Myriad Devils-Chapter 76: The omnipresent silence before a savage storm
Soon after Bolan, Andrew and Catharina also grasped consciousness. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Melissa awakened sometime after, whilst Felix, after being beaten down by Anon, was naturally the last to mentally recover.
Seth and Anon had plucked more than ten Lightning Flower Buds. The mystic treasures floated adrift on top the surface of the Crystalline Lake, waiting to be absorbed by the rest of the group.
When that did occur, only Bolan was able to absorb the essence of three, with the rest only needing two respectively. Unlike the two second world stellar geniuses, there was a limit that the others could absorb.
The nurturing essence that resided within these mystic treasures would seep into the spirit, akin to stellar cosmic energy seeping into the spirit when it was exhausted.
Naturally, there was a limit.
The sheer amount of nurturing essence contained within a single Lightning Flower Bud, though miniscule to second world stellar fighters, was still plentiful for first world stellar geniuses like Andrew and the rest.
The mere fact that Bolan could absorb three of the flower buds showed how close he was to entering the second world.
...
Though Bolan wasn’t the only one able to comprehend the truth behind Anon’s strength, the rest of them, whether it be Andrew, Catharina, or Melissa, did not seem to care in the slightest.
Although Anon hadn’t confirmed it outwardly, Melissa glanced at Felix before saying with certainty: "Honestly, if you hadn’t already reached the second world, we would’ve died because of this fool."
Felix, on the other hand, had remained silent since returning from a state of unconsciousness. Melissa’s stares were like a pair of daggers at his throat, and to him, it felt as if not just her, but the other members were also staring daggers at him.
Yet, he completely understood that this was to be expected.
Clicking his tongue, he sighed before meeting with their gazes: "Sorry about that."
Though it was only three words, this was already his limit.
To get a grown man to apologize for something even if they were in the wrong, was incredibly difficult, much less a boy like Felix who was in the prime of his hotheadedness.
Kissing her teeth, Catharina cursed under her breath before walking away. Though appearing annoyed, Catharina still spoke her thoughts: "It makes little sense musing on past events. I’m getting quite fed up with this place, hence, I think it’s best if we quickly reach wherever this damn academy wants us to."
From what they knew of the Blood-Drip Jungle, the Crystalline Lake was one of the many checkpoints located in differing parts of the forest which signaled a shift in danger.
Here on out, what they experienced would certainly be more life threatening than before. And yet, this was what the academy wanted them to experience. When the academy deemed it fit, the bracelet on their wrists would notify them when they had reached a satisfying depth into the forest.
But just as Catharina said this, Andrew suddenly frowned.
Raising his hand, he shouted: "Stop!"
His sudden exclamation caught the rest of the group by surprise.
Seth chuckled lightly as a sharp, golden light flashed through Anon’s eyes. At the same time, Andrew ordered to no one in particular, loudly at that: "I know that you’re here, so stop hiding!"
Because the area around the lake was more open and spacious, having less trees than most parts of the jungle, during the day, like now, it was easier to see in the distance.
This allowed for the group to make out the cluster of figures shrouded in the shade of the trees situated in the distance that encompassed the group.
As the shadowy figures scaled down those trees, the closest figure was less than forty meters away, and the furthest was still less than two hundred meters. For stellar fighters, even of the first world, this was a relatively close distance that could be crossed in some to as little as a few seconds.
It really depended on one’s principle.
Knowing this, it caused the expression on the faces of the group to change.
Especially Melissa who hadn’t even sensed the slightest inkling that there were other presences amongst them.
There was a pin-drop silence that followed.
The instance that these shadowy figures touched the jungle’s ground, it was as if time had frozen. Before the seven had time to react, the fourteen or so figures made their move.
The earth beneath their feet suddenly shook!
From below, hands formed of dirt and mud solidified and attempted to hold the group’s feet in place. Simultaneously, vines manifested mid-air before rocketing towards their bodies in an attempt to wrap around them.
The air lashed against their skin, carrying a faint chill. Then, muffled explosions resounded out continuously. Falling from the skies were droplets that sizzled as they descended. Only on closer inspection could one realize that these were small, and condensed, flames.
But more eye-catching than this fiery rain was the shards of ice numbering in the dozens whizzing across the open field and towards the group. Originating from the gathering of figures, they ate away at the distance separating them from the group of seven.
Speaking of these seven individuals, there was a strange pressure that assaulted their spirits.
It was akin to a subconscious feeling, as if something bad was about to occur.
Each of them simultaneously felt it.
And just then, like chains binding their bodies, an unseen restriction suddenly wrapped around them, preventing them from moving, not from even attempting to dodge the incoming attacks.
