Burning Life was a terrifyingly strong Unique Racial ability, but it came with severe repercussions as well.
Activating Burning Life would put the user in a weakened state. The weakened state would be proportional to the increase in strength Burning Life had provided when it was still in effect.
Despite the weakened effect, the power Burning Life could provide was terrifying.
The Blood-eyed Minotaur gained enough brute strength to stop the Heavy Armored Elephant's charge and throw it to the side using its bare hands and brute force.
But even an existence with such a terrifying brute strength couldn't get hold of Tiara!
The Battle Maid from the Silverfang Tigerfolkhad transformed into a ferocious and nimble Tiger-like existence. Faint strands of hair had grown all over her skin. It was silverish-white and looked like fur. Her eyes had turned into the sharp eyes of a tiger, and Michael could swear that he heard the sound of breaking bones from Tiara's direction.
She moved around nimbly, using her unique movement patterns, with which some of them were already familiar – including Michael.
In one moment, Tiara dashed to the left at full speed, the next moment something burst out from within her, allowing Tiara to change her trajectory without losing the slightest bit of momentum. The way she could leverage the ability to move around and change her trajectory without losing momentum allowed her to evade the attacks of the superior Minotaur.
The Blood-Eyed Minotaur was twice as fast, maybe even faster, and much stronger after it used Burning Life. Despite that, the Minotaur was not able to get hold of Tiara.
This was not only owed to Tiara's impeccable movement pattern and unique powers, but mostly thanks to the combined efforts of the Elemental Mages, and everyone else present.
Everyone tried to aid Tiara to stall for more time. Every second counted while they thought of a way to kill the mighty beast!
Michael appeared next to her at one point as well. He knew that he was not really helpful, but he could still utilize the Spirit Whip Soultrait. Spirit Whip, strengthened with Lesser Enhancement, could cause considerable damage. Despite not being as lethal as a 1-Star Soultrait with low consumption, Michael didn't underestimate the power Spirit Whip could generate.
He conjured five Spirit Whips simultaneously and intertwined them to create one big Spirit Whip. Each Spirit Whip was strengthened by Lesser Enhancement, which further increased the power of the braided Spirit Whip he had created.
The Spirit Whip lashed out several times. The impact was hard and it weighed heavily on the Blood-eyed Minotaur. It struggled for a moment, which provided the other combatants an opportunity to strike. Everyone in the close combat unit had already surrounded the Blood-eyed Minotaur, and they struck their opponent from all sides now.
Michael initiated an attack with Seron Voulge as well. He was the second strongest warrior in the territory, and his attack should be able to deliver considerable damage.
If it was yesterday, Michael would have been confident to announce that he was the strongest in his territory. He had four Soultraits, and three of them could be used for combat. Even though Tiara's degree of refinement was higher than Michael's, he had been certain that he could overpower her using his Soultraits.
Unfortunately, that turned out to be nothing more than a daydream. Michael realized at last that Tiara was much stronger than he thought – she had never revealed her full power before.
Her combat prowess was even higher than it had been when they fought the Lionheart Adventurer group.
Michael was certain that she had given her all in that fight, yet the power she exuded in front of the Blood-eyed Minotaur was clearly stronger.
'Who the hell are you?' Michael shouted in his mind, confused and unsure why his personal maid was so powerful and mysterious.
With no time to think about something else than the fight ahead, Michael's Seron Voulge pierced through the smoking crimson hide of the Blood-eyed Minotaur. He cut deeply, twisted the blade in the wound, and pulled out his blade the next moment.
Afterward, he retreated immediately. The Blood-eyed Minotaur might have been affected by the braided Spirit Whip, and Tiara's relentless distraction, but the Minotaur was neither weak nor stupid.
Michael feared that the Minotaur would do something crafty once too many people dared to get into its range.
His fear couldn't be more true.
The moment more than ten people reached the Blood-eyed Minotaur's range, it shot to the side, both arms lunging forward like vicious pythons. One hand grasped a Warrior's head, while the other hand grabbed the Berserker's chest.
The head was squashed mercilessly while the Berserker was used as a projectile. The Minotaur flung the Berserker across the battlefield and it smacked hard against a few Warriors, who were clearly too slow to react in time.
And just like that five combatants were rendered unable to continue fighting but the Minotaur was not yet done.
The moment the Blood-eyed Minotaur began to move again, chaos descended onto the battlefield. Several Warriors charged fearlessly at the monstrosity, but it didn't even cast a sideward glance at the oncoming attackers.
The Minotaur clenched its fists and executed several high-velocity punches. The Warriors slumped down like sacs of potatoes and didn't even twitch forget about getting up and attacking it.
"PRIESTESS, get moving!!" Michael shouted at the top of his lungs.
The young Priestess had yet to move since the Blood-eyed Minotaur began wreaking havoc, and Michael couldn't leave her like that anymore. She was a Priestess, someone who was supposed to help the injured and prevent unnecessary deaths.
She may only be a young Priestess without much experience, but she was a 2-Star Summon, and they had various potions at their disposal. As long as she did not freeze in shock and began moving, many lives could be saved from the Grim Reaper's merciless soul-reaping scythe.
Michael's gaze lingered on the Priestess for a moment. That was all she took to start moving. The hair all over her body stood up on its end but she still ran straight towards the Berserker and the Warriors, whom she appraised and tended to.
Meanwhile, Michael saw their 2-Star Summoner for the first time since the battle began. The Summoner had been chanting summoning spells for a few minutes straight by now. Sweat trickled down his tanned face and his back was drenched in cold sweat as well.
'How much longer do you need?' Michael wanted to shout aloud, but he held back.
The Summoner had already announced that his summoning incarnation would need his full attention and several minutes. He wanted to summon a Tier-1 Monster and require every bit of attention to do so. After all, he was only a Late Tier-0 Summoner right now.
Controlling a Tier-1 Monster wasn't that easy!
Michael was not sure how a single Tier-1 Monster would help them against the Minotaur, but the confidence in the Summoner's eyes at that time told him that he could trust his subject.
'Hurry up and show me how strong you are, Summoner!' Michael shouted in his mind.
He turned back to the battlefield and rushed forward. A braided Spirit Whip appeared in front of him again, and it lashed out at the Blood-eyed Minotaur the moment he reached its range.
The second Spirit Whip attack was less efficient than before. It looked like the Blood-eyed Minotaur was prepared this time to deflect it.
Its arms shot toward Tiara, who evaded the attacks easily. The Blood-eyed Minotaur knew that it couldn't catch Tiara that easily. Thus, its attack was merely a feint.
It shot to the right, grasped two Spearmen, and smashed their hands against each other.
Their skulls cracked and blood gushed out like a fountain.
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