Chapter 131: Saints and Devils

Before anyone could react or understand the meaning behind those words, a sudden golden light erupted from their midst. And before they could shield their eyes from the blinding light, another erupted, then another, and another.

It soon became terrifyingly obvious that the exploding lights came from positions where people once stood, and after the lights died, they’d suddenly vanished into thin air. ℯℯ𝑙.

It didn’t discriminate, and as the golden lights spread across every person in the room, panic broke out as everyone tried to make a run for it. To move far away from the ’monster’s dark magic, but they barely took a few steps before they too exploded in a sharp golden beam and were erased from existence.

Seeing there was no running from it, the smartest people in the room didn’t risk it but snapped their gazes towards Kaelen in shock and disbelief when they came to notice something different with him.

Kaelen hadn’t just commanded everyone to die and the universe obeyed. Rather, though he didn’t move an inch from the spot, his eyes were constantly moving across the room at an incredible speed, and whoever his gaze landed on exploded in a golden beam.

As soon as they noticed this, instead of running blindly across the room where Kaelen’s eyes could reach, they dropped to the floor and took cover behind the hibernating pods.

They weren’t certain if that would protect them, but it was the best and safest option they had.

Governor Felix was no different, and ducked behind a hibernating pod as well, not daring to stand around and find out if the strange but omniscient skill could work on him. But unlike several others who had picked up the clue and moved into hiding at once in fear of death, Felix was exhilarated and had a wide grin on his face.

He placed a hand over his chest to feel his erratic heartbeat and couldn’t help but smile even wider.

He couldn’t remember when last he had so much fun with an opponent.

Kaelen Cross was truly his greatest idol and nemesis.

In just a few seconds, the golden beams slowly died down after there was no one left standing amongst the hundreds of men gathered inside the facility.

Kaelen was also fully aware of all those hiding behind pods, but what those people didn’t know and understand was that it wasn’t everyone who ducked away from his sights who escaped extinction.

For as long as Kaelen felt your presence, he could erase you from existence, and the handful of those left alive were either those Kaelen’s ability didn’t work on, and those whom he let live for personal reasons.

It would be a shame to eliminate everyone in the room when the leaders of the strongholds were gathered and possessed vital information.

The room had fallen into an unsettling silence as those who believed they were safe behind the hibernating pods remained in hiding.

Then the noise was broken by the sharp sounds of boots against polished tiles, as Kaelen began moving across the room in a calm stride.

"Felix, Black Rose, Yelena..." For some reason, Kaelen couldn’t sense Yelena’s presence anywhere around. He also couldn’t remember seeing or killing the woman amongst the masses, but knowing she was a walking arsenal of who knows how many stolen abilities she’s achieved over time, Kaelen could tell she was around somewhere. He could feel her eyes on him.

"I let you live for the sole purpose of redeeming yourself by telling me why you’ve chosen to come after my mother, knowing fully well I would never let that slide." Kaelen said and paused at an intersection where Aria and Cici were taking cover.

Aria glared at him with a hard expression, while the other Akkadian Warrior had terror written all over her face as her pupils trembled in his presence.

Kaelen stared at Aria for a moment, his supposed sister who could only be ten years old but didn’t look any part of it, except there was some other explanation or growth pattern for their race. He was going to get back at her.

He shifted his gaze and kept moving forward.

"There’s only two ways this could go," he continued. "You either tell me what I need to know now, or I make sure this never happens again. And to make that happen... I won’t stop at just killing y’all—"

"You’re wrong." A voice interrupted from the far side, and Kaelen tilted his head to see Black Rose bravely standing now.

"I understand that you’re angry and doing this because she’s your mother, but don’t paint the picture like she’s any better than us."

Kaelen’s expression turned cold. "Y’know, your uncle made me promise him that I’d spare your life when the time comes. That time is now, and you’ve proven yourself to be no different than that devil of your father. So I should probably kill you right now, and will, but I’d like you to tell me one thing. Why have you chosen to side with the devils that sort nothing more than to destroy our planet?" He asked.

Black Rose furrowed her brows slightly, but didn’t lose her cool. "That’s where you have it all wrong. I never sided with anyone against my will. I became the Empress of the seven Strongholds to save humanity, and to make sure the former Emperor never climbs the throne or goes unpunished for his crimes when he returns. I foresaw the dangers Evolution Online posed to humanity and utilized instance dungeons to create the Hunter’s Association where mankind can evolve at their own pace. Everything I’ve done was to liberate humanity from the chains they used to shackle my father. Believe me when I say I’m only learning about your mother’s involvement in the grand scheme of things, and only came here to see for myself the devils that have sworn to see to it that mankind shall fall—"

"You bastard. How dare you call us devils?" Aria suddenly burst out in rage, glaring dangerously at Black Rose opposite the room. "You massacred my people centuries ago and dare to step your filthy legs into our sacred place to finish us for good? What have we ever given other than kindness to warrant such disgusting treatment from you bastards."

Her outburst surprised Kaelen, but Black Rose’s next words completely shattered Kaelen’s understanding of everything.

The cyan-haired woman scoffed in cold disbelief. "Does he know?" Black Rose asked as a dangerous glint flashed across her eyes.

"Do I know what?" Kaelen asked with a frown.

"Are you aware that your mother has coordinated several strikes that have devastated so many human civilizations in Akkad? Are you aware that your mother and these devils... are behind the first and now the second wave that wiped out 80% of humanity?"