Chapter 1716: Kael Duskbane
Chapter 1716: Kael Duskbane
It was a decisive swing, one that 99% of warriors would have missed.
Judging by how powerful the man’s swing was, most warriors would have struggled to remain focused, let alone find the opportunity to retaliate and gamble like that.
However, Uncle Drew wasn’t like everyone else. He was Kael Duskbane, the greatest warrior to ever walk the face of the universe. He saw an opening, and he exploited it.
The man’s eyes widened, his expression turning pale.
He instinctively staggered back, clutching the bloody stump where his arm had once been. Blood poured out like a crimson fountain, splattering across the broken earth.
However, before he could even process what had happened, Uncle Drew was already in front of him.
A cold glint flashed through the darkness.
The left sword in Uncle Drew’s hand swept through the air.
Slash!
A deep wound opened across the man’s chest.
The stone armor that had protected him throughout countless battles split apart as though it were nothing more than paper.
The man coughed up blood and retreated dozens of meters, staggering and stumbling as he moved.
Only then did Uncle Drew stop advancing.
The injured warrior stared at him in disbelief, even regretting his decision to attack when he should have asked for help instead.
He had mistakenly stumbled into the cave of a very dangerous beast. It took him a great deal of effort to escape from there.
However, just when he could have made a run for it, he was met with yet another obstacle, one he thought would allow him to recover some of what he had lost.
Initially, he hid himself and decided to wait for the right moment to strike.
However, when he saw Uncle Drew’s teammates leave him behind, he saw his chance and took it.
Unfortunately for him, he had come after the wrong person.
"What kind of swordsmanship is that?"
Uncle Drew calmly flicked the blood from his blade.
"The kind that kills people."
Even long before he became the captain of the Night Riders, he was known as the greatest warrior simply because of how decisive he was.
He never missed an opportunity to kill. According to him, the essence of combat was murder, and he had mastered the art of killing. Every small opening could be exploited by him, allowing him to kill in the most inconvenient ways possible.
While legendary warriors like Lord Genesis, Blood Spear King, and Ruthless Bandit had walked this universe with great combat power, none of them came close to understanding the art of killing the way he did.
Standing atop a small peak, Nara and the rest of the Night Riders watched the battle between the man and their captain.
"Looks like he still got it," Eryndor said, his expression brightening.
Before he met Kael Duskbane, he had been hailed as one of the greatest Hell Summoners in the universe.
However, on the day they met, even with the strength and support of his summons, Kael Duskbane dismantled his defenses in less than ten minutes.
It was one of the most humbling moments of his life. Since then, he had become one of the few people who would wholeheartedly give his life for Kael Duskbane before the man even asked.
"Captain has always been the greatest. Now, it seems he has become even more monstrous," Nara said, a smile playing on her lips.
Just as most people have someone they look up to, Nara looked up to Uncle Drew.
She might be the wife of a monster, but in her heart, her Captain was the greatest warrior in the universe. He had saved her life so many times that if she started talking about them, it would take an entire day.
Uncle Drew shook his head for the third time and smiled. Then he sheathed his swords and walked toward the man.
"I won’t kill you since you’ll be answering some questions of mine."
The man tried to reject his offer and arrogantly threatened to kill him. After all, he always had a backup plan in place, one that involved his death.
However, since he couldn’t afford to have his body eaten by beasts, he wanted Uncle Drew to kill him instead.
Before he could say anything, however, Uncle Drew’s eyes lit up with flames, sending chills down his spine.
"No matter what you have in mind, killing you would be the end of you, so you’d better play nice. I might just show mercy and heal you," Uncle Drew said as he stopped before him.
"You came from the direction we’re heading. Judging by the cuts on your armor and body, you fought a beast and ran from it, so why don’t you tell me what happened?"
The aura of Hellflame leaked from Uncle Drew’s body, causing the man to tremble. He quickly answered the question.
"I was ambushed by three agents of the Soul Temple, forcing me to flee. However, after escaping, I mistakenly stumbled into the cave of a Shadowtail Scorpion. I barely survived..."
He sighed and added, "It would be best if you took a different path since that beast isn’t one you and your team are prepared for."
"A Shadowtail Scorpion, you say?" Uncle Drew smiled and nodded. "It would be perfect for Saden’s shadow affinity to finally reach the Absolute Stage."
The man stared at Uncle Drew in horror but said nothing.
"What about the Soul Temple agents? Do you know where they can be found?" Uncle Drew asked, but the man shook his head.
"It is a known fact that in the Dead World, nobody looks for the Soul Temple agents. They find you and make sure you die before they leave. I was lucky to survive against them, so continue on the same path at your own peril."
Uncle Drew nodded and turned around.
"I’d advise you to leave this place before it’s too late."
He flicked his hand, and a Tier 20 Healing Pill flew toward the man, who caught it.
"That will help fix the wound on your chest and reattach your severed hand. If we meet again and you draw your weapon on me, then death is what awaits you."
His shadow moved, and the Hellhorse appeared beneath him. He was lifted onto its back, and moments later, he was gone from sight.
"Haaa..."
The man sighed, finally calming down.
"That was a close call," he muttered, a painful smile appearing on his face.
If only he hadn’t tried to attack Uncle Drew, he wouldn’t have landed himself in this situation. Fortunately for him, he narrowly managed to survive and even earn Uncle Drew’s favor.
After cursing himself a few times for being stupid, he swallowed the pill and began his healing process.
Meanwhile, after leaving the man behind, Uncle Drew reunited with his teammates.
"We have to make a detour to a place where a Shadowtail Scorpion can be found," Uncle Drew said, and his teammates nodded.
The Shadowtail Scorpion was a creature of pure shadow. It was one of the few elemental beasts with a shadow-type elemental affinity, so obtaining it would help Saden elevate her shadow affinity.
Kent had sent them here on a mission, but he also told them to take advantage of the Dead World to grow stronger.