"It's good to see you, Michael. I was already wondering where to go looking for you," Maria Seraph greeted Michael with a smile.
She grasped his hand and pulled him behind her, not even waiting for Michael's greeting. Maria ignored his subtle resistance and urged him, "I need your help with something. Please follow me!"
Michael raised his right eyebrow and stared blankly at Maria. She ignored the people around her and continued to drag Michael through the small camp. It was a basic camp made with Artifacts created from the combined efforts of blacksmiths, alchemists and enchanters. Expanding tents, campfires with enough firewood and even a miniature infirmary that expanded once enough origin energy was channeled inside it appeared in Michael's view.
Maria's actions didn't go unnoticed. Many saw the way she tightly held Michael's hand as she rushed through the basic camp with him in tow.
"This bastard," One of them cursed under his breath. His thinking escaped his lips before he realized it, but the Descendant didn't really care. All he could pay attention to was the anger and jealousy that blossomed in his heart.
"Who the hell does he think he is? Why is Maria holding his hand, in the first place?!"
The tension in the camp increased exponentially within seconds. Michael was not even in the camp for five minutes, but he had overthrown the camp's power balance and had managed to irk quite a lot of people without doing anything. Bolts of lightning zapped through the surroundings. They crashed into the ground and tore the earth apart.
Killian Zeus was standing in the center of the camp. He had been near Maria when they heard about the scouts' encounter with one of the variables – Michael Fang. Maria was beyond exhausted from tending to the wounded for so long but upon hearing that Michael Fang arrived she regained her vigor. There was no hesitation in her actions as she jumped up from her chair to rush toward Michael and pull him behind her.
To others, it looked like a lonely beauty had reunited with her lost lover after decades of separation.
Killian Zeus' eyes were filled with fury. He stared at the scene in front of him, his eyes turning into sharp slits.
"That bastard was Michael Fang?" Killian asked, faintly recalling a youth who'd been around the Berserkers on the first day they arrived in Piloq, "This weakling is compatible with Archangel's Grace? That is utter nonsense!"
His comrades seated near Killian didn't even have to answer their friend. It was obvious that Killian wouldn't hear them either way. He was already in his own little world of dangerous, rage-fueled thoughts. Even if they wanted to say something it was better to stay put. Killian can be dangerous in 'these' situations. He was like a different human being – not that he had ever been a warm and pleasant person to be around.
Killian grit his teeth and glared loathingly at Michael, who disappeared with Maria in a large tent.
'If Maria could select another Primal Amplifier I would kill you on the spot, you motherfucker!' He growled in his heart, the lightning bolts around him crackling ominously, causing more and more destruction. The Descendants seated around him had to jump back to evade the lightning bolts. They erupted energy shields around their bodies and stared at Killian with mixed emotions.
Maybe today he was going a little bit out of hand, more than usual.
A lightning armor manifested naturally around Killian as the raging thinking overwhelmed his rational mind.
Everything would be so much easier if he can just kill Michael and retrieve the Mark of Fate. He could become Maria's Primal Amplifier by accepting the Mark of Fate and allowing his War Rune to transform. Everything would be perfect if it was that easy.
Once he became Maria's Primal Amplifier, the Zeus family wouldn't shy away from using the majority of their resources to make sure that their prodigious Descendant and Maria can get married. That way the Zeus and Seraph family could become close allies and create the strongest partnership, thus solving various future problems.
It would be perfect!
The children born to Killian and Maria were bound to become prodigies and their families can prosper. But all of this was not reality. And there was only a single person stopping him from turning it into one.
Killian growled silently as he turned around. Thinking about marrying and having her bear his children was a pleasant thought, but it left a sour aftertaste to think that the woman he wanted acted like an innocent maiden overflowing with excitement around another man.
He took a deep breath in, let the oxygen circulate through his lungs, and exhaled slowly. Electricity currents filled the air as Killian exhaled.
'Only one person can become a Seraph's Primal Amplifier. Even if I cannot become her Primal Amplifier anymore…I can still become her First Amplifier. All I need to do… '
It was difficult to scheme against others in a world filled with technology, security cameras, and recording devices. Killian would have a hard time getting rid of Michael without leaving any traces. Inside the Origin Expanse, something like that would be pretty simple. Unfortunately, they were not in the Origin Expanse right now.
