It was quite a productive meeting they had earlier, there were numerous pieces of information provided which leads them to strongly backed assumptions that could be used to prepare for the upcoming worldwide event.
Rex can already see that the others are quite worried about the First Breath.
One of the most noticeable worries that he saw from the others was coming from Adhara, she was trying to hide it but her expression failed her. Rex know what she was worried about, and he could do nothing but check up on Prof. K later if it's possible.
Currently, he was exiting the castle's ground alongside Evelyn.
Flunra has told him earlier about the weird Black Hands might have the power from an ancient human clan called the Ten Thousand Magus, it provided them with immense physical strength and resistance to energy.
After finding out what the Executor is up to, he can then go on and fortify Dargena City.
"Why didn't you go with Adhara? Naela might need some comforting" Rex asked while the two makes way on the street, heading to a warehouse where the weird Black Hands were restrained in.
Upon hearing this, Evelyn paused for a brief second.
Not knowing how to properly communicate her thoughts, she then decided to be direct and replied, "I want to ask you about something involving my element and the Black Hands. Aside from my curiosity, I thought that this will also help you figure out their powers"
Rex nodded his head, if there was any concern then he would happily help.
Just as he was walking through the street while thinking about the situation, he then suddenly thought of something, 'I wonder, is it possible to extract the spirit cores of the Awakened that were in the army that Adhara and the others confronted?'
Pondering about the preparation, his mind stumbled across that idea.
Gaining the spirit cores of the Awakened that were in the army would be very useful for him to increase his other elements and overall increase his mana capacity, and then their bodies can be fed to either Gistella or Delta.
It would be very effective, killing two birds with one stone.
But a prompt from the System suddenly appeared and struck that idea down in a heartbeat.
<Dead Awakened has most of their mana absorbed back by the world, their spirit would also be dead if the Awakened dies. Only the residual mana that lingers inside the Awakened's body can be used>
'That's a bummer, but their corpses are still useful' Rex thought with a light sigh.
Upon nearing the warehouse that the two are heading to, both of them catch sight of a couple of Supernaturals guarding the warehouse. One of them is a familiar face, it was Linthia that seemed to be the one in charge of the place.
Realizing that Rex and Evelyn are approaching, she quickly went over to greet them.
"Lord Rex, Lady Evelyn, a-are you here to check up on the prisoners?" Linthia asked with a meek tone, she seems to be very nervous, this is the first time she met the important people without the presence of Dindora and Gelmar.
Chuckling lightly, Evelyn then replied, "Yes, please lead us to them"
Just like that the two of them followed Linthia as she open the huge door, pushing quite strongly and exposing the three Black Hands that are chained as well as branded by Flunra's ancient runes that render them powerless.
The chains are purple in color and made of purple fire that should belong to Adhara.
Rex was about to walk inside and commence his information gathering, yet he stopped to look at Linthia standing on the side of the huge door. "Linthia, in an hour, I want you to ask Adhara to come with you to the Dark Elf Kingdom. Tell them that I requested them to gather the corpses of the deceased army that are still in good condition, and let the Elves transport those corpses here. You can ask Dindora to come with you too"
"Also, don't forget to notify the Dark Elf to tell the Dwarves about this too" he added.
Linthia bow slightly, "A-Ah, yes, I will do it immediately," she said before scurrying away.
It had been days since Rex had paid attention to the Elves, and anything more would have been disrespectful to them who should also be an allied force. So in that regard, he decided to notify them that he was available for an audience with them.
Alongside their march, it wouldn't be that much to ask for them to bring the corpses too.
Shifting his attention back to the front, the chained Black Hands feel an incapacitating chill that runs down their spines at the sight of Rex's red eyes, they couldn't mistake him for any other else.
None of them expected to go like this, and yet they were the unlucky ones.
Out of all the armies that were sent to infiltrate the Supernatural territory, they were the ones that encountered the Silverstar Pack and got completely wiped out without causing much damage to the other side.
A total defeat, thousands of them fall easily like leaves in the autumn.
It was as if lady luck wants to be merciless to them and gave all the bad luck in the world, the three of them were not standing face to face not with the Silverstar Pack members but the leader of the frightening pack himself.
Someone with a reputation that can crush measly individuals like them ten times over.
The Rising Star of Humanity that has turned rogue, the Herald of Catastrophe for both Supernaturals and Humans. A being that could take on the pillars of humanity easily, fend off almost all of the Supernatural leaders at the same time as well as the proud standing of one of the strongest being in the whole entire world.
On a scale of 1 to 10, their situation has just escalated to not just 11 but 18.
Just the sheer presence of Rex alone trembles their entire existence, akin to a natural bodily reaction, the fear and death that was brought by the hands of the Silverstar Pack's Alpha is too much for them to handle.
Even their breaths have become short and rapid, showing their heightening fear.
