"Oops", Alden said. "Guess dinner didn't sit well with her."
Alden smirked.
He didn't flinch. Didn't blink.
Just smiled faintly as Zelle collapsed to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Why would he hesitate?
Especially with soone who wanted to kill him.
She had tried to kill him first.
And in this world, that was all the justification he needed.
He glanced down at her disbelieving expression—wide eyes, mouth slightly parted in confusion, as if death itself had taken her by surprise.
Then he wiped the blood off his face with the back of his hand.
One down.
His plan was simple, cold and efficient.
Neutralise Zelle or Mira first.
Those two posed the most threat if allowed to fight together.
So when he saw Zelle closing in on him.
He used that opportunity to take her down with surprise.
Then he looked at others.
Four more to go.
His gaze shifted.
I'll keep one alive for interrogation and kill others.
As expected of self-proclaid elites, they were already in a formation.
Lira and Lin moved instinctively to the rear, slipping into a practised formation.
Lira notched an arrow on her elegant artifact bow.
Lin had already summoned a glowing magic circle above his head, his wand pulsing with power.
One ranger and one mage.
At the front, Mira and Alos stood—clearly the frontline duo.
Mira held a greatsword nearly twice her size.
Alos spun a long black spear in his grip.
A proper team formation.
Balanced and coordinated.
Alden's lips curled upward.
This will be fun.
Despite the numbers, despite the coordination, he felt no fear.
This was his first real battle against multiple sentient enemies at once.
He didn't feel bad or disgusted.
No. He felt nothing but anticipation.
To try his strength. To see his limits.
He knew the world only cared for survival of the fittest.
He wasn't going to spare them, especially not when they tried to kill him first.
Well—maybe one. For questioning.
The rest? Grave filler.
The first attack ca from Lin.
A massive fireball surged from his spell circle, tearing through the air with a sizzling sound.
It was huge—maybe the size of a small cart or a man's pride after being thoroughly rejected.
Okay, maybe not that big.
Still, Alden didn't bother dodging.
He simply raised a hand.
The flas slamd into his palm—and vanished.
[Abyssal Soul Is Activated]
He had activated his [Spirit Domain] and [Eyes Of Supre] the mont he was poisoned.
His senses were already spread out.
He had felt the tension in Lin's mana.
He'd sensed the shift in Alos's posture.
So when a spear suddenly flew at his neck from the right—he wasn't surprised.
Too slow.
Alden ducked.
The spear scread past his ear, kissing the air.
Then he stepped forward, using the montum to his advantage.
One smooth movent—arm extended, palm glowing with the sa fireball Lin had just cast.
"Here", Alden said casually. "Catch."
He released the fireball straight into Alos's ribs.
A shockwave tore through the clearing as fire exploded outward.
Alos was caught off guard and got blasted back like a ragdoll.
BOOM!!
Smoke. Ash. Heat.
Alden didn't even blink.
Two down.
Alden didn't know why, but it felt easy.
Very easy.
He hadn't even broken a sweat, even after taking down two of them with ease.
Were they not used to their suppressed strength?
Skill issues, maybe.
Alden laughed inwardly.
Mira roared.
A burst of aura exploded around her as she dashed in.
Fast, for soone wielding a weapon that big.
So she was preparing that, huh?
Alden had seen her standing while Alos was attacking.
Waiting. Charging sothing.
Aura burst? Or a martial skill?
Either way—she was coming.
And Alden was ready.
The ground cracked beneath her with each step as she surged forward, her greatsword swinging in an overhead arc with enough force to cleave a tree in half.
Alden pivoted.
[Dance of Chaos – Unpredictable Flow]
He moved to the side in a blur, his body bending at unnatural angles mid-motion.
Mira's blade struck air where he'd been a mont ago.
"Lira!!" Mira yelled.
An arrow whistled through the air.
Alden flicked his finger. "Rise"
His own shadow surged upward like a shield.
The arrow pierced it—but stopped midair.
A second and third followed—one aid for his thigh, the other dead centre between his eyes.
Clever.
The third arrow was filled with mana.
That screams danger.
Alden twisted his body, barely ducking it.
The arrow scratched his cheek and erupted behind him.
And that's when Lin struck.
"—Incinerate."
From the magic circle above Lin's head, a blast of condensed fla erupted like a cannon.
Alden raised his hand, palm facing the attack.
[Abyssal Soul]
Flas vanished into his skin.
His expression didn't flinch.
The mont it ended, he threw it back imdiately.
"Your turn."
Lin's eyes widened, barely conjuring a barrier as his own fire spell returned to him.
But Alden wasn't aiming to kill just yet.
His eyes darted toward Lira—who was already on the move.
She wasn't just a ranger.
She was fast.
Too fast.
