Chapter 17 - Chief Pixis

"What?" Finch exclaimed in disbelief. Before he could react, Jin's crossbow bolt flew swiftly toward him.The bolt, resembling a streak of lightning, pierced straight into the hilt of the short sword embedded in Finch's chest. The sheer force of the bolt drove the sword deep into his heart."Ahhh!" Finch let out a bone-chilling scream, one of unbearable agony. His wail echoed throughout the arena, causing a heavy silence to fall. In that moment, he slackened his grip, and Will took the opportunity to leap down from Finch's hand.Then, the giant collapsed."Did we succeed? My God, how did you manage that?" Jin asked, his voice filled with confusion."This was my last resort," Lisa explained, "I infused the Wind Blade spell into Will's short sword. The Wind Blade creates a high-speed flow of air capable of slicing through tough materials. If that hadn't worked, I wouldn't have had any other options."Will cautiously approached the fallen giant's head, peering down at Finch's face. Even in death, the giant wore a fierce, menacing expression. Will then walked over to the giant's chest, pulling the sword from it with force. Immediately, a gush of blood erupted from the wound, spraying in all directions like a crimson fountain, drenching Will and his face."Ah, it seems you've won, Destroyers," the gnome on the podium spoke again. His words were followed by a thunderous cheer from the crowd.Suddenly, Will's face, stained with the giant's blood, began to glow a fiery red. A sharp burning pain surged through him, causing him to collapse to his knees, crying out in torment."What's happening?" Lisa asked Jin, her voice filled with concern."This is bad... that's Giant's Blood," Jin said in shock, staring at Will's suffering form, his expression twisted with distress."Giant's Blood? What's that?" Lisa pressed, puzzled."There's a legend about it," Jin replied grimly, "It's a tale passed around in the streets. The legend says that those who drink Giant's Blood gain immense strength, much like a giant. But it's just a legend… or at least, it was."Jin paused, his face growing more serious."However, those who drink it undergo excruciating pain. Only those who can endure it will gain the strength. Many have tried, but as far as I know, no one has ever successfully gained that power.""How dreadful!" Lisa said, frustrated. She rushed to Will's side, placing her hands on his face, preparing to use magic to ease his pain."No, he's too restless. I can't concentrate!" Lisa exclaimed in frustration."Will, Will!" Jin cried out, his voice tinged with worry."We have no choice, I'll have to cast a brief sleep spell," Lisa said, standing up, helpless. She extended her hand and cast the spell on Will.The spell worked, and Will's cries ceased. He fell unconscious, no longer in pain."I hope that when he wakes, the pain will be gone," Lisa said, gazing at Will with deep concern."Ah, though I don't know what's happening, congratulations on defeating the giant," the gnome called out loudly."Now, it's your turn, Pixis." Jin's gaze locked onto the gnome on the podium. In a flash, he drew his crossbow and fired an arrow directly at Pixis."Ah!" The gnome standing in front of Pixis screamed in alarm, but he quickly crouched to dodge the arrow.Pixis, however, was unperturbed. With a mocking smile, he calmly raised his right hand, and his purple gem suddenly burst with a blinding violet light. In an instant, Pixis vanished into the light."What?" Jin said in shock."Who... are you really?" Jin asked, spinning around at the voice suddenly coming from behind him."Ah?!" Jin turned in alarm."Ha!" With a vicious grin, Pixis raised his right hand toward Jin. From his ring, a powerful purple shockwave blasted toward him."Ah!" Jin was struck by the shockwave and hurled backward by the immense force."Assassin! There's an assassin! Guards! Guards!" The gnome cried out, scrambling to his feet.The audience began to stir, sensing something was amiss. Soldiers in full armor poured out from the arena's passages, slowly encircling Jin."Whirlwind!" Lisa suddenly shouted as she stretched out both arms. In an instant, a powerful tornado spiraled across the arena, lifting the soldiers surrounding Jin into the air."Another one?" Pixis slowly turned his head to face Lisa, raising his ring again. A massive shockwave shot toward her."Hmph." Lisa raised her hand and conjured a transparent shield in front of her."Interesting," Pixis sneered, watching as his shockwave was absorbed by Lisa's shield. Unperturbed, he seemed to have anticipated it. Suddenly, Pixis stopped casting his shockwaves and the purple gem on his ring flared again, causing him to disappear from Lisa's sight."Lisa, behind you!" Jin shouted from the ground.Lisa spun around, realizing too late that Pixis had already appeared behind her. He raised his leg and kicked her hard in the abdomen.Lisa doubled over in pain, instinctively clutching her stomach, just as Pixis raised his fist and struck the back of her head, knocking her unconscious."Is this all you've got?" Pixis mocked, gazing down at Jin, who was lying on the ground, and Lisa, who lay unconscious."Ah, one more," Pixis sneered, stepping toward Will, who lay still."This is bad!" Jin shouted in panic."I have no choice," Jin muttered, his hand trembling as he fumbled through his pocket. He pulled out a small glass vial containing a deep crimson liquid."Dammit, I promised myself I wouldn't use this again," Jin cursed inwardly, before uncorking the vial and swallowing the entire contents in one gulp."Ahh, ahh!" Jin gasped in agony, his face contorted with pain as if he couldn't breathe...."Hmph, what a pitiful creature," Pixis sneered. He knelt down, his left hand tightening around Will's neck, lifting him from the ground. Pixis extended his right hand and pointed the gem of his ring directly at Will's head."Die!" Pixis growled, a faint violet light glowing from the ring as he prepared to unleash another shockwave."Ah!" Pixis cried out suddenly in pain. Just as he attempted to release the shockwave, Jin moved with incredible speed, striking Pixis and sending him flying."Good thing I made it in time," Jin said, gazing down at Will."Ugh, that was fast!" Pixis groaned as he picked himself up from the ground, brushing dust off his clothes."You won't lay another hand on them," Jin said, standing protectively beside Will. His body radiated a red hue matching the liquid he had just consumed, his eyes bloodshot, and a faint white aura emanated from his form."Hmph, let's see how you fare against me," Pixis said manically.As soon as the words left his mouth, Pixis disappeared in a flash, accompanied by the glow from his ring."Your tricks won't work on me anymore, Pixis!" Jin shouted.Before he could finish, Pixis reappeared behind him, raising his hand in preparation to strike with a knifehand. But just as he was about to land the blow, Jin vanished."What?" Pixis exclaimed in disbelief."Too slow," Jin taunted from behind him. He raised his leg and gently kicked Pixis in the rear, sending him sprawling to the ground."No, it's impossible. How can a human move with such speed?" Pixis hissed in fury from the ground."Your speed is nothing to me," Jin taunted with a grin."Is that so? Then let me show you this!" Pixis roared, immediately raising his ring again. A purple shockwave shot from the gem, speeding toward Jin."How naive," Jin said, unbothered, standing his ground as the shockwave approached.He tilted his body slightly to the right, effortlessly dodging the attack. Then, with a surge of speed, he charged at Pixis. Before Pixis could react, Jin's furious fist collided with his face.