Six In The Dark

Chapter 58 — Six in the Dark

Aether entered the forest alone.

The injured boy was already being carried inside by Lyra and Aria.

Gorn remained at the boundary.

Aether had given one command.

Stay.

The giant ape didn't move.

That was good.

Aether didn't want the entire territory exposed because of six unknown attackers.

He moved silently between the trees.

The system continued tracking them.

[Hostile signatures: 6]

[Distance: 97 meters.]

Aether slowed.

Six people.

Their killing intent was strong enough that even his enhanced senses could detect it through the forest.

They weren't searching randomly.

They were following the boy's trail.

Aether crouched behind a tree.

Voices appeared in the distance.

"His trail ends here."

"He can't have disappeared."

"Search the area."

Aether listened.

One voice stood out.

"Find the boy. The commander wants him alive."

Aether's eyes narrowed.

Alive.

That was useful information.

It meant the group wasn't necessarily here to attack him.

But they had entered his territory without permission.

That was enough to make him cautious.

He stepped out from behind the tree.

The six figures immediately stopped.

The leader stared at him.

"Who are you?"

Aether rested the Executioner's Blade against his shoulder.

"You entered my territory."

The man frowned.

"Your territory?"

Aether nodded.

"Leave."

The leader laughed.

"You think you can order us around?"

Aether didn't answer.

The system analyzed them.

[Enemy 1 — Origin Awakening Stage 4]

[Enemy 2 — Stage 3]

[Enemy 3 — Stage 3]

[Enemy 4 — Stage 2]

[Enemy 5 — Stage 2]

[Enemy 6 — Stage 2]

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Aether's expression remained calm.

Only one was close to his level.

The leader stepped forward.

"Move aside."

"No."

The man's expression hardened.

"Then die."

He attacked.

Aether disappeared.

The man's fist struck empty air.

Aether appeared beside him.

SLASH!

The Executioner's Blade cut across his shoulder.

The man staggered.

Aether didn't kill him.

Yet.

He wanted information.

The remaining five attacked simultaneously.

Aether moved between them.

One spear thrust.

He stepped aside.

A sword came from the left.

He blocked it.

A dagger came from behind.

Aether twisted and kicked the attacker into a tree.

BOOM!

The man fell unconscious.

Another enemy fired a series of energy blades.

Aether raised his sword.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Every projectile was deflected.

Then Aether moved.

One strike.

Two.

Three.

Three opponents fell.

The remaining enemy froze.

Aether looked at him.

"Run."

The man didn't understand.

"What?"

"Run."

The enemy turned and fled.

Aether let him.

The leader stared at Aether in disbelief.

"You..."

Aether stepped closer.

"You have ten seconds."

The leader swallowed.

"Why?"

"Because I have questions."

The leader was disarmed and forced to kneel.

The system confirmed the others were unconscious.

Aether stood in front of him.

"Who sent you?"

The man remained silent.

Aether's eyes became cold.

"Ten seconds."

"Wait."

"Nine."

The man clenched his teeth.

"Eight."

"We belong to the Blackridge Group."

"Seven."

"Our commander—"

"Six."

"He's looking for the boy."

"Why?"

The man hesitated.

"Five."

"Because the boy stole something."

Aether stopped.

"What?"

The man shook his head.

"I don't know."

Aether studied him.

The system detected no immediate deception.

"What did he steal?"

"I said I don't know."

Aether's eyes narrowed.

"Then why was your commander interested in him?"

"He has a bloodline."

That caught Aether's attention.

"What bloodline?"

The man shook his head.

"Nobody tells us."

Aether looked toward the cave.

The injured boy had something valuable.

Possibly a bloodline.

Possibly something else.

But there was another problem.

"How did you find him?"

The man answered immediately.

"We tracked him."

"From where?"

"The southern settlement."

Aether nodded.

"So you followed him here."

"Yes."

"How many people are in your group?"

The man's expression changed.

"More."

"How many?"

"Twenty-seven."

Aether's eyes narrowed.

Twenty-seven.

Six were here.

That meant twenty-one remained somewhere nearby.

The system suddenly activated.

[Additional hostile signatures detected.]

[Count: 21.]

Aether's expression became cold.

"So that's why."

The leader looked confused.

"Why?"

Aether turned toward the cave.

"Because you weren't the hunting party."

He looked back at the man.

"You're the scouts."

The man's face went pale.

Aether understood immediately.

The others were coming.

Aether returned to the cave.

Lyra immediately looked at him.

"More?"

"Twenty-one."

Aria tightened her grip on Starfall.

"Twenty-one enemies?"

"Yes."

Gorn stepped forward.

Aether raised his hand.

"Not yet."

The giant ape stopped.

Aether looked at the formation.

Twenty-one people.

Most were below Stage 4.

But there would probably be stronger members among them.

He needed information first.

The injured boy was awake.

He looked at Aether.

"You..."

"What's your name?"

The boy hesitated.

"Kael."

"What did you steal?"

Kael's eyes widened.

"I didn't steal anything."

Aether didn't accuse him.

"Then why are they hunting you?"

Kael remained silent.

Aether noticed the boy's fear.

Not fear of Aether.

Fear of whatever he was carrying.

Finally, Kael reached beneath his torn shirt.

He pulled out a small black crystal.

The moment Aether saw it—

his system reacted violently.

[Unknown Origin Relic detected.]

[Classification: Unknown.]

[Origin composition: Unstable.]

[Connection detected: Northern Region.]

Aether's expression changed.

The crystal pulsed.

Once.

Twice.

The same rhythm as the Northern Seal.

Aether immediately understood.

The Blackridge Group wasn't simply chasing a wounded boy.

They were chasing something connected to the north.

Kael looked at him.

"They'll kill everyone who has it."

Aether stared at the crystal.

"Why?"

Kael whispered:

"Because this isn't mine."

He looked toward the northern mountains.

"I found it in a ruin."

The system suddenly displayed a new warning.

[Unknown relic resonance detected.]

[Northern Seal integrity: 90%.]

[Change detected: None.]

Aether's eyes narrowed.

At least the seal wasn't weakening.

Not yet.

But the crystal was connected to it.

That was enough.

Aether stood.

"Kael."

The boy looked up.

"You're staying here."

Kael stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because those people are coming into my territory."

Aether drew the Executioner's Blade.

"And I don't allow armed groups to enter my home without permission."

Outside the cave—

Gorn suddenly roared.

The forest trembled.

Twenty-one figures emerged between the trees.

At their center stood a tall man wearing black armor.

His cultivation was far higher than the scouts'.

The system analyzed him.

[Blackridge Commander detected.]

[Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 6.]

Aether's eyes narrowed.

Stage 6.

Finally, someone stronger than him.

The commander looked toward the cave.

"Hand over the boy."

Aether stepped outside.

"No."

The commander smiled.

"Then we'll take him."

Aether raised his blade.

"Try."

The commander drew his weapon.

Behind him, twenty people spread out.

Gorn stepped forward.

Lyra's lightning ignited.

Aria raised Starfall.

Seris nocked an arrow.

Aether looked at the approaching group.

His expression remained calm.

This wasn't a hunt anymore.

It was a battle for his territory.