Chapter 283: You Stare at Ashe, the Observer Stares Back |
“Good evening, I’m here to develop your Sorcerer Handbook!”
Planning to deal with us first? A fine idea, as to direct intelligent machinery attacks, we indeed have to use our eyes to lure them, making us the most obvious vulnerability in drone tactics.
But it also sets… the deadliest trap!
Tormented by a psychic screech, Menard’s lips curled into a slight smirk. With a gentle tap of his foot, the concrete ground beneath him burst into countless spikes, shooting up like wildly growing vines towards his attacker!
A victim of “Sorcerer Duel 14,” Menard had specialized in the Earth Faction from a young age, dreaming of someday having a girlfriend like the Earth Empress. It was only when he started working at construction sites as an adult that he realized the harsh environment meant no female earth sorcerers would be found there.
However, his combat skills could not be concealed by merely belonging to the Earth Faction. He was quickly recruited by the Moonlit Harmony Home Firm, primarily responsible for battles within city limits.
For him, a sorcerer who had once moved bricks on construction sites, the urban steel jungle offered countless weapons to exploit!
During the recent drone swarm attack, Menard had already quietly prepared the Ritual Tracks for a Miracle. Although many Earth Faction Miracles that drastically alter the terrain require a long casting time, sorcerers can prepare all the initial Ritual Tracks in advance and trigger the final steps when needed.
This Miracle technique, flatteringly called ‘precognition’ and less flatteringly ‘fishing,’ is specially used for ensnaring enemies.
Facing the spiky hell, Ashe showed neither sadness nor joy, not only because Igor had pre-administered him with a stimulant boost but also because he had been through too many battles himself.
Being around geniuses like the Swordswoman and the Witch, even if Ashe liked to stick close to stronger figures, he had honed a sorcerer’s heart through rigorous trials. Perhaps even Ashe himself hadn’t realized that he was a completely different breed from the little office worker who had transmigrated just a month ago. Whether navigating through a barrage of gunfire or facing the threat of Miracles, he handled them as adeptly as he managed his business dealings.
It was life and women that had shaped him into this figure!
Honeyed Blade cut through the air, forming a lethal net of swords that strangled all the menacing earth spikes!
Ashe did not use a Miracle, but simply enhanced his Slash with spirit techniques such as Slash Sword, Heart Sword, and Sword Scar. His sword skills were enough to penetrate the traps—he was, after all, a man with 50% of the Swordswoman’s swordsmanship level!
Watching Ashe elegantly land, Menard and Leman stepped back, preparing to overwhelm him with concrete and Drones.
A mere Swordcerer, he had no capital to contend with them—the age of cold weapons had long passed—
Thump!
Thump, thump!
The next second, Ashe raised his head, and Menard and Leman finally saw the full picture of this bad man, their hearts pounding intensely.
In the eyes of the two agents, the face of this man in a Dark Red Trench Coat began to distort, his form spreading like ink in water, the air dancing around him, and the light singing for him. The concrete walls bowed to him.
It was as if a key had unlocked the explosive sound deep within their genetic material, quietly prying open their skulls, pouring into their brains, stirring their thoughts—
‘He walks above the heavens, with the eternal dusk of day and night chaos behind him, the sun and moon frantically fleeing before him, hailstorms to his left, and the roaring tornadoes to his right.’
‘He walks upon the earth, riding a chariot made of bones, turning the ground he passes into wasteland, the cities into ruins, leaving corpses everywhere, the world he sees turbid and fierce.’
‘He walks upon the sea, riding a raft woven from fingernails, blowing the horn of the apocalypse, the black seas following him and flooding the land, submerging all civilization, destroying all buildings, living beings weeping, the Divine Master silent.’
‘Blood, bones, the red of demonic nature, crumbling buildings, dirty toys, debris, charred corpses, incinerators, hands in the soil, decaying metal…’
One apocalyptic scene after another flashed in Menard and Leman’s eyes, not allowing them time to recover from such a massive influx of information, Ashe’s sword was already impatiently bidding them farewell.
“You—”
When they looked at Ashe, their minds conjured the image of the man walking amidst the apocalypse.
Their images overlapped completely, as if behind Ashe were the Black Sea, the corpses, the eternal dusk!
He brought with him the disasters of the apocalypse!
An indescribable fear choked the two agents, clogging their throats, pinching their noses, and squeezing their hearts!
What Earth Magic, what Miracle, what Drone—they had forgotten these trivial matters, only thinking of getting away, hurrying to escape!
Clang!
Ashe showed no mercy for the fear of his enemies, his sword slicing through Leman’s neck—during their brief encounter, this woman had completely ignored Ashe’s arrival. Plus, her gestures and gaze indicated that her task was to control the intelligent machinery!
She was the key to this Battle!
Blood, eager to escape its panicked host, nearly crushed her soul under the weight of suffocating fear, causing Leman to pass out instantly.
