The Ancient Genes

Max stood behind the sofa as he looked at the fight going on. There was no sight of Axel anywhere and the fight between Erina and the Giant Manticore was turning into a bloody one.

Both of them were covered in injuries and it was hard to tell the result. It seemed like the one with greater willpower would be the last one standing.

"Where is he?" Wilson frowned as he looked at the fight.

'Don't tell me…'

Max had speculation regarding Axel's actions but he didn't dare to tell it Wilson afraid that he might snap.

….

On the battle site…

Axel had arrived a long ago and was currently spectating the battle.

As for why he didn't make a move….

Well, he was waiting for the right time. When both of them would reach their limit, he would steal the kill- I mean he would save her.

Wasn't he a kind guy?

After all, who in their right mind would save an enemy.

"Boom!"

Another explosion occurred with flames spewing all around.

Two figures flew out from the smoke and crashed into rubbles left after the destruction.

Erina looked extremely exhausted. Her body was riddled with injuries. The desperate attacks from Manticore had managed to pierce her flame armor and leave deep wound on her body.

The fiery figure above her had started to lose its shape. It seemed she didn't have much time left.

The Giant Manticore to her opposite wasn't faring any better than her. It had severe burns all over with several punctures on its body. Fresh blood flew from its wounds yet it still continued to rush madly towards Erina.

"It's totally gone berserk...it will fight to its death like this… just what in hell were they thinking keeping this beast in here..." Axel muttered as he looked at it.

"Roar!!!!!!!"

The Giant Manticore's body began to glow and a terrifying stench filled the air. Even Axel who was far away from them, felt his nostril hairs burn and a pain assaulted his head.

This was mental torture….

Erina's face contorted as she took the full brunt of the attack. A stream of blood slid out of her nose and veins popped up all over her body.

"Boom!"

Before she could react, a breath attack hit her square in the face sending her flying through the air.

"F*CK!"

Axel cursed as he moved his hands pressing them together. He was about to make his move when he realised that Erina was safe.

At a closer look, it didn't seem that she had relied on her own power to block the attack. It must have been some life-saving item…

Erina looked at the beast and took a deep breath in. She stooped and moved both her hands towards the side as if she was holding a sword.

"Queen's Blade!'' Erina muttered as she prepared to release her second true spell. The flames burning on her body disappeared and a silence engulfed the area.

The Giant Manticore's eyes turned grim as the hair on its body rose as if he was about to face something terrifying.

Axel frowned when he saw what was going on….

"Why don't you guys ask her to forfeit? She is going to suffer through mana deviation at this rate…" He said looking around hoping that the overseer would hear him.

Axel hoped to get some kind of reply but unfortunately he didn't get one.

He had no idea that the overseer had already reached Erina before he had given his suggestion..

…

"I ask you to refrain and forfeit, Miss. If not, you will be in deep trouble…" A heavy voice rang out in Erina's voice.

"I don't intend to…" Erina replied as she swung her hand with all her might and charged her mana.

But in the end, nothing happened.

"Huh?" Erina was surprised or more confused.

The Manticore looked confused as well.

Even the audiences watching the show were left confused seeing Erina flailing her hands in mid air.

"What is going on? Why can't I control my mana?" Erina frowned when she finally realized that something had formed beneath her.

The black runes gave her a faint feeling of absolute dominance as if nothing could compare to it.

What was going on?

Erina looked around to find the caster of the formation only to see several round rocks scattered all through the battlefield which were strangely glowing.

The Giant Manticore too couldn't seem to control its mana. This further enraged it. It thought that it was a part of that girl's evil scheme.

Erina's face turned grim when she saw the beast charging towards her. She knew that without mana, she was just a sitting duck…

"What the hell are you standing there for?" An irritated voice entered Erina's ear as a cloth covered her head. She tried to struggle, but without her mana coupled with that injured body...she was just a little girl in front Axel.

"Roar!!!"

Axel looked at the Giant Manticore which was charging towards him. He raised his gun but hesitated tye next instant. Things hadn't gone as he planned end with Erina....

In the end, he shook his head. it was a pity that the traps he had set will be going to waste like this. If he was alone then he could have definitely taken down this injure beast.

Axel waved his hand at the Manticore saying goodbye. He then pulled the cloak over and both his and Erina's body completely disappeared from the surroundings.

The Giant Manticore desperately tried to find out where they had gone. But under the formation, its abilities had weakened due to lack of mana. Moreover, its own heavy stench had completely masked any form of smell from the two people.

…

"It's fine now…." Max said as he patted Wilson's shoulder when Erina suddenly disappeared.

Wilson nodded.

…

"Let me go!!! Who are you?!!!"

Erina continued to struggle and pester Axel as he tried to get away from the place.

"I am here trying to save you….can you please keep it low? Otherwise, if that thing catches up….I would have to prioritize my life over you miss…" Axel said with a complicated look.

If it was a normal situation, he would have definitely been polite to Wilson's sister. But you can't blame him now….

After a while of running, Axel finally stopped to take a breath as he put Erina down.

'It's getting dark...I need to hurry up and regroup with others…'

Erina who was put down immediately pulled cloak over her head and looked at the person who had saved her.

"It's you!! The one who tricked me!!''

"Huh?" Axel was close to snapping when he heard that. She might be a celestial, but at this moment he just needed a single bullet to send her back.

He even grabbed his handgun planning to put a hole in her forehead. He didn't care if she was a beauty or not. After what happened last time, Axel had finally resolved himself...2D is the best...he would never go 3D…

But, remembering that Wilson had taken his Mio-Chan body pillows and action figures as hostages, he calmed himself down.

"What do you mean trick? I told you there was a strong beast... it's your fault for not listening…." Axel said as he looked at her.

Erina glared at him but couldn't retort him in the end.

Axel didn't know what she was thinking. He just passed the extra invisible cloak to her and further spoke with angry eyes, "You can use this to hide…don't get in any more trouble until you find your teammates..."

Erina looked at him in confusion. Axel seemed odd to her. He looked angry but was helping her as well.

Is this what they called tsundere?

She didn't know that Axel was afraid that Wilson would make him move again, if she fell in trouble again…

"I saved you. Now you owe me a favor….remember to pay it back when the time comes.." Axel said as he looked at her.

Erina looked at him, finally understanding why he saved her. But didn't he put her into trouble in the first place? Was she falling into his trap?

Erina immediately became suspicious. Was someone setting her up?

"Go and treat your wounds….I will guard for five minutes before leaving….hurry up…" Axel said as he pointed into the nearby abandoned building.

Erina looked at the building with her guard up.

"Don't give me that suspicious look...if you are comfortable to strip in front of me then go ahead..." Axel said in an irritated tone as he observed that the light was getting dim. If he didn't move now, he wouldn't be able to reach to Mark in time.

Erina looked at her body and realised that some of the wounds couldn't be treated without undressing. She had to find a cover or else the whole world would have the privilege of seeing her body.

Luckily, the surveillance was only limited to the open areas and not closed places and now she had the invisible cloak as well.