Chapter 1190: Under the Weight of Mana (2)


    ?


    "They''re strong," one clone said. He was a newborn, but having Erik''s memories, he knew how to recognize a strong fighter from a weak one, and these two guys were anything but weak. He dodged another gravity wave.


    <The light user is skilled in closebat, but he excels at ranged attacks. His light beams are fast and deadly,> the clone thought. <He''s not just using his power randomly either-he times his attacks to cover his partner and create openings.>


    <And that gravity user...> The clone''s eyes narrowed. <He''s more defensive, using his power to control the battlefield. Those gravity fields aren''t just for attacking-they''re forcing us to move where they want us to.>


    The Vindicators observed their opponents with calcting eyes, their masked faces betraying no emotion.


    The battle continued, each side trying to get an advantage no one got.


    The Vindicators'' powers kept them alive, but they couldn''t match the Chimaeric Demons'' raw physical capabilities, and as time went on, their mana got consumed.


    Their mana reserves, while considerable, were depleting. The constant need to maintain their powers against multiple opponents was taking its toll-the light-wielder''s beams were bing less frequent, and the gravity user''s fields weren''t covering as much area as before. The physical strain was also bing clear in their movements. Avoiding the Chimaeric Demons'' strikes wasn''t easy, and one mistake would spell their doom. That, and they also had to avoid the others'' attacks, and the repeated dodging of Emily''s shots was making everything harder.


    Even their coordination showed signs of problems. There were moments when their cover for each other came a fraction of a second toote, forcing them to spend more mana than necessary topensate.


    In truth, they were already searching for a way to leave, knowing that winning against these six people, and alone at that, wasn''t possible.


    Yet if it was hard for them to gain an advantage, the same could be said for Amber and the others.


    ...


    Rain continued to fall, and the battle intensified. Each drop disappearing when passing through the gravity Vindicator''s gravity field.


    The raindrops became so heavy under the intense gravitational field that they instantly vaporized upon impact with the ground, releasing small puffs of steam with each collision.


    The gravitational force was strong enough topress the water molecules until they transformed directly from liquid to gas, skipping the usual heating process.


    Dense vapor filled the area around the battle, creating a thick haze that significantly reduced visibility.


    This was rather problematic for Emily, given her role, because the vapor distorted her view of the targets.


    Fortunately, the strong winds of the Law Gate swept through the area in regr gusts, clearing the vapor clouds and providing brief windows of clear vision.


    Yet the situation became increasingly dangerous for Amber and the others, because without Emily''s support, the light-user vindicator could unleash the light beams and vaporize one of his opponents.


    However, if it was hard for Emily to aim, it was even harder for the Vindicators. The Chimaeric Demon were the only ones unaffected, because with Hais''s brain crystal power pumping their perception, they saw the subtle signs showing the presence of their opponents within the fog.


    They spotted how the water vapor shifted when the Vindicators moved, felt the air vibrate from their steps, and detected changes in the fog from their powers. When raindrops suddenly changed direction or turned to vapor, it showed exactly where their enemies were.


    One of them attacked using his starlight fireballs, but no matter what he did, the attacks were blocked by the light user or destroyed by the gravity fields.


    Yet he wasn''t the only one trying something like that. Another cloneunched a devastatingbination of strikes powered by Vibration Burst, making the air, the rain, the fog, and the wind dissipate with each one.


    The light-wielder parried the attack with a broad shield of pure light energy. Despite his defense, the clone''s Vibration Burst attacks hit with such tremendous force that the impact traveled through the Vindicator''s body and into the ground.


    "That didn''t work either!"


    The Gravity user tried to kill the Chimaeric Demon by creating a concentrated gravity field that would crush his organs and bones instantly, but another clone leaped between them, positioning himself directly in the gravity user''s line of sight.


    "Close your eyes!"


    He partially turned into a Luminous Leviathan, enough for him to use Bioluminescent Surge. This stopped the enemy from attacking, since he needed to see where the opponents were, and gave time to the Chimaeric Demon to get to a safe spot. Yet it also prevented the others from attacking.


    Both sides pulled back. The Chimaeric Demons maintained formation and visual contact while the Vindicators retreated steadily, their masks fixed on their opponents.


    "Their mana is never-ending!" Mira said.