Formless it felt, and invisible it appeared, yet, it was there, attempting to keep them in place.
The pressure it exerted was certainly skyrocketing in intensity. Each moment that passed, the restrictions hammered them in place even more. In a single instance, several attacks originating from a variety of principles made their way towards them, landing on them.
Boom!
It was sudden.
From the group of seven, specifically Andrew, a dark aura leaked from his body, rippling with endless waves of intensity.
These ripples were so powerful that they took physical form, rushing out in all directions and washing over the attacks that were approaching them.
Yet,
Andrew’s glowing eyes dimmed momentarily as the fiery rain, swarm of icy shards, and vines, continued their relentless assault, almost completely unaffected by his attack. Said attack previously appeared capable of bringing a bullet train to a halt.
Still, these attacks were almost completely unaffected. Almost...
There was a miniscule moment that wasn’t perceived by Bolan and the others. A fraction that could not be perceived by them who were mere first world stellar fighters, and yet, it was a fraction of a moment that was felt by a particular pair of stellar geniuses.
’I know none of these people.’ Anon’s eyes shone divinely. Within them, there was rage.
Very noticeable rage!
When Seth had first met him, all the way back then, he felt similar rage.
The killing intent he felt from these attackers fueled a festering anger that burned his heart relentlessly.
Memory was never a problem for him, so when he taxed his academy peers, he made a distinctive effort to remember their faces. Though the figures, initially covered in the shadows of the trees, were some distance away, he could still make out their faces.
It did not mean that, if these attackers were indeed those who he previously taxed, he would not be angry, instead, the fact that they were very much not the ones he confronted, heightened his anger immensely.
It was to such a point that a crazed light flashed through his eyes.
The incoming attacks brimming with murderous intent, and the invisible pressure pressing down on him, and the arms made up of dirt and mud holding him in place, towards them, Anon was unable to prevent his lips from curling up.
The earring attached to his left ear suddenly twinkled.
’Oh?’ Seth was very relaxed ever since the commencement of this ordeal, musing inwardly: ’There movement speed, and these attacks... They are quite a bit stronger than the children from great families, and even some from greater families.’
Seth’s thoughts moved speedily, and his outward state remained unchanging, as relaxed as ever. He assessed: ’Too powerful to just be natural geniuses, and yet not from any great or greater families.’
Seth’s eyes landed on the faces of each of the incoming figures before pausing on one female figure in particular: ’Wait, isn’t this one a member of the Quentin family? A member of a great family?’
Much like Anon, Seth’s lips similarly curled upwards, yet for a differing reason as he concluded internally: ’Originating from a variety of backgrounds. One from a great family, I assume some would be of high status, and others would be of low status. There must be some who’re orphans too. Such a group of geniuses with varying public backgrounds, and strength that is unnatural for their backing... Your little secrets, I am knowing of.’
But just as his thoughts reached here, Seth rose an eyebrow.
Relatively near him, an attractive golden light shone from Anon’s earring as the boy’s amber eyes flashed with an unnerving light, and yet, this wasn’t what caused Seth’s reaction.
The cause was one that Anon himself would come to realize a moment after.
Along with Anon, whether it be Bolan or Andrew, or the attacking figures, what resounded in the soon-to-be battle zone, brought an instantaneous halt to everything that was taking place.
It began like this,
Crackle!
Like the sound of thunder and lightning, naturally, all eyes shifted to the sky above their heads.
And as expected, there was a flash of lightning amidst some dark clouds.
Purple in color, it descended from the skies much faster than any of them could react.
Boom!
This bolt of lightning pierced the fiery rain that cascaded down the sky, vanquishing it in a fraction of a moment before landing in the center of Anon’s group, charring the dirt and causing the earth to cave in, a crater forming.
As debris exploded outwards, and dust blinded the group, purple sparks of lightning made their appearance across the open field that was about to become a battleground. The icy shards exploded, and the incoming vines were burnt asunder.
The invisible pressure that wrapped around their bodies were dispersed right then as the hands formed of dirt and mud clenching at their legs were ridded off.
These figures that suddenly attacked simultaneously came to a halt as they, in unison, quickly created a distance from the group whilst also closing the distance between themselves, so as to unite against this unknown force.
At the same time, the debris that blinded Catharina and the others slowly settled, allowing their visions to land on a rather unfamiliar figure who suddenly appeared. Said figure had dreadlocks that framed his face and coupled with the intricate tattoos decorating his cheeks and tracing his eyes, he was immediately capable of drawing attention.
Still, more attention-grabbing than his appearance was power in his control that brought the entire confrontation to an abrupt halt. Clearly, with such strength, whichever side he took, was one that held the advantage in this quite sudden battle.
Silence was omnipresent in this tense moment!
