Chapter 172: East Anekta Crisis (11)

Leonard’s body twitched beneath Eden.

Even with a blade buried through his stomach and most of the strength beaten out of him, the former member of Blue Crest had not given up. His golden chains began to emerge from the rubble, links materializing one after another as they coiled around the remains of the destroyed building.

Eden noticed the movement immediately.

"Still trying?"

Leonard’s fingers trembled. A faint golden glow spread beneath his skin as he attempted to summon more chains, but before the first link could fully materialize, an overwhelming pressure descended upon him.

[Malicious Spirit]

The air seemed to thicken. Leonard’s body sank deeper into the rubble, his remaining strength crushed beneath the weight of Eden’s spiritual pressure. His eyes widened as he struggled to move even a finger.

Eden leaned forward, pressing his blade deeper.

"You’re quite persistent."

Leonard tried to speak, but the pressure made it difficult to draw breath. His gaze darted toward the golden chains scattered around them, desperately attempting to command them.

Eden followed his eyes.

"Those things won’t save you."

With a swift motion, he pulled his blade free and severed Leonard’s remaining arm. Before the man could even react, Eden brought the weapon down again, cutting through the other.

Both limbs fell into the rubble.

Leonard stared at them in disbelief.

"Now," Eden continued, withdrawing his spiritual pressure just enough for the man to breathe, "let’s try this again."

His crimson wings shifted behind him. The black scales covering his shoulders and torso began to recede, while the immense amount of Essence sustaining Ferocious Evolution gradually dispersed. The wings were the last to disappear, their edges dissolving into countless crimson particles that drifted through the air before vanishing.

Eden exhaled.

Maintaining the transformation for so long had taken a considerable amount of Essence. Even with his extraordinary regeneration, he couldn’t afford to waste any more than necessary.

He looked down at Leonard.

"Where is Aphelios?"

Leonard coughed. Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, but he still managed to force a faint smile.

"Why... would I tell you?"

Eden stared at him for a moment.

"You’ll suffer less."

He raised his hand, and a thin strand of crimson Essence emerged from his fingertips. It moved toward Leonard’s neck, slowly opening into a small, tooth-filled mouth.

Leonard’s expression finally changed.

"Wait..."

"Top floor," he blurted out. "The hotel. He’s on the very top floor."

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

’A building full of people. How convenient.’

"He’s in the process of a summoning ritual." Leonard swallowed, struggling against the remaining pressure. "He’s gathering Essence. The more sacrifices, the stronger the creature he’ll summon."

"How long until it’s complete?"

"I don’t know."

Eden tilted his head.

"You don’t know?"

"I-I swear!"

For the first time, Leonard’s smile disappeared. His eyes shifted toward the distant hotel skyscraper, where an enormous concentration of Essence continued to gather above its highest floors.

"He’s already begun. If you want to stop him, you’d better hurry."

Eden studied him for another moment.

Then he smiled faintly.

"That’s all I needed."

The crimson mouth descended.

Leonard barely had time to open his mouth before the mass of Essence swallowed him whole. His body disappeared beneath the writhing crimson strands, leaving behind nothing but bloodied rubble and a few fading traces of golden light.

[Level up!]

[+13 Strength]

[Skill acquired: Malevolent Chains [A]]

Eden glanced at the notifications.

’Five levels. Not bad.’

He opened the skill description.

[Malevolent Chains [A]]

Manifest golden chains imbued with Essence. The chains possess the ability to absorb beneficial and harmful effects from targets they come into contact with. Their durability and effectiveness depend on the amount of Essence infused into them.

"Hm."

Eden examined the description for a few seconds before dismissing the window.

It wasn’t particularly impressive.

His Devour already allowed him to consume and absorb most harmful effects, making the defensive aspect of the skill somewhat redundant. The ability to absorb beneficial effects was more interesting, but its usefulness would depend heavily on the circumstances.

Still, he wasn’t going to complain about receiving another skill for free.

He had accumulated quite a collection by now. Some were useful in almost every situation, others were so situational that he rarely bothered using them. Malevolent Chains would probably fall somewhere in between.

Eden turned toward the distant hotel.

Originally, he had intended to leave East Anekta as soon as he secured the items he wanted. The auction had already turned into a disaster, the island’s security had collapsed, and the destruction of the warp gate meant that escaping would be considerably more complicated than expected.

But now he knew where Aphelios was.

That changed things.

Aphelios was an S-Rank Awakened, but unlike most combat-oriented Awakened, his strength came primarily from his summoning abilities. He was dangerous because of the creatures he could bring into the world, not because of his own physical capabilities.

In other words, he was precisely the kind of opponent Eden could deal with.

Provided he reached him before the ritual was completed.

