CHAPTER 63: SECURING A STRONG WOMAN!

It was a double-stack attack.

Deklan threw the spear charged with the Shadow Beast weapon persona first.

He inflicted the Hellhound with the brand status effect, increasing any physical attack dealt to it.

And now—with his meteoric descent with the Albino Spear firmly placed in hand, aimed straight at the Hellhound’s neck, it should be the ending blow. No chance the Hellhound could withstand a direct stab through its neck.

But he was wrong.

Grrr...!

"What the fuck?" Deklan snapped his gaze upward.

To his surprise, the Albino Spear punched through hide and muscle with its boosted strength, but not deep enough to deal a fatal blow. Despite the momentum he gathered from the fall and the Astral Strike that guarantees a critical hit on the Ghost, it’s still not enough.

"Too shallow?!"

Deklan grunted as the Hellhound’s body blazed with flames that rose in temperature with each passing second.

He tried to endure the flames and push the spear deeper, but a sharp sting assaulted his shoulder.

It was the slash that Kaelyn inflicted on him.

"Pumple, c’mon—hit it harder! Knock it out!" Deklan barked, urging Pumple who was still headbutting the Hellhound right on its skull. "I already looked cool in front of her—earlier. Where am I going to put my face if I can’t kill it, man?"

Despite his urge, it wasn’t enough.

Pumple’s headbutts landed with heart, but they don’t have enough power.

Each one barely budged the Hellhound, let alone knocked it out.

"Tch—this won’t do... We really need to work on your offense," Deklan uttered through clenched teeth, frustration sharpening in his voice. He tried pushing the Albino Spear harder, muscles straining with all he had to force the blade past the Hellhound’s stubborn flesh.

But the pain in his shoulder was too much.

Just then, his eyes snapped to the side, noticing a few Shadowlings watching the battle.

"Fuck are you watching there for? Help me out!" Deklan roared.

It seemed his roar snapped them out of their dazes as four Shadowlings came to help.

Two clamped onto the Hellhound’s torso, shadowy mana coiled around its limbs to keep it pinned, while the other two went to Deklan’s side and helped him push the spear deeper. Together, their combined force finally drove the albino spear deeper—the blade inched forward at last.

A fleshy squelch seeped into their ears as the spear drove deeper.

And with one final push, it finally reached the skull and cracked it.

Swoosh!

Deklan, Pumple, and the four Shadowlings were blasted away when the body detonated.

All of them crashed and rolled across the ground roughly.

But when Deklan recovered—and was about to stand back up, fearing the Hellhound was still alive, he could breathe in relief when a notice appeared in his vision.

[Hellhound killed: 40 Spooky Dollars obtained!]

"Phew~" Deklan fell to his butt, lying on the hard ground to catch his breath. "Damn, that thing gave me double the Spooky Dollars compared to the first Hellhound I killed. It must be at least a third-star. A lot stronger than the normal bronze-rank Ghosts I fought."

[Host, aren’t you going to help Kaelyn?]

"Nah, fuck her. That slash from her almost screwed me over."

[Fuck her, or fuck... her?]

"What kind of question is even that? Of course, fuck her fuck her."

[Hmm... I’m confused. Are we talking about the same fuck or not?]

"Okay, that’s too much fucking. Shut the hell up."

Deklan lay peacefully with his eyes closed, raking in the cold night air as he caught his breath.

In the background, he could still hear the war was still ongoing.

He could even hear Kaelyn’s troubled moans in the distance as she battled the remaining Hellhounds.

"Besides... I have a feeling she’s not going to die easily. Eugh!"

Deklan grunted when a weight landed on his chest.

It was Pumple, and there were cracks along his body from all the headbutts he did.

"You did well," Deklan murmured, letting his head drop back—as he reached up and patted Pumple’s wobbling form. "But it’s about time you bulked up. Go devour more Ghosts—push that potential higher. The upgrade costs a thousand Spooky Dollars. Pricey... but still affordable."

Just then, his eyes snapped open, and he sat up when he remembered something.

"Shit, I have to make her stay! But what should I do?" Deklan thought aloud, fretting over the fact that he still needed to give Kaelyn a reason to fight the opposing Null Zone. "No—what can I even do? I’m pretty sure bullshitting my way is not going to get me anywhere with her."

Deklan turned to the side.

His eyes met with the Shadowlings once again, who were slowly trying to leave.

An idea came to mind.

"Hey, where do you think you’re going?" Deklan asked while chugging mana—and stamina potions he bought from the shop. He then applied healing cream to the bleeding wound on his shoulder, "I didn’t say you could leave, now, did I?"

All the Shadowlings paused instantly, then glanced at one another in perfect, silent nervousness.

Upon looking over their shoulders, they found Deklan already crooking his index finger at them, urging them to come over. And surprisingly enough, the Shadowlings shuffled toward him without complaint, like they were supposed to listen.

