Chapter 547: Attack on Abberants (5)

Chapter 545

On a beast planet that had been terraformed to such an extent that it had become completely liveable, orange flags and banners could be seen hanging from structures throughout the settlement.

Each one bore the same emblem—

A fist wreathed in flames.

The planet no longer looked like a world belonging to beasts.

It looked like a human civilization.

Humans dressed in orange attire moved through the streets, chatting amongst themselves and going about their daily work.

Not everyone wore orange from head to toe, however.

Some only had a piece of orange clothing covering their heads.

Others wore orange bands around their arms.

Yet the color was everywhere.

A symbol.

A representation of the family that ruled this planet.

At the extreme far end of the world stood a colossal structure, its enormous frame backed directly against an active volcano.

Lava constantly spewed from its peak, flowing down the mountainside in glowing streams.

Yet despite the volcano’s violent activity, the lava never came close to the colossal structure.

The estate stood untouched.

Protected by something far beyond the reach of ordinary flames.

Deep within the estate, inside a personal office, the head of the Immortal Flame Family sat watching the livestream displayed before him.

His hands were crossed in front of his face as his eyes remained fixed on the screen.

Two figures stood beside him.

Two males.

His sons.

On his right stood the eldest.

He was tall, his hands folded behind his back, his posture straight and disciplined. A stern expression rested upon his face as he watched the livestream.

On his father’s left stood the second son—

Berg.

Unlike his elder brother, Berg’s attention wasn’t calmly fixed on the battle.

His teeth audibly ground against each other whenever Ray appeared on the screen.

"So that’s the werewolf, huh?" the eldest son—Brack—asked, turning his head toward his younger brother.

"The one you pooled resources to condemn in the trial room, yet failed to eliminate?"

Berg remained silent for a moment.

Flames crackled around his hands.

Once.

Twice.

Then he forced himself to calm down.

"...I failed because of that damned Raze!" Berg spat.

"If it wasn’t for his interference, he would be dead by now."

Brack stared at his younger brother for a few seconds.

He seemed to think about the matter before narrowing his eyes.

"And you ran over here, why?"

His voice remained calm.

"Weren’t you supposed to be located on one of the other planets under our grasp?"

Berg’s teeth ground together again.

His eyes almost seemed to blaze with fury.

"He—He threatened me."

His voice tightened.

"He threatened to eliminate me the next time we saw each other. I came here to get stronger."

His fists clenched.

"I can’t beat him with who I am. And as much as I hate to admit it..."

Berg’s voice lowered.

"...I’m weaker than he is."

He swallowed.

"I need more p—"

"—Pathetic."

The head of the Immortal Flame Family finally spoke.

His tone was filled with arrogance.

He didn’t even bother looking at his son.

Yet the disdain in his voice was unmistakable.

"It’s obvious he is stronger from what I’m seeing."

His eyes remained on the screen.

"But what isn’t acceptable is you running from a fight."

His tone began to harden.

"We are the Immortal Flame Family."

The flames around Berg’s hands flickered.

"We don’t duck from a threat."

The man’s voice rose.

"We face it head-on."

He finally turned his gaze slightly toward Berg.

"Yet you ran away?"

Berg’s body stiffened.

"I need more skills. I came here to acquire some powerful sk—"

"And you think I will give them to you so easily?"

The man’s words cut him off.

He finally tilted his head slightly.

One eye shifted toward Berg.

Murderous intent flashed within it.

"What have you achieved to think that you have earned the right to the skill books?"

Berg immediately shrank back.

His heart pounded loudly within his chest.

He lowered his head, refusing to meet his father’s gaze.

He knew exactly what the man was capable of.

And because of that, he didn’t dare utter another word.

If he did...

He could be incinerated right there.

A heavy aura suddenly descended upon the room.

The pressure slammed into Berg.

Sweat immediately began sliding down his temples.

His breathing grew heavier.

The atmosphere itself seemed to become unbearably hot.

It felt as though he was standing directly before an active volcano.

Then—

Almost as quickly as it appeared, the suffocating aura disappeared.

The man turned his attention back toward the forty-inch TV mounted on the wall.

"I will give you one of the skill books."

Berg’s eyes widened slightly.

"Just one."

The man’s gaze remained on the livestream.

"You have to learn it within a month and return back to take him out."

His eyes narrowed.

"He’s growing too strong for my liking."

For a moment, silence filled the office.

Then the man’s voice became colder.

"For years, the Four Families have remained at the top of the world."

His gaze remained fixed on Ray.

"Nobody aside from our bloodlines has ever been classified as a Special Grade."

He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing on Ray before flickering back toward Kai.

"...With how fast he grows, he will soon be classified as a Special Grade and become full of himself, thinking he can sit at the table with the rest of us."

His gaze hardened.

"Cut him down. I am giving you this last chance. Otherwise, Brack will take over the territory given to you after he completes the mission you were assigned."

Berg slowly lifted his head and glanced toward his elder brother.

Brack only smirked.

Then he winked at him before turning his attention back to the TV.

Berg’s hands tightened into fists behind his back.

His eyes burned with hatred as he stared at Ray on the screen.

"You will be taken to the family’s vault to select a skill of your choice. Just one."

The man’s voice remained cold.

"Afterwards, I want him gone. Understood?"

His voice reverberated through the room, the sheer weight behind it seeming to shake even Berg’s core.

The boy hurriedly lowered his head.

"Ye-Yes. I won’t fail you again, Father."

"You better."

The man snapped his fingers.

Brack immediately looked toward him.

The head of the family pointed toward the door.

"Take him away to the vault and let him choose what he wants. Monitor him so he doesn’t take more than one and get himself killed."

"Sure."

Brack turned toward Berg.

"Come on, brother. Let’s go."

Without waiting for him, Brack began walking toward the door.

Berg followed behind him.

But before leaving, he glanced toward the TV one last time.

His gaze hardened.

’You dare threaten me?’

His fists tightened.

’Just wait and watch, Ray.’

And soon, the two brothers exited the room, leaving their father alone in his seat.

The man’s attention remained fixed on the TV.

His eyes flickered from one person to another as attacks continued raining down from the sky like an endless storm.

He observed everything.

Intently.

Then he leaned forward, resting his elbows against the table as his clasped hands rose before his mouth.

’Attack on Aberrants, huh?’

The corner of his lips twitched with irritation.

’More like Attack on Ray.’

His gaze shifted toward Kai.

He stared at the crystal-wielding Vanguard for several seconds.

His eyes narrowed.

’...I’m more intrigued by the fact that a Larson has a friend?’

A faint scoff escaped him.

’Hmph.’

His expression hardened.

’The others might fear your family, but I don’t.’

The flames around his fingers flickered.

’Anybody who stands in my way...’

His eyes burned with cold determination.

’I will burn them down.’