If Aphelios had already summoned something powerful, the situation would become considerably more troublesome. But if Eden could interrupt the ritual early enough, he might be able to subdue the old man before he had the opportunity to summon anything at all.

And if he was lucky...

He might even be able to Devour his skill.

Eden looked up at the hotel skyscraper.

"Well, this turned out to be more interesting than expected."

He took a step forward, ready to charge into the next battle.

A faint sound came from behind him.

Something slicing through the air.

Eden’s instincts screamed.

’...!’

He twisted his body at the last possible moment, but he was already too late.

A dark blade pierced through his back and emerged from his chest.

’Fuck—!’

His eyes widened.

The weapon had missed his heart by barely an inch.

Blood splattered across the rubble.

"Did you miss me?"

The voice was familiar.

Annoyingly so.

Eden coughed violently, blood escaping his mouth as he grabbed the blade and pulled himself free. The weapon slipped out of his body, leaving a gaping wound that immediately began to close under the effects of Ferocious Evolution.

He didn’t wait for it to heal completely.

Eden leapt backward, creating distance between himself and his attacker.

Luka stood where he had been moments earlier.

His messy black hair hung loosely around his face, and his pitch-black eyes were fixed on Eden with an amused expression. The same unsettling smile remained on his lips.

"You’re looking a little worse for wear," Luka remarked.

Eden glanced down at the wound in his chest.

Then back at him.

"Want to get your ass kicked a second time?"

Eden began examining the Dark Matter surrounding Luka’s body.

Something was different.

The last time they had fought, Luka’s Dark Matter had been dense enough to grant him extraordinary regeneration and physical strength. But now, the substance surrounding him was considerably more concentrated. It no longer resembled the loose, unstable mass Eden had encountered before.

It was denser.

More refined.

And considerably more powerful.

Luka noticed his gaze.

"Ah. You noticed?"

He raised his blade, allowing the Dark Matter coating it to ripple.

"Let’s just say I’ve had some time to improve."

Eden’s expression remained unchanged, although his thoughts were already racing.

’I took roughly half of his Dark Matter last time, yet he’s leagues stronger than he was back then.’

’Just where the hell did he find all this Dark Matter?’

Before Eden could properly assess the situation, Luka disappeared.

A sharp metallic sound rang out as his blade descended.

Eden raised his own blade to intercept it, but the force behind the strike was far greater than he had anticipated. His feet slid across the rubble, and the impact sent a tremor through his injured body.

Luka followed immediately.

Another slash.

Then another.

His movements were faster than before, and each strike carried enough force to make Eden reconsider attempting a direct exchange.

He twisted aside, narrowly avoiding a slash aimed at his neck. The blade carved through the remains of a concrete pillar behind him.

Luka grinned.

"What’s wrong? You were much more confident last time!"

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

He was about to retaliate when a burst of purple flames erupted between them.

A dark blade intercepted Luka’s next attack.

The impact sent a wave of purple fire across the surrounding rubble, forcing Luka to retreat several steps.

Eden looked toward the newcomer.

Ember stood between them.

Her long purple hair swayed in the turbulent air, while the flames surrounding her body flickered like a living mantle. The wound Leonard had inflicted upon her was nowhere to be seen. Even the blood that had stained her clothing had mostly disappeared.

Her purple flames had apparently managed to restore her body.

She glanced over her shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

Eden looked at the wound in his chest, which was still healing.

"I’ve had better days."

Ember’s expression tightened.

"I’m sorry."

Eden raised an eyebrow.

"Huh?"

"For doubting you."

She looked toward the ruins of the first storage skyscraper, where Leonard’s betrayal had finally become impossible to deny.

"I should have listened when you told me what was happening. Instead, I attacked you and gave him the opportunity to stab me in the back."

Her grip tightened around her weapon.

"I trusted those people. I brought them here. And I didn’t realize what they were doing until it was too late."

Eden glanced at Luka.

"Now isn’t the time to dwell on that."

"I know."

Ember stepped forward, placing herself firmly between the two men.

"Go. I’ll deal with him."

Luka tilted his head.

"You’re getting in my way now?"

Ember ignored him.

Her gaze remained on Eden.

"Whatever is happening on this island, bring an end to it."

Eden studied her for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"Don’t underestimate him. His regeneration is unlike anything you’ll ever see."

"And don’t let him get close."

Ember’s flames intensified.

"I said go."

Eden didn’t argue.

He turned away and immediately rushed toward the hotel.

Behind him, Luka’s laughter echoed through the ruins.

"You’re just going to leave?"

Ember raised her weapon.

"You’ll have to get through me first."

Luka’s smile widened.

"Gladly."

Their weapons collided once more, sending another shockwave through the destroyed building.

Eden didn’t look back.

He had a summoning ritual to interrupt.