453 The Reasons
In just a few minutes of the intense collision, the green flame dragon had dissipated, but it managed to take down half of the energy attacks.
‘Sorry, master. I can only do this much.’ The cloud dragon burst like a bubble and lost its resistance.
It was swallowed by the dark orb and the remaining energy wave that was now coming in Michael’s direction.
Seeing how Michael managed to get away and widen the distance... The masked figure, laughing phantom ninety-one, had a smirk on his face behind the mask.
Michael condensed a shadow shield with the use of his shadow to resist the attack that was coming his way at a fast speed.
BOOM!
As the attack hit the shield, Michael flew out and fell to the ground. He couldn’t feel pain anymore even after he felt some of his ribs got broken from the impact. ‘I need to buy time!’
He was now ten meters away from the members of the laughing phantoms. He has to buy time as much as he can and hopes that the artifact they used to isolate him in the separate dimension would have a time limit. If not, it would be his death. He tried to enter the shadow dimension and escape with it, but he realized that he couldn’t access it. As if he lost connection with it.
“It’s useless!”
.....
Michael heard one of the members’ mocking voice in the distance as he tried to run away from them.
“You can’t escape, hahaha! Thanks to your best friend here, he provided us with the details about your abilities. We know your weaknesses! This dimension is specifically used to deal with you.” The shadow phantom ninety-one had a hint of disdain in his tone. “It hurts being betrayed, ain’t it? This dimension is isolated from reality so you won’t be able to access your shadow realm...
Our leader made this artifact just to deal with you, so be proud! Do you know? Although you are just a mere A rank, we can’t do anything with you because of your shadow ability without the artifact. We knew all means of your escape.”
‘How long did they plan this ambush?’ Michael felt despair in his heart. ‘How should I escape now?’
Michael began to loathe Kidd for betraying him and Gregory’s trust. After all, the witch organization belongs to the Laughing Phantom.
‘Since I can’t escape, then I must at least take one of you with!’ Michael stopped in his place, turn around, and faced the Laughing Phantom members with bloodshot eyes. ‘Shadow Manipulation: Thorns of Death!’
Michael manipulated the shadows of the member that he thinks the weakest of the five.
Number ninety-five realized that he could move, and he saw the shadows of his body turned into thorns that bound him in place.
‘Shadow Teleportation.’ Michael teleported beside the other party and condensed a shadow dagger on his hands that was covered with ominous black mist. ‘Shadow Slash!’
Shadow Slash is the strongest ability that Michael had. It could instantly kill opponents in the same realm as him.
Just like that, the dagger severed the Laughing Phantom’s member in two. Michael was filled with killing intent. He used his last remaining degu energy to control the shadow thorns to twist the head of the opponent.
All of this happened. The others were too late to react. The masked figure number ninety-five collapsed on the ground, half-dead. He was still alive, but without immediate first-aid, he would likely die.
‘It seems it’s still too much to kill S rank, even with my strongest trump card.’ Michael had a bitter smile on his face.
Suddenly, Michael’s smile stiffened. He felt a hot sensation as a hand filled with lava went through his chest.
Number one retracted his chest and looked at the large hole in Michael’s chest. “That’s for almost killing one of us. You are commendable with your last resistance. You are a true warrior, but that’s just it.”
“Let me talk to him before he dies.” Kidd, who saw Michael’s situation, suddenly intervened.
The other laughing phantoms looked at Kidd in suspicion. Number ninety-three opened his mouth. “Why? Don’t you say that you want to say goodbye to your friend? Remember, you are still on a probation period. Don’t do anything stupid.”
“I know...” Kidd clenched his fist. “I just have something to say.”
Number ninety-one stared at Kidd silently for a while before he walked away and motioned for the others to follow. “Let him be. No matter what, Michael is already dead.”
Kidd heaved a sigh of relief as he saw the members of the Laughing Phantom walk away and gave them some space.
Michael, who felt his life passing every second, looked at Kidd calmly this time. He doesn’t have any anger on his face but only sorrow. “Why do you have to do it? Is there any reason? When did you become a traitor? Before I die, at least I want to know the truth.”
At this time, Kidd stared at Michael with guilt and shame. “When did I become a traitor? I have always been one. I’m just a spy placed by the leader of the Laughing Phantom to the Ranger’s Eye. Niki had eyes and ears in all major organizations, even in some minor ones. He has a lot of spies under his control that infiltrated the official organizations. And I am one of them.
These spies are just outer members of the Laughing Phantom, in a probationary period. Any of the spies that can ascend to S rank or manage to contribute greatly will be promoted to a true member.
My mission was just to monitor our branch. But all of this changed when Fein joined our team. He managed to get Niki’s attention. There’s something on Fein that Niki wants. Fein is special in the eyes of the leader. In fact, he wants to meet Fein in person. The reason for my disappearances is that I have to report to him from time to time and do something for them.”
Kidd stopped for a moment to breathe before he continued. “I didn’t expect that I would get attached to you and the others. Believe me, I couldn’t bring myself to do this since I really treat you as a friend. No matter if it’s Fein, Gregory, and Anthony.”
Kidd gritted his teeth and tears came out from his eyes. “I have reasons. Niki had something on me. I cannot go against his will or else he will...”
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