    "Don''t let that fool you. They are keeping their strength as best as they could," a clone said. "But Emily almost exhausted her!"


    "She didn''t have enough time to learn how to properly use her power yet. These guys have, what, 50 years each? They''ve been training their entire lives for this. Mana control like that doesn''te naturally. It takes decades of practice. That''s the mark of true veterans."


    "Less talk, guys!"


    Amber warped. The gravity Vindicator created a widespread gravity field, but she had already disappeared, reappearing behind him, but she missed her attack, or better, the Vindicator twisted away and avoided injury.


    "Emily, status?" Amber called through theirms.


    "I''m here," she said.


    The woman was keeping the two Vindicators in her scope all the time, waiting for the perfect


    shot.


    Yet, until now, getting a clear shot proved impossible-the Vindicators kept perfect coordination and constant awareness. They stuck to a tight defensive formation, with one always ready to block any attack aimed at the other, preventing Emily from finding an


    opening.


    "How is the situation?" Amber asked. Emily was the one with the best picture of the battle. "Not good. If it goes on like this, we would be forced to retreat."


    Since a side goal was killing the Vindicators, that meant failing in the tasks Erik gave them. The gravity user tried to crush Mira as she helped the Chimaeric Demons, but she transformed into a bird, darting through the air before the gravitational force could take effect. Emily had to move before the gravitational pull could affect her. Even a partial pull on a body part would


    spell her doom.


    Though it wasn''t easy. Gravity affected everything in the area, making even small movements require extra effort. Birds, insects, and debris all moved slower through the intensified


    gravitational field.


    "I can''t attack from this close too often."


    "Maybe you should switch to ranged attacks!" A Chimaeric Demon said.


    The Chimaeric Demons circled the two, forcing the Vindicators to protect their nks.


    From above, Emily noticed a subtle shift in the light user''s stance and the telltale gathering of


    mana around his hands-signs he was going to use his beam again.


    "He is charging for another light beam," she said. "Watch out!"


    The Vindicator unleashed another attack, but Emily shot, making him miss again. They were starting to curse the sniper they failed to kill earlier. However, the Gravity user didn''t stay idle


    and targeted Mira.


    Amber warped her to safety just in the nick of time. The Chimaeric Demons used this


    distraction to press their advantage.


    <Their powers are incredible,> Emily thought. <But they are no match for the Chimaeric


    Demons without them. The physical gap is too clear.>@@novelbin@@


    When the Vindicators failed to use their powers quickly enough, the Chimaeric Demons'' superior speed and strength made them gain an advantage.


    But the clones couldn''t capitalize on that, because the Vindicators'' powers were too


    insidious.


    The light user could vaporize them in an instant if they got careless, while the gravity user''s fields could crush them to paste. One wrong move, one moment of distraction, and it would


    be over.


    This meant that any kind of attack Amber''s team could make had to be carefully nned, and that wasn''t easy at all.


    With the Chimaeric Demons unable to fullymit to their attacks due to the constant threat


    of instant death from light beams or crushing gravity fields, they were unable to defeat the


    two ckguards.


    Emily had the light-wielder in her scope. Her finger was tensed on the trigger, and she was ready to take advantage of any opportunity the enemy might give her.


    <1 second after using his ranged attack,> she thought. <That''s when he''s most vulnerable.>


    She was likely the only one who could take advantage of that second.


    The light-wielder fought melee against the Chimaeric Demons. The other Vindicator, instead, didn''t let the opponents get too close for them to harm him and mostly yed a


    support role.


    Then another beam came, just as Emily hoped. Amber saved the Chimaeric Demon that was being targeted. Emily slowed time down, then squeezed the trigger.


    Her shot whistled through the air, but despite how fast the bullet was for her opponent, the light-user saw it all the same. His light sword turned into a shield to block the bullet. "Persistent," he said, his mask turning toward her position. The Gravity user did the same and created a gravity field under the building on which Emily was.


    The building groaned and cracked, concrete and steel splintering under the intense


    gravitational pressure.


    Chunks of concrete and twisted metal rained down as the structure copsed, the gravitational forces tearing apart everything and shattering windows into glittering shards that mixed with the falling rain.


    Emily, however, slowed time to a crawl-watching dust particles floatzily in the air as she leaped through the suspended raindrops. Shended on the adjacent building''s rain-slicked


    rooftop.