The Conquerors Path

There was stunned silence as the group of assailants looked at Austin, they couldn't believe that Austin had chosen the way of death, was playing the hero that important? sadly they didn't even know the truth.

While Olivia had a difficult expression on her, deep within her heart a sweetness she never knew bloomed, all her life she had people working for her, making sure she is safe, making sure she is comfortable, and many more but all of them were out of duty and respect, it was their job hence they did it.

Olivia has always felt their innate jealousy and envy but she paid no mind to them, what they thought meant nothing to her. This was the first time in her life that someone had chosen to protect her not out of 'duty' but out of love, a corner of Olivia's eyes felt wet, while her heart started to beat faster, she never knew she could feel this happy for something so small yet big,

"I thought you were smart but it seems you were just a fool"

The origin level 9 spoke as his eyes lit up with mockery whose face was once again assaulted with an arrow and just like the previous times he cut it with a sword but this time a change took place, just as he had cut the arrow a spatial anomaly had occurred, blasting forth the assailants back, Austin didn't even hesitate as he caught Olivia's hand and started to run away, 

"Quick! my spatial distance lock won't hold them for long!"

Austin shouted with an anxious expression as they both start to run into the wilderness, hoping to throw their killers far away, by now Olivia had gotten her bearing back, her expression turning serious, she understood that it wasn't time for her to daydream, everything else can be later, they would definitely get out of here alive!

"STOP!"

A shout of anger was heard behind them but neither Olivia nor Austin paid any heed, they knew that time was of the essence as they kept trading forward, their mana was set ablaze as they kept running with all their might, a golden-like beauty armor grew around Olivia boosting her speed, while Austin was using his own techniques to keep up with her.

But it didn't seem to be of any good use as their chasers were hot on their tail, their eyes reddened, and they would be soon caught! and it would seem that their enemies no longer had the mood to joke as their killing intent was let loose, mana bursting forth within them, 

"Olivia run! I will try to hold them back!"

Austin shouted as he stopped to face their enemies hoping to give Olivia some time to escape, Olivia who heard it felt her heartbreak,

"NO!"

For the first time, she effectively disobeyed Austin's order, who looked back at her with cold eyes,

"Then I order you to fle-"

"NO!, if I am going down I will go down with you!"

Olivia spoke with burning eyes as she stood beside Austin, her gaze firm, while the mana within her start to get riled up, her golden armor became much more clear, and a beautifully crafted golden sword appeared in her arms, 

"You might die"

Austin spoke with a cold tone and Olivia just smiled as she spoke,

"If you are willing to die for me, why can't I?"

Saying so she turned to her assailants ready to attack, their enemies were already close, the origin level 9 at the lead as his mana was pressing on them, the pressure released from him now was enough to crush them but before Olivia could do anything she felt her mana drain from her body as she was hugged and pulled behind, Austin strong back filling her gaze, 

"Did you forget what I told you? I said that I won't let you get hurt"

His words drifted in the air as a powerful arrow appeared in his arms, the weight of it was crushing his body, while the mana in the surrounding was going crazy, no one was able to react before which an arrow was pulled from its string,

BOOM!

The sound barrier itself was broken as the arrow arrived at the intended target, a huge blast took forth as everything was destroyed, Olivia felt her body being hugged gently as she was thrown away, the sound of crashing and falling was heard, while her eyes were blinded, yet even then she wasn't hurt a bit, as she was protected.

Soon she felt her and Austin crashing to the ground, rolling on it, finally, they stopped, the light that blinded her faded away, while the ringing in her ears started to fade, the distinct sound of burning and the smell of blood filled her ears and nose,

"Cough....cough"

Coughing out she gently opened the embrace that surrounded her and when she saw Austin's state Olivia's eyes widened in horror,

"Austin!"

A heart-wrenched cry left her mouth as she lunged forward taking Austin into her embrace, right now his body was a bit skinny, half of his hair had turned white, his hands looed broken, while a black scar of burn went behind his back, his eyes were wavering as he looked at her, 

"Wh-Why?"

Olivia asked her heart feeling broken while tears kept falling from her eyes, she made her most gentlest movement as she made sure he wasn't hurt, her eyes trailed to the surroundings as she saw everything within her eye range was destroyed, and her gaze soon locked to the center where a man who lost his arm stood, his situation worse than Austin.

The origin level 9 had survived! but before she could react his figure disappeared, 

"Cough....didn't I say that I won't let you get hurt"

Austin replied blood leaking through the edges of his mouth, the tears were unstoppable as they kept falling down Olivia's face, taking out the highest of the healing potion in her hands she kept feeding Austin but it was of no use, it was only solving the current problem but she knew that if this went on Austin would die!

She quickly understood the situation, the arrow wasn't something that Austin was capable of using at his current level, and due to him overusing it half his life was gone!

"No, I won't let you die!"

Olivia spoke with conviction covering her eyes, she slowly yet gently lifted Austin up, making sure he wasn't hurt as she started to run, looking for a place to stay, she knew that the problems weren't over, the origin level 9 survive and he might come back, with hurried steps she kept running around the wilderness.

Thankfully most of the beasts here were below the original level 4 making it such that her powerful aura was more than enough to push all of them back, her search went on for a few minutes before which she found a cave, and quickly she got in and just as she did rain started to fall from the sky, 

"No...no...no"

Olivia kept saying so as she laid Austin on the ground, his breath getting shorter, it was clear that he didn't have much time left....