Chapter 162: Chapter 162:A Dead End [4]
As I pulled the delicate black string of my bow back and placed the bow in front of me, making it seem as if the corrupted figure were using it, I examined Zach's crumbling figure.
If he had not been aware of Zach's lack of power when comparing it to the other main cast members, he would know now.
Right now the spirit's hope of winning the fight is the fact that he believes that the other main cast members won't kill Zach as he is their friend.
Through the walk to the cave, the spirit must have noticed the closed camaraderie and sentiment shared between the main cast members.
Therefore, right now, he should believe that the main cast wouldn't kill Zach no matter what happened.
Not only that, but it was also clear from the spirit's lack of energy or just standing still instead of trying to escape that he had no plans of attacking.
Just like he had used our emotions to manipulate us into following the path at the start, he was once again influencing our emotions, disallowing us from killing Zach and him.
Unfortunately, this time around, he wasn't in control of everything from behind the scenes.
He was on the front stage, in the form of Zach's body, standing in front of the entire main cast and I.
And just like an actor, he was attempting to elicit emotions out of us, not excitement or happiness, but sympathy and sorrow at seeing one of your best friends being controlled.
Truly, he was an astounding actor.
If I hadn't been here, there was no doubt in my mind that Lily, Alya, and the rest of the main cast wouldn't attack, not daring to harm Zach's body.
Then, it was simply a game of blackmail.
The spirit had all the bargaining chips while the main cast was broke and penniless.
Unfortunately, an extra was going to make an appearance in this performance.
A true extra, one that neither belonged in this world or performance.
Releasing the arrow, I aimed right above Zach's shoulder, calculating the trajectory so that the arrow would barely miss him, just flying by his cheek.
However, that didn't mean Zach wouldn't be hurt.
The spirit in Zach's body, who neither had the capabilities nor skill to dodge my arrow, simply stared at the corrupted figure, not noticing me, and watched the arrow fly toward him.
Instead of making an attempt to dodge to the right or deflect the arrow with a sword, the spirit in Zach's body simply watched, a shrewd and cunning smiling apparent on his face.
As the arrow flew right past Zach's head and above his shoulder, a deep cut appeared on Zach's face, blemishing his "priceless" face.
The spirit did not flinch as blood leaked out of the cut on Zach's face, simply staring at the corrupted figure and the main cast, who had not joined me.
Everyone was now on stage, illuminated by the blood-red aura surrounding my daggers, which seamlessly co-existed with the darkness of the shadow cage.
Hiding behind the corrupted figure, I turned to Lily and said.
"My arrow won't miss next time."
Looking at the horrified expressions on Alya and Lily, who were the only two close enough to hear me, I picked up another arrow.
Seeing no way of reasoning with me, the two simply stared at my bow for a moment before turning right back around.
Then, in a purposely loud voice, Lily screamed out.
"WE HAVE NO CHOICE...IT'S EITHER ZACH DIES OR US!"
Guess someone else here is a natural-born actor.
The smile on Zach's face disappeared, being replaced with a cold expression as his teeth gnawed each other before reappearing.
However, completely wiping the smile of the spirit, the rest of the main cast did not object to Lily's statement, simply staying silent.
Looks like we have a whole group of actors over there....
Well, I'm an extra who wasn't even cast by the director or author in this scenario, so who am I to judge?
Pulling the elegant string of my bow once again, I watched with interest as the main cast rushed toward Zach.
Even with my blood-red aura lighting up this area of the shadow cage, the colors of their attacks still weren't visible.
They appeared for a split second before becoming immediately consumed by the darkness of the shadow cage, vanishing without a trace.
Watching the colorless attacks of Ruby's fire, Lily's water, and Alya's ice charge at the corrupted figure, I released my arrow.
However, instead of fully pulling back the string, I simply did it halfway, giving Zach more than enough time to dodge.
But that didn't mean that the attacks of the others wouldn't hurt him.
After sending the arrow off, I immediately dismissed the bow and commanded the corrupted figure to charge forward.
Holding the dagger covered in a blood-red aura, the corrupted figure charged forward silently.
Turning to the side, I saw Alya staring at me with an expectant gaze instead of her friend Zach, who was being bombarded by attacks.
Raising my hand, I copied the salute that I had seen the Elven soldiers do during the attack on the clearing.
Putting my right hand to my heart, I tapped it with my index finger once before swiftly raising my hand upwards and touching my nose.
Finally, I tapped my index finger to my nose before throwing my entire right hand upwards, my index finger sticking out.
Leaving behind the confused Alya, I activated the grace period of dash before immediately dashing to the side.
Instead of dashing straight behind the corrupted figure, I appeared ten meters to the right, not in the area illuminated by my blood-red dagger.
As Zach desperately dived to the right, barely avoiding my arrow, countless fire spells, ice attacks, and sword slashes hit him.
*BANG*
Being sent flying by the attacks, Zach's back crashed into the barrier of the shadow cage, sending him right to the ground with an uncontrollably yelp.