Although ranks were not absolute in this world, they were close to it.
Ranks represented the amount of mana you could hold and wield. Although the exact amount differed slightly between people in the same rank, it was around the same.
A higher rank meant a higher amount of mana, and a higher amount of mana meant a greater number of possible strategies and stronger techniques. In other words, a greater strength, speed, agility, defenses, etc.
Normally, five or six strong peak <C+> ranks were needed to fight one weak <B–> rank. Going one rank higher, you needed eight to ten strong peak <B+> ranks to face one weak <A–> rank. As for A-ranks defeating a Demigod? It will take more than 10 or 30 of them to beat one, even they are fully geared and equipped with powerful magical artifacts, weapons and fully prepared, there is still doupts about it.
But the first person ever did that was the Great Warrior of Atira himself, Izrael. A warrior knight who was at peak <A+> rank that manage to defeat a Transcension Demigod single-handedly.
Despite it, though, the world never lacked geniuses. Stories of people defeating enemies of a stronger rank were not uncommon. Each certain time, you could hear a story about a young genius somewhere managing to do it.
In fact, Delirious, Brian, and Marcel were three such people.
However, it was mostly limited to defeating someone one rank higher.
As for defeating someone two entire ranks higher? At most, you could find three or four people like that in each generation, and most of the time, luck played a decisive factor in the victory.
And now, our group of FUCKING idiots were exactly in that situation.
And they finally understood how wide a difference of two ranks was.
It was the very first time they felt so powerless during a fight in this world.
The A-rank was many times stronger than them, his speed was several times faster, and his battle experience and explosiveness were at another level.
It was at the point where they could not keep with his movements. Although both Brian and Marcel's eyes could follow the black-dressed man thanks to his Brian's cyberntic eyes and Marcel's enhance senses, unfortunately their body was too slow to react.
Besides the first few attacks that took the man by surprise, none of their attacks had managed to hit him.
In fact, the only reason they were still alive was because Marcel and Brian have insane senses beyond their levels that could catch the movements of the A-rank, not just that, another good reason is that they have much more geared and very strategic than the A-rank, and the final reason is that they wore their Enchanted Diamond Armor, eating an enchanted Golden Apple, drank numerous Body enhancement Potions, and Brian kept yeeting an enchanted Shield Captain America style. Nevertheless, the black-dressed man had been very close to landing a blow.
However, their situation was not the worst. At the very least, they had not been injured yet.
Instead, it was the city lord whose situation seemed grim.
Even although the city lord was also an <A-> rank, he was already tired after fighting the beast wave. Moreover, not every <A-> ranks was the same, and it was obvious that the leader of the black-dressed men was one of the strongest in the early-stage rank.
In the end, the city lord was being one-sidedly suppressed. Despite his desire to avenge his dead son, he could not even touch the hem of the leader's shirt.
Instead, the opposite happened. The fight between the city lord and the black-dressed leader quickly turned into a scene of the leader constantly injuring the city lord. Slowly wearing him down to find an opportunity to kill him. .
Fortunately, the city lord was not alone and he had brought some of his men with him.
More than once, these men's sacrifice was the reason the city lord was able to avoid a deadly injury, but even like that, it was obvious he could not last long.
Moreover, the black-dressed men had reinforcements too. Besides the three A-ranks fighting Xavier, Marcel, Brian, Delirious, and the City Lord, there were also four B-ranks. One of these B-ranks was guarding the unconscious girls and the creature, but the other three were fighting against the city lord's men.
But not every person fighting the black-dressed men was losing.
There was an exception, and it was Xavier.
Contrary to the members of Team 6's fight and the city lord's struggle, Xavier's battle was more like toying with his enemy. He was standing there doing nothing, wielding his enchanted shield and netherite sword while the opponent his facing circled around him attacking at all sides but Xavier wears an enchanted Netherite armor making the <A–> rank gave a hard time, even if the <A–> rank aims at Xavier's head, Xavier just block it with his weapon and then and get the opportunity to filled him with injuries.
In the end, it is more like a boring fight more than an intense one. Even if he has thr strength to the peak of <B+> rank, he could easily fight an A-rank opponent like him while wearing the armor.
However, if Xavier goes all out, the only problem was that the opponent he was facing has a specialty of dodging attacks except while he was in mid-air. If Xavier goes berserk mode, this will be easy for his opponent.
The battle in the city walls intensified, and soon, both sides had casualties. Many of the men that the city lord brought had been killed, but at the same time, a B-rank black-dressed man had died too.
