CHAPTER 278: NO WORDS, ONLY HANDS

Izzo roared and slammed his fists into the ground.

Flames burst out in all directions.

"[Infernal Ruin]!"

A wall of fire exploded forward.

Ashblade didn’t blink.

He vanished again.

"[Phantom Step]."

Izzo’s flames tore through the ground, but Ashblade reappeared behind him.

He slashed with clean motion.

"[Rift Cleave]."

The space around his blade cracked. A dark line passed through Izzo’s shoulder.

A second delay hit. Another wound.

Izzo growled, swinging his arm wide.

"[Blazing Shockwave]!"

Ashblade jumped back as fire blasted out in a wide arc.

The heat cracked the floor. Smoke rose fast.

But he didn’t stop.

Ashblade stepped through again.

"[Silent Divide]."

His sword sliced through Izzo’s thigh.

The cut didn’t bleed right away, but a second later, another deep gash appeared.

Izzo’s legs shook.

"I’ll burn you!" Izzo shouted. "I’ll burn everything!"

He roared again.

"[Combustion Howl]!"

His whole body lit up, power swirling like a storm.

Fire shot upward and spiraled around him like a pillar.

Ashblade narrowed his eyes.

He dashed to the side, fast and sharp.

"[Void Shear]."

A thin, glowing wave flew forward from his blade.

It cut through the flame wall, straight toward Izzo.

The wave struck his chest.

A deep slash tore through his armor. Blood and fire spilled at once.

Izzo stumbled back.

"Why... won’t you die..."

He tried to raise his arm again.

Ashblade didn’t wait.

He appeared in front of him.

His blade was down.

Just fists now.

He stepped forward and punched.

One blow to the gut.

Izzo bent forward.

Another hit to the side of the head.

Izzo staggered back.

Ashblade grabbed his collar and slammed his knee into Izzo’s jaw.

Then a spin and an elbow to the back of the neck.

Izzo dropped to one knee.

Ashblade whispered something.

"[Heavenly Demon Body]."

His muscles tensed.

His eyes glowed faintly red behind the orange.

His next strike crushed into Izzo’s ribs.

Izzo gasped.

Then fell.

His flames started to flicker.

Ashblade knelt and slammed two fingers into Izzo’s neck.

Pressure. Ether suppression.

Izzo’s fire went out completely.

His body twitched—barely awake.

Ashblade dragged Izzo by the collar, step by step.

Sightpiercer leaned on his bow, stunned.

Ember Striker crossed his arms but said nothing.

Volt Stride wiped the blood from her lip, still watching.

Ashblade threw Izzo down in front of them.

Not a word.

Then, without looking back, he walked off.

Volt turned to the others.

"That guy... just dragged a Royal-class mutant like it was nothing."

Ember grunted.

"We all hit him together. Ashblade just finished it."

Sightpiercer nodded.

"Even so. He didn’t even look tired."

They looked at each other in silence.

Then followed behind.

Ashblade walked into the main hall.

His coat burned, boots heavy, but his steps were calm.

The door to the command chamber opened.

Vora stood inside, arms crossed.

Her eyes moved to the body Ashblade dragged.

"Is that...?"

Ashblade let go.

Izzo hit the floor with a thud.

"Still breathing," Ashblade said.

Vora stepped forward and crouched. She scanned Izzo’s face, then nodded.

"Good job retrieving the spy."

Ashblade nodded and walked past her without saying anything else.

The door shut behind him.

Vora turned to the officers behind her.

"Put him in the red cell. Lock his ether down to zero."

They moved quickly.

Then Volt Stride stepped forward.

"I need to report something."

Vora looked at her.

"What is it?"

Volt looked serious.

"He had a syringe. Said it was called the Flame God Serum."

"He injected it during the fight. That’s when he transformed."

Vora’s face darkened.

"What did you say?"

Volt repeated the words slowly.

"There was a serum. It gave him mutant powers—Royal Class."

"I think he would’ve won if we weren’t all fighting together."

Vora frowned.

"There was never any record of a serum from the Flame God Cult. Never."

Sightpiercer stepped in.

"He didn’t use any tech or tools. It was pure transformation. Like a ritual."

Ember Striker added, "And his flames were different from normal. More alive."

Vora turned to her officers.

"Get all research files on the cult. Cross-check with past captured cultists."

"Look for mentions of serums, blood rites, or anything similar."

An officer nodded and ran off.

Vora looked at the four heroes.

"You’ve done well. This is no longer just about a spy."

She paused.

"This cult is trying something new. Something dangerous."

"The fact that he could access that kind of power... we can’t ignore it."

She turned back toward them.

"Your mission now will be changed slightly."

The room fell quiet.

Vora spoke clearly.

"You will scout the Flame God Cult’s territory."

"No combat unless absolutely necessary."

"Learn what they’re building. Find out if there are more like Izzo."

"Do not fight. Just observe. Report back."

Ashblade re-entered the room, calm as ever.

"Scouting only?" he asked.

Vora nodded.

"Until we know what they’re hiding."

Ashblade gave a short nod.

Whisperlash leaned closer to him.

"Sounds boring," she whispered.

Ashblade’s eyes didn’t move.

"It’s not the fun part. But it’s how you win."

The team stood silent for a moment.

Vora looked over each of them, her eyes sharp but calm.

"You’ll move out in two days," she said.

"Use the time to rest and prepare. I don’t want anyone walking into that cult’s domain half-ready."

Ashblade gave a short nod. "Understood."

Whisperlash stretched her arms and leaned lightly on Ashblade’s shoulder.

"Guess we get to sleep in for once."

Volt Stride crossed her arms. "We’ll meet at the strategy hall tomorrow."

Ember Striker turned to Ashblade.

"Thanks for earlier. That mutant would’ve cooked all of us without your help."

Sightpiercer smirked faintly. "Still don’t know where you came from, but... good strike at the end."

Ashblade said nothing. Just nodded once.

Ember added, "Next time, don’t expect me to lag behind. I’ll be stronger."

Volt grinned. "We all will."

Whisperlash stepped beside Ashblade and whispered with a playful tone. "Looks like you’ve got fans now."

Ashblade didn’t smile.

He just glanced at the sky above.

"Let’s just see if any of us come back from this next mission."

Then they all walked down the hallway together, heading toward their quarters.

None of them said it out loud.

But they all felt the same thing.

The Flame God Cult wasn’t done yet.