Myriad Devils-Chapter 92: Bolan and Anon

’It’s asleep!’ Bolan’s eyes lit up at the sight of the snoring Red Ape beneath him. As he stood atop a branch in one of the many trees surrounding the open field, a hazy darkness began to envelop him. Before long, his presence vanished from the tree branch.

’Although beasts and plant beasts are sensitive towards stellar cosmic energy, once I’m careful, since it’s asleep, I should be fine.’ Bolan thought, ’This opportunity, how can I let it slip away. Is it possible that my Sky-grade magical item will evolve into an Arcane-grade magical item?!’

Thump! Thump! Thump!

After landing on the ground, Bolan walked across the open field, towards the pool of bubbling black substance. And though the Red Ape’s heart thumped powerfully within its chest, he remained indifferent, and visibly calm. Similarly, the Red Ape’s expressions were unchanging as it kept snoring loudly, whilst its wounds healed at a rate visible to the naked eye.

As if having built up quite a bit of experience in the matter, when Bolan appeared before the small hole in the earth, he swiftly yet cautiously took a seat right in front of it before the pair of anklets then made their appearance, floating around eye-level in front of him. They drifted to a position directly above the bubbling pool.

Bolan needn’t do a thing, nor did he have to command the magical item mentally.

As if having a consciousness of its own, the pair of dark anklets slowly descended towards the pool of bubbling liquid. Simultaneously, at a pace similar to the anklets, black droplets ascended from the pool, towards the descending anklets.

At some point, mid-air, both sides met!

...

As the manifestation behind the Red Ape dissipated, Anon and Seth arrived at the outskirts of the open field. In fact, they had already located Bolan, but their attention was naturally on the Beast General and the battle that was taking place. As it went to sleep, neither stellar genius revealed themselves, instead, observing Bolan silently from the shadows.

The reason why Anon even felt hatred towards Bolan in the first place had a great deal to do with how much he valued his life. After all, it was only due to his fortune that Bolan hadn’t pierced his heart. With such logic, no matter how clouded his mind was with burning rage, although the Red Ape was asleep, with its presence, Anon simply could not act out in the way he truly desired too.

To add to that, ’With Bolan’s magical item, especially since he’s most likely a second world stellar fighter now, if I just appear before him, there’s no way I can prevent him from escaping if he really wants to.’ Anon mused inwardly, ’The moment Bolan activates that Sky-grade magical item, it’ll alert this Beast General, resulting in a scenario that isn’t ideal for me.’

The two, Seth and Anon, were located atop one of the many tree branches. At the same time, Bolan cautiously stepped into the open field, "What’s he doing?!" Anon’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets as he saw Bolan maneuver alongside the sleeping Beast General.

’From how cautious he is, clearly, he has some thinking capability?’ Anon pondered. He couldn’t help but question whether Bolan was suffering from some mental attack. His eyes darted across the battlefield, making an attempt at locating something, anything that would make Bolan’s actions appear slightly reasonable.

’Huh?’

Just then, he perceived the bubbling pool.

Tilting his head, he wondered aloud, "What is that? Is he really willing to awaken that Red Ape for that pool of...?" With a puzzled voice, he glanced towards Seth.

Sensing his gaze, Seth chuckled lightly before saying with a teasing voice, "The son of the supreme commander still seems to be lacking knowledge of this world." Clicking his tongue as if disappointed, his eyes met Anon’s unamused gaze.

Shaking his head, Seth sighed and explained, "Honestly, he probably doesn’t know what that is either, but the Sky-grade magical item he possesses would have guided him. As for risking his life and disturbing that beast, it’s on its last legs and has entered a sort of hibernation. Disturbing it is harder than you might think."

Right then, Bolan took a seat, assuming a meditative posture, before his magical item then materialized before him. Seeing it greeting the bubbling pool of liquid mid-air, Seth grinned and looked at Anon, asking him in an intrigued tone, "Do you have knowledge of a treasure’s evolution?"

"Huh?" Anon’s gaze shifted away from Bolan.

As he gazed at Seth, there was an odd silence which hung in the air.

Staring into the eyes of the other, slowly but surely, another grin was beginning to take shape.

For Seth, it was the first.

Since meeting Anon, this was the first time he had seen the latter smile so broadly.

It reached such a degree that it almost appeared painful, with all Anon’s teeth, two pristinely white rows of teeth, clearly visible.

