OLD-WORLD EXTRA-Chapter 173: An Even Bigger Smackdown

He then executed a spin, channeling his motion into a sudden front flip.

In a swift descent, his right foot plummeted downward.

Before Evan could muster a response, Emir's foot met its mark, crushing the knight's head with relentless force.

The clash was over before Evan's thoughts could even solidify into action.

As Evan's longsword clattered to the ground, his body following suit, Emir was attacked by Hiro.

Hiro widely swung with his right shortsword, but it missed Emir as he simply leaned back slightly, letting it graze past his chest.

Undeterred, Hiro's movement flowed seamlessly into a spin, his right arm sweeping in an arc.

All the while, his voice chanted:

"Blurred Dance."

Yet, the heightened pace of Hiro's assault seemed almost sluggish to Emir.

Closing in on him, Emir maneuvered past the swinging right arm with ease.

Causing a glint of realization to flicker in Hiro's eyes as he hurriedly screamed: "Aetheric Evasion!"

But Emir's response was faster.

In a fraction of a second, his foot lashed out, connecting with the Blade Dancer's chest.

The impact was staggering, sending Hiro flying backwards before the ability could take effect.

He hurtled through the air, smashing into Jack, who had finally chanced a moment to take aim.

They crashed hard into each other, sending them tumbling away from the fight.

Emir let out a chuckle and then rushed towards Kiera, wanting to leave Leo for last.

Kiera's focus zeroed in on the approaching threat, and she seized the opportunity to finally shoot at Emir; her abilities silently chanted in unison.

Eight fireballs erupted out of the nozzle of her gun, draining her face of color in the process. Emir usually would've simply conjured his shield, knowing that the fire would track him. But this time, he wanted to show her another weakness of hers.

Not bothering to use his Flash Step ability, he rushed forward, heading directly towards the flames.

They roared after him, their heat a searing testament to their ferocity.

Emir shifted with a quick step to the left; he waited for a slight moment, and then, in a blink, he dashed right, effortlessly outmaneuvering the tracking trajectory of the flames.

Left with nothing to defend herself with, Kiera gazed at Emir, a mixture of horror and desperation painting her expression as he closed the distance between them in just four steps.

Her voice quivered as she tried a plea, her eyes wide and almost innocent:

"You wouldn't hurt me, would you?"

Emir's response was a subtle shake of his head.

A flicker of hope ignited in Kiera's eyes, a fleeting belief that she might be spared.

Her anticipation, however, turned to ashes as Emir sidestepped abruptly.

Eight fireballs appeared at the spot he had been a mere moment ago, a trap sprung by his calculated movement.

"Equality."

His voice was calm while appearing to be suppressing a chuckle.

"ARRRRGGGGGGGGH!"

Kiera's own flames struck her with brutal force, a fiery onslaught that threatened to consume her.

The agony was visceral as she screamed, a raw sound that conveyed her suffering.

But she managed to wrest control in the nick of time, sparing herself from certain death. The flames merely left their initial impact before she could staunch their consuming power. Collapsed onto the ground, Kiera heaved a tired sigh of relief, glad to survive Emir as an enemy.

Emir then turned his gaze away from the snoozing gang leader and eyed Sarah and Leo.

'The remaining two-a technomancer with no tech and a warden all out Aether... quite sad.'

Looking at Sarah, he pointed towards Kiera and the rest, and she immediately understood his intention, running over to heal them.

"Leo, you are the last one standing. Come."

Emir's voice cut through the charged air like a blade, his gesture beckoning Leo to face his impending fate.

Fear etched into his expression, Leo nodded, his trembling hand clutching a knife.

Stammering, he invoked his ability:

"Aetheric Hologram."

And abruptly, his form split into two identical copies, both copies mirroring each other's

movements.

Emir's brow quirked with a hint of bemusement.

'Isn't it just redundant to give away the main body's location before using the ability?' He mused silently.

Casually lifting his shoulders in a nonchalant shrug, he prepared to end Leo with a slap into the wall.

But just as his hand poised for the strike, an unexpected ring chimed from his terminal, halting his body.

Emir fished out the terminal from his pocket, his attention diverted from the battle at hand. Leo's attack went through, only to bounce off Emir's augmented suit's force shield.

Stopping in his tracks, Leo understood what happened and stepped back in tense silence, his gaze locked onto Emir.

Leo's eyes soon widened, a silent witness to the rapid transformation of emotions playing across Emir's features like a storm.

The initial flicker of shock, however fleeting, was soon eclipsed by a surge of anger that crept

up his expression.

But then, like a violent tempest tearing through the calm sky, an unparalleled rage contorted Emir's countenance into something unrecognizable.

Leo had faced Emir's prowess in battle and witnessed his unfazed demeanor in the face of

danger, but this...

This was different.

The depths of Emir's wrath seemed to unearth something primal, something ancient and powerful that roared to the surface.

And as Leo stood there, the weight of his own fear mingled with the palpable tension in the

air.

He couldn't tear his gaze away from Emir's visage, like a moth drawn to a mesmerizing, dangerous flame.

The world around them seemed to dim, the chaotic battle fading to insignificance in comparison to the force of emotion radiating from Emir.

The air itself seemed to vibrate with his killing intent, suffocating Leo as he imagined his

death over and over.

Causing hundreds of silent shivers to crawl down his spine.

Leo had never expected to witness this.

Yet, standing before him, he knew one thing with a chilling certainty:

Whoever had ignited this inferno of wrath within Emir would face not just death but a million

agonizing deaths.