Spirit Hall Move (Part 3)

"Beast… Taming… Sect… you bunch of lowlifes!" – she clenched her fist, shaking from head to toe and rushed out.

"Na'er, calm down, what do you know about them?" – