F-Rank Soul Eater-Chapter 184: A Piece In A Grand Plan 2.

Soren knew that what he had just done was not only risky, but could attract a penalty from the school, and yet he had done it.

Then he turned to Cynthia. "Let’s go."

This time around, he was not picky, and allowed Cynthia to carry him.

As she did, she zoomed into the alien fauna of the false Glass.

As she did, the cadets chased after them.

This time around, Cynthia did not throw her sound barrier breaking punch.

There was no need for it.

When soren had released that catepillar Shade from his body, it had acted as a kind of distraction, and thus buying them time from the other students pursuit.

Still, it will not be enough.

As she carried him and they moved, Soren’s eyes darted around.

He was in constant observation of the environment.

The last time, they had been in a hurry and he did not need see it.

"Ridges..."

Soon, they had reached a certain place. The fauna ahead.

Blanket Burial Leaves.

Soren and Cynthia had encountered them before.

These were the leaves that wrapped their prey whole before consuming them.

Soren patted her body to pause.

After which he instructed her on how to pass it.

Unlike the last time, their passage was smooth.

Soren looked behind.

Even if the shade released had attacked them, some should have still made their way to us.

This thought process was correct. After all, his bounty was high.

Only a while later, they were met with the Triplex Rot Hounds

Soren knew that what he had just done was not only risky—but something that could easily attract punishment from the academy.

One of them suddenly appeared right in front of Cynthia.

Just like the first time.

The first thing Soren saw was its ass.

The creature had been sniffing the ground.

Then suddenly—

It turned.

Three rotten heads twisting toward them at once.

Its lips peeled back.

A low snarl rolled from its throats. And then more shapes suddenly emerged.

From the bushes, from behind rocks, and from the twisted trees.

More Triplex Rot Hounds.

Soren frowned.

"These bastards again..."

Immediately, Cynthia moved.

One hand still supporting Soren.

The other—

Smashing forward.

A hound leapt.

She caught it midair and smashed it sideways, sending the creature tumbling across the ground.

Another lunged for her. Her elbow crashed into its skull.

Bones cracked and it whimpered.

But she did not advance.

Instead—

She slowly moved backward.

Carefully.

Protecting Soren just like the first time tgey had faced these things.

Charging through would have been faster.

But she refused to expose him.

Soren watched carefully. He did not throw flames like he did the last time.

Clearly, there was no need. Especially because something...

Was wrong.

Another hound attacked, and Cynthia knocked it aside again.

But as she moved—

Soren noticed something strange. "Wait a minute..."

His eyes narrowed.

Another beast lunged, and Cynthia struck it away.

Yet—

She had moved back again.

And again.

Soren’s gaze shifted.

Her back was open.

Completely exposed, and several hounds were there.

Behind them.

They were close enough to tear into her.

But they didn’t attack.

They just circled.

Growling and waiting.

Soren’s heart skipped.

"It can’t be..."

The realization crept slowly into his mind.

Cold and Uncomfortable.

"They’re...pushing us."

His eyes widened as his mind flashed. He remembered the Shade Stealer patting the head of the hounds as they gathered. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

’Like taking candy from a baby’ it had said.

"They’re pushing us into a certain spot." Soren muttered.

Right then—

A voice screamed across the battlefield.

"That’s my prey!"

Soren and Cynthia turned at the same time.

A figure burst through the foliage.

Purple soul energy crackled around his body.

Soren’s pupils shrank.

It was Aegon.

In the last loop, Aegon had only appeared after Soren screamed for him.

But this time—

From the way he arrived—

It was clear.

He had already been searching for them.

There was some leaves on his body and his breath was hard.

He had a grin on his face.

"Not bad, Clown. I almost lost you for a second there."

Even though he said this, Soren did not even look his way.

Instead, he stared behind.

Only him?

Soren thought to himself. The last time Aegon had vome with his Mohawk Party.

His hard breathing, the leaves stuck on jis clothes, and only him here.

He had ran over. He was the strongest in the mohawk party, and of course, the fastest.

Soren cracked a faint smile.

He was right. The Mohawk Party had been tracking him with his issued cadet wristwatch.

When he destroyed his and Cynthia’s, thdh must have assumed something had happened to him, and that was why Aegon raced here.

As to how they did it, that was for another time.

"You commoner Clown. When I talk to you, you listen." Aegon’s purple energy sparked.

However, Soren was not moved.

Cynthia merely raised a hand to defend against the soul pressure.

Cynthia wanted to attack, but soren stopped her. "Wait. They will soon be here."

Aegon heard what he said and chuckled, as he advanced forward. "If you think you are getting away, no one is coming to save..."

A blade spun in the air, and landed right in front of Aegon.

THUNK

Aegon reacted instantly.

He leapt backward several meters, landing lightly.

His eyes dropped to the weapon embedded in the soil.

Soren did not even need to turn, he knew what it was.

"Aegon... My Lion Heart Party has its eyes on that commoner." Li spoke up.

And then as they appeared, so did the other parties.

Bloodshine sufdenly landed close to Soren "Sorry, you guys were nøt hard to find, and Kiva was really nøt hard to convince."

"And yet, you found us." Soren turned to Bloodshine, having a scrutiny look in his eyes.

"Well..." Bloodshine replied, "we did nøt meet these hounds on our way—"

Bloodshine’s eyes shut open. "Why are you holding my husband like that?" She nagged at Cynthia who was still carrying soren in a bridal style.

However, Soren’s mind was a storm.

Now, more than ever, Soren was sure of it.

It had all been a trap.