Chapter 27: A Gift Of Death!

’Now!’

Aiden stepped out from his hiding place without the slightest hesitation.

He deliberately waved his hand at the surrounding Hard-Shell Beetles and the enraged Sprinter Corpse, openly provoking them before turning on his heel and sprinting away.

His destination was the battlefield where Zach Merrick’s team was desperately fighting for their lives.

His body shot forward like an arrow released from its bow, fully displaying the remarkable Agility gained through gaining stats from soul essence and leveling up.

The disturbed Hard-Shell Beetles immediately responded with a series of harsh clicks as their armored shells scraped against one another. They turned as one, their many legs carrying them into a furious pursuit.

At the same time, the Sprinter Corpse, having just broken free from [Root Entanglement], locked onto Aiden Cross as its primary target. It released a shrill, bloodcurdling hiss before launching itself after him at terrifying speed.

"This way! There’s a safe spot over here!"

Aiden shouted as he ran, deliberately directing his voice toward Zach Merrick’s team. His tone carried just the right amount of panic to sound completely genuine.

Like a fisherman dragging a hooked beast behind him, he led the growing horde straight toward the already crumbling defensive line.

The four survivors were completely occupied with the monsters in front of them. Hearing frantic shouting followed by a chorus of pounding footsteps and monstrous roars from behind, they instinctively turned around.

The sight nearly made their hearts stop. A young man was sprinting directly toward them.

Behind him, a cloud of dust billowed as four or five Hard-Shell Beetles thundered forward, accompanied by a grey-skinned Sprinter Corpse whose ferocious presence was enough to make anyone’s scalp go numb.

"Fuck! Where the hell are you leading those things?!" the shield-bearing man roared, his eyes nearly splitting with fury.

"Get away from us!" the man wielding the fire axe shouted, his face drained of blood.

Even Zach Merrick froze for an instant, so frightened that he nearly fired one of his wind blades into his own feet.

Aiden ignored every curse and terrified scream.

Just before colliding with their formation, he abruptly shifted his footing.

Like a fish slipping through a narrow current, he darted past the edge of their line at an impossibly sharp angle.

As he passed, he even had the courtesy to call out,

"Watch your backs!"

The next instant. The torrent of monsters crashed headlong into Zach Merrick’s team.

BOOM!

The battlefield exploded into chaos. The newly arrived Hard-Shell Beetles barreled into everything before them without distinguishing friend from foe.

The Level 3 Sprinter Corpse was even worse.

Its first swipe shredded the already battered wooden shield as though it were paper before continuing into the burly man’s shoulder, carving three deep claw marks down to the bone.

Dark poison immediately began spreading through the wound.

"AAARGH!"

The man’s agonized scream echoed through the street as his health plummeted.

"Heal him! Hurry!" the axe-wielding man shouted in panic.

Before he could finish, two Hard-Shell Beetles slammed into him simultaneously, knocking him violently to the ground.

Zach Merrick frantically unleashed wind blades in every direction, but his attacks were hopelessly inadequate against the spiraling chaos.

The young healer barely managed a frightened cry before one of the Mutated Dogs tackled her to the pavement.

Screams and roars erupted... Weapons clashed as everyone tried to defend themselves.

The street descended into complete pandemonium and Aiden never looked back.

The instant he cleared their formation, he accelerated again, weaving effortlessly through abandoned vehicles and ruined storefronts. Using the maze-like streets to his advantage, he quickly shook off the few monsters that continued pursuing him before disappearing into the shadows.

Only after putting a considerable distance between himself and the battlefield did he finally slow to a stop.

From far away, he could still faintly hear the desperate cries of Zach Merrick’s group mixed with the triumphant roars of the monsters.

Gradually... The sounds faded. Then silence remained. The ending spoke for itself.

Standing beneath the broken awning of a dilapidated building, Aiden’s expression remained calm and unreadable, as though he had merely tossed a pebble into a lake.

Not the slightest ripple stirred within him. He casually flexed his left arm.

The dull ache left behind by the vine whip had almost completely subsided.

"Zach Merrick..." His quiet voice drifted into the empty street. "This is only the beginning."

His eyes were as deep and still as an ancient abyss.

"Enjoy the little welcome gift I’ve prepared for you. In the days to come... I have many more surprises waiting."

Without another glance toward the battlefield, Aiden determined his bearings and continued toward his temporary stronghold, the place where he had hidden the sturdy Rezvani SUV.

Sunlight filtered through the fractured skyline, spilling across the ruined city in broken patches of light and shadow.

His solitary figure stretched long across the cracked pavement as he walked away.

Calm, decisive and unforgiving. This was the reborn Aiden Cross. The man who would one day Reap the lives of all those who betrayed him...