“You guys… are you serious? If she’s a Saint too, there’s no reason she’d side with us against them.” Axel frowned, skeptical of Nigel’s words.
“I’m not entirely convinced either,” Sergio admitted. “But it looks like she absorbed so of their blood. Axel, putting that aside—are you just going to stand there staring? That’s not very friendly.”
Only then did Axel notice Nigel and Kenneth, their eyes fixed on him expectantly. Even Terrence’s leg twitched reflexively at the reminder.
“Uh… sorry.” Axel moved quickly. Within half a minute, after his treatnt, everyone felt their energy surge back to full.
“Aweso, Axel! We should stick together more often,” Nigel said, patting Axel’s shoulder with a mischievous grin.
Before Axel’s arrival, they’d grown accustod to relying on him for tily healing whenever danger arose. Now, after chasing the Saints, they realized how much their stamina had drained without him.
A campfire crackled nearby, casting light on the mangled corpses of Lorenzo and the others lying beside them. Axel had retrieved the three slightly shrunken crystals from the battlefield, along with a red crystal containing a unique awakening skill. If circumstances were different, he would have started absorbing it imdiately.
“According to what you saw, Lilith should be on a different side than the Saints,” Axel said, staring into the fire, brow furrowed.
Sergio nodded. “She showed no intent to kill us. She could have easily taken our powers, and she didn’t.”
She didn’t absorb them—not because she didn’t want to, but because she didn’t have the ability. Of course, he couldn’t say that aloud.
“We need to report everything about Lilith to the authorities,” Sergio continued. “As for claiming a reward for killing a Saint… we’re not in a hurry.”
“I never thought I’d get to do sothing like this,” Nigel said, a deep sense of pride in his voice. “I’d love to brag about it, but I’m not leaving Abyss just yet.” He scratched his head, echoing the sentint of the group.
“Exactly,” Sergio added. “After a fight like this, I feel like Natal Treasure is itching to make its move. Let’s train first, reach near Level Six, then step out.”
Axel agreed. Returning to Everton with the Saint’s blood would trigger the Holy Light Organization’s next move. He wanted to be stronger before that.
“But what about Lilith’s information?” Sergio frowned. “Training is important, but so is passing along what we know about the Saint. We can’t wait too long.”
Night had fallen, and the campfire’s glow made them visible across the Abyss.
A timid voice called from the shadows. Two Awakened cautiously approached, clearly avoiding releasing their spiritual energy to remain undetected.
“You two, co here,” Sergio called, his tone firm. The two n jumped, startled, as the campfire’s light revealed the group. One was fat, the other thin, both around forty. Mid-level Level 5 Wilderness Hunter Awakened, they belonged to an A-rank rcenary group.
“Hello,” Sergio said calmly. “I am Sergio from the Blackthorn family, a student at Cavalier’s Honour Academy. Could you please pass on a ssage—”
The two n froze.
“Mr. Sergio, was the battle here earlier yours?” one asked, eyes wide.
“Yes.”
“Who could possibly fight you to this extent?!”
“Is that sothing to boast about?” Nigel interjected, feigning casualness, a smirk tugging at his lips. “We just… casually killed a few Saints. Look—bodies are still there!”
The two n gaped at the corpses of Lorenzo and the others, their pupils contracting in disbelief.
“You killed Saints… and you call that casual?!” they stamred.
Sergio tapped Nigel on the head with his folding fan, speaking seriously. “Gentlen, we have other matters to attend to in Abyss and don’t plan to leave imdiately. We’d like to ask—”
“Understood! Don’t worry—we’ll brag about it for sure when we get out! Experts at boasting, we are!” the two n interrupted, nodding eagerly.
Nigel’s eyes lit up as though he’d found kindred spirits. “Then it’s in your hands! Nigel’s the na.”
Sergio relayed the situation, including details about Lilith, then cut a portion of Lorenzo’s body tissue, handing it to the two n. “Give this to the military as proof.”
