CHAPTER 198: MEETING [2]

As if to make the situation even more dire...

’...What?’

...There was a red solitude covering the moon.

Akamir’s mind turned blank as he looked at the crimson solitude.

It floated in the sky, creating an illusion like it was ready to attack.

This... presence... whatever it was, didn’t feel like anything from this world.

Its surface swirled like liquid, as if something inside was trying to break free.

"What is that?" Nerco mumbled softly as he stared at the sky as well.

Akamir didn’t answer, but every part of his body tensed.

He quickly took out the mask and put it under his helmet.

It was uncomfortable, but Akamir didn’t care about that.

"Move," Akamir said sharply, grabbing Nerco’s shoulder and pulling him toward the outer path.

Nerco got a hold of himself as he nodded his head in response.

But before Akamir could even move, his steps halted.

"My Lord?"

Nerco called him with a confused look on his face.

Akamir let out a sigh as he drew out his sword. "We are surrounded."

Nerco remained confused, but his expression changed as he looked around.

The ones who were attacking them before were now once again around them.

Akamir looked around, and he couldn’t find one path to escape.

’....Tch.’

Akamir clicked his tongue as he lowered his stance.

But from the corner of his eyes, he couldn’t help but notice Lewin.

The elven man remained inside the building, but his eyes were fixed on the moon.

He seemed to be in a state of trance, completely enchanted by it.

’...What the hell is happening?’

Akamir couldn’t help but wonder as he looked around.

All assailants turned still for a long second before they all burst towards him.

Three daggers were thrown first at Akamir’s face, which he deflected in an instant.

A breath later, two of the assailants swung their swords at his neck.

Akamir ducked under the twin strikes, feeling the blades slice through the air above his head.

He shifted his weight and countered, slashing upward with a sharp motion that forced both attackers to leap back.

’Hmm, they are quite weak.’

Akamir thought as he jerked his hand to remove the strain.

One more jumped at him from his side as he pulled their weapons.

Akamir’s sword spun around, flicking out toward the assailant’s throat.

’Huff...’

A burst of silverish Chi engulfed the assailant on contact.

The crisped and burned body of the assailant fell on the ground.

Another one came at him from behind, but Akamir had already moved.

He spun just enough for the blade to graze the edge of his coat, then drove his elbow straight into the attacker’s face.

The sound of cracking bone echoed sharply in the night air.

The man fell, unconscious before he even hit the ground.

Nerco, now fully alert, had drawn his dual blades and engaged a pair of enemies who came at him in a pincer formation.

His movements were less refined than Akamir’s, but efficient.

Akamir’s eyes then shifted back to the other assailants—five of them.

They all had their hands extended as they all cast spells at the same time.

A lance of burning fire launched at him from different directions.

Akamir leaped up in the air, as he flipped upside-down.

He then imagined a solid foundation below his legs that was immediately created by mana.

Using it as a base, Akamir burst towards the closest assailant.

Akamir burst forward like a bullet, sword raised.

The wind howled in his ears as the fake platform beneath his feet crumbled into glowing fragments behind him.

The first spellcaster barely had time to react.

With a single, clean stroke, Akamir slashed across his chest.

His silver Chi erupting through the wound like wildfire.

The man screamed, twisted, and collapsed, but Akamir didn’t stop.

He spun midair, landing on one knee in front of the second caster.

That one tried to raise a shield of light, but it cracked like glass the moment Akamir’s boot crashed into it.

The mage fell backward, stunned.

Akamir’s blade pierced his side before he could scream.

’Two down.’

He turned just in time to deflect a bolt of lightning that was about to hit his back.

It crackled violently against his blade, but his grip held strong.

Akamir deflected the blow as he looked at the other three.

He dashed forward again, this time weaving between their attacks. Ice shards zipped past his shoulder.

A spike of earth shot out from beneath his feet, but he vaulted over it, twisting midair.

Akamir used the spike as a platform and sprang forward.

