Age of Asura [Progression, LitRPG, Apocalypse]

Please read chapter 32 - theories, before starting this chapter. Some very important information has been added to it. I apologize for any inconvenience.https://www.NovelPhoenix.com/read/2128200-age-of-asura-progression-litrpg-apocalypse/chapter/2208006/

“Yeah. I got it,” she replied. ‘No hesitation now. It is do or die.’

Behram circled them like a predator ready to pounce at any moment.

She tightened the grip on her axe and dashed towards him in a flash. He was ready with his blade already in motion. Sparks flew as the blades clashed. Each strike felt heavier than the last as she found herself pushing him back.

‘His strength is not quite up to the mark. Perhaps I can take advantage of this!’ Red aura filled the space around her while her health began to fall. Her strikes got stronger and faster, forcing her opponent to go on the back foot. However, his smile did not disappear.

He leapt back, falling closer to the burning kilns. Uruvi chased after him, only to be stopped by Ashwin, who dragged her back. Suddenly, the ground before them exploded, throwing sand and ash into the air.

She let out an audible gasp. “He planted them in the ground?” She spun her blade around and struck the ground with a shallow slash. The sand from the ground, along with the explosives, flew towards Behram, only to bounce off him and fall into the kilns.

Another series of explosions rocked the night sky, sending a shockwave of burning heat right into their faces. ‘Damn it! He can trigger them on command, too!’

Behram lunged at them, his weapon shrunk down into a dagger, and it was red in color.

“Stay away from his blood!” Ashwin exclaimed as he leapt away.

She understood what he had meant but chose to engage him anyway. ‘I guess that is how he knocked out Vishwas.’

“Barricade!” she shouted, casting a shield before her.

He took a sharp jab at the shield, shattering it. But Uruvi was ready.

Her blade began to glow red as she charged at him. Seeing the burning blade, he quickly leapt back, but she chased after him. She sent several strikes his way, only to be blocked by a wall of red that shielded him. ‘Damn it! How is that so strong?’

“Light burst!”

A stream of light struck Behram in the arm that was covered with his blood. He let out a screech as he leapt away.

“Gatcha!” said Ashwin. “His blood manipulation is weak to intense magic.” A shower of explosives got in Ashwin’s way. But he blocked them with a shield. “Spectral array!” A bright dazzle of lights shot out of his thin air, striking Behram repeatedly. “Uruvi, quick! He can’t use his blood manipulation anymore!”

She dashed forward just as he put up a shield, but struck it down with her axe in a single strike. She proceeded to deliver a flurry of swings, which he tried to parry with his saber. She pushed him further and further towards the kilns, which were now overflowing with fire.

“Thunderclap!” He cried out.

“Barricade!” She countered. The shield absorbed most of the power and shattered, but it gave her opponent enough time to dive towards the urban maze. “He is getting away!”

Her first step set off a chain of explosives, covering the air in fine dust. ‘Shit! He's going to get away!’

“I don’t think so!” said Ashwin.

As the dust settled, she saw Ashwin and Behram engaged in a duel. She watched closely as they seemed to be equally matched. But as soon as she saw the smile on Behram’s face appear, she felt her stomach twist. ‘Let’s end this fast!’

Red aura enveloped her as she whispered, “Mark them…” She waited with bated breath, her hand gripping her axe tightly. Just as he stretched his arm for a forward jab, she lunged at him at full speed.

A spray of blood shot out of his arm, which was followed by a blood-curdling scream. His arm, which was holding the sword, fell to the ground as he collapsed onto his knees.

“Brutal precision,” said Ashwin.

“Yeah. I had no choice,” she replied.

“I was complimenting you.”

“Oh…” It was all she could muster. “When did you get so many spells?”

“Will tell you in a while. Let’s deal with him first,” said Ashwin. “Binding light.” He clapped his hands together, which produced a golden light. It condensed into a thread that was as thick as a rope. He quickly wrapped it around Behram and pulled it, trapping him.

“I will ask you this only once. What is your boss up to? Why are they colluding?” asked Ashwin.

Despite the terror in his eyes, his mouth was shut. Ashwin pulled onto the edges of the rope, squeezing his body. He let out a whimper while his teeth began to chatter.

“It is only going to get worse,” said Ashwin.

“They… they are planning on getting more Contestants,” he blurted out.

“Oh god…” said Uruvi.

“Have their men already been sent?” asked Ashwin.

“I don’t know. I was sent to kill Vishwas, so I don’t know…”

Ashwin and Uruvi shot a glance at each other. Both of them wore grim expressions on their faces.

“Please… please let me go…” he pleaded.

Ashwin let a scoff escape as he loosened his grip. Just as the rope vanished, a blade appeared in Behram’s only hand. He leapt at Ashwin with a sharp grin on his face.

Ashwin calmly leaned back as the blade swiped through thin air. He smashed his right foot into Behram, who was still recovering from the attack, and sent him tumbling into the burning kilns.

Behram let out a bloodcurdling scream as his body flailed about in the fire. Uruvi steeled herself. She didn’t look away, nor let the disgust overwhelm her. Soon his voice vanished as his body slumped to the ground.

“New Level attained. 10 Attribute points, 2 skill points, and 2 spell points gained,” said Arya.

“They never learn,” said Ashwin.

“Yeah…” Uruvi’s muted response earned a suspicious look from Ashwin. She felt his gaze upon her, so she asked, “Your first kill. Why did you do it?”

“They called him the butcher. A local goon who was terrorizing a small slum area. My friends and I had gone there to do community work. He bludgeoned a shopkeeper in front of me. Out of anger. Witnessed the whole thing. My whole body went numb, my mind went blank. When I saw him approach me, all bloody, my body acted on its own. I smashed his head with the pickaxe that was in my hand.”

“In broad daylight?”

“Yeah… In front of a whole crowd. The cops arrived and took me to the station, but no one in the slum was willing to be a witness. Spent a week in jail. My friend’s dad, a lawyer, managed to bail me out. No witness to testify.”

“You didn’t plead guilty?”

Ashwin looked at her. He had a deep sadness on his face. “I didn’t… Maybe I should have. But… I don’t know.”

Uruvi let out a sigh. “Well. We are in the apocalypse now. Our sins are going to get judged anyway.”

He scoffed at her attempted joke. “Let’s go and see what our alcoholic is up to.”

“Oh, about that. There are two of them now,” said Uruvi.