Chapter 330: Lamia Counter-Ambush
Their trio had been positioned close to the palanquin, but they couldn't stick too close or they would have been suspicious to anyone watching. Unfortunately, they'd been further away when the demons attacked, so they wouldn't be fast enough to intercept them even at top speed.
That gave Kai time to examine the demons as they attacked the caravan guards. There were three demonic arts users with between 600 and 700 Power, then a true demon with more than 900. She wore the usual black uniform with an added purple cape that trailed behind her. They were all using effective shrouds, so he couldn't pierce through to get more information.
Yet there was something strange about their attack... instead of taking out the guards immediately, which they should have been able to do, they split up. A single demonic arts user began hurling chakra blades, as if trying to take on all six guards herself, while the others gathered together. Two of them generated a bow that looked like it was made of blood and the true demon built up a truly dangerous blood arrow that targeted the palanquin.
It would have struck, and likely torn through, if one of the guard lamias hadn't thrown herself in the way of the arrow. Her body was barely enough to deflect it from the palanquin and she fell dead.
That conflict gave Kai and his allies time to arrive - Kai's fears of a triple-cross were relieved when he saw the demons panic. They retreated from the guards and Kai very nearly caught them all with Baleful Breath.
An instant later the true demon burst through it, her cape wrapped around her like a defensive aura. It was burning away, but it managed to defend her against his breath. He didn't have time to react and she caught him in the chest with a long silver spear.
He would have been grievously injured if Zae Zin Nim hadn't stepped in, knocking the spear aside with one palm and threatening the demon with her other hand. The demon didn't hesitate for a second, spinning the spear in a defensive motion as if prepared to fight them both. They could have taken her with Omilaena, but she seemed to be dealing with the demonic arts users.
Kai fought with Zae Zin Nim and they managed to push the demoness back... yet he still felt a sense of disquiet. She was preparing something, gathering together energy for an attack he hadn't seen yet. It occurred to him that none of her techniques against them had been similar to the initial blood arrow, which had felt more dangerous.
When the demon suddenly manifested a blood spear to match the silver one, Kai realized what it was: a half-phase of her own. Not enough to be instantly lethal like Matiavel, but still extremely dangerous. Anyone, even without phase training, would recognize the threat and hold back.