The restaurant beca eerily empty as all the hidden figures vanished along with his sister. Apollo didn’t linger either, pocketing the bracelet as he prepared to confront the Salvation Society. However, after eting his eldest sister, he found himself more cautious than before.
"Who knows," he thought, "there might also be soone strong hiding within their ranks, just like her."
With that lingering thought, Apollo left the place, his mind focused on his next move, but with a heightened sense of vigilance.
He returned, and outside, the two thugs from Salvation Society didn’t even get a hint of it for them, as nothing happened.
"Sol, let’s go for a stroll outside," Apollo said upon returning, finding Sol still in his place. Sol imdiately stood up, ready to follow him, and didn’t feel anything unexpected.
As they stepped out, Apollo’s mind wandered to the two thugs who had been watching them earlier. He was curious to see their reaction now that he and Sol were walking together, openly displaying their closeness.
"I wonder what the Salvation Society will do learning he is close with a ranker." Apollo mused quietly, a slight smirk playing on his lips, waiting for their next whether they would still go on or stop harassing Sol.
When they ca out naturally, the two thugs noticed this and couldn’t help but feel troubled. Even though they didn’t know much about Apollo, they knew he must be strong to beco a two-star-marked trialist.
Seeing Apollo and Sol together, the two thugs imdiately decided to distance themselves even further. Fearful of being caught, they chose not to follow and instead hurried off to notify their boss, leaving the decision to higher-ups.
What they didn’t realize, however, was that from the very beginning, everything had been under Apollo’s control. The mont they first encountered him, he had silently marked them with his energy.
The energy mark he had placed on the thugs was subtle, nearly undetectable unless one had a high-level comprehension of the laws.
Apollo thought, a faint smile crossing his lips as he sensed their every move. They might think they were escaping unnoticed, but they were already trapped in his web.
"You’re quiet," Sol suddenly remarked, breaking Apollo’s chain of thoughts.
Apollo glanced at his friend and gave a small nod. "Just thinking about what’s to co. You may need to be cautious in the days ahead."
Sol raised an eyebrow but nodded seriously. He knew well enough to trust Apollo’s instincts. "I expected as much. They’re persistent, but if you’re with ... I think we’ll be fine."
What he didn’t know was that he was already watched, but Apollo told him that he would beco worried unnecessarily as Salvation Society was still a giant for him.
After so ti, Apollo turned to Sol and said, "You should head back and rest. I have sothing else to take care of."
Sol nodded, understanding, and they parted ways, each heading in a different direction. While Sol returned to his place, Apollo’s gaze hardened as he prepared to deal with the matter at hand; his thoughts were already focused on the next move.
He continued walking, passing through various districts, until Apollo finally stopped at a quiet spot near the city’s outer edges, where fewer people gathered.
Apollo closed his eyes for a mont, focusing on the energy marks he had placed on the thugs. He could sense their movents clearly—they were heading to a secluded area, away from the central parts of the city, likely a hideout where they would report to their superiors.
"Perfect," Apollo muttered under his breath, a cold determination settling over him.
Without hesitation, Apollo made his way toward the location where the thugs were heading, his movents swift and deliberate yet completely concealed.
The streets gradually beca quieter as Apollo ventured further from the bustling core of Sky City. He moved through alleyways with practised ease, his footsteps light and soundless. Soon, the energy marks grew stronger, telling him that his targets were close.
Apollo stood before a dilapidated inn tucked away from prying eyes. In Sky City, you can rent shops, stores, and such places with few points, and there isn’t much trouble.
It looked abandoned at first glance, but he could sense the faint presence of several individuals inside, their life forces unmistakable. The thugs had already entered, reporting back to their superiors.
Apollo observed the building, scanning the area for hidden traps or potential threats. It didn’t take long for him to notice subtle energy fluctuations surrounding the warehouse, likely so form of defensive chanism or alarm system.
But it wasn’t difficult for so like him, who have a deep understanding of space and learned the secret technique, he thought with a smirk. He easily, with little effort, passed through the simple energy barriers that guarded the place.
With a wave of his hand, he manipulated the space around him, phasing through the defences as if they were nothing more than an illusion.
He stepped into the shadow of the warehouse, blending into the space and darkness, and silently made his way toward the heart of the building. As he approached, muffled voices reached his ears.
"That kid, Sol, he’s too close to that two-star trialist. We need to deal with him before it becos a problem," one of the voices said, laced with frustration.
Another voice responded, deeper and more authoritative. "We can’t act recklessly. If that trialist is really strong, we could risk more than we gain. We need confirmation of their relationship and the strength of the two-star sky-marked trialist before we make a move."
Apollo’s eyes glinted as he heard their concerns. They were trying to figure out how much of a threat he posed, unaware that he was already within their lair, listening to their every word.
The energy inside the room suggested that there were at least five people, including the two thugs he’d marked earlier. But that wasn’t enough, his eyes glowed, and suddenly, he was able to see inside, even though the room was covered with runes, it still could not stop him from seeing through.
Except for the two thugs, the other three were strong, as one with the more authoritarian voice seed to be a newly promoted saint, and the other two were peak fourth-rank grandmasters.
As ti passed, many individuals made breakthroughs, benefiting from the abundant resources available in Sky City. This person seed to be one of them, having clearly advanced their strength after gaining access to these rare opportunities.
The atmosphere around them radiated with newfound power, a clear indication of the rapid progress that was becoming more common in the city.
He couldn’t attack them within the city due to its strict regulations, but he could challenge them. Although the challenged party had the option to reject the challenge, doing so ca at a cost—a remuneration fee of twenty per cent of the wagered Sky Points. This rule ensured that avoiding a challenge wasn’t an easy escape.
Although it is troubleso and isn’t the best thing he can do here, as he cannot do anything to them within the Sky City. But he can still make sure that they receive severe punishnt that they didn’t dare ss with Sol.
He quickly scanned the entire building through his spiritual sense and had a rough estimation of the strength present here, and it wasn’t weak.
There were a total of eighty-one trialists gathered here in this inn, with a total of three saints and twenty grandmasters, while the rest were just third rank.
He wasn’t interested in dealing with the scrubs and low-end mobs; his focus was on the newly promoted Saints. Naturally, the first target would be the Saint, who had been in the front room, directly involved in Sol’s harassnt.
This wasn’t just about settling scores—it was a ssage. By going after the strongest and most involved, Apollo aid to dismantle the Salvation Society’s power from the top down, making sure they understood the consequences of crossing him by giving them the sa desperation.
After listening to their conversations for a few minutes, Apollo left the hideout. To officially issue a challenge, he needed to apply at the battle arena, where he could select and fill out the details of who he wanted to challenge.
Without hesitation, he set his course for the arena, determined to confront the newly promoted Saints and take the first steps in dismantling the Salvation Society’s influence.
As Apollo made his way through the bustling streets of Sky City, his thoughts remained sharp, focused on the task ahead.
He arrived at the Battle Sky Arena, an imposing structure located in one of the central districts. The massive building was a hub for all types of sanctioned battles, where conflicts were settled, reputations were built, and power was displayed. The arena was built to handle the strength of even the most powerful trialists, with protective barriers designed to contain destructive forces and prevent harm to the audience.
Apollo walked through the grand entrance, his steps calm and asured. Inside, the air was filled with the tension of impending battles. Thousands of spectators road the various tiers of the arena, waiting for the next fight to begin.
User Comments
0 comments from readers