The situation was obviously advantageous for the black-dressed men. Although they were surpassed three to one, their combined strength was higher than the strength of the city lord's men.
Moreover, if either the city lord, Marcel, Delirious, Brian, or Xavier were defeated, then an A-rank would be freed, and the battle would be in their hands.
Marcel knew it, and that was the reason he completely focused on the fight. He and his friends had stopped attacking the A-rank black-dressed man and instead were completely in the defensive.
Their goal was to gain time. As soon as they could draw the fight long enough for their plan to work, victory would be them regardless of if they kill the A-rank or not.
But their opponent did not plan to make it easy for them. The attacks of the black-dressed man had become faster and stronger, and more than once, he had been extremely close catch one of them.
The only thing keeping them alive was Brian and his numerous shields in his inventory.
The black-dressed man had also realized it. At the start, he did not pay the cyborg irish-man much attention, but after it saved his friends lives repeatedly, the black-dressed man understood that he had to kill the damn person first if he wanted to kill the others.
Unfortunately for him, if he targets Brian, Marcel and Delirious will immediately defend him with their energy rifles.
Even like that, though, he found this fight the most frustrating fight of his life.
Black Dressed Men 5: Damn to hell! What kind of brats are you!???!?!
They all panted and none of them did not reply. They did not dare to be distracted even for one second against this kind of opponent.
Delirious(Thoughts): God damn it, how much longer...
Delirious thought to himself while observing the situation on the other fights. Currently, the city lord was already in his last legs. He could die at any moment!
As for Xavier, he gets slashes all around him but he seemed fine as always.
Delirious could not help but smile wryly through his mask.
As though answering his prayers, the change he was expecting happened at that moment.
Suddenly, the black-dressed man guarding the girls froze.
Then, he grabbed his chest and coughed a mouthful of blood.
At some point, an ice-cold girl had appeared behind him and stabbed a knife in his heart.
The blade of the knife pierced the black-dressed man's heart. It was impossible for him to survive this kind of attack.
Black Dressed Men 6: Y-You...
The black-dressed man coughed a mouthful of blood.
Skyler just looked at him indifferently and swung the knife aside, slicing his body apart!
The bloody scene was noticed by every person on the walls. Instantly, the black-dressed men paled.
Leader: Someone, stop her!
The leader bellowed. But neither the group nor the city lord was going to allow it.
City Lord: Stop them!
The city lord and his men attacked crazily as though their lives depended on it. At the same time, Team 6 engaged their enemy ferociously to stop him from stopping Skyler.
Skyler knew the situation was critical. As soon as she killed the black-dressed man, she rushed towards her sister's location.
City Lord: Skyler, take Karen away!
Skyler grunted. Although she did not want to save her, now was not the time to garner the city lord's suspicion.
In seconds, she grabbed the two girls with her and jumped down the city walls.
Terroriser expression brightened.
Terroriser: Great! Alright ladies, it's time to get fuck out!
His friends nodded. Xavier bashed his enemy by using te enchanted shield without him to react because of Skyler's sudden appearance, the blow threw him against a wall while Delirious, Marcel, and Brian shot numerous bullets to their opponent to give them time to run.
But—
Black Dressed Men 5: Where do you think you are going, mongrels!?
The <A–> rank fighting them roared. Then, he used his arms to protect his vital parts and rushed through the rain of energy bullets.
Marcel's expression changed. He hurriedly jumped aside and evaded the bulldozing A-rank. Then, he immediately ordered Xavier.
Xavier instantly rushed towards the three and act as a shield. He jumped on the Golem's back without hesitation and gave it the order to leave.
At the same time, the other two boys jumped after him.
Black Dressed Men 5: Do you think you can escape!?
The <A–> rank man shouted. But suddenly, he saw a small ball floating in front of his eyes.
And-
*Flash!*
The bright light and deafening sound of the stun grenade paralyzed him.
Black Dressed Men 5: Arrrrghhhhh!!!
Terroriser: Parry this you filth casual!
The man screamed and covered his eyes. Marcel took advantage of that opportunity to slash with his Netherite sword!
But unexpectedly, the man avoided the attack while staggering!
Furthermore, he unleashed a counterattack one second later!
Marcel's eyes opened wide. The A-rank's sharp instincts astonished him.
He instantly knew that killing him today would be impossible. Without hesitation, he jumped back onto Xavier.
Delirious: Marcel, let's fucking leave already!
But how could it be so easy to leave?
When Marc was about to reach Xavier, a shadow appeared behind him!
