NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 16: Noah comes in clutch
Chapter 16: Noah comes in clutch
Aware of the danger approaching, the team prepared for the incoming army of ghouls.
Noah was far from a battle expert and relied only on his Night Elven Ancestry knowledge, so he left everything in Athena's hands, and Eleonora and the others did not mind.
"Twelve of them approach, and due to this corridor's size only three can stand in front to stop them while the rest stay behind," Athena said.
Noah raised his hand. "I can take them down with a bow."
Bart followed. "I also have a long range projectile ability."
Their other companions could not fight, and Eleonora had sneezed a few times because of the cold.
She hated this, especially now that she had a rival in love making moves on her Noah, and she wanted her abilities at their peak to fight alongside him and Athena.
Noah walked up to her and draped his black robes over her shoulders.
He pulled them snugly around her, making sure they fit well, and Eleonora stared at him, her heart warm and bubbly.
"I'll protect you," he said.
Eleonora beamed and covered her smile with the robe's oversized sleeves. "Don't let anyone come close to me, Prince."
"Back to your princess act?" Noah chuckled and kissed her forehead, then joined the others who could fight.
Eleonora watched him go and grinned. "Noah is growing more assertive while keeping his gentle side. I love him so much."
Soon, they heard the heavy footsteps of ghouls, along with the rattling of armor and weapons.
Before any could pounce on the frontline, Noah and Bart launched their attacks.
Noah drew his bowstring and released a dark arrow that hissed as it traveled, tracking its target before striking one ghoul in the forehead and knocking it backward.
Bart's mana bullets were weaker and less accurate, yet he fired them nonstop.
Still, some ghouls reached the frontline.
Athena caught a few by the throat with her bare hands, lifting them above her head, sneering with a commanding presence as blood trickled from her wounds to create wolves that aided the others.
Everyone wanted to fight on their own, since they were here to gain strength.
Athena let them handle their share so they could awaken their powers instead of relying on her.
While firing arrows, Noah felt a strange chill.
He turned and spotted more ghouls behind them, these ones unarmored and rushing like beasts, their savage eyes locked on Eleonora and the weaker companions.
"Behind us!" Noah shouted.
Eleonora ran toward him, but she was too slow.
A ghoul loomed over her and raised its claws.
Moments before it could strike, Noah tapped into his Tenebris Spiders' Robes, shooting a thread that latched onto the ceiling and pulled Eleonora up.
He wove more threads around her until she was stuck safely near the top of the corridor.
Noah transformed Venom into his daggers and lunged at the ghoul.
In one swift movement, he sliced across its body, spraying dark blood.
He flung a dagger at another ghoul about to harm a companion, then finished it off with a quick thrust to the neck.
The rest joined in, and the threat from behind was dealt with.
"Handsome, handsome," Eleonora whimpered from above.
Noah used his robes to lower her gently into his arms, and she clung to him as though she never wanted to let go.
He ruffled her hair and promised to keep an eye on her with Nocturne so he could react whenever she was in danger.
Eleonora hugged him tighter. "Thank you."
Some others showed worry and annoyance at their own weakness, but Noah could not help them.
In this trial, people had to rely on themselves and their partners, not strangers.
He kept those thoughts to himself and regrouped with Athena, holding Eleonora in his arms.
"Let's keep going," Noah said.
They encountered a few more ghoul groups on their way to the other end of the corridor.
Everyone got some crystals, and Noah set them aside since he did not plan to add random powers to his skill set.
Eleonora reminded him she could combine them later for something more valuable.
At last, they found a hatch in the ceiling.
Noah lifted it and discovered they were inside the mansion.
He helped Eleonora up, Athena followed, and soon the others joined them.
It was dark and empty.
"Looks like nobody else made it here yet," Noah said, and the group agreed.
He searched for a room where he and his companions could rest.
He did not feel tired because of his Night Elf blood, but Eleonora needed sleep, and Athena was still full of energy.
"I found a master's room," Athena called from the second floor.
Noah went up and saw the owner's bedroom with a large emperor bed.
Everything looked usable, though the mansion was gloomy, with ghouls possibly lurking.
He carefully put Eleonora on the bed and covered her with a blanket.
He told her to keep wearing his robes for extra protection, which also calmed his own worries.
"You don't want in?" Eleonora asked, her eyes big and pleading.
Noah blinked at her invitation, then shook his head. "Not here. I'm not sleepy yet, and Athena doesn't seem tired either."
Athena said, "I always retire last."
Noah smiled. "From now on, you'll go to sleep before me. I want you to feel more like a woman and let me handle things. You've already served enough as the War Goddess."
"I shall comply," Athena muttered, her cheeks reddening.
Noah gave her a warm look, then sat on the bed's edge and gently stroked Eleonora's hair until she drifted off to sleep.
Her circumstances here so far had been hard, yet she believed in him enough to endure.
This rest was well deserved.