Chapter 62: Grenade Launcher

There was no time to think about strategy. With all the windows most likely compromised, space around which we could move was severely limited. Adding the two enemies that already appeared in the room I had to rely on nothing but my instincts.

After all, it wasn't as if the situation that we were in couldn't be changed or even turned around!

"Ayda, push everything away!"

Unable to focus on the smaller details of the counterattack I could only hope the girl would be quick with her responses. With my part of the job requiring complete and utter focus, I couldn't handle maintaining yet another emotional release. At this point, the fact that I had basically no idea how to use true magic that laid dormant in me was even more infuriating.

"GO!"

Following my order with ease, Ayda entrusted the control over her action to me. At the same time, I had no choice but to entrust her with the responsibility of fulfilling them correctly. At this moment, we both rode the same horse.

As soon as Ayda's voice resounded in the room, everything around us instantly exploded outwards. In this momentary collapse of the fake calmness, before we would throw ourselves at each other's throats, she appeared like an eye of the storm, pressing everything and everyone but me against the walls.

Not even able to afford a single look at whether the bonus part of my plan worked out, I dashed towards the rustled pile of the materials. Mixed with gifts like clothes or pantries, one kind of bags was bound to react way slower than the others. Not because it was special or anything but because it was way heavier.

In this split of a second during which the attackers were unable to track anything within the room, be it the forces outside of the two men pinned against the walls, I found a window to grab my stuff. Using just a bit of two-folded repulsion, I tore a hole in the bag I picked. With how it was putting a dent on the otherwise gentle scope of the rubble, locating the right one was quite easy.

Forcing my hand through the hole I didn't have the time to pick anything specific. Grasping the very first thing that my fingers caught hold on I jumped back, towards Ayda. Stumbling on the ground in order to avoid the pressure of her repulsion, I rolled the rest out of my way towards her.

Right in the nick of time.

As soon as the two once again could cuddle together before the sparse cover that remained thanks to being bolted to the floor, I tore the safety from the tool I randomly picked. Looking down, I almost gasped when I realised what I happened to lock my fingers on.

"Not half bad…"

Muttering to myself as I raised the bulky gun, I made sure the ammunition drum was in place before pressing the trigger.

With the grenade launcher in my hand, I didn't even need to bother aiming all that much.

*Thump*

The dull sound of the grenade being launched was still loud enough to attract the attention of the enemies at close range. Given the slow speed of the projectile, if they were quick-witted enough, they could follow its path with their eyes in the short fraction of a second it took the grenade to smash against the wall.

Kicking in the explosion right away.

Sadly, not the kind of explosion that I expected.

Not what I expected to say the least!

"Quick! Put this on, otherwise, you will suffocate like them!"

Shouting to Ayda, I could only hope that the translation of my language that was in place somehow would extend to both of the close-range fighters that approached. For now, the smoke seeping from the windows of what used to be an Inn's room should hold another batch of opponents off.

On the other hand, hearing my words, the girl beside instantly looked at me waiting to receive the thing I mentioned, only to see the palm of my hand. Raised in a stopping sign, once she noticed it, I moved my hand up and placed one of its fingers atop my lips.

"Let's kill the fuckers outside as well. Deim, I would love to see what faces they will make once the poison kicks in!"

To say that I was improvising would be a huge understatement. Given the rapidly changing situation, I had no other way than to go with the flow!

"Hey, quick question. Do you know exactly how did they track us?"

The lie about the smoke would only give us fewteen seconds at most. After that time, our opponents would either find the determination to charge right into it or just plainly realise that it wasn't harmful at all!

"Yeah. Do you remember the time when I arranged a meeting with a former disciple of mine? It seems that he didn't abandon the witchcraft at all. He planted a tracking spell in my lust, just like I taught you to use the emotions of others to invoke witchcraft. Also…"

Before Ayda would even have a chance to explain what else she had on mind, her face suddenly darkened.

And in the next moment, a powerful gust of wind rushed to the room through the broken windows, nearly instantly blowing most of the smoke away!

"Here they are…"

Moving the muzzle of my gun towards the set of windows facing the opposite side to where the two close-range fighters invaded, I pulled the trigger of the grenade launcher.

*Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump*

Releasing all the remaining grenades from the drum magazine of my weapon, I discarded it as soon as the trigger no longer could make it work. But by the time the metal handle of the weapon left my hand I sensed a presence.

"BACK!"

Shouting to Ayda I had no way of helping her avoid the attack. Only capable of pushing her away and jumping in the other direction, I saw the flash of light cutting right through the place where my head used to be.

And then, my body stopped listening to my orders. Following the drill that my teacher has beaten into it, I instantly closed the distance to the closest enemy. As much as I wanted to help Ayda, given how we had no way of escaping until the smoke spreads outside, my instincts reigned supreme.

Clashing with the body of the opponent unprepared for such rash and reckless action, I locked my arms between his throat and under one of his shoulder. As silly as it would look like to hug an opponent in close-quarter's fight like that, it was actually a valid strategy.

Because in general and official terms, a sword was as useful as sniper life in the true close-quarters-combat! It excelled at half-distance, where the swings and trusts could make the difference. And right now, with the side of his throat squashed strongly by my strangling hold, the man had simply no place to manoeuvre his weapon in a way allowing him to injure me!

"Krist! They got true mage!"