Keeping silent with his eyes locked onto them, a sound barrier suddenly separated them from the three chained Black Hands before Evelyn said, "Me and the others don't have that much difficulty in fighting them, but at the last moment, something happened"
"I don't know how, but my spell was deflected upon touching their skin" she added, frowning.
Upon hearing this, Rex then looks down at the scar on one of the chained Black Hands' arms that Evelyn is pointing at. "To figure this out, we try testing it and find that Adhara's fire is capable of hurting them but my fire can't. Something about their powers can block my fire, and I want to know"
While the two of them are talking, the three Black Hands felt their bodies recovering.
Looking at the branded ancient runes that robbed them of their physical prowess, the three of them find that the branded ancient runes were dimming until the light coming out of them completely vanishes.
It's clear that the ancient runes have been deactivated, which is a surprise for them.
Not wanting to resign to fate knowing full well that whatever his future here will be is not something good, one of the Black Hands, a well-built bearded middle-aged man makes a dash straight at the wall on the side.
Clenching his fist and pulling back his arm, subtle energy can be seen oozing out.
Rex and Evelyn watch this calmly as the middle-aged man's arm was becoming bigger and more muscular in response to the subtle energy, and with a powerful swing, the man punches the wall with all he had in his tank.
Crack!
But instead of a crashing sound, a bone-cracking sound was produced from that punch.
The middle-aged man pauses for a second as he takes a surprised look at the wall in front of him that doesn't sustain any crack or dent whatsoever from his punch, he then looks at his hand and finds it the one broken instead.
"Aaargghh!!' the middle-aged man screamed in pain, finding his knuckles were crushed.
Not only was he not able to do anything to the wall of the warehouse, but he also finds that his fist which should be equivalent to almost seventh-rank realm power the one that was being broken instead with his attempt.
It was surprising, and the other two Black Hands are also shocked by this sight.
A punch from a near-seventh-rank realm entity should be able to destroy any material or at the very least crack anything, even the ground would be decimated, yet that didn't happen to the warehouse wall.
Just as they were still surprised, a figure suddenly appeared beside the middle-aged man.
BAM!
CRASH!!
Closing his eyes out of sheer shock and debris, the middle-aged man then slowly open his eyes again before his pupils dilated and his eyes widened as he was greeted by a huge hole in the wall that leads straight outside.
Many of the Supernaturals were surprised and takes a look, yet they quickly went back.
Right beside the middle-aged man, towering over him was Rex with his arm extended towards the hole in the wall. It was clear that he was the one that cause this, breaking the unbreakable wall that the middle-aged man punched before.
It was more than a display of power, this move drains all of the middle-aged man's spirit.
"There, I opened a path for you. Why don't you try escaping now...?"
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man slowly glanced toward Rex before their eyes met. In an instant, the middle-aged man shuddered, a bleak aura raged out of his body like a storm as his fear reached the limit.
Although the path to escape is so close to him, it feels very far and is out of reach.
Beyond the hole in the wall is death, the middle-aged man can feel clearly that the moment he takes a step out of the warehouse, he would die instantly. No way of escape, Rex's power is beyond his comprehension.
"No?" Rex mutters lightly, seeing that the middle-aged man didn't move from his spot.
Smiling slightly, he then turns towards the other two Black Hands and said, "How about the two of you? Do you also want to try and escape? If so, then go ahead, and try it. Who knows? Maybe you'll get lucky and manage to escape"
Of course, the two Black Hands know that was a lie.
Lady luck has no power in this situation, no matter how much luck they possess, they wouldn't be able to escape. At least not under Rex's watch, it's impossible for them to do it now so they stayed.
Noticing that none of them moved, Rex then nodded his head.
"Since we're on the same page now, why don't you tell me how you get these powers? I want you to tell me everything you know. If you lie, I will know, so I suggest you tell me the truth as I can assure you that the consequences are something you can't handle..."
With that, under no need for further pressure, the three Black Hands confessed everything.
In some instances, they even started correcting each other to make sure that the information they provide is the correct one, the thought of the consequences keeps looming at the back of their minds.
Rex and their powers are far apart, the gap would only incite despair for them to know.
Knowing that fact, there's no doubt that Rex knows more about everything than them, and the consequences of lying to him would definitely be beyond their expectations, and they don't want to know that.
At the very least, they wanted to die a painless death instead of a gruesome one.
"Many people relies on all kinds of intimidation tricks and plans to get people to say the truth, even incorporating technologies to aid them. But really, it's quite simple. Inducing despair from powerlessness... not many people can sustain that" Evelyn commented with a nod.
Upon hearing this, Rex also smiled, "Yep, torture will not always work"
Just like that the two of them listened to the three Black Hands' explanation, learning every single detail that leads them to end up being here, trapped in the lair of the strongest beast and pleading with fear.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel