Ascension of the Dark Seraph-Chapter 364: Shall We Get to the Killings?

Hector grinned from ear to ear.

He was already picturing Zibbo sprawled on the floor, pleading for mercy that would never come.

It would be a sight to see.

’A Vestal of the arrogant Sutekh begging? I can’t wait to see it.’ He thought inwardly.

An opportunity like this wouldn’t come a second time, and Hector wasn’t going to waste the moment.

Zibbo didn’t react.

Slowly, he clasped his hands on the bar table and turned to look around, only now noticing that most of the people inside this place were on Hector’s side. Only the women were the exception, still seated and nonchalant, a glass in hand to watch the show.

Each man inside was a Hybrid, and all of them at least a one-star Chrysalis rank Hybrid.

Hector was the strongest at the five-star Chrysalis rank.

Once Zibbo gazed ahead again, Hector leaned in with a mocking grin.

"Like your God, you’re too arrogant to be following a potential enemy alone and recklessly like this." He said, cackling as he patted the back of Zibbo’s head condescendingly. "Unlike your God, who can back his arrogance, you can’t. I’ll tell you what... I’m going to make it swift—as long as you go down on your knees and beg me. If you lick my boots and tell me everything you know about the avatar, I might even be willing to spare your life."

Instead of answering, Zibbo looked down at Hector’s hand on the table.

His nails were metallic, but it wasn’t nail polish.

From his curving horns and ivory reptilian eyes, he seemed to be a Dragonkin Hybrid.

’A five-star Dragonkin Hybrid with steel attribute. He’s strong,’ Zibbo thought inside.

Considering the kind of bloodline he has, Zibbo wasn’t surprised by his arrogance and pride.

"Still think you can win?" Hector sneered. "You should take my offer before I change my mind."

Hearing this, Zibbo exhaled deeply through his nose.

One of the men behind Zibbo closed the distance in absolute silence—his footsteps didn’t make a sound.

He moved like a master ninja—gliding across the floor without so much as a whisper. No footfalls, no presence, not even a shadow betrayed him as he came to a halt directly behind Zibbo. In his hand was a sharp knife, its blade reflected the light.

Brak!

Just as Hector gave the command through a nod, a loud crashing sound echoed throughout the room.

As the man began to coat the knife with his attribute, ready to plunge it into Zibbo’s back, a massive hand clamped around his face with crushing force. In a single, brutal motion, his vision tilted suddenly as his head was slammed into the table—hard enough to crack the wood.

One moment, the man stood poised to strike.

But the next, his body went limp and his vision darkened as he slid off the table and fell to the floor.

He was unconscious, perhaps for a long time, judging from the blood.

For a moment there, Hector was stunned.

A frown formed on his face when he realized Zibbo was stronger than anticipated.

But it wasn’t that surprising.

Giving no time for Hector to say a single more word, Zibbo drank from the bottle again.

He took another swig of alcohol for the second time, then turned to face Hector, finally meeting his two eyes. "You know," He started, tilting the bottle forward for emphasis, "Sometimes when someone makes a move that looks too dumb to be real... It’s because it isn’t. Most of the time, the real fool is actually yourself."

Hector raised a brow in hubris, applauding Zibbo for his calmness despite being surrounded by death.

"And how am I the fool here?" He asked, turning to the others, and laughed. "If I’m reading it correctly, I managed to lure you out here, lead you straight into our base. Not only are we not that much weaker than you, but this place is also enchanted. Simply put, you have no power here."

Zibbo shook his head, smiling inwardly.

Despite already giving Hector the answer, he was still too dumb to understand the situation.

But then again, Zibbo didn’t mind—this situation was amusing to him.

"I already suspected you were working for the enemy from the start," Zibbo glanced at Hector playfully—as if he wasn’t the one being trapped. "Did you really think I wouldn’t notice what you’re doing? You’ve circled the block three times, staying near this pub. Of course, I know you’re leading me here."

Hearing this, a slight sense of dread crept into Hector.

Even then, with the others standing around him, his confidence came back.

Regardless of Zibbo knowing that he was being lured, now that he was here, he was done for.

"And how are you planning to get out of this situation?"

"By killing all of you, of course."

Hector grinned, taking out the short sword that was strapped on his side, underneath his trench coat.

Naturally, the other men inside the room also unsheathed their weapons.

Some took out a handgun while others enchanted melee weapons, humming with a unique property.

"It’s all of us against you. 10 against 1. And if you’re confident because you’re a Vestal, you’re going to be sorry. All of us are also blessed by an avatar. We’re not a Vestal like you, but we’re not normal either." He sneered—amused as to how Zibbo would turn this around. "Your grovelling chance is up. Tonight, you’re going to die..."