The mont she saw him glance her way, she vanished and reappeared mid-air to his left, nocking another arrow—this one glowing dark purple.
Alden's instincts scread.
He stepped back.
[Dance of Chaos—Flicker Steps]
With a burst of mana, his body blurred and flickered.
Three afterimages appeared, one moving forward, one vanishing backward and one diving left.
Lira released the arrow.
It chased the middle afterimage.
Whereas Alden had already used [Shadow Steps], appearing into her blind spot.
His hand reached for her throat.
But Mira was already there.
Her blade swept horizontally, forcing Alden to duck under it.
Fast.
She was fast even with that oversized sword.
Alden used [Shadow Steps] again to appear a few tres behind.
He was burning mana fast, but it was worth it.
He had tested their strength already, and honestly, they weren't worth much.
Enough playing around, I guess.
He casually lifted his hand.
From the shadows beneath Mira and Lin, a shadow shot out, binding them.
Mira cleaved one mid-swing.
Lin was too late.
The tendril grabbed his ankle, pulling him down and dragging him two tres before releasing.
Alden reappeared in a flicker beside him.
Lin's eyes widened in terror.
Alden didn't show rcy. He plunged his sword down, finishing Lin in one swift motion.
That's three.
But the mont Alden stood upright, Lira's arrow was already flying.
Too close.
Too fast.
He twisted—too late.
Blood splashed as it grazed his ribs.
"Tch."
He vanished.
[Shadow Step]
He erged from Mira's own shadow, inches behind her.
She reacted faster than he expected.
The flat of her blade spun behind her, aid straight for his temple.
He ducked, slamming his palm into her abdon.
BOOM!
Mira flew backward, her body crashing into a tree trunk with a thud.
Still not down.
Damn, she's durable.
For a mont, Alden considered his options.
He wanted one alive.
Lira was weaker physically.
Easier to restrain.
Mira, on the other hand, wouldn't go down without dragging soone with her.
So, Lira it is.
His decision was reached within seconds as he decided to spare Lira for interrogation for now.
He appeared in front of now-fallen Mira.
Mira coughed blood, trying to lift her sword with trembling arms. "Monster…"
Alden didn't even blink. The blade fell.
Four down.
Then—
Alden turned to Lira.
She didn't wait.
The mont their eyes t, she spun on her heel and bolted, her feet pounding against broken earth as she ran like her life depended on it.
Which, to be fair, it did.
But she didn't get far.
A shadow shifted ahead of her—and Alden stepped out from it like death incarnate.
Lira ca to a halt, her body falling back in pure instinct. She fell hard.
Her pupils trembled as she looked up at him—this boy, this monster in human skin—standing calm and untouched.
Blood trailed from his blade like a paintbrush that had finished its canvas.
"You… you're not human," she muttered.
Alden didn't speak.
He just looked down at her with a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Lira's breath turned ragged.
She scrambled back on all fours, shaking her head.
"You… You'll regret this," she hissed.
"I'm—I'm from the House of Pyrellan. My family won't let this slide. I have connections—!"
Alden didn't answer.
Just the sound of her ragged breathing.
When her threats didn't work, she turned a complete one eighty.
"I can tell you everything!" she shouted. "Maps! Secrets! Our team's inventory—! I'll give you all of it.
"Just—just let live."
Alden took one step forward.
Lira flinched violently.
Then her eyes sharpened.
Desperation twisted into sothing even uglier.
Her hands slowly reached for the hem of her shirt, her voice dropping into a tremble lined with false seduction.
"I can… do more than talk," she said, forcing a smile. "You don't have to kill . I can be useful. However you want."
She leaned forward just a bit.
"You want obedience? I'll give it."
"You want company? I'll be yours. I'm not just a fighter—I know how to please, too."
Still nothing.
No hunger in his eyes.
No hesitation.
Just silence.
The kind that told her she was already dead and just hadn't hit the floor yet.
Her lips trembled. "Please…"
Alden tilted his head.
Then crouched, eyes level with hers.
"You'll make a fine informant," he said softly.
And in that mont, Lira understood sothing fundantal.
This wasn't a negotiation.
This was judgent.
Lira's breath hitched as she looked into his eyes void of malice—void of anything at all.
That emptiness, that calm, terrified her more than any blade could.
She opened her mouth as if to say sothing—
But it never fully left her throat.
She had never been bargaining for rcy.
Only for ti.
And she had just run out.
And just before everything faded, she realised: they have ssed with soone they shouldn't have.
Then silence.
___
Author's Note:
Hey guys! Sorry for the shaky update schedule 😅
Currently writing this from my temporary 5-star resort — also known as a hospital bed.
Plot twist: my immune system decided to take a vacation without telling
Thanks for your patience and support.
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