Seeing their sagged shoulders, their hesitant steps, like they were children about to be scolded, Deklan reminisces about his glory days when he was still a full-blown bully. Good times. No. Not good times, you idiot. Hurting people isn’t something to reminisce about. Not then, not now, not ever!

Deklan stopped himself from thinking about those times and focused on the moment.

He gestured for them to squat down, and they did.

"Let’s get this straight," Deklan scanned the Shadowlings one by one. "Since your last beautiful leader is captured by me, there’s going to be a new alpha in town. Me. Is that a problem for any of you? If so, raise your hands, and I’ll let you talk with my knuckles."

All of them shook their heads frantically.

"Good," Deklan smiled. "Now, I have an idea. All of you are going to do exactly as I say. If you can, tell this to your friends. It’ll help you guys win the war. So, here’s the plan..."

Moments later.

Kaelyn emerged from around the corner; her clothes tattered and burned from the battle—exposing her flawless skin underneath. She looked left at the destroyed house—and then looked right to find Deklan, who was sitting on top of a massive Hellhound.

He was wounded all over; his long hair slick with dirt and blood, but he sat victorious.

Seeing this, she exhaled roughly through her nose and approached.

"You know, now that I think about it again, it’s really unfair..."

"What is really unfair?"

"That I automatically am the one fighting the strongest one."

"If I remember correctly, you distinctly said dealing with the strongest one is your plan—from the start."

"Come on, I was swept by the moment."

"A man who likes to complain was never really my type."

"Wow..." Deklan scoffed, placing his hand on his chest as he was greatly offended. "Now you’re talking about your type—when it benefited you. After I took on this thing for you? Not to mention, I’m really close to dying because of the wound you did on me."

Kaelyn sighed, "So, what? I’m willing to hear your explanation. That’s more than fair in my opinion."

"I’m also okay with that, but maybe you can do a little something for me on top of that."

"Fine, what is it?"

"Maybe..." Deklan turned his face to the side a little and then pointed at his cheek. "A kiss here?"

"Forget about it," Kaelyn answered without a doubt, ripping her sleeves to check for her wounds there.

Deklan tossed something at her.

She caught it and frowned, not knowing what it was.

"It’s a healing cream," Deklan shrugged as he climbed down the carcass. "Use that on your wounds."

A smile crept to his face when Kaelyn used the cream without question.

Even though it seemed unimportant, this could only happen if there was a small trust in her.

And that’s good enough.

Fighting together like this is not something to be underestimated—the act of trusting one’s back will no doubt bloom trust. It’s starting to show even now. "Let me explain my side of things while you attend to your wounds," Deklan approached—and sat on a wooden plant nearby. "After you hear my side, then it’s your choice to go against me or not."

Deklan went with a fabricated story, of course.

He explained to Kaelyn that he accidentally helped the Alpha Ghost of this Null Zone, and ever since, the Ghosts in this Null Zone have been passive towards him. Not friendly, but passive. None of them has any intention to attack him.

And right now, the Alpha Ghost was still wounded, so she was hiding.

It was then that the opposing Null Zone took the opportunity to attack.

Of course, Kaelyn doesn’t believe that the Ghosts are passive towards him, as that kind of thing has never happened throughout history. Ghosts, no matter how intelligent, have only one goal—and that is to turn the tangible dimension into their home.

Naturally, the living beings in it should be eradicated first.

So, what Deklan wanted her to believe was basically going against the norms.

"Regardless of the norms—can you really deny what was right in front of you?" Deklan arched a brow; his tone edged with challenge. "Look, I don’t know what your situation is right now. But you are here now in this forest for sanctuary. So, why not bring down the other Null Zone for safety?"

"Why not destroy both?" She countered.

"Because if you did," Deklan shot back, "this place wouldn’t be your sanctuary anymore... would it?"

It was completely true.

Deklan knew her group was running from something, and if the two Null Zones were destroyed, there would be no more Ghosts—roaming around the forest. And eventually, people outside the forest would realize, and the forest would not be safe anymore.

On the other hand, if she took out the other Null Zone, there’s a chance she could ensure safety and keep the forest a sanctuary. As unfathomable as Ghosts living along with Humans, if it could happen, that’ll help her situation greatly.

"At least help me scout the Null Zone across," Deklan added. "I haven’t been to that area, and I’ll feel more confident if you come with me. Just a little bit. It’s nearing morning already, and I’m sleepy, so it won’t take long."

"Okay, we’re here now anyway, so why not?"

"Great!"

Deklan gives her a thumbs up and a broad smile on his face.

Just then, he saw a bleeding cut on Kaelyn’s back, right above her left bum cheek.

"Hey, give me the cream, there’s a cut you missed."

"Huh? Where?"

"On your left butt. Give me it."

"On second thought, let’s go out. I must be insane for being alone with a pervert."

"Wait, what? Normally, you would be right, but I really have no intention of doing anything this time!"