50 Hunt III

"One, use your crystal!" Three howled. Although he didn't know how and why the monstrosity appeared before them, he wouldn't go down without a fight. One came to his senses after hearing Three's shout. The crystal above his head spun vigorously, unleashing a cooling white light.

The pressure weighing on the trio eased. They could control their bodies once more. However, they still stood at the epicenter of the gravitational force. Since One's crystal could only wade off its effect within a limited area. The trio stared at James's Grim Reaper form, unable to hide their terror.

'Is this him?' Three glanced at the beautiful scythe in James's right hand. Although all signs showed that it was James, he refused to believe it. Because James's transformed state exuded a thick, baleful aura that could kill mere mortals if they stood in his presence. Coupled with the black flames and dual flames flickering in his empty eye sockets, even sorcerers would cower in terror.

"Two, is that him?" Three whispered. His gaze still lingered on James's motionless figure.

Two's breathing had gone haggard underneath her mask. Who else could it be? She mused. She now understood why her items misbehaved earlier. Not that James evaded its range, rather James had taken to the skies, the item's only weak point. How James knew, she did not understand. That he could track them despite Three's concealment left her horror-stricken. The appearance of James's damned souls, the army of the fallen, and the blackened flames pushed her pass her limit. Others might not recognize it, but she came from one of the vilest regions in the Black Lands. She could bear witness to the notoriety of those who practiced the damnable sorcery of the dead. A legion of them had decimated her home town, slaughtering everyone within. She had only survived because she went to gather herbs in the mountains nearby. Although James's damned souls and the army of the fallen looked different, she could never forget the gruesome sight.

"Two, is it him?" Three's countenance darkened underneath his mask. Now wasn't the time to be afraid. They had little hope of surviving if they couldn't maintain their calm. He did not know that the emergence of the damned souls and army of the fallen had triggered her deeply buried trauma.

'Damn it. This fucking bitch has lost her head! Wasn't she supposed to look out for intruders?' One cast a derisory gaze towards Two. Although the sudden turn of events scared him, it wasn't to the extent he would tremble like Two. Unlike Two and Three, he had yet to determine James was the target they chased after. He assumed James was another one of the many hidden aberrations within Kynar. Unfortunately for him, he didn't witness James's battle within the coliseum. In fact, he believed most of his feats to be exaggerated. Even if it was James, he wasn't that scared. The gravitational force was nowhere as strong as proclaimed in the rumors.

Meanwhile, James smiled as he stared at the group. He didn't care what they thought about him. However, Two's reaction had piqued his interest. 'Why is she so terrified? Has she seen a Grim Reaper before?' James did not understand that his damned souls and the army of the fallen were the culprits. Unlike the other two, who remained somewhat calm. He could sense Two's soul quivering. He found it amusing.

'Which of them has the concealment ability?' James suddenly focused on the system display hovering above the trio. If not for the system, he wouldn't have detected the three assassins. Three's concealment ability wasn't any ordinary technique. Even Two's strange ability and One's crystal had entered James's eyes. Although he hadn't spent a long time in Skyhaven, not every skill caught his eyes. The only reason he could evade Two's detection range was because of the gravitational force. During his battle with Higgins, James had thoroughly comprehended all aspects of the skill. Since it could turn mana into substantial weight, then it could also turn the mana surrounding him into nothingness. Devoid of weight, he broke free from the gravitational pull. Without hesitation, he soared through the skies, heading towards the trio.

James also noticed the abilities of the trio perfectly canceled the abilities he displayed in the arena. Meaning someone had taken great care to prepare them. At a glance, James could tell they were an assassination squad. James was interested in who had placed the hit on his head.

"One, prepare to execute the escape plan. Two is done for." Three whispered. Their plan leveraged on the three of them doing their parts. Now that Two had turned into a nervous wreck, Three abandoned the plan. He also had to return to report that James didn't show the full extent of his abilities in the arena.

One nodded but said nothing. He stared at Two for a moment, before turning his gaze towards James. She would have to serve as bait in their escape. Just then, James abruptly started laughing. The two assassins became more guarded. Two shuddered. Her knees caved in, and she fell to the ground.

"Do you think I can't hear you because you're over there?" James's sinister voice boomed in their ears. With mana manipulation, he could covert their words to letters only visible to himself. "Escaping is only a delusion of grandeur. Your time has come, prepare to be judged!" James's baleful aura exploded within the area.

Two prostrated on the ground, crying and shrieking. One and Three remained standing, however, their visage had turned pale. As seasoned killers themselves, a fair number of people had met their ends via their hands. They had also gained the unique aura of death. However, it paled compared to James's. Whilst theirs was like a trickling downpour of rain, James's was an apocalyptic nightmare set to devour the world. The ground shook. The vegetation surrounding them withered and the air itself turned putrid. They felt as if he had dragged them through the gates of hell.

Just then, one unsheathed his dagger. He suddenly sliced his index finger. "If we want to flee, not even you can stop us." The stinging pain helped him control his fear. With his crystal, he had no reason to fear James's gravitational force. He also had complete confidence in his ability to flee. Three also mimicked One's actions. The duo slowly distanced themselves from Two. They planned on fleeing in different directions. Fate would determine who would be unlucky among them. However, they would only separate after escaping James's gravitational force. A moment later, the duo unleashed a frightening turn of speed. James remained motionless. He slowly shook his head. 'Why can't all of them be obedient like her?' He stared at Two's trembling body, and a cruel smile flashed across his face. At that same moment, the range of the gravitational force expanded, and its pressure increased a hundred times. Loud cracks echoed in the area. It flattened the massive trees in the area, and a lattice of deep cracks covered the earth. James already expected the strength of the gravitational force in his Grim Reaper form to exceed that of his human body. However, the result still surprised him.