Axel watched silently as the n left. He knew that when Lilith had allowed Sergio and the others to go, it had already sealed her fate as a fugitive.
“Next, we’ll absorb all the Force we can from Abyss and attempt to reach Level Six,” Sergio warned. “But stop before Natal Treasure fully manifests. We can’t withstand that level of killing intent here.”
Everyone imdiately went into a ditative state. They spread out, about ten ters apart, and began cultivating in silence. Axel, moving with practiced ease, absorbed the red crystal into his body without anyone noticing.
For a mont, the ancient tree nearby trembled, and streaks of green energy erged. Axel’s eyes widened as he finally glimpsed the awakened skill he had just acquired.
......
One day later — Everton City, Whisper Syndicate Headquarters
“What did you say? Soone killed a Saint? Where? Which place?”
“There’s proof—the remains of a Saint. The five of them are currently training to reach Level Six in Abyss. And… Lilith of the Whisper Syndicate is also a Saint-level being.” Team leader Emmanuel exhaled deeply. This was serious—both the news of Lilith and the killing of a Saint would send shockwaves through the organization.
That afternoon, after rewarding the two ssengers handsoly, the Whisper Syndicate convened a eting of all team leaders. Even General Nolan joined via video, his presence lending weight to the announcent.
“Emmanuel, what’s going on? Why call in the General?”
“Stop dancing around the point! What is it that you’re hiding?” Several team leaders whispered among themselves, annoyed by Emmanuel’s tight-lipped deanor.
The Saints had been elusive lately, their thods unpredictable. Many operatives had been severely injured—so even killed. Frustration ran high.
“Xander, your teams are behind this again.” Emmanuel asked, eyes narrowing.
Xander paused, frowning. “Are you kidding ? My squads were already decimated facing those Saints!”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
“Could it… no way!” Xander suddenly realized the truth, his voice cracking in disbelief.
The holographic projection flickered to life. A tall man in a military overcoat slowly turned to face the cara.
“Emmanuel, what’s so urgent?” It was General Nolan.
Emmanuel straightened and spoke slowly, “We received an urgent report from Abyss. Axel—a forr Whisper Syndicate operative—along with Sergio of the Blackthorn family and others, killed five Saints in Abyss.”
“Currently, the Saints’ body tissues are in my possession.” Emmanuel’s words drew a collective gasp from the team leaders.
“These kids… can take down Saints?”
“Isn’t Axel in Everton? When did he even enter Abyss?”
“And all of them co from powerful families. If they had officially entered Abyss, there should be records… How have I never heard of them?” Xander muttered, his blood boiling. “Axel went missing a few days ago… I never imagined he ended up in Abyss.”
“So Axel went to Abyss? Xander, this is your n’s doing again.” Nolan’s voice was calm, unreadable, then a small, approving smile tugged at his lips. “Well done.”
“You little brat,” Xander laughed once the eting ended. “You never fail to make proud! Damn it! Good, good!”
Isaac, who had been taking notes, couldn’t help but laugh too.
“He’s one of my n. Isaac, what are you laughing at?”
“That’s not right—you’re Whisper Syndicate. Why shouldn’t I laugh with you?”
Xander scratched his head. “Fair enough. Drinks tonight?”
“No rush,” Isaac said, growing serious. “The General wants this reported to military headquarters. And honestly, this doesn’t need to be hidden. Post it on the Awakened Forum—it’ll shake things up after the recent lull!”
......
Whisper Syndicate Private Hospital
Today was Rosaline’s discharge day. Her hands were still wrapped in two layers of green plant bandages, but she could move freely.
Just as they were preparing to celebrate with a al, Kaia, scrolling the forum, gasped. “Look at this!”
“That kid…” Vince glanced at the screen and then at Rosaline. Phoenix and the others exchanged thoughtful looks.
User Comments
0 comments from readers