Affinity: Chaos

Chapter 1996: Intense Battle II

Feeling the sudden drop in temperature, the Gnome knew Klaus had used his domain which was very tricky to deal with.

Klaus on the other hand wore a calm smile as he continued his systematic attack. He did not hurry with his attacks, knowing in his current state, there was no way for him to attack in the same reckless manner he did the last time. He had already vented most of his anger that day, now, he had reverted back to his usual self, slowly beating his opponent psychologically. This is the method he always uses when facing an opponent that is stronger.

The Gnome did not think about his destroyed Puppet, without hesitation, he hurriedly retreated from the range of Klaus’s ice domain.

Klaus naturally did not give him the opportunity, rushing after him and attacking while at it.

The Gnome, even though he was two stages above Klaus, was immediately put on the back foot from the start of the battle. After his initial attack, he has not had the chance to attack Klaus again. Klaus’s ice wall was too rigid, so even when the Gnome managed to get an attack out, it did not touch Klaus.

Frustration started to well up on the Gnome’s heart, but he hurriedly calmed himself after taking a look at the companions he had with him this time. Unlike the last time, they came prepared. All he needed to do was keep Klaus from assisting the others. This was something that happened during the last fight. Even though Klaus and his companions were all engaged in battles, they still had the chance to occasionally assist each other which gave the Gnomes a difficult time. Since he was the one who had the higher cultivation compared to his opponent, he was targeted the most. First it was Hugh, then Reynolds, then even Alice. Had he not been decisive enough and withdrawn from the battle, the consequences would have been disastrous for him.

While the Peak Sovereign Commander was battling with one of the newly arrived Ninth stage Sovereigns, Reynolds was battling with the other one. This was Reynolds’s first one on one against a Ninth stage Sovereign and he was visibly struggling. If his opponent was a regular Ninth stage Sovereign, he was confident he would at least have a good fighting chance. However, against a Ninth stage Sovereign Gnome who also had the assistance of an Eighth stage Sovereign Puppet, it was very difficult for him to even defend properly against them.

Boom!

Reynolds was struck, flying across the battlefield, slamming into the ground. Standing up with difficulty, he spat out blood. He could feel his innards rumbling, a clear sign of how heavy the attack he was just hit by was. Noting that his opponent was charging at him once again, he flew into the air, taking a glance at Alice who was fighting against the Seventh stage Sovereign, he sent a telepathic message her way. She was the only one able to assist him at a time like this.

Alice, receiving Reynolds’s message, took a glance at him, snorting coldly, she forced her opponent back before rushing his way. The Ninth stage Sovereign’s attack was about to land when she arrived. Blocking the attack with the Seelie’s ice wall, she countered with a lightning strike.

The Ninth stage Sovereign Gnome did not dare to slight this attack, knowing just how dangerous the lightning element was to them. He blocked the lightning bolt with an attack of his own, only to realize the lightning attack was a feint, the real attack came from below him.

Klaus, oozing a shocking cold, came from below, swinging an ice cold blade at the crouch of the Gnome.

The Gnome felt a chill run down his spine when he felt Klaus’s attack nearing its target. If this attack hits, even if he survives it, the consequences are not something he was prepared for.

Without hesitation, he summoned his Puppet over, using it to block the attack coming his way.

While he was doing that, Reynolds, covered fully in his lightning armor, was only a few meters away, a large spear made from the lightning element in his arm.

Reynolds thrust the spear forward, aiming for the Gnome’s head.

The attack of all three friends came in a matter of a second difference at most. From Alice rushing to Reynolds’s aid, to her countering with an attack of her own, to Klaus appearing from below with an insidious attack, to Reynolds striking the spear out.

The Gnome was caught in a dangerous situation, a situation he never expected to find himself within a matter of minutes after the battle started. He was a Ninth stage Sovereign, not just him, but they had two more Ninth stage Sovereigns while the Humans had only one Peak Sovereign, with the other being in the Seventh stage of the Sovereign Plane. How come the Humans did not seem like those at a disadvantage?

Roaring, the Gnome spread out his darkness domain, accompanied by a strong gale. Other than his darkness element, he was also a Wind Elementalist. He used the gale to force Reynolds’s spear to the side. The spear missed his head by only a hair’s breath.

Reynolds, realizing his spear missed the target did not panic, rather, he forcefully gripped the hilt of the spear, swinging it to the right where the Gnome’s head was located. He might have missed the thrust, but he knew the chances of the Gnome dodging this swing was almost zero.

The Gnome also did not expect Reynolds to change his attack pattern after just surviving the fatal plot. He hurriedly shielded his body with the darkness element.

Bam!

The spear clashed against the wind shield the Gnome set up in a hurry. Due to being set up in a haste, it was not strong enough to hold back the spear. Nevertheless, he had successfully abated some of the attack power. He hurriedly retreated while raising both his arms to block the attack.

Bang!

His hands were struck by the attack, and he was sent flying.