Blackride Strikes Back

Chapter 64 — Blackridge Strikes Back

Aether moved through the forest without making a sound.

Gorn followed several meters behind him.

Lyra, Aria, and Seris stayed farther back.

They weren't traveling together by accident.

Aether had divided them into positions.

If Blackridge attacked, they wouldn't be able to surround everyone at once.

Aether stopped.

He raised his hand.

Everyone froze.

Footsteps.

Several dozen meters ahead.

Aether crouched behind a tree and looked through the branches.

Figures were moving between the trees.

More than fifteen.

Blackridge.

And at the front—

the commander.

The same man who had escaped the previous battle.

His black armor was damaged, but his spear was still in his hand.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

The commander stopped.

"Something is wrong."

The soldiers behind him immediately became alert.

Aether smiled faintly.

He had been noticed.

Good.

The commander looked around.

"Aether!"

His voice echoed through the forest.

Aether stepped out from behind the tree.

"You found me."

The Blackridge soldiers immediately raised their weapons.

The commander's expression hardened.

"You're making this difficult."

"You invaded my territory."

"We came for the boy."

"You aren't getting him."

The commander's grip tightened around his spear.

"That boy is carrying something that doesn't belong to him."

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Aether's gaze sharpened.

"So you admit you know about the crystal."

The commander didn't answer immediately.

That silence was enough.

Aether continued.

"What is it?"

The commander laughed.

"You think I'm going to explain everything?"

"No."

Aether drew his weapon.

"I expected you to refuse."

The commander pointed his spear.

"Kill him."

The forest exploded into motion.

Three Blackridge soldiers charged Aether.

He didn't retreat.

The first swung a sword.

Aether stepped aside.

The blade cut through empty air.

Aether struck the man's chest.

Bang!

The soldier flew backward.

A second attacked from the side.

Aether activated Shadow Step.

His body disappeared.

The sword passed through where he had been.

Aether reappeared behind the soldier.

One strike.

The soldier fell.

[Origin Points: 0 / 650]

[Origin Points gained: 30]

[Origin Points: 30 / 650]

Aether immediately turned.

The third soldier thrust a spear.

Aether blocked it and kicked him backward.

Before the man could recover, Aether closed the distance.

Another strike.

The soldier collapsed.

[Origin Points gained: 30]

[Origin Points: 60 / 650]

Aether didn't stop.

More soldiers rushed forward.

Behind him, Gorn crashed into the enemy formation.

Lyra and Aria attacked from opposite sides.

Seris remained farther back, protecting their retreat route.

The battlefield quickly became chaotic.

Aether moved between opponents.

He didn't waste attacks.

Every movement had a purpose.

Every strike aimed to end the fight.

Then—

BOOM!

A powerful spear strike slammed into the ground beside him.

Aether jumped backward.

The commander stood in front of him.

"You're different."

Aether narrowed his eyes.

"So are you."

The commander smiled.

"I learned from our last fight."

Dark Origin Energy surrounded his spear.

"My turn."

He lunged.

Aether blocked.

The force pushed him several meters backward.

Aether steadied himself.

Stage 6.

The commander's strength hadn't changed.

But his attacks were cleaner now.

He had adapted.

Aether smiled.

"Better."

The commander attacked again.

Spear against blade.

CLANG!

The impact echoed through the forest.

Aether ducked beneath another strike.

The spear tore through a tree behind him.

Aether immediately activated Shadow Step.

His body vanished.

The commander reacted quickly.

He turned.

Too late.

Aether appeared behind him.

A strike landed against his armor.

BOOM!

The commander stumbled forward.

But he didn't fall.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

His armor had absorbed most of the impact.

The commander turned around.

"That technique."

Aether didn't answer.

The commander thrust his spear.

Aether dodged.

The spear changed direction in midair.

Aether barely blocked it.

The force sent him backward.

He landed on one knee.

His eyes remained calm.

The commander rushed forward.

Aether suddenly noticed something.

The commander's movements were predictable.

Not because he was weak.

Because he always attacked from the same rhythm.

One thrust.

Two horizontal strikes.

Then a downward blow.

Aether waited.

The first thrust came.

He dodged.

First slash.

Blocked.

Second slash.

Dodged.

The commander raised his spear.

Exactly as expected.

Aether stepped forward instead of backward.

The downward attack missed.

Aether grabbed the spear shaft.

The commander tried pulling it away.

Aether didn't let go.

Their eyes met.

Aether smiled.

"Got you."

Shadow Step activated.

Both of them disappeared from the commander's original position.

Aether reappeared behind him.

The commander turned—

but Aether's strike had already landed.

BOOM!

The commander's armor cracked.

He staggered.

Aether raised his weapon for the finishing blow.

Then a Blackridge soldier shouted—

"Commander! We've got the beast!"

Aether's expression changed.

He looked toward the cave.

Two soldiers were retreating through the forest.

They weren't carrying Kael.

They were dragging the injured S-rank Origin Beast.

Aether's eyes became cold.

The commander smiled.

"You should have watched your territory."

Aether looked at him.

Then at the beast.

Then back at him.

"You made one mistake."

The commander's smile disappeared.

Aether lowered his weapon.

"You brought it onto my battlefield."

His body vanished.

Shadow Step.

Eight meters.

Then again.

And again.

Aether tore through the forest after the soldiers.

The commander watched him disappear.

For the first time—

his expression showed uncertainty.

Because he had just realized something.

Aether wasn't fighting to win the battle anymore.

He was hunting.