"*Cough* *Cough* Fuck, it fucking hurt!!" complained Jud with heavy sweating.
Some of his different skin slowly dried up and fell off on the ground. After a few minutes, Jud tried to walk away slowly from his spot.
"Damn, it!! I never thought she would be that strong. That attack is already at the seventh-grade level." cursed Jud.
Just as he dragged his pained body away, *Fiuuuhh* a soft whistle heard from the dark alleyway. Jud immediately took vigilance as he didn't notice someone nearby. Although his Chimera technique has flaws and weaknesses, it also gives him unprecedented detection ability.
Basically, no one could sneak up on him in his surroundings. Even the seventh grade will find it hard to escape his detection ability.
"Who's there?!" asked Jud warily while looking at the person with deep crimson color.
"Forty-four." replied the person in the shadowed alley.
"Huh?!" replied Jud in confusion.
"Ahh… Pardon me. I am just quite excited. It's been a long time since I did my job properly." said the person before taking a step and revealing himself.
Jud finds it is not a mysterious person but a wolf beastman grinning at him. From his sense, he feels the beastman is only a fourth-grade wolf beastman. This makes Jud relax quite a bit. He thought he would meet another strong beastman or the worst monster-minded person.
Although the fourth-grade beastman is categorized as an elite and powerful combatant, they still do not pose a threat to Jud.
"Tch… You almost scared me to death. Just a lowly fourth grade." mocked Jud with disdain.
Still, he couldn't blame himself for reacting like that. His condition is far from good. Any sixth grade could one-shot him and some fifth grade pose a threat to him. However, it is enough to fight and kill any fourth grade.
Hearing Jud's disdain, the wolf beastman is not angry but makes a big smile.
"Ohh… That's a surprise. What makes you so confident?" asked the wolf beastman.
"Hmph!! Just become mine!!" replied Jud as he charged at the wolf beastman.
"How foolish!!" said the wolf beastman while shaking his head.
"ARGHHH!!" screamed Jud in pain.
Suddenly, Jud stopped on his track and screamed in agony. If people look carefully, his body keeps wiggling as if there is something under his skin.
"W-What have you done?!" asked Jud while kneeling on the ground.
"Me?! I am just standing right here. Anyway, what did you think about the number forty-four?" said the wolf.
Unfortunately, Jud couldn't reply as his mind was entirely a mess. His body and mind are being ripped apart. It feels like his entire being is going to explode anytime.
"Forty-four. That's the number of you eluded from Death. Did you know numbers are magical, especially regarding life and death? Some numbers represent good things while others are bad." rambling the wolf beastman.
"For example, if you count waking up from sleeping until your death, you will find the number will end up good. But, the last number will be your Death." added the wolf grinning.
"W-Who are you?!!" shouted Jud while still in pain.
"Ahh… Where is my manner? Let me introduce myself. *Sigh* It's been a long time since I did this job. I even forgot the right procedure. Atonas Delaviva, at your service." said the wolf beastman with a slight noble bow.
"W-What did you want?! What did you do to me.. Urgh.. body?!" said Jud in difficulty.
"Ohhh.. Nonono. I didn't do anything. As I said before, I am just standing here. What happened to you is just because of what you did to yourself, Mr. Grim." said Atonas.
Hearing his last name getting called, Jud subconsciously shivered in fear with cold sweat. It is as if his entire being fears this fourth-grade beastman in front of him.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue, Mr. Grim? Or perhaps life flashing before your eyes." said Atonas.
Exactly like Atonas's words, Jud feels like he is seeing his entire life experience in a flash before feeling one last sharp tremendous pain all over his body. *Thud* Suddenly, Jud stopped moving on the ground while still opening his eyes.
"Haaa… I thought this would be interesting since he could elude forty-three times before. Welp… I guess this is where his journey ends." said Atonas nonchalantly.
Then, Atonas glanced at the particular shadow corner with a smirk.
"You know curiosity could kill the cat." said Atonas in a deep voice.
Suddenly, the female cat beastman appeared from the shadows and looked at Atonas vigilantly. Seeing this, Atonas has found a good toy.
