Chapter 885: Hells Layer |
Two long days later, Kyle floated out of a massive clans territory, his posture relaxed and his expression calmas if the weight of a thousand burdens had just been lifted.
"That was the last mission."
He muttered to himself.
"Finally... done."
He exhaled, savoring the moment. At long last, he was free of those missions. Free to focus on what mattered: growing stronger.
His thoughts came to an abrupt halt. A flicker of danger prickled at his senses.
And he vanished instantly.
Not a moment too soonbecause just as he vanished, a familiar sword tore through the space he had just occupied, slicing so cleanly it left a faint ripple in its wake.
Kyle raised a brow as he reappeared on the far side of the vast dark expanse. His gaze locked with a pair of glowing crimson eyes.
Kyle tilted his head, his gaze eerily calm.
"What, no hello first?"
Cassian chuckleda deep, hollow sound that echoed like wind through a crypt.
"Dead men dont need greetings."
In the blink of an eye, he vanished, his emotionless voice lingering in the air.
"My apologiesbut I have decided that youre a threat that needs to be erased."
Kyle blinked, genuinely puzzled.
"Why? Because I learned your law?"
Cassian didnt respond. Instead, gripping his weapon tightly, he continued forward.
His gleaming blade instantly tore through the space in a perfect, graceful arc, aimed directly at Kyles neck with lethal precision.
But the moment steel met steel, his crimson eyes narrowed in surprise.
A golden swordthat had materialized in Kyles hand in a flashhad intercepted the powerful attack with flawless timing, the two blades locking in a thunderous clash.
The clash unleashed a shockwave that rippled through the void, violently hurling both of them backward through the air.
The resulting explosion thundered across the surroundings like a deafening storm.
All the Celestials in the vicinity jolted, their attention instantly drawn to the sound. The sheer intensity of the raw power unleashed was far too overwhelming to simply ignore.
Even the Celestials from the clan Kyle had left just moments ago snapped their gazes skywardsurprised by the surge of energy shaking the space outside their territory.
Kyle wiped the blood from his lips.
"That was close."
He muttered, his eyes darkeningbut he had no time to think. Cassian was already above him, crimson eyes gleaming wildly with murderous intent as he brought his blade down, aiming to cleave him in two.
Once again, his attack was intercepted.
This time, however, only Cassian was sent flying back. The two first strike had caught Kyle off guardbut when it came to sword fighting, his mastery was unmatched.
In his mind, only Alec could rival him. No, even Alec would suffer against him now.
Kyle gripped his sword tightly and instantly shot after Cassians hurling figure, his eyes cold and unflinching as he used his sword artclearly intent on ending the mans life.
"This is for wanting to kill me."
He uttered, his voice low and deep, but his words were lost beneath the rising roar as he flooded his blade with so much natural energy that it quiveredmoments before unleashing the last move of his sword art.
His art, which had long evolved from a 3-Star to a 7-Star sword art after he had mastered all four of its moves perfectly.
A low murmur drifted through the chaos, barely audible amidst the surge of power.
"Void of Silent Darkness."
Kyles blade was completely shrouded in dark shadows, gliding through the air with elegance, pulsing with raw, natural power.
With a swift, precise arc, the blade shot toward the man before himwhose eyes widened in shock. Yet, just before it could strike and swallow Cassian in a void of nothingness, a hand seized the blade.
Kyles eyes dilated when the impact of his own attack being stopped so effortlessly sent him flying backward. Warm, crimson blood slipped from his lips as he coughed, the force knocking the wind out of him.
He couldnt stop his body from hurling backwardonly barely managing to hold himself in midair after several seconds.
His wild, dark eyes locked onto the figure who had dared to stop his attackwho had dared to stop him from killing the man who wanted to kill him. But he froze the instant he met a pair of eerily familiar cyan eyes.
He wasnt the only one who froze.
Cassian did too.
But for an entirely different reason.
Between them floated a familiar mantall, platinum-blond hair cascading like light, an aloof yet kind look etched into his face.
In that instant, both their minds loudly screamed a single nameNathaniel.
Cassian almost laughed at the ironythe very man responsible for his death had just saved him. How funny. How revolting. How disgusting. He wouldve preferred death at Kyles hand over being saved by Nathaniel.
At least then, it wouldnt have been him he owed. He wanted to rewind time, simply to rewrite that endingbecause starting over from nothing felt less humiliating than this.
But he didnt have the power to turn back timenot in the presence of a damn Ruler!
Kyle hovered in his place, his gaze icy.
Every fiber of his being screamed to scowl, to fight, to killto unleash the raging storm simmering within him. But he held back.
For now, staying still was for best.
Nathaniel shook his head. Behind him stood an army of Celestials, flanked by several other Rulersthe people he had taken along to hunt the Dark Celestial.
"What has the Celestial Realm come to?"
He muttered with a sigh, yet only a select few noticed that his voice was disdainful.
"Fighting near a clans territory, hah."
He glanced first at Cassian, then at Kyle. His cyan eyes gleamed with calculation.
Both of the young men radiated far too much power for his liking. How irritating.
What irked him even more was the way these weak, pathetic Celestials dared to meet his gaze with burning defianceicy eyes filled with the desire to rip him apart.
Was it because he had stopped them from tearing each other apart? After all, he didnt even know them. Hahhow troublesome.
"You both are youngI can tell."
He said, his voice sharpening.
"So, you should have settled your petty dispute peacefully. Disturbing the peace of the Celestial Realm has consequencesand your punishment will not be light."
Kyle stiffened. Cassian did too, their eyes boring into Nathaniel with searing intensity. If looks could kill anyone, Nathaniel would have already died a thousand times over.
The other Rulers accompanying Nathaniel chuckled. It was clear to them why he was punishing the young CelestialsNathaniel had sensed too much potential in them.
And it could one day become a threat.
The Rulers couldnt kill them outright, not without reason, so Nathaniel was simply taking a more roundabout approach.
A familiar, beautiful lady floated toward him, her voice laced with amusement.
"What punishment should we give them? Its not every day we stumble upon little fledglings making such a mess."
She teased, and Nathaniel let out a quiet sigh, faking reluctanceas if handing out punishment was a burden he loathed. But the words that slipped from his lips next sent a shiver down everyone behind him.
"Throw them into Hells Layer. If they survive, their punishment ends... if not, theyve only themselves to blame."