Death... and me

3018  Monster

Fausto didn't care about any of that and just wanted to get over with this opening. "Alright, everyone can enter now. Remember, three days. Now go!"

Everyone quickly entered the formation and began to make their way down the various passages in the Canyon Ahead. Rean obviously followed his fellow disciples from Kuslau. It's just that he knew it wasn't a good idea. When they got far enough from the entrance, Rean passed Laica, Tubutu, and Lesyu, one bead each. "Here, for the three of you."

Each of them had received the same item from Kuslau as his disciple, so they knew what the beads were supposed to do. "Wait, are you sure? These things can truly save your life," Laica commented.

Tubutu and Lesyu agreed. "If master gave them to you, then you should use them. He wants us all to come back alive."

However, Rean refused to take them back. "You saw me in the Contest, right? You now know I'm that same Asterix. Don't worry, I don't need them."

Lesyu thought Rean was overestimating his own ability. "Back in the contest, you set the platform to only accept sword skills. No cultivation energies or elements were allowed. It was all about pure sword ability. It is different here, though. I also noticed the various eyes on you. I'm certain you will be targeted by the various powers since your prospects are too big. You shouldn't overestimate yourself. Just take the beads and stay with us. Your cultivation is still too low."

Rean was quite surprised to hear that. Lesyu, Laica, and Tubutu seemed adamant about that. If anything, he was expecting them to be holding a grudge against him since he was 'supposedly' hiding his real identity with Kuslau's help. However, the truth was that Rean truly didn't need their help. Worse than that. Laica and the other two would only get in his way instead.

Suddenly, Rean noticed someone entering his Spiritual Sense range. Because of his Peak Divinity Realm soul, the other part couldn't perceive it. One cultivator then became five, all of them at the Middle, Late, and Peak Stages of the Nascent Soul Realm. "Well, I guess it will be faster if I show you all."

*Zush, zush, zush!*

Those five cultivators then appeared in their sight, making a beeline to Rean. "Already?!" The three took their weapons out, and even the beads give by Kuslau in case they needed them.

However, Rean acted much faster than Laica, Lesyu, and Tubutu.

Rean's hair changed into a mix of black and white color as he shot through the air like a bullet. His White Star Sword came out, and the Light and Dark Elements gathered around it.

"Ha! What an idiot!" The leader of those cultivators also took out his weapon, happy to see Rean coming for them. They were tasked to get rid of Rean as soon as their background found Rean would be entering the Spiritual Canyon. They just so happened to be the first group to find Rean, and more should be looking for him already. If they finished Rean fast, they would receive a huge reward from their elders.

The five Nascent Soul Realm cultivators acted together, surrounding and attacking Rean from all sides. How could they possibly lose to a Core and Soul Fusion Realm cultivator? So what if he had impressive sword skills? He couldn't possibly breach the gap in cultivation, especially against the five of them.

'Life Style, Enhancement!'

'Death Style, Shadow Air!'

If Rean was fast before, now he simply disappeared from the enemy's sight.

"What?!" The five were terrified to see that. They were able to see Rean's acceleration at first, but it turned so fast that they lost track of him. "Careful!"

The warning was meaningless.

'Death Style, Three Claws of the Dragon!'

*Swish, swish, swish!*

In an instant, the legs of three of the five cultivators were cut as blood gushed everywhere.

*AARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!*

Rean didn't stop as his body moved like a ghost. The other two, who weren't targeted at first, immediately tried to run. Unfortunately for them, Rean was much, much faster. Fire Element also gathered around Rean's White Star as he attacked again.

'Life Fire, Flame Emperor Sword!'

'Life Fire, Flaming Blade Arc!'

*swish, swish!*

*Tssssss!*

*Arrrrghhhhh!*

The five cultivators then fell to the ground, trying to do their best to bear the pain while stopping the chaotic Dark Element that kept corroding their insides, let alone heal their injuries. Even worse, Rean was still there. *Zush!*

However, Rean didn't continue his attack, nor did he kill those guys. In Rean's eyes, they are nothing but a bunch of kids, so it felt more like he was bullying them. Last but not least, Rean knew he was being watched. Killing everyone who came after him might attract more hate from the powers these guys came from, even more than his own abilities already did.

Rean's hair returned to normal as his Sword went back to the Dimensional Realm. "Hmph! Be happy that I want to use you guys as example. Now, get out of my sight and warn the others. Anyone who comes after me better be prepared for the consequences."

The five Nascent Soul Realm cultivators felt like they received an imperial pardon and immediately fled. Their injuries were obviously bad, and the aftermath of the Dark Element in their bodies was unknown. Nonetheless, their Dantians were still intact, so they could fly.

Rean then glanced at three different spots in some hidden corners. As if a warning had been given, several other cultivators immediately scattered like scared birds. They saw what just happened to the previous five guys and understood that confronting Rean was the same as asking for Roa- Ahem... asking for death.

Finally, Rean returned to Laica and the others and smiled. "Truly, I don't need them. However, if you stay with me, you might get involved, so you should keep my beads and follow a different path on your own. That's for both our sakes."

Laica, Lesyu, and Tubutu swallowed hard. What kind of monster did their master find?

And as always, any Golden Tickets and Stones are welcome. ;)