Black Dressed Men 4: Die, brat!
A black-dressed man had attacked him! It was the same <B–> rank black dressed men back then! The one that Marcel cut his arm with his enchanted Netherite sword.
Marcel grunted. In fact, he had perceived the one-armed man's presence long ago. However, he did not think he would attack now.
Despite it, though, he did not panic.
Twisting his body, he evaded the punch coming towards him. At the same time, he raised his gun and pointed to the man's head.
But the man leaned his head aside, easily evading the bullets. Then, he unleashed a kick towards Marcel's legs.
He narrowed his eyes. With a twist of his wrist, his Netherite sword appeared on the kick's way. The one-armed man suddenly realized that if he continued his attack, he would lose his leg!
Clicking his tongue, he stepped back, only to notice Delirious' machete coming for him!
The man leaned his body aside and counterattacked with a kick. Delirious received the kick with another kick, both of them took the blows, making the Black Dressed men staggered one step back. But Delirious just launch back a few feet back.
Even having the effects of the potion of strength, its still not enough for Delirious to overwhelm him.
Delirious(Thoughts): Shit! I forgot his stronger!
And during this time, Brian aimed his gun again. This time towards the new enemy's face!
Two bullets were shot.
*Bam!* *Bam!*
But the bullets did not hit! A hand suddenly appeared in the way, blocking the bullets!
Yes, the A-rank black-dressed had recovered from the stun grenade's effects.
Basically: God Damn it!
Marcel cursed. He thought the effects of the stun grenade would last longer.
As expected, it could not be so easy.
He looked back to see if Xavier planned to help them, but unfortunately he was facing against another black dressed men, still occupied.
But help came from an unexpected place.
When Brian thought his only option was to resort to his trump card, a knife stabbed towards the A-rank's back.
Black Dressed Men 5: !!!
The <A–> rank's face changed. The sudden feeling of danger was even greater than when a Netherite sword was about to cut him
He forced himself to twist his body aside, but even after that, the knife slash his rib!
Behind him, Skyler's ice-cold eyes gleamed with killing intent.
Black Dressed Men 5: Damn girl!
The A-rank bellowed he threw a fist. Skyler was unable to avoid the attack and was hit on the chest!
Skyler: Ugh!
After crashing against a wall, Skyler vomited a mouthful of blood and fell unconscious.
But her strike changed the situation completely.
Her dagger had cut three ribs of the A-rank and injured his lungs gravely. Moreover, although she failed to pierce his heart, the dagger was poisoned!
The black-dressed man felt the poison and paled. He hurriedly moved his mana to stop the poison from spreading.
But Team 6 finally had an opportunity.
Basically: Xavier, help Skyler!
After knocking his opponent down, Xavier then follow his orders and rush towards Skyler, our three idiotic heroes charged against the two black-dressed men!
Delirious is fighting against the one arm guu while Brian shots numerous bullets at the A-rank, At the same time, Marcel uses his Netherite sword to cut towards the A-rank's head.
This time, the A-rank was unable to react as quickly as before. Although he avoided Marcel's sword and most of the bullets, some of the bullets manage to hit him!
Meanwhile, Delirious clashed against the one-armed <B–> rank.
Delirious gritted his teeth. It was now or never!
Terroriser pulls out a lucky bow and shot an arrow towards the A-rank. The A-rank notices it, with great precision, he knocks the arrow to the ground but that is his mistake.
As the lucky arrow hits the ground, huge load of cobwebs suddenly appears, restricted the A-rank's movements.
The A-rank bellowed. Mana surged out of his body and crushed the webs. But Brian shot another lucky arrow and another cobweb appeared restricting the man's movements again.
Black Dressed Men 5: NOT ENOUGH!!
With a loud cry, the man's punch blew away all of the cobwebs in an instant.
But when the cobwebs disappeared, Marcel appeared in front of him, thrusting his Netherite sword towards his chest.
At this distance and with the A-rank's injuries, this attack was impossible to avoid!
It was the true intent behind Brian's lucky bow attack!
The feeling of death coming closer stimulated all the potential in the A-rank's body. In an instant, the pressure coming from his body multiplied greatly.
One of his skill, {Replenishment} activates.
With this, blue energy emited in his entire body for a split second before rushing towards Marcel at Hypersonic speeds.
With a cry of outrage, the A-rank gathered all of his mana into his right hand nearly at Maximum. Then, he punched towards the enchanted Netherite Sword.
And—
*Boom!*
The Netherite sword was stopped!