Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System
Chapter 101: Against The Castle's Guard

Little freedom for hesitation was given as the crumbling knight lunged forth with newfound vigor, seeming to head right for the assassin before pivoting and instead turning to the spellblade.

Charlotte raised her flame-infused sword, though the towering knight slammed his boot down before she could swing it–FWOOM.

A shock wave of roaring wind expelled, throwing the spellblade off her balance for a moment–

"Ghh!--" Charlotte winced.

As the battle-axe was swung with lofty wind, Finn threw his dagger right between the spellblade and the incoming weapon–

["Orcish Boost"] [4:59]

["Blade Warp"] [Mana: -100] [1500/2500]

He caught his dagger while in the same moment using it to clash against the downfalling axe. While his feet had yet to touch the ground in that split-second, collision with the swung weapon immediately brought his boots to slam down against the tiles.

"Nngh!" Finn struggled, attempting to hold his ground.

Even preparing with the flash of orcish strength, he found the wind-swirling axe to be too much to simply block; the weight of the knight's strength alongside the impending wind that howled against his ears was all too much.

–BOOM.

A volley of fireballs crashed against the knight's side, knocking the towering figure off balance. It only took a brief glance and a quick breath for him to see the cannoneer responsible for the much needed aid, not wasting a moment to jump back.

Jasper placed himself in front of the Storm Knight, bolstering himself as he raised his shield in a defensive position, "I'll keep him busy!--"

Such a claim was tested as the wind was stirred up by waves of Alexander's axe, carrying a tempest as the knight of storms swung his blade right against the shield–THWOOM. Another massive impact crashed against Jasper's shield like a train, bringing his boots to scrape across the tiles.

While Jasper held the Storm Knight at bay to the best of his ability, Finn sank into the darkness–

["Turn Shadow"] [2:59]

He quickly circled around while the warrior of wind was distracted, emerging right as he watched Jasper be thrown back by the Storm Knight's superior strength. What was exposed to him with the height of the hollow warrior were his ankles, bringing him to a swift strike.

["Tendon Slice"] [1:59]

He swept his dagger across the achilles heels of the knight, slicing through armor and flesh beneath. The weakness-pointing slash was effective, bringing the Storm Knight to his knees as a step was attempted.

Nova's voice boomed through her amplifier, "Send him away!"

The command brought the colorful bird to swoop in, using its talons to swipe at the fallen knight. Jasper and Charlotte set in as well, given the chance to unleash elemental slashes against the encumbered warrior.

Finn set his sights on the figure's neck, though as he closed in, he found the knelt knight raising his axe, intending to slam its bottom down.

"Get back!" Finn shouted, jumping towards the sealed gate.

With thunderous force, the axe was brought down, incurring a wrathful wind that pushed all those near the hollowed knight away. With the outskirts of the castle being an enclosed space, no more than fifty square meters in scope, leaving the rampant winds at the Storm Knight's behest to control the battlefield entirely.

Such fearsome gales once more set them all at square one, with the distance closed being taken away in a single movement.

"I could barely do anything because of that armor," Charlotte remarked with frustration, wiping the sweat from her chin.

"It's a real pain in the ass, that's for sure," Jasper agreed.

"Don't just stand around! Keep it up–he's weakening!" Magnus shouted.

While the others regained their breath, the cannoneer didn't let up as he hoisted his cannon up with a gathering of light.

["Draco Beam"]

The bright-blue coalescence of burning energy shot towards the Storm Knight, cutting through the limited courtyard with a hiss of intensity. As the beam aimed for Alexander's head, the husk picked himself up, lifting the glistening, platinum axe in front of the cannon's expulsion.

A collision of the condensed energy and the knight's axe caused the force to be split apart and reflected, carving across the courtyard.

"Shit!--" Jasper let out, ducking out of the way.

"Hah?!--" Charlotte reacted the same, having to step back.

The reflected beams of the cannoneer's skill moved in an unpredictable fashion, cutting through the stone while attempting to carve through flesh. Magnus was forced to halt his skill, allowing Alexander to freely move in even with split ankles.

Jasper huffed, striking his blade down while shouting, "Alright, I need a minute, mate…!"

Only Finn was directly aware of what was being requested, following through with the task as he flicked his dagger right in front of the towering knight of storms.

["Blade Warp"] [1400/2500]

He blinked, now staring right at the withering breastplate of the warrior as he caught his blade. Even though he intercepted Alexander, the aggression of the formidable foe was still locked onto Jasper.

He brought his boot up before quickly slamming it down, demanding the knight's attention–

["Commanding Stomp"] [4:59]

A shock wave emitted through the courtyard, displacing the already disheveled tiles. Even so, the mighty step failed to so much as push Alexander back, only bringing the figure's attention to himself.

'Alright–time not to die!' Finn resolved.

"Steel yourself and don't look away!" Nova's voice boomed.

["Kiss of The Stone Maiden"]

Once more, he felt those words that echoed instilling a force into his body, this time not one of relentless power, but of stalwart defense; his muscles felt as tough as steel, and his pose rigid and unmoving.

He jumped up as the axe swept at his feet, though being promptly introduced to the free hand of the Storm Knight. A gathering of wind was balled up in Alexander's fist, being thrown forth before the assassin could safely land.

With only one boot against the ground, Finn found himself blasted by a howl of wind, pushing against him, though he wasn't moved off of his foot.

'I'm not…being pushed back?' He realized, replaceing his balance to be impeccable.

It was thanks to the bard's singsong enchantments, noting that in his mind as he centered himself around.