur in the first segment. Initially, I assumed it was the gold and silver guys who were fighting, but then I focused and realised it felt like it came from below.

Whooomraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Then a large screech was felt across the entire layer.

I expanded my scope with [Star Mapping] which I could see, and found the top segment was falling, slowly. The pillars that connected the two segments had exploded at the top of their connection.

That wouldn’t be enough to cause the segment to fall, as it should just float, but it was falling down towards the second segment.

A tornado of energies formed on the outer edges of the segment seemed to be caused by another fight. 

What the fuck is happening now? 

It felt like everything was happening instantaneously, and I could just barely keep up with all the constant changes in the situation.

I complained. “What the fuck! Are you looking to destroy the entire station?”

“To be fair, this isn’t our fault, there were just some people really mad about the owner of this place.” 

(“ True ”) 

“I see why you get scolded so often.”

“Maybe, but a job done is still a job done.” The woman touched his chest, and his armour got a patchwork repair. “And so, I got to deal with you first.”