Chapter 28: Cornered

The warehouse was enormous.

Eden could barely see the far wall.

Rows of abandoned machinery sat beneath hanging chains, rusted platforms stretched across the upper levels, and enormous metal beams formed a skeletal ceiling high above him. Most of the lights had long since stopped working, leaving only the pale moonlight filtering through broken windows.

His footsteps echoed.

Then stopped.

Someone was waiting for him.

A man stood in the middle of the warehouse floor.

Tall.

Broad.

Muscular enough that his clothes looked almost too small for him. His arms were thick, his shoulders wide, and his body carried the kind of physical development that made it immediately obvious why Kael had struggled against him.

The mercenary smiled.

"Right on time."

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

The man’s gaze moved over him.

"Honestly, I wasn’t sure you’d actually come."

"Then again, my guys would have killed the girl if you hadn’t come."

Eden’s grip tightened around the handle of his sword.

"Where is She?"

The mercenary chuckled.

"Straight to the point?"

"Answer me."

The man’s smile widened.

Eden slowly walked forward.

"I came here willingly. I walked straight into your trap."

The mercenary raised an eyebrow.

"So?"

"You got what you wanted."

Eden stopped several meters away.

"Now hold up your end."

For a moment, the warehouse was silent.

Then the mercenary laughed.

A loud, genuine laugh that echoed through the entire building.

"Hold up my end?"

He wiped the corner of his eye.

"Kid, I never said I’d let her go."

Eden’s expression didn’t change.

The mercenary continued.

"And for that matter, I never said I’d let her live, either."

Something inside Eden snapped tighter.

"You should’ve chosen your words more carefully."

The mercenary shrugged.

"Maybe."

He looked around lazily.

"Although, there’s another little problem."

"What?"

"She isn’t even here."

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

The mercenary grinned.

"Your little friend is somewhere else entirely."

Eden stared at him.

"What did you say?"

"I said she’s not here."

He spread his hands.

"You really thought I’d keep the hostage in the same place where I was planning to subdue you?"

He laughed again.

"You’re one big, useless fool."

Eden’s hand moved toward his sword.

The mercenary noticed.

"And you actually came alone, too."

A grin spread across his face.

"I can’t tell whether its due to bravery, or sheer stupidity."

Eden drew his sword.

The blade slid free with a quiet metallic sound.

"I’ve had enough."

The mercenary cracked his knuckles.

"Finally."

[Burst Step]

Eden disappeared.

The distance between them vanished.

Eden appeared directly in front of the mercenary, sword already swinging toward his neck.

The mercenary’s eyes widened.

"Oho—?"

He twisted his body backward.

The sword passed within centimeters of his throat.

But not completely.

A tiny cut appeared across his neck.

A thin line of blood ran down his skin.

The mercenary landed several meters away.

He touched his neck.

Looked at his fingers.

Blood.

His expression remained frozen for a second.

Then he started laughing.

"Ha..."

He looked at Eden.

"HaHAHAHAHA!"

His laughter became louder.

"You’re serious?"

Eden said nothing.

The mercenary wiped the blood across his thumb.

"A D-Rank..."

He looked genuinely impressed.

"...made me bleed."

He grinned.

"That’s incredible."

He wasn’t mocking Eden.

There was actual appreciation in his voice.

"I take back what I said."

His smile widened.

"You’re not completely useless."

Eden raised his sword.

The mercenary’s grin remained.

"Come on, then."

[Heir’s Pride]

Essence surged through his body.

His attributes rose.

[Phase Shift]

[Offensive Form]

The world sharpened.

His body felt lighter.

Stronger.

Faster.

Eden lowered his stance.

’Defensive Form would be pointless.’

’Even with my Defensive Form active, a clean hit from this man would be fatal.’

’So there’s no point trying to withstand him.’

’I have to avoid everything.’

’Every single attack.’

The mercenary rolled his shoulders.

Crack.

Then he smiled.

"Let’s see how long you can keep up for."

He rushed forward.

Eden barely saw him move.

’He’s fast—’

The mercenary’s fist was already there.

Eden activated Burst Step.

[Burst Step]

The punch tore through empty air.

Eden appeared behind him.

He immediately thrust his sword toward the mercenary’s back.

The mercenary twisted.

The blade missed his spine by inches.

He turned with the movement and swung his elbow.

Eden pulled back.

The elbow grazed his chest.

Even that glancing hit hurt.

’Damn it.’

Eden stepped away.

The mercenary didn’t give him time.

Another punch.

Then another.

A knee.

A hook.

A straight kick.

Eden dodged.

Barely.

He slipped beneath one strike, twisted around another, and used Burst Step when the man’s fist came too close.

He appeared several meters away.

His breathing had already changed.

Meanwhile, the mercenary didn’t even break a sweat.

He was smiling.

’He’s toying around with me.’

’He isn’t even fighting seriously.’

The realization made Eden’s stomach twist.

The mercenary suddenly lunged.

Eden ducked.

A fist passed over his head and demolished a metal railing behind him.

The sound rang through the warehouse.

Eden glanced back.

The railing had been bent in half.

Eden’s sword moved.

He slashed.

The mercenary blocked with his forearm.

The blade scraped against his skin.

It left a scratch behind.

’Not even a meaningful cut?’

Eden retreated.

’His durability really is absurd.’

The mercenary laughed.

"You’re thinking too much."

He charged again.

Eden dodged.

Then again.

Again.

His movements became increasingly precise.

He refused to waste Essence unless absolutely necessary.

Burst Step consumed Essence every time he used it.

He couldn’t keep teleporting around indefinitely.

So he started taking risks.

Instead of using Burst Step for every attack, he began dodging normally.

A fist passed beside his cheek.

Another missed his ribs.

A kick grazed his thigh.

The pressure was enormous.

But it worked.

For a few seconds.

Then the mercenary’s fist came straight toward his face.

Eden moved his head aside.

The fist missed just barely.

Eden immediately created distance.

Then he raised his hand.

Red Essence gathered around his palm.

For a moment, several jagged teeth emerged within the crimson energy before disappearing back into it.

[Devour]

The red Essence surged forward.

It moved like a violent wave of crimson energy, carrying countless malformed teeth within its mass.

The mercenary stared.

"Huh?"

Devour reached him.

He simply swung his arm.

The red Essence was knocked aside.

’...!’

It scattered across the floor in glowing crimson fragments before dissolving.

’Did he just...’

’Slap my strongest skill away?!’

The mercenary laughed.

"That’s cute."

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

"Cute?"

"Yeah."

The man looked at the swirling red Essence.

"Pretty cute skill."

He smiled.

"But you’re going to need more than that."

Eden stared at him.

’It didn’t even scratch him.’

’I could pour more Essence into it...’

’But that would mean burning through my reserves.’

’If all else fails, that will be my last resort.’

The mercenary attacked again.

Eden retreated.

The fight continued.

Seconds felt like minutes.

Every exchange pushed Eden closer to his limit.

The mercenary kept attacking.

Eden kept dodging.

And the entire time, that smile remained.

"You’re getting slower."

Eden ignored him.

"You know, I actually kind of like you!"

Another punch.

Eden slipped beneath it.

"You’ve got guts."

A kick.

Eden jumped backward.

"But you’re still just a tiny D-Rank."

"Just a rookie!"

Another punch.

Eden Burst Stepped away.

"And eventually..."

The mercenary’s grin widened.

"...you’re going to make a mistake."

Eden’s back hit a wall.

He stopped.

’...!’

’He cornered me.’