Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 135: Ambush?

’Ambush?’ Vale turned, his sword already in his hand. Behind him, Tiber and Slya had already formed up. The others also turned, ready for battle.

The presence was that of a man with hair like black strings and a hardened face. He seemed to be in his forties, with an eye that had a red taint. He wore a black cloak with a skeleton pattern and was leaning casually beside the ruin door.

The first thing that crossed Vale’s mind was. ’Scuffed Bones? But I’ve not seen him before. He’s strong’

Then his eyes widened. ’How did this man get there without me noticing? We just passed through there!’

The others must have been thinking the same thing because they stiffened, looking at the man who stared back at them without saying anything.

They stood there in silence until the man’s mouth curled, his eyes razor-sharp as they looked them over. He straightened away from the wall, his eyes flickering toward the ruin. "It has really been cleared."

"Who are you?" Vale demanded. He held his formation in his mind, ready for action. He knew a fight wouldn’t be far off. This was a member of the Scuffed Bones, after all, and with such a strong aura, he must be directly from the Flagbearers.

Vale’s face twitched until he controlled himself. ’Don’t tell me he is...’

"How rude," the man began, walking toward them. Each step he took was accompanied by a wave of blasting aura, like wind slamming into their faces.

By the time he stood in front of them, it felt as if he were a mountain, looming over them. "You don’t know of me? Seems the second has regressed more than I thought."

Vale understood one thing immediately. ’This man is an Errant Knight—and not a weak one either!’

The others understood as well. Dlodus and Serdan, followed by a hesitating Manefor, moved away from Vale’s side, as if to let the man know they weren’t together.

Vale straightened, drawing strength from his Mark Order without manifesting it. It seemed to shield him against the oppressive aura. "And that’s why I’m setting it straight."

The man paused, looking toward him with a smile. "So you are the bastard that has been shaking things up! Huh, you don’t look like much either."

"Again, who are you?" Vale asked.

The man frowned, and suddenly his essence pressure surged forward. An invisible wave of bloodlust slammed into Vale so hard that he staggered, but he shrugged it off the next instant. Compared to the monster’s aura, this one was child’s play!

"I’m impressed, but I still don’t see how you were able to kill Fell. I personally groomed him for my position before I left!"

Vale raised a brow. ’So this was the former leader of the Scuffed Bones here... they came faster than I expected’

He wanted to say something snappy but held himself back. It would be absolute stupidity to intentionally piss off a powerful Errant Knight when he was only at the Knight rank. ’First things first... I must find a way to escape from here... then after that...’

Vale raised his hand. "I only took my revenge on him. He was involved in the killing of my teammates. It’s only natural that I went after him."

The man nodded thoughtfully. "Ah... I should introduce myself first. I am Errant Knight Frexon, one of the captains of the Flagbearers of the Scuffed Bones."

Vale nodded. "I am Vale... the rank 1 of the second layer... I belong to no Flag."

Errant Knight Frexon nodded. "I heard that you even killed the former rank 1, that woman. Even I never had the chance to beat her when I was here. The CrimsonHood is so pissed, and I’m only faster than them in reaching here."

Vale nodded tightly. It was something he had expected, after all.

"You speak about revenge, Vale of no Flag. Then you must not stop me from carrying out my revenge. I must avenge Fell. You understand, don’t you?"

Vale nodded. "Of course. Tiber, Slya! Run!"

As if they had been waiting for that, they took off.

Immediately after, Vale reached out, his left hand suddenly engulfed in red fire. Like a spark, he immediately sent the flame shattering into the air.

Then he began to run as well, pumping essence into his body until he blurred. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Frexon watched them with an amused smile. He looked at the three team leaders still remaining and said, "I have no business with you two."

Then he reached out his right hand, glowing with the same redness as his eyes. Beneath him, a portal suddenly opened, and he disappeared.

Vale didn’t know where he was running to, but it definitely wasn’t in the direction that Tiber and Slya had taken. He knew there was no way he would win a fight with an Errant Knight, and that was okay. He wasn’t looking to win.

’But if I can manage to wound him, maybe? Damn it! He shouldn’t be here yet! My plan was to finish up here and then disappear into the forefront where I would secretly advance... but now...!’

Suddenly, the space in front of him ripped, and a portal spun into place! Vale was moving too fast to stop, so he whirled to the left, but a hand came out of the portal and snatched his shoulder.

His sword slashed up as he was yanked to a forceful stop, the bones of his shoulder popping painfully.

The hand holding him fell away before his sword could reach it, but by then another portal was already spinning beneath him, and he was yanked away.

Vale fell into a world saturated with different shades of red. He spun midair as time and space compressed into nothingness around him, yanked in directions he couldn’t control.

Suddenly, he was sucked into an opening.

Vale gasped aloud, his eyes spinning. Then he remembered what had just happened and turned, trying to keep his direction as he raised his sword.

Buildings and people spread below him. He was atop a roof in the residential part of the core. Vale recognized the building; it belonged to the former team 1.

Footsteps crunched below him, and he didn’t need to be told who it was.