Blood poured out from Two's cracked skull while her limbs bent at awkward angles. James, however, stared at the ethereal projection departing from her corpse—her soul. He motioned towards the soul. "Come here!" James's voice sent the soul into a hypnotic trance. James turned towards his damned souls. "Go bring the other two. I want their corpses too." Wordlessly, the damned souls departed. A moment later, they returned with One and Three's petrified souls. While two damned souls controlled their mangled corpses.

'According to the system, all I have to do is devour them.' James's emotionless eyes fell on the restrained souls. He slowly opened his mouth, and a whirlpool of concentrated mana formed in midair. The mask of the dead transformed into three massive pillars coated in James's flames. The damned souls fled. Freeing the three confused, but petrified souls. Before they could react, an almighty force pulled them towards the whirlpool. The three souls clawed at the empty air, screaming and wailing. But they couldn't resist the pull. The three souls slowly merged with the whirlpool, and their screams intensified. A moment later, the whirlpool streamed into James's mouth.

<Ding! >

Memory Extraction Enabled!

Memory Extraction of Journeyman sorcerers (Estimated time of completion: 3hrs)

<Ding! >

James reverted to his human form. He felt a slight pinch in his head. It was uncomfortable and somewhat enjoyable. He looked at the terrified army of the fallen and the damned souls. He couldn't stop himself from giggling. He could sense how terrified they were. With a mere thought, James could also end their existence.

James didn't bother with the system's notification. Instead, he went towards the corpses of the slain assassins. He retrieved One's crystal before walking towards the ownerless hairpins. Unceremoniously, the items disappeared into his inventory. He would know if they had any use once the system completed the memory extraction.

"Bemu. Ajati. Return. Bring all the corpses you have collected." James instructed mentally.

Through the system, he knew the psychopathic dark souls had slain many of his pursuers.

A minute after James's command, the earth surrounding him rumbled without end. A moment later, it vomited dozens of corpses, and an army of the undead.

"Master, we could have brought back so much more..." Ajati complained. He was having so much fun. Why did James have to summon him back? He mused.

"That's enough from you. Never question our Master's order again! Or, I'll reap you to shreds." Bemu rebuked. He wasn't as free spirited as Ajati. Both dark souls scowled. Pointing their claws at each other. Any moment, they would come to blows.

'Are you fucking kidding me?' James frowned. The system had already told him the dark souls had their own personalities, but he wasn't expecting them to have that of rebelling teenagers.

"Enough of your nonsense!" James's sinister aura exploded. The two dark souls dropped to their knees while lowering their heads. James's emotionless eyes swept past the duo. "How many did you bring back?" James asked coolly. He gave the duo a special task apart from eliminating the weaker parties chasing after him.

Bemu raised his head first. "Master, I captured fifteen souls." He clicked on his claws and fifteen frightened souls appeared.

James nodded. "What about you?" He stared at Ajati.

The mischievous dark soul giggled slightly. "Master, I captured seventeen souls." He also clicked his claws, and the souls appeared. They looked ragged compared to Bemu's.

A smile bloomed on James's lips. His harvest was greater than he expected. Truly, fools would risk their lives for treasure. "You can go back now." Saying nothing further, James turned towards the fresh souls. Saying nothing, soul purifying flames shot out from his eyes. Striking the unsuspecting souls. James didn't bother to look at the squirming souls. He turned his attention towards the corpses.

'System, send them to my inventory. Notify me once the refining his complete.' Unlike before, James found out he could store souls still undergoing refining in the inventory. A bonus for his increased rank earlier.

The damned souls, the army of the fallen, the corpses and the souls undergoing refining disappeared in a flash. The dark souls had also disappeared earlier.

'I should go to another area.' With the disappearance of several soldiers, James believed their factions would eventually search for them. He would only play into their hands if he remained. James slowly dispelled mana manipulation. The churning mist of darkness disappeared. James took one last glance at his surrounding before departing westwards. Using the full effects of his agility, he ran at a pace inconceivable to most humans. However, barely a minute into his run, James suddenly paused. His brows creased. 'It's close by?' Through his connection with the system, James had sensed the damned soul he sent to scout the island when he first arrived from the Tiodon Kingdom. 'I thought a beast ate it?' James recalled the system message that a strange beast had eaten his damned soul. He had always wondered what kind of creature could eat a soul.

<Ding! >

Warning! Warning! Warning!

Threat to the User's life detected!

System Recommendation: Flee!

<Ding! >

"What?!" James blurted out. However, he didn't dare remain static. He turned around, dashing into a groove with intertwining vines. At that same moment, he could hear a low guttural cry. His blood froze. Without hesitation, he shifted to his Grim Reaper form. Running with his full might. He had no intentions of determining what creature had such a sickening cry. 'Why do I have always have the rottenest of luck?' James cursed inwardly. Just after he was feeling good from gathering souls and corpses, something that could threaten his life had noticed him. James increased his speed. Just then, however, a blur flashed by. James instantly paused in his tracks. He stared at the crimson eyes hidden within the shadows.

"Kuku… I've been searching everywhere for you? Who would have thought I would meet you here?"

A naked old man with a frog-like face emerged from the shadows. He had a greenish beard and long hair, with his body covered in algae and mud. Thick black fish scales lined the entirety of his body. He scratched his face using his webbed paws.

'What the hell is that?' James panicked. He had never seen a creature like the old man. Although hidden within the shadows, he could see a long, scaled tail swinging freely.

"It all makes sense now." The old man muttered to himself. "They told me you'd come. But I didn't believe them. That soul was leading me to you. Kuku…"

James didn't understand what the old man talked about. However, he could sense his damned soul within the old man.