But more than that, visible in his golden amber eyes were genuine emotions.

Although these eyes smiled too, this emotion was obviously not pure happiness.

In a strange tone, Anon pondered aloud, "Whether it is to enter a new realm, or simply a small breakthrough, to achieve this, humans need to enter a meditative state where their spirit is relaxed. In this state, the human body basically shuts down and they are susceptible to outside threats."

He muttered under his breath, "When beasts evolve, they enter a state of hibernation where their bodies similarly shut down, and where they are also susceptible to worldly threats. Using that logic, when treasures evolve..."

"Hehehehe," Seth’s eyes formed crescents as a cruel glint flashed through his eyes.

Stretching out his hand, he used the palm of his hand to caress Anon’s face as he whispered, "It’s always a pleasant experience dealing with sentient creatures."

Gently grabbing Seth’s outstretched hand, with that freakish grin still present, Anon stated with a distinguished calmness in his voice, "As much as I agree, right now, I have other pressing matters to attend to." Anon said whilst moving Seth’s hand away from his face, before his figure blurred right before Seth’s eyes.

In his wake, his voice resounded in the vicinity, "Would you do me the favor of staying on the lookout for uninvited guests?"

...

Two foreign forces.

The bubbling pool of liquid, and a Sky-grade magical item.

As they met, a soft humming sound entered Bolan’s perceptive ears. Following which, the light originating from the starry sky above suddenly appeared to fail in its attempt to reach his surroundings.

Unknowingly, as the connection between himself and the magical item began fading, a sudden drowsiness abruptly assaulted him.

Biting his tongue, he clenched his fists tightly, forcing himself to stay awake.

But that was soon proven to be an unnecessary action as his mind was sent into a state of overdrive by a rather casual-sounding voice.

"Do you know, Bolan, so far, there’s been only two times in my short life where I’ve felt nothing in my heart besides unadulterated rage?"

Upon hearing Anon’s voice, a cold chill ran down Bolan’s back.

He instantly shot up to his feet and turned around, but Anon had already appeared before him, viciously grabbing his neck before slamming him into the earth!

Under this immense force, the earth trembled as debris exploded into the surroundings.

Bolan coughed up a mouthful of blood. Grabbing Anon’s hand, he growled, "A-Are you mad?! That is a beast general right there!"

"Am I mad? Fuck, someone finally understands!" One hand gripped Bolan’s neck whilst his other hand clawed at his own face.

Anon growled whilst lifting Bolan’s neck before slamming it into the earth repeatedly, "Yes, yes I’m mad!"

"Only Seth has made me this mad, and yet, I couldn’t do anything about it. In fact, I’m still unable to do anything which pisses me off even more!" Anon shouted in Bolan’s face.

"But you!" His grip became tighter whilst he smashed Bolan’s head in.

Simultaneously, he grinded his teeth before declaring, "You really dared! Well then, since I’m still lacking, you should accept the hate I feel for both you and Seth!"

His grip only became tighter, threatening to directly break Bolan’s neck.

But even as his air passage was severed, Bolan’s eyes remained as calm as an ancient lake and as unfathomable as the despairing abyss.

Although his lips were trembling, a subtle smirk appeared on his face before he mouthed something.

Right after, a snapping sound resounded in the area!

Anon’s pupils dilated as he stood up in disbelief at what had just occurred. Before him, Bolan’s neck was twisted to an unnatural degree as his body lay limply on the ground.

From his ears, blood oozed out, dripping on the ground.

Though his eyes were wide open, as blood trickled down his cheekbones, his gaze was focused on the fine blades of grass on the ground, staring at them with a dull look.

That crimson liquid seeped from his nostrils and slightly agape mouth.

This image imprinted itself in Anon’s mind.

It was too realistic.

"Talk about skill." Anon mumbled this under his breath before unexpectedly chuckling.

Sensing a lack of reaction from Bolan, Anon mused outwardly, "The abilities one gains upon attaining mastery over the body is truly impressive, Bolan."

As Anon’s words fell, Bolan’s fingers suddenly began twitching before unpleasant cracking sounds entered the surroundings.

Anon’s eyes remained unamused as the dead Bolan shot up to his feet.

Standing upright, he cracked his neck with a slight frown on his face. Still, no matter what expression and emotion his face adopted, Bolan’s eyes lacked any substance.

Facing off next to a sleeping Beast General, there was a false calmness between two enemies.