"Just to be sure. You know who I am, right?" asked Atonas.
"Of course. Though, it is the first time for me to meet your kind." replied Cier, the monster-minded female cat beastman.
"Yet, you still dare to show yourself before me. At this point, I don't know if you are stupid or brave. Ahhh… It seems the rumor about your kind not fearing Death is true." said Atonas as if he just solved a tricky puzzle.
Hearing Atonas rambling, Cier didn't comment or even show her madness like usual but kept focusing her vigilance while in battle stance. Her sharp cat eyes focus on Atonas and are ready to react to any of Atonas' movements.
Noticing Cier's gesture, Atonas could only shake his head resignedly.
"Fine. Let's see what you got. Give me your best shot." said Atonas.
As if getting permission from Atonas, Cier immediately charges Atonas at full power using her sharp claw covered in thick miasma and shadow [Abyss Fang]. *Swish* Suddenly, the entire building is cut in half.
This whole phenomenon happens from Cier's position up to a few kilometers away in the distance. Along the way, people from dwarves, beastman, or other visitors are slashed to death before they know it.
Some of the lucky dwarves manage to survive as they don't get a direct hit. Unfortunately, the miasma corrosion still invades their body and slowly kills them. If they don't get treatment quickly, they may be as good as dead.
"Oh my, such a powerful move." said Atonas while standing on Cier's side.
Cier tries to slash at him again using her claw but finds Atonas already disappears and walks in the distance leisurely.
"You know… I still don't understand. Why all of you will be interested in me whenever I am nearby." said Atonas.
"Maybe, that's because you are Death." said Arnaut, who suddenly appeared beside Atonas and pointed his finger at him.
[Miasma Blast 100x] *BAM* *BAM* *BAM* Arnaut shot hundreds of Miasma Blast at close range towards Atonas. Unlike when he shot in the sky, his shot hit all the nearby buildings and people, leaving nothing behind until a few kilometers away.
"Really?! But, I never have any grudge against you guys." said Atonas playfully while sitting atop the nearby building.
Suddenly, Atonas gets up from his sitting position and drops down to the ground. Just as this move, Renault came out of his shadow as if trying to stab him with his claw. As Atonas lands on the ground, another monster-minded man already charges at him.
*CLANG* At a split second, Atonas retrieved a long staff with a bladed knife on its end to parry with the monster-minded claw. The hideous newcomer struggles to push Atonas back but feels like hitting an immovable mountain.
Noticing that more monster-minded people were coming to this place, "*Sigh* Why are you so serious? I am not here to bring her. Besides, even if I want to get her, none of you could stop me. We are too different apart." said Atonas while retreating in the distance.
"What about Mitar? Can he stop you?" asked Arnaut while fixing his glass with his finger.
"Mitar… Hmm…. Who knows? But what makes you think he wants to stop me from getting what I want?" asked Atonas.
Hearing this reply, all the monster-minded want to attack Atonas again.
"Stop!! You are no match to him." said a young man with luxury clothes accompanied by Miranda.
"Ahhh… Finally, someone could understand me." said Atonas.
"You… Why are you here? No… Why are you revealing yourself? If I am not wrong, your kind is supposed to not show yourself." said the young rich man.
"You are right. You could say I am an ex-member and should still be on vacation. Lately, we have been lacking people and decided to call me back. Then, I just happened to find something interesting." said Atonas.
"What is it?" asked Cier in a growled manner.
"Didn't I already tell you before? Curiosity could kill the cat. If I tell you, I need to take you away. Anyway, I should go before someone comes. Evening, Ladies and Gentlemen." said Atonas before disappearing.
"What should we do now?" asked Renault.
"Nothing. There's nothing we can do about it, " the rich young man replied.
Hearing this, Cier and the others could only grit their teeth in frustration
"People died. Beast died. Monster died. Plant died. Even stars will also die. Is it Dark? Or void of emptiness? The bright will illuminate the darkness. But, the darkness avoids the bright life." said Adol cryptically while holding an unconscious man behind his back.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