Evolution of the Ruined Heir - Chapter 279: Crack

Chapter 279: Crack

Before Malakai’s unconscious body could hit the floor, a wave of darkness slammed into him.

His body was sent hurtling away, tearing through the thick haze.

The manipulator blinked, confused. It had been moments away from death, yet now the monster child had been flung away by what it had considered a futile attempt at defense.

It had unleashed the blast of darkness purely on instinct. It knew that Malakai’s blade would have sliced through it effortlessly, but the blade never landed.

The manipulator rose to its feet, a large blast ripping out from its body. Darkness spread in every direction like a wave, clearing the haze.

And then its gaze locked onto the motionless figure in the distance, Malakai.

Its senses were too sharp to miss the subtle rise and fall of breath, even from this far away. The child was still alive, but he had never been weaker.

“The filth is down?”

The manipulator sounded uncertain. It remained rooted to the spot, unwilling to move closer. After everything the filth had displayed, it was hard to believe he would simply collapse, all that overwhelming power gone.

But as it kept observing, it noticed his breathing growing weaker, and the already small amount of vita he passively absorbed was vanishing entirely, as though some ravenous beast was devouring it from within.

Regardless, there was no doubt. Malakai was down.

The manipulator’s mouth stretched into a cruel smile, its broken white teeth glinting under the late morning sun.

Darkness suddenly surged from its body, cocooning it. When it dispersed, its severed hand had regrown, and its once deformed features were back to normal. It looked as good as new.

It began walking toward Malakai with slow, deliberate steps, the bloodlust radiating from it chilling the air. After everything this filth had put it through, now he was down.

From the intensity in its eyes alone, it was clear the creature intended to savor ripping Malakai into shreds.

“The life essence…” A wave of excitement coursed through its body. With him down, it could finally consume the life essence.

It crouched low, its body coiling before launching forward with explosive force, tearing through the air.

Claws extended from its fingers, and with a feral expression, it swiped down toward the unconscious Malakai, when the sound of air tearing reached its ears.

The manipulator froze mid thought. That sound… it came from above.

It glanced up just in time to see a crimson streak descending between it and Malakai.

The figure landed with a booming force, a shockwave ripping outwards, flattening the haze and shaking the ground.

The manipulator was sent flying by the impact, tumbling through the air before twisting midflight and skidding to a stop on the earth.

Its gaze snapped to the figure that had landed. A man, clad in a blood red jacket, his piercing crimson eyes matching his messy, unkempt hair.

The creature had never seen him before, but the sheer pressure radiating from the man made it pause.

“A strong filth,” it snarled, eyes narrowing.

But the man didn’t even glance at the creature. Since the moment he landed, his eyes hadn’t shifted away from Malakai.

He bent down, pressing two fingers to Malakai’s neck. Feeling a pulse, he let out a breath of relief.

“I’m sorry,” the man, Rhett, murmured as he cupped Malakai’s pale cheeks, his expression pained.

Malakai looked lifeless. His flawless skin had dulled, his face hollow, lips dry and cracked.

‘It’s my fault.’ Rhett clenched his fist. All of this had happened because he failed, as a captain, as a mentor, as a friend.

Rhett had only just returned from another drunken binge when he groggily found a letter on his bed. He recognized Laila’s handwriting instantly, even in his haze. The two of them still hadn’t recovered from his absence on the last mission.

He could tell she was trying to say something important, but he had been too drunk to care. Rhett had picked up the letter and read it. Then read it again. And again. He must have read it over ten times before he finally dropped it.

The letter was long, but only one sentence stuck with him: Valerian had been conspired against and killed by some people in the Sanguine clan.

The alcohol evaporated from his body in an instant as those words sank in. His killing intent surged like an endless tide.

Someone, no, a group, had killed Valerian. It hadn’t just been the darkness. They had murdered his friend.

Rhett had scoured the base for Laila and Malakai, but he found no one except Riven.

Riven told him they had been called on a mission hours ago. Rhett checked the lifeguard, and the moment he finished scanning the mission details, he had already taken off into the skies.

He spotted the vita veil but chose to sweep the surroundings first. And now, Rhett was glad he did. Otherwise, Valerian’s only descendant would have been lost.

Rhett’s gaze hardened, his thumb flashing across his middle finger, drawing blood. The crimson liquid surged out, expanding around Malakai until it engulfed him in a cocoon of blood.

As the blood began healing Malakai, Rhett rose from his crouch. The sorrow in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, bone deep chill.

A metallic stench filled the air as an oppressive aura slammed into the manipulator like a mountain.

Its knees buckled, then shattered under the pressure. It collapsed flat on the ground before it could even register what was happening.

“T-this… this filth!”

Calm, deliberate footsteps echoed as Rhett began approaching the creature.

He may have spent years drowning himself in liquor and vice, neglecting his training, but blooms were not like normal beings.

Their bodies were honed beyond mortal limits. Even after years of inactivity, their strength remained undiminished.

The years had passed, and Rhett’s power had not faded.

Darkness surged from the manipulator as it strained with everything it had, trying to rise. But Rhett’s aura was absolute, it could not move an inch.

As Rhett drew closer, the creature’s gaze trembled, though its feral snarl remained.

“You’re all filth that shouldn’t exist!” it roared. “The darkness will purge all filth from this universe!”

Rhett’s footsteps stopped. The creature braced for death. As a predator, it could sense the hierarchy of power, and Rhett was not its match. He was above it.

But no killing blow came. Instead, the manipulator felt Rhett’s boot press down on its head.

“W-what are you doing?” it asked, confused.

Rhett didn’t answer. His silence was colder than death itself as he slowly increased the pressure.

The manipulator felt its skull creak under the weight. Its teeth clenched as the force grew unbearable until…

Crack!

The sound of its skull splitting made the pain register. A piercing scream tore from its throat as black ichor oozed from the wound.

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