Assimilate All Talents-Chapter 388 - 387: Two Stubborn Individuals

Jendar's law technique, [Pinnacle Bowmanship], was a direct evolution of [Advanced Bowmanship]. Though not as flashy as other law techniques, his mastery of the bow was second to none. Every shot was smooth, swift, and devastating. There was no wasted movement, no hesitation, the arrows flowed from his bow like a stream of water.

But if that law technique was taken away?

Jendar suddenly found himself unable to even hold his bow properly. Just drawing the string caused it to wobble unsteadily in his grip, making it impossible to use any of the skills that relied on it.

In his long life, it was the first time he had experienced something like this. But if there was one thing he was certain of, it was Sol's doing.

"Now we can have a proper conversation." Sol said, approaching the wary wood elf.

Jendar clearly had no trust in Sol, despite the latter's attempts to peacefully disable him. And while he could no longer use his bow, that didn't mean he was out of options.

"Oi, are you serious? Put the arrow down."

Wielding one of his arrows like a dagger, Jendar refused and instead shifted into a combat stance.

"Even if your intentions are true, you still broke our laws, and willingly so. But if you turn back now and return to your kingdom, I will not give chase. If you still intend to proceed, then as one of the Guardians, it's my duty to do everything in my power to stop you... or die trying."

As much as Jendar despised humans, he also knew when he was outmatched. Still, surrendering and allowing a human to proceed deeper into elven lands was something he could never do.

'This man is seriously committed to his job...' Sol couldn't quite understand how someone could be so willing to die when he was trying so hard not to kill them. As frustrating as it was, he also respected that level of stubbornness.

Did that mean he would turn back to Kerman?

Absolutely not. After all, Sol was also one very stubborn individual and the best shot to see his parent again was through here.

"Fine, then I'll just knock you out for a bit!"

With that declaration, Sol vanished.

Jendar frowned and raised his arrow overhead just in time. Sol had reappeared above him with his palm extended. He grabbed the arrow and snapped it in two like a twig.

Jendar's frown deepened as Sol gave a somewhat ominously gentle smile and spoke in a reassuring tone.

"Don't worry, this won't hurt... too much."

His hand curled into a fist, and he drove it straight into Jendar's face, sending him flying. Jendar's body was hurled through the trees, which were shattered in his wake, becoming not much more than scrap wood.

Staggering to his feet using the trunk of a fallen tree for support, Jendar looked up to see Sol already there, waiting.

"Sorry. I don't have skills that can reliably incapacitate you." Sol briefly apologized, before immediately launching another devastating punch towards him.

This time, Jendar managed to react before it was too late. He raised his arms to shield himself, but even then, the impact blasted him backward into yet another cluster of innocent trees.

Witnessing the scene of destruction before him, Sol waited, sensing no movement from his opponent. But, as if solely to prove him wrong, Jendar stirred and began to rise once again.

"Why are you making this harder on yourself? You know you can't win." Sol was genuinely perplexed. He had been holding back this entire time to avoid killing Jendar, but he feared the elf's refusal to surrender would leave him no choice.

Jendar coughed up blood, then steadied himself and looked Sol dead in the eyes.

"Because I made an oath! An oath to protect my homeland, my family, from humans like you!"

Bloodied but resolute, Jendar retrieved several arrows from his spatial ring and crossed his arms.

'What's he planning now?' Sol couldn't see the point. Without his law technique, there wasn't anything he could do with those arrows.

But Jendar could tell what Sol was thinking. And still, he readied himself and screamed, "And I intend to keep it!"

He swung both arms outward, flinging the arrows toward Sol.

They scattered in all directions, none of them on a direct path to hit him. But as they sailed through the air, they suddenly turned, homing in on him.

'He used [Seeking Shot] without a bow?!' Sol's eyes widened in disbelief.

Still, such an attack posed little danger. He shifted into shadow form, letting the arrows phase harmlessly through him.

"Got you!" Jendar roared as he launched ten glowing mana arrows he had secretly created during the distraction.

These arrows soared toward Sol's shadowy form, and if all of them hit, they might be enough to obliterate him. freewebnσvel.cѳm

"I won't fall for the same trick twice."

A thick wall of stone erupted from the ground, rising between Sol and the incoming arrows. The projectiles slammed into the barrier and stopped short. Moments later, the wall sank back into the earth, revealing Sol completely unharmed.

Jendar's face turned pale.

He had executed the attack perfectly, despite having never used his skills without a bow before. He was certain that if he had tried this against any other A-Ranker, it would have worked.

'Shit...'

Now, he truly had no more cards to play. And yet, even knowing that defeat was inevitable, he reached into his ring for more arrows.

He knew he could stop at any moment and that Sol would likely let him go. But Jendar would rather die than betray the homeland that saved him after he had once been enslaved.

'Sorry I won't get to see you join the Guardians, Reena...'

His thoughts drifted to a certain dark elf he had raised as his own daughter. He had hoped to see her become the great elf he knew she could be. But he couldn't turn back now.

Sol sighed as he saw the look in the wood elf's eyes, there was no changing his mind.

"Man... I wish you—"

He cut himself off as the mana in the area twisted unnaturally. Acting out of caution, he leapt far from the source which happened to be right behind Jendar.

Jendar felt it too, but his reaction was one of surprise and dread. Weakly, he yelled, "No—!"

A large portal opened behind him, and three figures leapt out, landing protectively in front of him.

It was Reena, flanked by two elven mages, one a sun elf, the other a light elf.

Seeing Jendar's condition, the light elf acted quickly, "[Radiance of Life]."

An orb of light flew from his staff and enveloped Jendar, flooding him with radiant vitality. His wounds vanished in an instant. He was restored completely to his peak condition.

Jendar, now fully healed, immediately turned to Reena and shouted, "What are you doing here?!"