Even as his companion’s throat was cut, Menard had no intention of retaliating. Instead, he hurriedly carried Leman to the Hovercar on the balcony, then kicked the Hovercar fiercely, swiftly retreating in a hurried escape!
Tap, tap, tap, tap…
With the loss of the sorcerer’s on-site control, the Drones quickly fell, emitting weak cries like broken cicadas. Everyone looked at each other, realizing not only was no one missing, but there was even an additional petite and cute girl—though Harvey quickly sent her back to the coffin to continue sleeping.
“They escaped? What’s the casualty situation?” Annan’s hand flashed with purple light, and the Gun transformed back into an Amethyst Earring hanging on his ear.
“The man is fine, the woman’s throat was cut by me; it should take some time for her to recover,” Ashe pondered. “I don’t know why they suddenly became so frightened, could it be because I am a Swordcerer…?”
Igor wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and chuckled palely, “Are Swordcerers untouchables that should not be touched here?”
“Well done!” Annan’s voice carried a hint of joy. “With Leman injured, we can take this opportunity to leave in the Hovercar… Banjeet!”
“Coming!”
A large Hovercar appeared outside the battered balcony. As its automatic doors opened, Ashe and the others realized that once again, it was time for a hasty escape. Due to the urgency, not only did they lack time to pack their bags, but Ashe was even still wearing slippers.
He had little to complain about, however, as Annan was still in his pajamas.
“Luggage—”
“No time!”
“Wait, what about my coffin?” Harvey looked distressed. “That’s crucial equipment for me.”
That was the biggest drawback of the coffin—it was terribly inconvenient to transport.
“Mr. Harvey, please leave it to me.” Banjeet went over with a suitcase, opened it, stuffed the coffin inside, and then closed and lifted the suitcase. “All set, let’s go.”
Hmm?
Hmmmm?
Wait, was there something off about that…
Everyone glanced at the suitcase, but their bodies, governed by a dictatorship of survival instinct, allowed no room for curiosity. They could only keep their questions to themselves for the moment and squeezed into the Hovercar.
The Hovercar quickly descended to the ground and drove off, allowing everyone to relax a bit—now, if the car exploded, they would at most burn or blast to death, rather than die from falling.
“What’s next?” Igor asked. “If the rival firm dares to attack directly in the city, it means they are utterly indifferent to the law—”
“Then let’s make them care!” Annan declared. “We’ll go to Red Cap. Red Cap is Azura’s strongest enforcement agency, and as law-abiding citizens, we can apply for special protection. Broken Home Firm wouldn’t dare attack Red Cap unless they want to risk total annihilation.”
Ashe spoke up, “I’ve been wanting to ask for a long time, why are they called Broken Home Firm?”
“Because their name is Moonlit Harmony Home, but the jobs they take usually end up ruining people,” the Butler Youth explained. “Though they’re not normally so violent, with their control over intelligent machinery, they have many ways to achieve their sinister goals without alarming the Gospel.”
“Will Red Cap protect us?” Harvey, naturally distrustful of law enforcement agencies, asked, “Are you sure they won’t cut a ‘big deal’ with Annan like Broken Home Firm?”
“Red Cap is the most law-abiding group. Any slight misstep is immediately reflected in their Ranking List standings,” Annan responded confidently. “As long as we don’t break the law, Red Cap is our best protection. Not to mention, I’m friends with Cleos from Weeping Red Cap—”
Suddenly, everyone’s Gospel popped open automatically and turned to the same page:
“Wanted Notice”
“Ashe Heath”
“Reward: 500,000 Points (alive) / 100,000 Points (dead)”
“Witnesses can contact Red Cap to report, rewards based on the validity of the information”
“Issuer: Empire Red Cap Headquarters, Signatory: Ewart Higgin.”
Only Ashe’s page was slightly different—
“Red Cap Azura Golden Eagle Street Headquarters: …”
“Red Cap Azura Sea Soul Street Branch: …”
“Red Cap Azura Bear Wolf Street Branch: …”
Damn, is this their way of persuading me to turn myself in?
Lise spoke softly, “Annan, you just mentioned Cleos…”
“Yes, Cleos is my friend,” Annan said. “So she has already been hinting around in Curtain messages asking about my whereabouts. For a higher Ranking List position, she would definitely betray us.”
“Fortunately, you are already accepted as citizens by the Gospel… Even the Imperial Royal Family can’t use the Gospel to track you. In this game of cat and mouse, at least everyone starts from the same line.”
“So, we’re not only being hunted by the underworld firm but also wanted by the lawful Red Cap?” Ashe sighed, rubbing his forehead. “I didn’t even get this kind of treatment during Blood Moon… Characters in crime thrillers who offend both the underworld and the law usually don’t live long, right?”
“There are exceptions, like the producer.”
Igor’s sarcastic remark turned out to be the warmest words of the evening.
