Chapter 624 Alley Battle
Erik and Rebecca found an inconspicuous spot to hide, a narrow gap between two rundown buildings. They settled in, their eyes fixed on the man with the pin, waiting, watching.
Erik received a report from Mira and the others stating that they found some people from the Crystal Cross Gang in many parts of the slums and even outside.
Erik ordered them to keep searching and see if they could find their base of operation, but he also told her he and Rebecca were watching some other members.
The two then ended their communication with Mira, telling him she was going to contact him as soon as she or the others found something.
The street was a kaleidoscope of noise and movement, but the two of them were motionless, like predators stalking their prey.
The man leaned against a wall, his face hidden under the hood, seemingly uninterested in everything around him. But Erik knew he was alert, his eyes sharp, taking in everything. Hours seemed to drag on; the tension in the air was palpable, each minute ticking by slowly.
Rebecca's muscles were cramping, but she didn't dare move. Her eyes were glued to the man, her mind racing, trying to foresee his next move. She could feel Erik's presence beside her, his body taut, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the man pushed himself off the wall and walked away. His steps were casual, but there was a purpose to them, a direction.
"He's moving," Erik said in a barely audible voice. "We gotta stay close to him. But be mindful. He might lead us to more people."
Rebecca nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. They trailed behind the man, staying far enough back to avoid detection but close enough to keep him in sight. The streets of the slums twisted and turned, a maze of narrow alleys and shadowy corners. Every step was filled with danger, every glance a potential threat.
Erik's senses were on high alert, his body moving with a grace and precision that spoke of years of training. He guided Rebecca through the labyrinth, his eyes never leaving the man they were following.
The man's path was erratic and aimless, but Erik knew better. He was testing them, trying to see if he was being followed.
"We need to be extra careful," Erik said to Rebecca. "He's suspicious. One wrong move, and we'll be exposed."
Rebecca's breath caught in her throat, her nerves on edge. She knew they were playing a high-stakes game, one where the slightest mistake could be fatal.
They continued to stalk the man, their bodies moving in perfect unison, shadows in a world of darkness and deceit. Every step brought them closer to the truth, but it also brought them closer to danger.
The tension was unbearable, the stakes higher than ever. But Erik and Rebecca were committed, driven by a determination that wouldn't be denied. They were on the trail of the Crystal Cross Gang, and they wouldn't stop until they had found what they were looking for.
The sense of danger had grown steady as Erik and Rebecca continued to stalk their prey through the twisting alleys. Despite their efforts to calm their nerves, an eerie sensation lingered in the air. It was as if an unseen eye was fixed on them, watching their every move.
Suddenly, the man they were following stopped and spun around, his eyes narrowing as he looked directly at their hiding place. His voice rang out, cold and menacing. "Did you think you could follow me without being noticed?"
Rebecca's heart stopped for a moment as he realized they had been discovered. How had they been so careless? Erik, instead, knew the man noticed them, and it was due to Rebecca's inability to follow the target properly. But there was no time for reflection or blame. In an instant, they were surrounded by ten people, all wearing long black coats and hoods, the crystal cross gang's pin glinting ominously in the dim light.
The man they had been following, his big black mustache quivering with rage, approached them, his eyes boring into theirs. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice dripping with contempt.
Erik's mind was racing, but he knew words were useless now. They were in the heart of enemy territory, and there was no way out but through. The only thing he could do was to fight. Erik quickly analyzed the men, including the mustache guy. They were all at the ν-level, just one rank higher than both he and Rebecca. Of course, that didn't mean he couldn't fight against them. He didn't know if Rebecca would be able to manage them, but there was no need to be worried; as he could easily take care of these men. He then started channeling mana through his neural links, powering Nathaniel's brain crystal power, readying himself for battle.
The mustache man noticed the mana swirl inside Erik, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "So, you chose violence, uh? All right, I like violence."
With those chilling words, the ten thugs rushed toward Erik and Rebecca, their faces twisted with malevolent intent. Some had mana swords, and some had powers that the naked eye couldn't see, but Erik knew them all thanks to the biological supercomputer.
Rebecca was beside him, her own power rising to meet the challenge.
Five thugs congregated on Erik, their blades slashing through the air. However, that wasn't what he was concerned about. The young man effortlessly avoided their attack; he pumped mana-force to his feet and flashed to the side of one of the men attacking Rebecca.
His eyes narrowed, focusing on his targets as he raised his hand, palm outward. The air around his hand seemed to shimmer, the power within him building to a crescendo.
With a mighty thrust of his arm, he unleashed a devastating shockwave. It burst forth from his palm like a thunderclap, a visible wave of pure force that sped toward the three men.
Their eyes widened in shock as they realized what was happening, but it was too late to escape. The shockwave hit them with the force of a hammer, lifting them off their feet and sending them crashing into the walls of the alley.
Bones shattered, and bodies crumpled under the impact. The sound of their screams was lost in the roar of Erik's power as they were slammed against the hard surface, their lives extinguished in an instant.
<Shit… I used too much mana! >
The remaining thugs faltered, their confidence shaken by the display of raw power. Rebecca looked over at Erik, her eyes wide with a mixture of gratitude and awe. But there was no time to pause; the battle was far from over.
Erik's face was set, his body still humming with energy as he returned to the fight. He started the battle with a shocking move, decreasing the number of enemies fighting against Rebecca in an instant, but he knew they had to keep pressing if they were to survive.
The mustache man's eyes narrowed as he watched Erik's display, his face twisting into a snarl. He had underestimated his opponents, and he knew that he would have to act swiftly if he was to gain the upper hand.
But for that brief moment, Erik had shown them all the depth of his power, a warning to anyone who dared to challenge him.
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