The first one didn’t even have time to scream.

Akamir’s sword cleaved cleanly through his chest, dispersing his spell mid-cast.

The second tried to leap back, but Akamir flicked his wrist and sent a wave of Chi bursting from the edge of his sword.

It struck the man’s legs, shattering them, leaving him lying on the ground.

With enough time, the third one created a barrier in front of him.

Akamir coated his blade with Chi as he swung down.

The barrier cracked like glass, and the caster was sent flying, crashing into a wall with a dull thud.

Akamir spun and ducked low just in time to avoid a dagger aimed at his back.

With a swift motion, he thrust his sword backward.

It pierced the invisible enemy’s chest; his body flickered into view as he gasped, collapsing like a sack of bones.

Only the last caster remained.

By now, the spell he had been chanting reached its peak.

A flaming serpent formed behind him, roaring as it lunged toward Akamir.

The serpent crashed into him—

—and was ripped apart by the silver explosion that erupted around Akamir’s body.

The spell shattered like mist against steel.

Akamir walked through the smoke and drove his sword into the final enemy’s gut.

The man coughed blood, but before he died, his lips moved.

"...He sees..."

Akamir’s eyes narrowed. "What?"

The man choked on blood, his voice rasping. "The one behind the moon... he... sees you..."

Behind him, Nerco walked up, panting. "All clear on my end... but what in the gods’ name is that thing?"

Akamir looked up again.

The red solitude still hung in the sky, pulsing slowly like a heartbeat.

Akamir’s gaze then turned towards Lewin, who stood, still staring at the moon.

Nerco rushed towards the elf. "HEY, ELF—!"

But before he could even get closer, a man appeared covered in full black.

He was the same man who protected Lewin before.

He raised his hand. "Sir Lewin is in the state of enthapy," he said. "Please don’t disturb him."

Nerco’s eyes turned icy as he glared at the man. "Are you really not going to answer for this attack?"

"I can assure you," he said softly. "It wasn’t us who did this, but someone else."

Akamir flicked his weapon before he sheathed it back.

His eyes never leaving the elven assassin.

’He is strong.’

He thought to himself.

’A lot stronger than the elves I have met before.’

Despite his composure and his instinctive nature to suppress his presence,

Akamir could still feel it... the presence of someone stronger than him.

’Ah, what a pain.’

Akamir let out a sigh as he glanced to his side.

Nayomi was now floating close to the dead body of one of the assailants.

"Did you find something?" Akamir asked, his voice barely audible.

"They are ghouls," Nayomi replied, looking back at him. "The byproduct of vampires."

Akamir’s eyes narrowed. "Ghouls...?"

Nayomi floated up from the body, her arms crossed. "Yep."

Akamir remained silent as he examined their bodies himself.

"They reeked of rot," he muttered, as he stepped back from them. "I thought they were just trash-tier mercenaries. But this?"

"They’re worse than trash," Nayomi said, her voice low. "They’re empty. No soul. Just hunger... and a master’s orders."

Akamir’s gaze flicked back to the red solitude in the sky, still pulsing with that eerie heartbeat rhythm. "And I’m guessing their ’master’ is watching us now."

Nayomi didn’t answer right away. She floated to his side, face serious now.

"You should check on the others," she whispered. "They might be in danger."

Akamir rubbed the back of his neck as he looked at Nerco, who was still arguing with the elf.

When Nerco felt Akamir’s gaze, he quickly walked towards him.

"We are going back," Akamir said, already walking. "What did the elf say?"

"He said they will give an appropriate answer after the investigation," he replied softly, though he doesn’t seem to believe it. "And they also want to continue the trade."

Akamir didn’t reply as he kept on walking back to the building where the rest are living.

---

It only took him a few minutes, but Akamir arrived at the place.

"...."

The first thing he noticed was dozens of headless dead bodies laying in front of the house.

Their blood seeped out of the necks and spelled out six words on the ground.

"DEATH TO THOSE WHO HELP ELVES."