Chapter 82: The B ranked boss’ Veil! (Super gift Chapter)
Chapter 82
AWHOOOOOO!
From its throat, a massive shockwave erupted out. A shockwave so large and oppressive that it shook up everybody who stood there, rattling their bones and making the ground itself tremble.
Rina, who was still crouched down over Renzo’s lifeless body with tears dripping down her cheeks, couldn’t help but look up in horror. All the other Reavers quickly gathered together, clutching their weapons tighter than ever before, each one anxiously waiting for what was to come next.
"Cr... crap! What the hell is it about to do?" Ryker asked as he held his sword tighter. His hand unconsciously crept onto his chest, and there was a worried, almost panicked look on his face.
’I think I have a suspicion about what it’s about to do b... but I don’t think I have much essence left. Damn it! If it’s really doing what I think it is, I don’t think I can last long here.’
’Damn it! I don’t have much essence left. We’ve been fighting non-stop.’ Erin thought grimly as she held her sword tighter. Yet, she did not allow her worry to crack her stoic expression. Her silver hair swayed gently as she fixed her sharp eyes on the battlefield, her heart beating faster with every passing second.
AWHOOOOO!
The Lycan howled once more, and this time, a wave of black and red energy erupted violently from its throat, spreading outward like wildfire. The entire battlefield was instantly plunged into a sea of twilight.
For thirty metres wide, the whole area was now covered in darkness, a terrifying blend of black and red energy. It was as if the heavens themselves had dimmed, as if night had suddenly swallowed them whole.
Everybody felt their hearts pounding loudly, each thump echoing in their ears, and their vision dimmed so much that they could barely see a foot ahead of them.
The Lycan was nowhere to be seen. Their senses dulled greatly, their bodies felt heavier, and even their comrades who had stood right beside them seconds ago were gone from sight. This alone filled every Reaver with overwhelming fear.
"Wh... where are we? Wh... what’s going on? Why can’t I see?" A female Reaver cried out, her voice shaking as she turned frantically in circles, trying to find her bearings.
But no matter how hard she tried, she could neither see clearly nor hear her allies. Her voice cracked as she stumbled in panic.
’Is... is this its Veil? What the hell is it? What does it actually do? Is it only meant to dull our senses, or... is there more?’ Jace thought as he stood perfectly still, his sword raised vertically in front of him.
His breathing slowed as his eyes darted around. He threw his head left and right, trying to pinpoint where the beast might appear from.
AWHOOO!
"ARGHHHHHHHHHH!"
An ear-piercing scream suddenly wafted through the thick air. Though muffled, it was sharp enough to pierce the hearts of the Reavers. Their blood ran cold as they realized it was one of their own.
Immediately after that scream, another followed. Then another. And one by one, Reavers began screaming in terror and pain, their cries echoing left and right in the suffocating twilight.
Jace stood frozen, unable to move as beads of sweat cascaded down his face. His hands trembled slightly on his sword hilt, his mind a storm of panic. The muffled screams reached him again and again, gnawing at his resolve.
"Screw this... I’ll just look for the others!" he muttered harshly, trying to muster his courage. His legs shifted as he prepared to run, but then...
"Why?"
The booming voice resounded in his ears, deep, heavy, and full of sorrow.
Jace’s entire body stiffened instantly. His breath caught in his throat, and with his heart thumping violently, he slowly turned around to see who had spoken.
It was Renzo.
He stood right in front of him, his body illuminated faintly by the eerie twilight, his eyes locked onto Jace’s with a deep frown on his face.
"Why, Jace? Why did you let me die? You had the power, you had the strength, but still, you let me die. Why? How incompetent and useless can you be?" Renzo’s voice carried no anger, only a deep and cutting disappointment. His expression was a blend of sadness and disdain, and the sight alone pierced Jace’s heart like a dagger.
"Us... useless?" Jace asked as his hands trembled violently, his voice breaking while fleeting memories of his reality clawed at his mind.