But what about the isolated dimension? Recording devices didn't work in the isolated dimension and the crystal watch malfunctioned as well.
"I need to lure him away from everyone else," Killian mumbled, his eyes glowing maliciously as a plan formed in his mind.
He turned away from the large tent and moved aside. Now was not the time to let anger fuel him. He had to stay calm, come up with a flawless plan, and execute it neatly.
Killian walked over to his tent and entered it, his mind churning with various thoughts. Several pairs of eyes peeked through the shadows, their attention locked onto Killian and the emotions that ravaged through his body like torrents of wild, uncontrollable energy.
"Should we use him, Sir Raven? His insatiable condition is perfectly suited for 'it'." One of them murmured while hiding in the darkest parts of the shadow where a pair of violet eyes glowed brightly.
"Seems like we found a perfect target. His mental instability and emotional turmoil are the definition of perfection. To think that Killian Zeus will become our target. All he needs is a little push," Another figure, Raven, clad in shadows responded, his eyes shimmering in a bright purple hue.
The figure retrieved a small object, an orb filled with darkness. Purple threads spread across the surface of the orb like bolts of lightning, but that was not it. The threads were not what they resembled. They were millions of miniature seals that had been woven into the orb to confine the things inside forever. Wrinkled, bony hands pressed tightly against the inside of the orb, their nails scratching the surface from within.
"We've only got one chance. Do you really want to use this, Raven?" A third figure asked, her voice filled with bits of uncertainty.
"One chance is all we need. We've got the main target and this. It should be more than enough to get rid of those disgusting traitors and show High Society what it means to go against the natural order," Raven responded, his voice growing colder as the words left his mouth. He took a deep breath to calm his boiling emotions, closed his eyes before his voice echoed through the vicinity once again, "Our mission is crucial. No room for mistakes. Capture the targets alive and kill everyone else! Auar Hyumana Supremaca!"
"Auar Hyumana Supremaca!" The other figures repeated, pledging their lives to humanity's supremacy.
The figures disappeared in the shadows one after another, leaving Raven all by himself.
He eyed the black orb for a moment and watched death within moving around, desperately trying to escape the eternal seal.
"If that's what it takes I'm willing to sacrifice all the Descendants," He murmured before his eyes traveled back to Killian's tent.
Raven traveled through the shadows in the next moment and appeared inside Killian's tent. Killian was standing in the middle of his room, one hand pushing back his short, golden hair. His hair all over his body stood up on its end when he sensed the energy fluctuations inside the tent. Instinctively, he turned around, ready to summon the thunder armor in an instant.
Raven's eyes shot wide open as tremendous power surged through him at once. Killian acted a little bit faster than he expected. He'd grown stronger once again.
Soul Energy surged through Raven's body as he activated an Elite Class Soul Technique, the technique he'd obtained not too long ago. Raven activated his Soultrait in its strongest overclocked form and faced Killian Zeus, whose body stopped obeying his commands.
Killian Zeus' eyes widened. He stared at a familiar face, a good friend of his, but the friend looked nothing like usual. The charade was over. There was no need for Raven to hide his real self anymore.
"Isn't it funny? By using a mere Elite Class Soul Technique I can strengthen my Soultrait enough to stop you with brute force. Isn't that amazing? That's the power of the Supreme Human Alliance, you know?" Raven laughed, staring at the arrogant bastard in front of him with a devious smile.
"Well, I guess you don't like us, but that will change soon enough, don't worry," Raven laughed, yet his voice was emotionless, ice-cold.
"I have a small present for you, straight from the Hyumans, who were generous enough to lead me away from the wrong path I've been treading. The present shall help you find your way back to the correct path – the path to humanity's supremacy!"
Raven stepped forward with slow and confident strides. His smile widened even further as he appeared right in front of Killian. He used his Soul Technique to force Killian's mouth wide open.
"Have fun witnessing thousands of deaths before you turn into death itself. I will savor every moment of you bringing a calamity to your own people!" Raven laughed like a maniac and was just a second away from pushing the dark orb into Killian's mouth when a noise from behind him forced him to a halt.
"What kind of kinky play is going on here?!?"
**