"It’s 10 against 2, can’t you count?" Zibbo glanced at Hector, grinning.

Upon hearing this, Hector’s brows dipped into a frown.

Just then, the mark on his wrist glistened as a magical communication line was opened.

From it, the sound of a frantic woman exploded.

"Hector! Lily! The avatar knew! He knew we were watching him!"

Deg!

Hector’s heart skipped a beat when he heard this.

It was clear that the woman on the other side was in pain and was on the run.

Even then, he stayed composed.

’No, we’re good. Since the avatar was there, we can take this mutant out and lea—’

"Oops... I got exposed."

Hector’s eyes widened at the sound of the voice—deep, unexpected, and far too familiar.

Slowly, almost mechanically, he lifted his gaze to the bartender, who remained facing away, still calmly polishing a glass as if nothing had happened. Unlike earlier, there was an ominous aura—coming from him, one that made it hard to breathe.

But it wasn’t only Hector.

All around the room, the others also turned to look at the bartender—their faces stiff with disbelief.

Every set of eyes fixated on the same figure behind the bar.

A chill crawled through the air, tightening chests and stiffening spines. No one spoke. No one moved.

The lively buzz that once filled the room—evaporated in an instant, replaced by a thick, suffocating silence.

Only the pounding bass of the music remained, thumping from the speakers like a heartbeat in a corpse.

Zibbo took another bottle from behind the counter nonchalantly.

"As you predicted, these guys are narrow-minded and dumb. I’ve done exactly as you said, and all of them thought they won." He chuckled, popping the bottle open with his thumb. "I have no qualms if I get no action today, but this guy beside me is asking for it. Can I have him?"

"Of course," The bartender slowly turned around to face the room. "I don’t mind sparing one."

Hector stared at the bartender’s eyes and saw them glistening with a purplish hue.

Almost instantly, his face was drained of all color.

"You... You’re the avatar, Lucivar?"

"Wow, you knew my name—I’m impressed. You’ve done your research well."

Realizing he was face to face with another Avatar—an Avatar of an Evil God, no less—Hector’s lips began to tremble uncontrollably. A shudder ran through his entire body as he tried to rise on unsteady legs, but they buckled beneath him, leaving him trembling and powerless.

He pointed at Lucivar and stammered, "How... How are you here?"

Earlier, it was already clear what the others’ positions were.

Lily watched over Sabrina and the other members of Lucivar’s family. Another followed Lucivar, who was heading somewhere outside of the academy, while Hector himself was luring Zibbo into this bar to kill him and escape.

His task was simple: to cause as many distractions to Lucivar as possible.

Killing a Vestal would certainly distract him from what he needs to be focusing on.

And from the communication earlier, it seemed Lucivar was still there, chasing his comrade.

So, Hector couldn’t understand how he was here at this moment.

"How...?" Lucivar chuckled as he opened his mask, exposing his face for real. "It’s not real. This is a replica of my real body. Of course, I’m not as strong as my original body, limited only to a few abilities, but it’s more than enough to kill the likes of you."

As soon as all of them realized that the situation had been reversed, the Hybrids sprinted to leave.

But the door was locked.

No matter how much they tried to open the door, it wouldn’t budge.

"Raargh!!"

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

One of the Hybrids tried shooting the door multiple times—each bullet enhanced with his attribute, but it did nothing to the door. There was an invisible barrier that protected the door, strong enough to ward off the enchanted bullets.

"I placed an artifact outside before entering," Zibbo explained. "None of you could leave."

"I’m going to make it swift—" Lucivar’s voice rang again, forcing all of them to turn towards him. He recollected what Hector said earlier, looking up at the ceiling and tapping his chin playfully, "As long as you go down on your knees and beg me. If you lick my boots, I might even be willing to spare your life... Isn’t that what you said earlier?"

Hector could feel his throat going dry.

He regretted everything he did that got him up to this point.

Like a shadowy ghost, Lucivar disappeared from his spot.

Hector looked left and right, searching for him before a footstep could be heard from behind.

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Lucivar standing in front of the women.

All of them were shaking like scared dogs when they realized they were on the wrong side.

Seeing that all of them were looking at the floor, Lucivar knelt down slowly to meet their gazes.

He offered them a smile, a genuine one from the looks of it.

"Ladies, I think all of you should close your eyes and ears for a moment." He suggested, and then raised his index finger and pressed it against his lips. "It’s going to get quite bad in the next few minutes. Oh, and also, I really appreciate it if none of you make a sound either. Can you do that?"

Submissively, all of them nodded frantically and did exactly as they were told.

Once that was done, Lucivar stood up again and turned to his prey.

"Now then... shall we get on to the killings?"