Evolution of the Ruined Heir-Chapter 262: Horde

By the time Malakai finally drifted off to sleep, he couldn’t help but wonder how Renlo still failed the balance course, despite forming a node in the same place.

Still, this was progress. And progress always brought excitement.

Morning came fast. Malakai woke up as early as usual, the thrill of his new advancement still fresh in his mind. He began training without delay.

Unfortunately, last night’s breakthrough had drained the rest of the grade three core. It was useless now.

Malakai was a little saddened to see it go, but it had served him well.

He tossed the empty core to the corner of the room and brought out the second one, the one he’d earned for winning the hunt. As he trained, he began planning how to get another.

Time passed.

With his window shut, he hadn’t realized how far the morning had gone. It was only when Nyx reminded him about training with Renlo that he realized how long he’d been at it.

’I shouldn’t miss another day.’

He had seen how sad Renlo looked yesterday. He wasn’t sure if it was because of the training, but either way, he didn’t want to miss again.

He wore simple clothes and was just about to step out when his lifeguard suddenly flashed red and beeped. A second later, an AI voice rang out:

"ALERT: City wide warning issued. A horde of darkness creatures is approaching the stronghold. Follow the map and get in formation immediately.

Mission Grade: 5

Reward: 6,000 points."

Malakai’s eyes narrowed.

Before he could even process the alert, the door to his room swung open.

"Malakai!"

It was Renlo, with tray of food in hand. He had clearly been bringing breakfast.

Before Malakai could respond, Laila appeared behind him, her expression serious.

"Get ready. We’re leaving in one minute." That was all she said before vanishing from the doorway.

Malakai’s gaze met Renlo’s. They nodded at each other in the next moment. Renlo dropped the tray and rushed back to his room.

But Malakai was already halfway into his gear.

He put on his fitted top and baggy trousers, then pulled on the white jacket of an apprentice Blood Knight. Next came his utility belt. He confirmed all was there. Vita bombs, reinforced wire, hidden blade, vitaeon, vita cores.

’All checked.’

He strapped his grade three vita weapon to his side and slipped on his fingerless gloves with reinforced palms and knuckles.

He was ready.

Dashing out of his room, he found Renlo and Grunde already waiting. Both looked geared and serious.

They exchanged curt nods and descended to meet Laila, who stood at the front of the base, visibly impatient.

"The captain?" Malakai asked as they reached her. Renlo and Grunde fixed their gazes on her, just as curious.

Laila’s intense frown said it all even before she spoke.

"He’s not here." She shook her head, voice cold. "We’ll have to handle this ourselves. Let’s go."

She broke into a sprint, the others following immediately. Riven had stayed behind again, which meant it was just Malakai, Renlo, and Grunde.

Just like before, Laila led the charge, with Grunde thundering behind her with each stomp, shaking the ground.

’Where the hell is he?’ Laila’s thoughts ran with speed.

After Malakai told her about the people who had his parents killed, she had wanted to tell Rhett immediately. But the man had become harder to reach than ever. Either drunk beyond reason or out drinking and gambling.

He hadn’t even been around to hear her out.

So, Laila had written it instead. She left the letter in his room last night, but Rhett never came home.

The last thing she expected was a horde alarm the very next morning, before Rhett even saw the letter.

’I hope he reads it soon,’ she thought bitterly.

But she pushed the thought aside and decided to focus on the mission.

’A horde.’

It wasn’t the first time darkness creatures attacked the stronghold, but it had been a while. Laila was honestly surprised the city hadn’t cleared them out before they gathered in numbers. The random deaths of beasts around the stronghold made it possible.

Just then, she sensed someone catching up to her. She turned.

’Malakai?’

He was pushing himself to match her speed.

"Wha—"

"Can we turn back?"

Her eyes narrowed. She met his gaze and instantly knew he wasn’t joking.

"Why?" she asked, their movement never stopping.

"We’re walking into a trap."

Laila’s frown deepened. She brought the group to a sudden stop.

Renlo and Grunde exchanged confused glances.

"Why do you think that?" Laila asked seriously. She knew Malakai’s intelligence better than anyone. She had watched the boy manipulate an Adjundicator. He wasn’t one to speak without thought.

"For starters," he said, "a bloom has been spying on our base for a day now."

Nyx hadn’t sensed anything before Malakai left for the Gor’Mekhai. Which meant the spy had only shown up recently.

The squad’s expressions changed. They suddenly felt too exposed.

"Is the spy still watching?" Renlo asked, trying to hide the tremor in his voice.

"No," Malakai said. "The spy vanished just before the alert."

Renlo gulped. That somehow made it worse.

Grunde scoffed. "Coward! Come out here and face Grunde!" he bellowed.

Malakai ignored him and looked back at Laila.

"I think the Fourth Pulse is targeting us," he said quickly. "They know we discovered something on our last mission. We’re being led outside the stronghold. This is the perfect setup for an ambush."

Laila’s eyes darkened.

Their last mission had uncovered the city’s secret. Everything Malakai was saying checked out. But... was it really a trap?

The alert had come from the AI, not the city itself. Could the Fourth Pulse really manipulate official Blood Knight missions?

She shook her head. "It doesn’t matter," she said at last, clenching her fists.

Her eyes were steel.

"It’s a Grade Five mission."

"So?" Malakai asked.

Laila exhaled sharply. "Grade Five means the threat endangers the city and its people. As Blood Knights, we’re not allowed to refuse."

She looked him dead in the eye.

"If we do, worst case... it’ll lead to our squad being disbanded. We’ll be dismissed from the Blood Knights entirely."

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