Yesterday, before departing for the academy, the Left Guardian instructed his disciple, Soren Valerian, to attend the academy together with Gray.
But Soren Valerian was against it. He saw Gray as a loser who used to cry and beg for mercy from his half-brother, Alex. Although Gray had unexpectedly taken his revenge, that was all, there was nothing truly great about him.
Thus, he didn't want to accompany Gray. But what the Left Guardian said next made him reconsider:
- The Duchess faction will attack him on his way to the academy. So pretend to get injured and see him yourself.
- What!!
At his master's unexpected words, Soren Valerian was perplexed.
Moreover, his master also said:
- Become his subordinate no matter what it takes... As he'll reshape this world in the future.
For his master, who didn't even praise the eldest son of the Patriarch, to speak so highly of Gray was unsettling. Therefore, Soren Valerian grew curious about Gray, and agreed to accompany him to the academy.
While he accompanied Gray, he constantly observed his actions and mana movement, but he found nothing unnatural.
Moreover, the Duchess faction's warriors that had been escorting them were stronger than Gray.
So how would he be able to defeat such warriors? Did Master misjudge?
He asked himself that question again and again. But now, seeing Gray butchering every single warrior without even using a sword technique made him freeze in awe.
"How is this possible?" Soren Valerian muttered to himself.
The escort warriors were, on average, at Sword Master low stage. Yet Gray was cutting their limbs like it was nothing.
It was truly astonishing...
Even he couldn't take all of them unless he used everything he knew.
Furthermore, Gray was cutting them with an expressionless face. From what he had heard, Gray was a timid and cowardly boy. But now he was shredding blood without discomfort, as if he had killed many people before.
"What exactly is happening!!" Soren Valerian exclaimed.
At the same time, Lina was also confused by Gray's cruelty. She was the closest to him and had known him since childhood, but never knew he could be this cruel.
"Aaakkkdg"
"Spare m…"
"Help… akkk"
The warriors who were rushing at Gray were now trying to run away. But Gray was so fast that no one could even turn properly.
Gsskkkk gusssh....
After cutting everyone's limbs, Gray stopped.
He raised his hand, and a dark smoke with eyes and a mouth appeared. It then rushed to the severed warriors lying half-unconscious on the ground and engulfed them.
[Number of enemies you have to kill: 16/30]
[Number of enemies you have to kill: 21/30]
[Number of enemies you have to kill: 27/30]
[Number of enemies you have to kill: 29/30]
As it engulfed them, they were devoured completely, leaving not even their bones behind.
The smoky dark energy that devoured the severed warriors was a Celestial Authority given by Julius von Legolant. It was called Gluttony. It devoured anything and converted it into Abyssal energy.
Ding'
[You have devoured a small amount of Abyssal Energy]
'Now only the escort leader remains.' Gray thought, as to complete his urgent quest's additional reward, he now needed to kill just the escort leader.
[Number of enemies you have to kill: 29/30]
He then looked at the escort leader, who was standing up and gripping his sword tightly toward Gray.
The escort leader was at Sword Master mid stage, the same realm as Gray. But since Gray had overwhelming Authorities and battle experience, it would be easy to defeat him, though it might take a few strikes.
As Gray was about to strike, a sharp sword strike came at him instead.
"Hm…" The sword strike was so sudden and strong that Gray hurriedly blocked.
Clang!
After blocking, Gray stepped back a couple of steps. He was confused, as the strike he had just blocked was stronger than someone at Sword Master mid stage. Anyway, Gray raised his sword and was about to unleash a powerful strike
But he saw something unexpected.
"!!"
The escort leader's had been decapitated, blood gushed out like a fountain before his body fell to the ground. His severed head rolled across the ground before stopping in front of Gray.
Thud thud thuuud!
Gray became perplexed at the sudden situation. He thought the escort leader had struck at him, but it seemed someone else had attacked him while also decapitating the escort leader.
Just then, a voice rang in Gray's ear.
"Truly pathetic. To get injured by a hobin. Tsk."
Gray looked toward the source and saw a man wearing a black mask standing on a tree branch.
Is he a backup?
"Who are you?" Gray asked in a demanding tone.
Right then, the masked man's corners of his mouth rose in a smile, and his figure blurred and appeared in front of Gray.
"Hey, boy, I'm sensing you're at Sword Expert mid stage. So how did you kill those Sword Master low stage warriors?"
The masked man was curious about Gray's strength, as Gray was presenting himself as a Sword Expert mid stage swordsman, while in reality he was at Sword Master mid stage.
Right at that moment,
Ding'
a system notification popped up.
[You have completed the urgent quest]
Ding'
[You have killed 29/30]
[You have failed to kill all 30 enemies]
[You won't get the additional reward of 1 Vitality]
Ding'
[Vitality stat: 01/100]
Upon seeing the system window, Gray's eyes burned with anger.
He really wanted to get the additional reward of 1 Vitality. But as the masked man killed the last enemy, he didn't get the Vitality. Thus, regret filled his eyes.
Only one thing ran through his mind: kill the masked bastard.
"Well, when you're on the brink of death, you will reveal how you hide your Soul re..." Before he could finish his words, Gray's sword was right in front of his eyes.
Shooos
The masked man moved his head and narrowly avoided Gray's strike.
But before he could assess the situation, Gray kept striking relentlessly.
Clang clang clang
'This crazy bastard.' the masked man clicked his tongue in frustration.