Chapter 84: Slaughtered [2]

A vicious intent to kill surged through his body.

His grip tightened around the axes as the skill awakened, sharpening his senses and preparing him for the slaughter ahead.

The first man swung his sword at Lorenzo’s neck.

Lorenzo tilted his head, allowing the blade to pass within an inch of his face.

Before the attacker could recover, Lorenzo stepped forward and swung his axe.

SPLAT!

Blood sprayed across the corridor as the blade tore through the man’s body. His eyes widened, his mouth opened as though he wanted to scream, but no sound came out. He staggered forward before collapsing at Lorenzo’s feet.

A few drops of blood landed on Lorenzo’s cheek.

He barely noticed.

Another man rushed toward him with a dagger, aiming for his throat.

Lorenzo caught his wrist.

The man’s expression changed when he realized he couldn’t pull free.

"W-Wait—"

Lorenzo twisted his arm until the dagger fell from his fingers, then drove his knee into the man’s stomach. As the attacker doubled over, Lorenzo brought his axe down.

The sharp blade struck with a wet, sickening sound.

Blood splattered across the polished floor, staining the expensive carpet beneath them.

Lorenzo released the body and stepped aside as it slumped to the ground.

"Two."

He continued walking.

Behind him, the remaining members of the Hiroshi Family stared at the bodies littering the corridor.

Some had fought Awakeners before. They had seen blood, broken bones, and people dying in battle.

But this was different.

Lorenzo wasn’t fighting as though his life depended on it. He wasn’t desperately searching for an opening or struggling to survive against superior numbers.

He was walking forward.

And anyone who stood in his way died.

"He’s a monster!"

A burly man charged from the side, swinging an iron club at Lorenzo’s head.

Lorenzo raised his left axe and blocked the attack.

CLANG!

The impact rang through the corridor.

Before the man could pull back his weapon, Lorenzo struck him in the chest with the handle of his other axe. The man staggered, coughing up blood, but managed to remain standing.

He was an E-rank Awakener with a body reinforced by mana. A single blow wasn’t enough to bring him down.

Unfortunately for him, Lorenzo had no intention of stopping at one blow.

He stepped closer and swung again.

The axe cut through the man’s defenses, and blood burst from the wound. The attacker stumbled backward, leaving a trail of red footprints across the floor before collapsing against the wall.

Lorenzo glanced at the blood splashed across his sleeve.

His black suit had been expensive.

Now it was ruined.

’What a waste.’

He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

He had specifically removed his jacket before the battle to keep it from getting damaged. Yet, somehow, his shirt and trousers were already stained with blood.

Perhaps he should have brought a change of clothes.

That thought lasted only a moment.

Another attacker came running toward him.

"YOU BASTARD!"

The man raised a massive mace with both hands and brought it down with all his strength.

Lorenzo moved to the side.

The mace smashed into the floor, cracking the tiles.

Lorenzo seized the brief opening and struck the man’s arm with his axe. The weapon slipped from the attacker’s fingers as he screamed and clutched his injured limb.

Lorenzo followed with another swing.

The scream stopped.

Blood splashed across the wall behind the man, joining the stains left by the previous victims.

Lorenzo stepped past him without looking back.

The effect of \[Slaughter Instinct\] was becoming increasingly noticeable.

His axes felt lighter with every movement. His perception sharpened, allowing him to anticipate incoming attacks and recognize the smallest openings in his opponents’ defenses.

The longer he fought, the more naturally his body moved.

It was as though every death brought him closer to understanding the weapon art.

But he remained careful.

His mana wasn’t unlimited, and his body was still relatively weak compared to his opponents. He couldn’t afford to let the excitement of battle make him careless.

Besides, he had a job to finish.

And his father wouldn’t be pleased if he wasted the entire night playing around.

"Surround him!" someone shouted.

Several men rushed forward simultaneously.

One swung a sword toward Lorenzo’s ribs while another attacked from behind with an iron club. A third thrust a spear toward his abdomen, hoping to prevent him from dodging.

For a moment, their attacks seemed perfectly coordinated.

Then Lorenzo moved.

He twisted his body to evade the sword, caught the spear shaft beneath his arm, and pulled its wielder forward. The man stumbled into his path.

Lorenzo’s axe flashed.

The spear wielder fell.

Using the falling man’s body to obstruct the others, Lorenzo turned and drove his elbow into the face of the attacker behind him. Blood burst from the man’s nose as he stumbled backward.

Lorenzo didn’t give him time to recover.

A second swing sent him crashing to the ground.

The swordsman attempted to retreat, but Lorenzo threw his axe.

The weapon spun through the air before striking the man and sending him tumbling across the corridor.

A moment later, Lorenzo retrieved it.

His expression remained calm.

His clothes, however, were another matter.

Blood covered the front of his shirt, streaked his trousers, and stained both sleeves. A dark red smear crossed his cheek, while several droplets clung to his hair.

He looked less like a student and more like an executioner who had just emerged from a slaughterhouse.

The remaining men began to retreat.

"Run!"

"Get away from him!"

"Call the boss! Someone, call the boss!"

They abandoned their weapons and rushed toward the central hall.

Lorenzo watched them flee with mild disappointment.

"Where are you going?"

None of them answered.

He sighed.

"I offered you a chance to surrender. You refused. Now you’re running away?"

Lorenzo bent down and picked up a discarded sword.

He examined its blade for a moment before tossing it aside.

He raised his hand.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three gunshots echoed through the corridor.

The fleeing men collapsed one after another.

Lorenzo lowered his gun and checked the ammunition.

He returned the gun to its holster and glanced at his axes. Their blades were stained red, and blood dripped from their edges onto the floor.

He wiped them against a fallen man’s clothing before returning them to his hands.

Then he continued deeper into the mansion.

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A/N :- Happy Diwali, y’all!

Wishing you all a fantastic Festival of Lights! May your holiday be filled with endless good vibes, killer food comas, and way too many sweets.

May your diyas stay lit, your graphics cards stay cool, and your Wi-Fi stay strong!

Plus give me some gifts for Diwali!