193 Damn that's tuff



[A Bit Before]

[Ren Hilton's POV]

"I was about to ask what we were going to do here but the question is now changed to ...what happened here?" Blaze's question was a valid one.

"I'm not... quite sure," I replied, my eyes scanning the empty space where the Herbal Emporium once stood.

Tonight, I had returned to the Herbal Emporium, but now it was as if the store had vanished from the face of the earth. The ground was devoid of any evidence that a structure had ever occupied this spot just a few days ago.

The bargain alley was deserted, a reflection of the late hour. However, it struck me as odd that no one seemed to have noticed or cared that the store had disappeared.

Blaze's question pulled me from my thoughts. I had returned because I was curious about the person who had nearly killed me with a mere flick of his hand...

"Curious? About the person who almost killed you with a flick of his hand?" Blaze's voice held a tinge of unease as he mentioned Silas, the name Aron had provided for the owner of the store.

"Haa... let's go," I said, summoning determination as I strengthened my legs and leaped high enough to reach a nearby roof.

"Where?" Blaze questioned, his curiosity evident.

"Towards the industrial district," I answered, preparing to embark on our journey.

Solstice was divided into three parts: the Entertainment District, the Educational District, and, lastly, the Industrial District, located on the city's outskirts.

"We're already two days late, dude. Do you think they'll still be here? Weren't they supposed to move on the 2nd? Today's the 4th..." Blaze nestled inside my robe as I kept running.

"You're still fixated on that? At first, I thought it might be the Nocny Gryf or Akh Helna, but the person we encountered was skilled at concealing their presence while maintaining a facade to appear normal. Plus, the place we encountered him has now vanished..." I was puzzled; the encounter felt random.

Nevertheless, I was determined to investigate. According to Alver's documents, there should be bunkers where the Nocny Gryf were supposed to be. Even if they had already left, there might be some evidence.

"And what about Silas?" Blaze asked, showing his interest in the mysterious shop owner.

We didn't have all the answers yet, but it was clear that Silas possessed unique abilities. However, I knew we needed to think more thoroughly about him. Few people in the Empire could use spatial shift and conceal their magic to such an extent without raising suspicions outside the royal palace. It was likely that he was one of the Transcended, but their numbers within the Empire were still relatively low compared to Grav.

After running for half an hour, we reached the outskirts of Solstice, and I directed Blaze to transform.

"Change your form," I instructed. Blaze transformed into his Winged Pardus Form, and I mounted his back. We soared into the sky, eventually landing atop a nearby clock tower.

The industrial district of Solstice stretched out below us, a labyrinth of buildings that varied in size but all had a similar, utilitarian appearance. These structures were responsible for mass-producing the everyday items and weapons that the city's residents relied on. However, my attention was focused on a particular area.

"There," I pointed out a cluster of larger structures that resembled warehouses. These were the places I wanted to investigate.

As I observed the industrial area below, my eyes caught a figure in the distance. A silhouette was sprinting through the otherwise deserted landscape, making its way toward one of the warehouses.

"Hmm?" I lowered myself slightly to get a better view as I kept my eyes on the running figure. It was too far away for me to make out any details, but there was definitely someone there.

"Who?" Blaze questioned, mirroring my curiosity.

I didn't have an answer, but it seemed like an opportunity to find out. I mounted Smokeball once more and waited, watching as the person hurried into the warehouse. It was time to investigate.

As I descended from the clock tower atop Smokeball, we moved swiftly and silently towards the warehouse where the figure had disappeared. The industrial district was eerily quiet, and our presence seemed to go unnoticed.

"...are we going in?" He asked as I mentally told him to turn back into his normal form.

"Yeah," pulled the hood above my head before looking around, I slowly pushed the door- which didn't budge,maybe he locked it from inside.

For a second, I activated my elemental vision and yep, there's a lot going on inside,like I can begin to mention how many mana signatures are inside the building,like there were almost more than hundred.

The sheer number of mana signatures inside the warehouse left me both intrigued and cautious. With such a significant magical presence, it was clear that something unusual was happening within.

"Blaze, be ready for anything," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "We're going in."

I focused my mana and channeled it into my hand, creating a small ball of light to illuminate the dark interior. Slowly, I applied more pressure to the door, attempting to push it open without making too much noise.

I pressed against the door, but it remained stubbornly shut. On the other side, I could sense mana swirling, indicating that someone had employed some runic magic to lock the entrance. 

"Give me a moment," Blaze shifted into his Winged Pardus Form and seemingly disappeared. His mastery over shadow-shifting was a surprise, as I hadn't seen him train in that skill.

A soft click followed, and the door became unlocked. Blaze, now back in his normal form, reappeared and smirked. "Don't forget, I've been around for more generations than you can count."

I rolled my eyes at his playful boast and carefully pushed the door open, ensuring our entrance remained unnoticed.

As I stepped further into the chamber, I found myself surrounded by rows upon rows of cages. The room was plunged into darkness, and distant murmurs emanated from the far end, but my attention was drawn to the sprawling collection of cages before me. It was utterly unbelievable.

The cages came in various sizes, and when I toggled between normal vision and elemental vision, I could discern that the creatures inside ranged from minuscule to enormous.

This was supposed to be the hideout of Nocny Gryf, but why were they still in Solstice?

I took a few more steps forward, and that's when I heard it – a low growl. A Black-backed Fenrir was inside one of the cages, and it was far from being alone; there were numerous other Fenrirs confined in the same enclosure.

As I ventured deeper into the chamber, my footsteps echoing softly in the dimly lit space, I continued to pass by cages filled with an assortment of creatures. The growls, hisses, and chitters of these beings formed a discordant symphony that surrounded me.

Amidst this eerie menagerie, I spotted a group of three individuals further ahead. They were huddled together, their backs leaning against one of the larger cages. They seemed to be engrossed in conversation, their voices hushed as they discussed something.

I moved, my every motion calculated and precise. With the sword in one hand and the dagger in the other, I sprinted forward, closing the distance between me and the unsuspecting trio.

As I neared them, I lunged with the sword, aiming for the closest target's throat. The blade sliced through the air with a satisfying swish, but my opponent, perhaps fueled by instinct, managed to shift their head just in time. The edge of the blade grazed their cheek instead of landing a fatal blow.

Simultaneously, I pivoted on my planted foot, turning my back toward the second attacker. My raised leg snapped forward in a swift kick, aiming directly for their shin. My timing was impeccable, and the force of the kick caused them to stumble backward, wincing in pain.

Amidst these movements, my elemental-enhanced senses remained alert, tracking the third adversary's every action. I narrowly avoided a dagger strike aimed at my cheek.

The floor beneath me collected a droplet of crimson, a stark testament to the chaos unfolding within the warehouse. 

My heart raced, my senses heightened, and only a song thought flickered through my mind.

"I missed this so much," I don't know what kind of expression I am making.

'You are smiling like a maniac.' Blaze's serene tone echoed in my mind but I ignored it.

Spinning the handle of the sword, I grabbed it in reverse grip and-stab-

*Thud*

The first head fell to the ground,two more to go-nah maybe there are more.

Maybe... I am going all out today.

'and here this guy goes off with the count,' Blaze disappeared in the shadow.

[A/N: Hello! Next few chapters are going to be.....well let's see it yourself.]