Eternal Freedom's Ascension-Chapter 117: Stormveil Territory

The revelation from the relic’s memory puzzled him, but he didn’t dwell much on it. He returned the weapon into his crystal core.

According to the records he had read in the clan, this Southern Region belonged to the Stormveil Clan—a particularly reclusive clan.

’This place is very dangerous, and I have to move cautiously.’

While the other Islands might not be highly threatening to him, the Main Island was vastly different.

Awakened creatures, Evolved creatures, Ascended creatures, and even Transcendent creatures could be found here.

’It’s been a while since I went into stealth mode.’

Summoning the repaired Asura Vest, he covered his lower face with its mask, then set out.

His movement was fast, almost like short-distance teleportation. He climbed down the cliff he was standing on, then began heading towards the center of the Southern Region.

Perhaps because it was nighttime, he barely encountered Nirad Creatures. Those he passed by were relatively weak, and didn’t even sense him.

Suddenly, he stopped and crouched to the ground. Touching the stony ground, he felt subtle vibrations. He traced the vibrations mentally to the source which was meters away.

’A fight?’

He latched onto a nearby elevated rock, laying on it to get a better view. With the Eyes of Sequence activated, he could see the situation very clearly.

In the distance, two parties faced off viciously. One was a large serpentine creature with thick, dark green scales. Its body rose above the ground, towering like a venomous predator.

The other party consisted of two beings. One was a humongous black panther with sharp yellow eyes. It stood on all fours, almost rivaling the serpent in height. The other was a human-like female figure. She had tanned skin, yellow-pink hair, cat ears and a long tail.

Kaiser was a little surprised to see her kind.

’A beastkin?’

After the era of Awakening, some inhuman existences appeared mysteriously. Although it caused some conflicts in the beginning, the world eventually agreed to peacefully exist with them.

At this point, these beings had become so integrated into society that they were no longer strangers. Of course these beings were the beastkins. Beings possessing human physique but having little bestial features on them.

For example, the girl riding on the black panther was a catkin. Still, the only reason Kaiser was surprised was because of their rarity. Beastkins weren’t large in population, and they were quite reclusive too. They merely took up one of the islands around Africa, choosing that as their abode.

’I wonder though, are they truly aliens or just mutated humans?’

Curious, Kaiser tilted his head, watching the confrontation with interest.

The catkin girl and her tamed beast furiously attacked the serpent. The black panther bravely fought the serpent, its claws tearing at the creature’s scales. The girl herself was also fierce. She moved around the duo, firing powerful shots of arrows straight into the gaps between the serpent’s scales.

’She’s definitely better than Alex in archery, quite commendable.’

Kaiser nodded subtly, approving of her skills. Still, that was only it—commendable. Nothing really interesting.

He returned his attention to the black panther, his gaze filled with slight interest.

As the beast fought, its skin rippled with muscles. Each of its bites was vicious breaking through scales and injuring the serpent.

’It seems very powerful. Highly likely an Evolved Beast.’

The serpent was equally ferocious, but it was obviously disadvantaged. Based on its aura, Kaiser guessed it was an Awakened Demon—a creature of the highest rank in the Awakened Realm. This was the only reason why it was still able to struggle against the Evolved Beast.

’A fight like this... defeat of the Awakened Demon is set. Predictable and boring.’

No longer interested in the battle, Kaiser climbed down from the elevated rock, and made a detour around them. After all, he wanted to avoid getting involved in their scuffle.

He continued travelling towards the center of the Southern Region, even as the skies brightened.

With the night gradually receding, Kaiser’s speed slowed. The powerful creatures that had gone to rest at night were already stirring, coming out of their hideouts.

Hiding behind a large slab of stone, Kaiser smoothly erased his presence. A hulking creature walked past, its massive shape creating a shadow across the land.

His blue eyes narrowed, gauging the creature’s realm and rank.

’Probably an Evolved Monster or Fiend.’

He sighed in amazement, a little uneased by the danger around him. After ensuring the creature was far away, he moved from behind the stone slab and resumed his journey.

Heading towards the center of the Southern Region was a strategic plan. Although that place was insanely dangerous, it was slightly controlled because of the existence of the Stormveil Clan. From there, he’d directly travel to the Northern Region.

That... was where his father was rumored to be seen.

’I wonder... will he still be there?’

Suppressing the slight trembling in his body, he stealthily moved forward. Perhaps because of the slight disorientation, he didn’t notice as a creature attacked him.

Something lunged from the shadows of a rocky elevation, charging straight at him. Kaiser barely raised his hands to protect his head as it slammed into him.

He felt sharp canines penetrate his vambraces and sink into his flesh. Grunting, he rolled on the ground and stabbed the creature’s head with his dagger.

The creature winced, releasing his arm and scuttling back hurriedly. Kaiser raised his head, locking eyes with the creature that had ambushed him.

It was a twisted being. With four legs like a beast, it crawled across the ground with unsettling ease, its movements disturbingly natural despite its grotesque form. Its head was equally disturbing, shaped into something vaguely predatory yet horribly wrong. Two hollow eye sockets stared out from its skull, empty and lifeless, giving the impression of a creature that watched the world without truly seeing it. Its jaws were long and narrow, lined with sharp, pointed teeth, while crooked canines jutted from the corners of its mouth like crude weapons fashioned by nature.

Yet those features were not the most disturbing part of its appearance.

The true horror lay in its skin. All across its body, human faces were etched into the flesh as if they had been trapped beneath the surface. The distorted faces pressed outward from the creature’s hide, their expressions frozen in silent terror. Their mouths hung open in wordless screams, while their eye sockets were empty voids, hollow and lifeless. It was as though the creature carried the remnants of countless souls beneath its skin, their agony forever embedded into its grotesque form.

’Curses...’

Kaiser’s eyes darkened and he felt repulsed by the creature’s mere existence. Summoning Virtuous Sorrow, he was determined to kill that creature.