Wulf managed to stabilize his body somewhat, but he was still up in the air without a way to defend himself against Stris' incoming attack.
Stris' sword shone with a brown light as it cut through the air toward Wulf, leaving a streak of light in its path.
Wulf saw the shine on Stris' sword and braced himself as much as he could by holding up his axe in front of him. Wulf hadn't personally experienced the technique Stris was currently using. However, he had had more than enough time to investigate Stris and his strengths.
The technique Stris used to attack Wulf in the air was a technique called Armor Slice, a technique suited for any bladed weapon and without any attribute requirements. Using it with the earth attribute limited its power somewhat since the technique focused on extreme sharpness, which doesn't match the properties of the earth attribute. However, Stris still managed to draw out enough of the technique's power to cut through fully armored soldiers.
Wulf held up his axe to defend against the technique, but only because he couldn't avoid it. Wulf wasn't confident his sword could withstand a fully powered blow backed by Stris' technique. However, he could replace his axe. He couldn't come back from the dead.
However, before Stris' sword came into contact with Wulf and his axe, Stris flinched and backed away, barely avoiding the spear of blood that surged through the air.
The Blood Spear missed Stris, but it continued flying and only stopped after tunneling through almost a dozen pirates that were caught in the crossfire. The spear didn't stop because it didn't have enough power. It ran out of mana since Red Hook stopped caring about it after she saw Stris avoid it.
Red Hook walked toward Stris as the pair of blood-red grapple hooks in her hands began spinning. Red Hook's trademark and self-made spell surged with power as the pair of red hooks shone with a bloodthirsty gleam.
Red Hook smiled as she loosened the grip on the rope in her right hand. The red hook flew forward with unnerving accuracy as it headed straight for Stris' stomach.
Stris knew about Red Hook's infamous tendencies, so he was prepared to defend his torso against her attack as soon as he noticed her intention to attack. However, he wasn't prepared for the power behind Red Hook's attack.
Red Hook was famous for her gruesome way of disemboweling her targets using her pair of red hooks. The sharp tips easily dug into the flesh, and with a jerk of her hand, Red Hook viciously pulled the hook and her victim's guts out of their body.
Red Hook rarely attacked in another way since that was the only way she needed. Thanks to her strength and the speed of her hooks. She only needed a single strike to end her victims, which was why no one knew how hard her hooks hit.
However, Stris, who blocked her strike head-on with his sword, felt his hands tremble from the impact. His confidence in being able to last against his three opponents was gradually chipped away. Stris already knew he wouldn't be able to defeat the three of them, which was why he wanted to get rid of Wulf, the weakest one, while he could. Doing that would make it easier on him.
However, Red Hook easily saw through his plan and used her recently learned spell, Blood Spear, to stop him.
"You owe me one now, Bunglehopper."
"Skinny Boar, two years ago."
"...Fuck! Alright."
Wulf got to his feet as Red Hook kept Stris occupied.
Stris had missed his window to eliminate one of his opponents. He had also missed the opportunity to escape. Stris had broken out of the encirclement when attacking Stris, but while he kept watch on Red Hook, the Representative had sneaked around behind him.
The three crew leaders once again surrounded Stris in a triangular formation. Using his previous scheme to try and kill one of his opponents or escape wouldn't work. However, Stris didn't falter. He gripped his sword tightly as he blocked another one of Red Hook's attacks.
Red Hook's strike was aimed at Stris' stomach. Stris was prepared and fended it off with ease.
Red Hook targeted Stris' head with her follow-up. Stris knew that he wouldn't be able to dodge or tank the attack, so he rushed to block the grapple hook with his sword.
However, in his rush to defend against the strike, Stris forgot to take note of where his other opponents were. Fighting against people of equal strength was a rare opportunity, and Stris didn't have much experience fighting against several people whose strength rivaled his at the same time.
Stris was an experienced fighter. And he had mentally prepared himself for the situation he faced. Unfortunately, preparations didn't always withstand the test of reality.
Stris used his sword to block the hook aiming for his head. He successfully blocked the hook, but he blocked his vision at the same time.
Although Stris could still sense his surroundings using the perception of a fighter, he still relied on his eyes most of the time. Stris barely noticed Wulf's attack due to his senses alerting him, but since he hadn't seen Wulf approach, his response was late.
Stris raised his sword above his head, imbuing it with the power of Armor Slice and barely managing to defend against Stris' Heavy Downward Slash.
If Wulf stubbornly persisted, he would cut his axe using Stris' blade, so he reluctantly let go and lifted his axe. However, he wasn't too dissatisfied with his strike. He had accomplished what he needed to with his strike, after all.
Red Hook's second attack had served as a distraction for Wulf's attack. But it didn't end there. Wulf's attack also served as a distraction and opened up a window for the Representative to attack.
Although Stris had blocked Wulf's attack and forced Wulf to back down using Armor Slice, his arms were still reeling from the initial impact. However, he forced them to move as he prepared to face the next strike, whether it be a red hook targeting his stomach or an axe aiming to cleave him in two.
Unfortunately, Stris, in his rush, forgot the person who had yet to even try to attack him. He only remembered the Representative's existence when he sensed the latter's approach and the attack that he was too slow to dodge.
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