n

n

nSam looked at the situation and sighed. He clearly didn't see these people before. But from their looks he could relate them to the description he had heard from the subordinates.

nThey are definitely the same mercenaries, he came across before. He then turned to look at Malgav.

n

"This look suits your pedophilic tendencies way better than the previous one. But why are you still here? Shouldn't you be shivering on a bed huddled into a big ball while holding your balls that you almost lost permanently?

"

nMalgav looked at embarrassed and enraged, but both of those feelings are completely overwhelmed by the fear that came from looking into Sam's eyes.

nHe still remembered as clear as a day on how Sam busted him in front of so many people. He couldn't even bring himself to garner any energy to even throw an insult back. In fact, it is even hard for him to directly look at him.

n

"What are staying mum for? Is this batch your latest trick?

"

nSam asked coldly. Malgav, wanted to deny it, but before he could do so, the mercenary group made a move.

nSam didn't even understand, where did they get their confidence from. Except for the leader of the group who is at Peak stage, the rest are all completely at his level or some even at a lower level.

nBut when he looked at the way they are moving, he immediately understood what their strength is. They are not attacking him. They are attacking the kids.

nSam gritted his teeth and took out the staff before jamming it in the ground.

nA large energy barrier appeared in front of him and enveloped the kids and Jyon as well.

n*BAM* *BANG* *BOOM*

nThe energy barrier is collided with myriad of attacks and Sam turned back to look at Jyon.

n

"I can fight them off, but I need to be sure that children would be safe in your hands. Can you do that?

"

n

"I… I…

" Jyon panicked and almost broke down.

nSam wanted to yell at her. But he knew that wouldn't help. He tried to calm down a bit and said.

n

"If I have to maintain such a wide barrier good enough to make sure that even the after effects of the attacks wouldn't reach the kids, I wouldn't be able to fight. The moves I can make would be very limited and with the area around us so broad, the battle might we as well go on forever. Can you pull yourself together and focus on the barrier?

nAll you need to do is make sure that the kids are okay. I already notified the situation to your father, he should be coming here. So, you don't need to be afraid.

"

n

"SAM….

"

nAs soon as Sam finished his words, Jyon yelled on top of her lungs and Sam frowned. He also sensed something and turned around.

nHe was stunned by what he saw.

nThe leader of the mercenary group stood before the barrier and he wore some kind of glove that is glowing with energy patterns.

nHe then stabbed it into the barrier straight towards Sam.

nAnd actually, it went through it without any resistance.

nSam took in a breath of cold air and dodged while doing a spinning kick aimed at the arm.

nA saber appeared in the hand of the leader and the kick clashed with it.

nThe blade and the metal leg of Sam are clashing together and when Sam looked at other mercenary groups also wearing these gloves, he immediately made an energy bullet converge at the end of his metal leg.

n*BOOM*

nThe energy bullet destroyed the saber and almost took the hand of the leader if he was not quick enough to pull it out and move back.

nSam immediately used the staff to create more layered barrier to make the thickness high enough to not let the gloves completely penetrate it.

nHe then turned to Jyon and the kids. If possible, he would have really sent these kids away through the spatial tokens. Even if they went to the stray realm of Grivon, they would at least survive, without much trouble. But their bodies wouldn't be able to withstand the spatial suction. Their internal organs would come out before they could even disappear here.

nThe only instantaneous method that he could use is the space gate, which he doesn't have.

n

"Jyon, you have to pull yourself together. They are coming from all sides. I need you to save them.

"

nAs he spoke those words, he noticed that she is shivering in fright.

nHe couldn't help but shake his heads and said to her in a very low tone while the mercenaries already spread throughout the barrier as they are trying to use the gloves to penetrate the barrier. Luckily with Sam's barrier, he managed make it a bit slower.

n

"Jyon, Jyon. Don't panic. Just make one barrier. Before I came here, you were ready to fight them, right? Just like that. I don't need you to do much for me. Just twelve seconds. Create a strong barrier and maintain it while counting to twelve.

nBy the time you finish counting, I will be back and we can leave this place.

nDo you understand?

"

nJyon looked at Sam who is trying to calm her down and nodded.

nShe took her flute and started playing.

nWater started manifesting around her and the children and it created a large barrier and it became thicker and thicker until it reached Sam's barrier.

nSam finally smirked and took off his barrier. He spun his staff and took a leap forward towards the leader.

nHe swung his staff diagonally downwards.

nBut the opponent managed to block with the saber which he realized is futile. As soon as the staff clashed with the saber, One of the sections opened up and shot energy bullets directly at the leader at a point blank range.

n*BOOM*

n*BOOM*

nOut of those two, one of them brushed past his face and exploded behind him while the other one exploded at his chest.

nHe was enveloped by the two explosions while Sam created a barrier than threw him off a bit.

nIn mid-air he maneuvered himself a bit while kicking his metal leg off. The energy blasted and he changed his direction to the nearest guy attacking the large water barrier.

nThe staff landed on the guy's head bursting it open and with the same momentum Sam kicked the ground and slid on the sand to the next guy.

nHe swung the staff diagonally as he moved past him and his mid-section was exploded with just one hit.

nBy the time Sam stopped sliding, he aimed the staff at the third target and used the energy bullets to shoot them down.

n*BOOM*

nHe didn't rest and kicked the ground, jumping high into the air as he crossed over the barrier with a single leap and landed on the other side in a big parabola.

nWhile in mid-air, he shot the energy bullets at two more opponents who were already running away from the barrier, but they were shot down immediately.

n*BOOM*

n*BOOM*

nEven though they were not dead, they were unable to move anymore.

nWhen he landed, Sam blasted the head of one guy with the staff with a direct hit and then shot down the other two guys with energy bullets.

n

"And that is twelve.

"

nHe muttered to himself and took a deep breath.

nHe looked at Jyon who is playing the flute with a big frown and tapped on the barrier.

nShe opened her eyes and looked at Sam and then at the rest of the surroundings, finally stopping the flute.

nShe finally felt relieved.

nBut Sam didn't.

nBecause, he immediately sensed something and made a move.

nHe disappeared from the spot as he dashed forward.

n*BAM*

nHis staff clashed with a saber. The leader of the group who is bleeding from his mouth and with a big gaping hole in his chest and on the back is gritting his teeth as he made a move.

nSam realized that this guy doesn't even have that much strength left, so he sighed a relief and moved his staff, pushing the other guy out. But once again, the opponent lunged forward and leaped at Sam who caught him by his shoulder with one hand while storing the staff away.

nThe man struggled so much and Sam muttered.

n

"What are you struggling so much for? Just die in peace.

"

nHe was about to throw a punch, when the man spat a mouthful of blood on Sam's face.

nSam's punch landed on his face right after that, completely breaking his head open.

nBut the blood has entered his eyes and mouth and he felt something odd about it.

nHe just shook the feeling off and turned to Jyon.

n

"Take the kids back through the space gate. I have something to do here.

"

nJyon looked around and noticed that the kids are shivering in fright. They are clearly traumatized by the situation.

nShe slowly gathered them and led them out of this place.

nSam turned around and let Specter out.

n

"Gather the souls and the information..

" He then turned to Malgav and looked at him coldly.

n