Memories of how he had always been deemed useless, ugly, and unwanted by both family and friends. Words that had cut him deeper than any blade. His mind now broke under the weight of it, and his chest ached with unbearable pain.
"You could have saved me, but you chose not to. Why?! How could you, Jace? What kind of person are you?!" Renzo’s voice thundered again, and Jace’s eyes turned moist as he bowed his head lower, ashamed and defeated.
"I... I’m... I..."
"You are sorry?" Renzo interrupted sharply, his tone dripping with disdain. He then chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "Sorry can’t fix anything. It can’t bring me back. Rina lost her one true love because of you. You let her world shatter."
Those words were like knives stabbing into Jace’s heart. His knees buckled beneath him, and he fell heavily onto the ground, his tears streaming down uncontrollably. His grip on his sword weakened until it slipped from his trembling hands and clattered onto the ground with a hollow metallic thud.
Growl!
The sound rumbled from his right, low and menacing, and before Jace could even react, something smashed into him with terrifying force.
His body twisted violently, blood spewing from his mouth as he was flung like a ragdoll. He tumbled across the ground, bouncing against the hard earth, every impact sending a fresh wave of agony shooting through him.
---
Elsewhere, within the same radius covered in that suffocating twilight energy, Erin stood with her sword gripped tightly.
Her eyes scanned every inch of the dim surroundings, her sharp gaze tossing and turning in search of either her comrades or the lurking Lycan. The mist around her sword refused to fade, swirling like a restless storm.
"What is this? Its Veil? What kind of Veil is this? And what does it really do?" Erin muttered under her breath, her usual cold tone cracking slightly as unease seeped in.
’Come on... where is it? Show yourself,’ she thought while narrowing her eyes, her instincts screaming at her.
"Erin!"
The sudden voice rang out, halting her steps instantly. Her breath caught in her throat as she turned slowly, and there, standing before her, was none other than Renzo.
"It really is you, Erin," Renzo said again, his familiar deep voice carrying through the twilight.
The ice queen’s heartbeat quickened in her chest. For the first time in a long while, her stoic mask cracked as she stared wide-eyed at the bulky Reaver.
"Re... Renzo?" she stuttered, disbelief lacing her voice.
"I’m really disappointed in you, Erin." Renzo shook his head slowly and let out a weary sigh. "Even with all your strength, all your skill, you couldn’t save me. You let me die and left Rina to lose the one she loved most. That’s unfair. That’s pathetic."
"I... I’m..." Erin faltered, her hands trembling on the hilt of her sword.
"You’re sorry? You think sorry would bring me back to life? How could you do this to me, Erin?! What kind of emotionless and heartless person are you? I despise you, Erin." Renzo spat on the ground at her feet, his eyes burning with bitter disgust.
Her eyes widened in shock. The strength in her hands wavered, and her sword nearly slipped from her grasp. She was seconds away from letting it fall when, all of a sudden, she tightened her grip with renewed determination.
"I see," she whispered, her voice sharp now as her head lifted. Her cold gaze locked onto Renzo’s image in front of her.
"So this is what the Veil is for, huh? To cast illusions? To toy with our minds?" She scoffed and spat to the side. "Tch! Good thing I don’t care about the others. The only person I care about is myself. So screw you... you stupid Lycan!"
Her voice thundered as she bolted forward with explosive speed. Her sword gleamed brilliantly, rapidly being encased in solid ice until it looked like a frozen blade of destruction.
"Oh, you will care," Renzo smirked mockingly, but in that instant, Erin’s sword flashed. She lunged forward, the icy blade striking him hard in the abdomen.
The attack landed, blood spilling...
But then...
Just like a stone thrown into water creating ripples, the figure of Renzo wavered and distorted in front of her. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
In his place stood another clan member, eyes wide with horror as Erin’s sword plunged deeply into his abdomen. His mouth filled with blood, and he looked at Erin in shock, his trembling eyes silently questioning her betrayal.