No.22: No hesitation {1}

Earlier, upon jumping into the air, Felix realized he most likely couldn’t keep relying on the same trick, as the Vice-Leader had already gotten used to it by now. As such, moments before activating Hollow Wings, he activated another Attribute instead.

[Mirage Mist has been Activated]

[Description: Releases a faint enchanted mist capable of distortion]

The Attribute was simple, yet effective. It created a thin veil of mist within a certain range, allowing Felix to influence what was perceived by anyone caught within it.

So, upon activating it, he immediately activated Hollow Wings to avoid the assault aimed at his head, while sending a mirage duplicate in the opposite direction, ensuring the duplicate touched the floor before he did.

In turn, drawing the Vice-Leader’s attention as he targeted it instead.

As such, upon landing a safe distance away from his disemboweled mirage counterpart that had just been assaulted by the Vice-Leader, Felix immediately created over a dozen more duplicates to throw him off.

Though similar at a glance, due to the Attribute still being at a low level, it was possible to easily differentiate the real person from a mirage counterpart with enough effort.

However, the trick lay in the fact that Felix had already overwhelmed the Vice-Leader with a series of unexpected surprises, making him less calm as time went on. Especially since the Vice-Leader was trying to wrap things up as quickly as possible.

So, the sudden addition of another unknown Attribute was intended to throw him off balance and make him more desperate to end things quickly, while remaining unaware that the illusion could have easily been seen through with a bit of effort.

As such, Felix never intended to stay hidden from the Vice-Leader’s perception.

Instead, he intended to draw all of his attention toward himself while ensuring he failed to notice the tiny glowing orb-like spheres harmlessly floating in the air.

[Hallow Pods has been Activated]

However, Felix hadn’t expected the Vice-Leader to be pushed to the point of revealing one of his trump cards, which suddenly sent a chill down his spine while freezing him in place, rendering him incapable of moving while simultaneously exposing his position.

But as he had already intended on getting caught to begin with, it didn’t really change the plan much.

As such, Felix instinctively activated another Attribute with a thought.

[Grain Gemini has been Activated]

[Description: Creates duplicates of seeds in contact with. (Limit: x100)]

{Grain Bank: 2/2}

To which he immediately activated another Attribute soon after.

[Golden Touch has been Activated]

[Description: Accelerates growth in plants]

As the former described, it was capable of creating copies of seeds Felix had previously come into contact with.

However, though he could make up to a hundred copies of the same seed, since the Attribute was still at a low level, he was only able to store two different types of seeds that he could create and replicate at a time.

As such, he couldn’t store more than that in the Grain Bank.

Yet, this was more than enough for what Felix had in mind.

Having encountered multiple hostile plants before reaching the Grand Labyrinth, there was one in particular that stood out to him.

The Azure Vine Reaper.

A fearsome Grade-8 plant-type Monster that burned with ravaging blue flames while possessing scythe-like vines for limbs.

The reason he had chosen to replicate it was because Hans and the Vice-Leader had struggled somewhat to deal with it at the time, making him realize it was a useful plant to have.

However, as he hadn’t tried the Attribute on a plant-type Monster before, he had been unsure whether it would even work.

Luckily, it had.

What made the Monster dangerous wasn’t its strength or cunning like the Alpha, but instead its overwhelming numbers and singular attack pattern, which, though easy to counter when prepared for, was comparable to a Grade-7 attack if used at the right moment or if it caught its prey off guard.

Upon activating Grain Gemini, one of the glowing pod-like spheres floating in the air that had been carrying the replicated seed suddenly popped open, releasing the seed within.

However, before the seed even touched the ground, Felix activated Golden Touch, causing it to begin growing at a rapid pace.

Meanwhile, since the Attribute still required a brief moment to grow a seed from a grain into maturity, Felix decided to use something else to distract the Vice-Leader.

After all, the attack was already closing in on his face.

......

Contrary to what one might expect upon realizing something was about to split him in two, the Vice-Leader neither dodged nor canceled his assault.

Instead, with a swift and precise motion, he dissolved his body into shadows, causing his attack to phase through Felix while simultaneously allowing the attack aimed at himself to pass harmlessly through him as well.

Still in his shadow state, he swiftly turned toward the assailant.

Ensuring the weapon was no longer in contact with his body, he canceled his shadow state, becoming tangible once more while crouching low and delivering a devastating slash toward the figure’s ‘legs’.

However, to his utter shock, his attack simply passed through the assailant in a wisp of mist, meeting nothing but air.

At the same time, another attack emerged beside him, intending to split his head open.

A brief moment of hesitation flashed through his mind, wondering if this too was merely another illusion.

A single moment.

Yet, that was all it took to change the odds.

A clean cut was made.

The sound of metal slicing through flesh echoed throughout the room, followed by the dull thud of something hitting the ground.

Staring in utter disbelief, Felix gazed at the sight, a slight bead of sweat trickling down his face as he did.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Contrary to what he’d expected, the Vice-Leader still stood before him.

Alive.

.....

*Earlier*

Reacting instinctively, the Vice-Leader immediately shifted his head away from the path of the scythe-like limbs, narrowly escaping the attack.

However, as he was still in motion when the figure appeared, he was unable to redirect his assault in time.

Especially after that brief moment of hesitation.

Instead, he attempted to dissolve into the shadows once more.

But unlike what most would assume, the Attribute wasn’t instantaneous. It still required a brief moment to spread through his body and turn it into shadow.

As such, he was unable to dissolve completely before the attack connected.

A clean strike severed his arm. The attack that would’ve otherwise taken his head.

Appearing some distance away after finally dissolving into the shadows, the Vice-Leader stood imposingly.

His eyes burned with rage as he glared menacingly at Felix with unfiltered murderous intent.

Blood slowly trickled down from the stump where his left arm had once been.

For the first time since entering the Crystal Room, he looked genuinely...

Furious!

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