The Phantom Riser

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR - FEAR ME (4)

Kiro staggered for a few seconds. He was yet to grasp the reality of what had just happened. Victor stared at him in utter shock. What just happened? Isaac tried to take advantage of Victor’s loss in concentration but his truth seekers come to the rescue. Kiro looked behind him to see the ominous smile on Karenia’s face. She had just stabbed him and she was smiling. Was she being controlled? No. Karenia was stronger than that. She might be susceptible to illusions but she would have been able to ward off mind control. It might not be completely, but enough for them to pick out something was wrong. But to be completely controlled. That could only mean…

“Kiro!” Victor yelled as he darted towards Kiro but Jovak intercepted him.

“It’s the king’s move now,” he said as he kicked Victor to the side. Victor’s fire cloak shielded him from the impact but he was sent flying a great distance.

Kiro watched as Karenia transformed into a man. A man who Kiro recognized a great deal based on the expression he had on his face. The man was smallish, with brown curly hair. His ominous smile was by far his most distinctive feature. “I’m sorry that I had to stab you in the back… literally and figuratively. But you know, Jovak is very specific on his orders and there’s nothing really I can do. So, no hard feelings, right?” he said.

Kiro was getting pale. Victor was far from him and Karenia was clearly far away. He had something that looked more like a mirthless smile at first, but the words he spoke said otherwise. “I’ve been waiting for you to show yourself, Ardan,” Kiro said.

Ardan was shocked beyond words. But someone who was even more surprised was Jovak. He had a perfectly laid out plan and it was working out. It was all going as he hoped. Maybe even better. It wasn’t like he couldn’t beat them in a battle of attrition or even an all-out battle, but he just loved to mess with people. He enjoyed making crazy plans and seeing people struggle but if Kiro was aware of who Ardan was and his ability, then it could mean that he had been leading them on all along.

Before Ardan could react, Kiro warped him in a force field sphere, but unlike his usual ones, it was completely opaque. Isaac was awestruck. He could see the frustration in Jovak’s eyes, but he just had to talk to him. Perhaps in that state, he was the only one who could speak to Jovak. “So, what do we do now?” Isaac asked.

“Leave Ardan alone. We’ll take out the Ascient before the Phantom resurfaces. That shouldn’t be a problem at all.”

Victor got to his feet rather quickly. He was well aware of how difficult his situation was. One of the other Risers with Jovak attack him with a barrage of lightning attacks, with Nami and Isaac also concentrating fire on him. Draiville kept on hitting the shield but it did absolutely nothing. Victor lost all his fire summonings as defensive covers against his opponents’ attacks. But at that moment, there was really nothing more he could do. Except…

“Ryu,” Victor muttered rather quite calmly, considering the situation he was in.

***

System Update

Victor Vaneki

Skill Move: Fire Dragon; the most powerful summoning under the fire cloak. It possesses heightened physical abilities. It can also breathe fire.

***

The fire dragon was a true spectacle. It was at least five times Victor’s size and a blazing body of fire. It flew in the air up, and around Victor, threatening to attack but at the same time defending its master. It easily fended off the attacks of the others, while putting them on the run with furious fire blasts.

Isaac bit his lips in anger. Most of his powerful attacks would also affect his teammates. By nature of his ability, he wasn’t made to be a team player. A lone wolf would be more suitable because of its destructive force and range. But when he was reunited with his friend Jovak, there was simply no way he could decline his offer. But now it was coming back to haunt him. He couldn’t be his best in a group. He needed them to leave so he could fight freely, otherwise, Victor’s fire dragon might actually take them all out.

“Rest Isaac. The Ascient is not a threat. I’ll deal with him,” Jovak said.

***

Kiro watched as Ardan struggled to get out. A total waste of effort and he soon came to understand that. “How long have you known?” Ardan asked. The ability to transform into other people made him a master of stealth and espionage. So, it was only natural that he was extremely frustrated to have been bested by Kiro in that manner. Somehow, Kiro’s bleeding had stopped. In fact, his wound was completely healed, which was really strange. Phantom types definitely didn’t have healing abilities. So how…?

Kiro noticed Ardan looking at his wound. “My wound? Oh, it’s courtesy of a special item; water of life. It was extremely expensive but we met some Risers with very generous sponsors,” Kiro grinned.

“How long have you known!” Ardan reiterated his question with even more anger. “Who cares what you used? How long have you known about me? About the fact that I changed to your friend?”

“Well, if you had let me finish, you’d have understood. You see, the water of life reverses all damages sustained within ten minutes of ingestion. I got this item before coming here so yes, I knew of your existence before now. How long? Doesn’t matter.”

“So, you saw me watching you all this time?”

“No. I can’t see through your transformations, so I set myself up as bait. I knew Jovak would eventually try to kill me and your only use would be as a spy. So, when Karenia came back, I was suspicious. But I have to hand it to you, you played her part so well. I could never have known. That’s why I went to help instead of letting Victor do so. I need you separated from the group and alive. Because of all your members, you are the one with the weakest mental barrier. And I intend to exploit that fully.”

“I will never talk.”

“Something in my guts says otherwise,” Kiro grinned. “You are going to tell us exactly where Karenia is.”

“Us?”

“Why yes. Say hello to my friend, Lucas.”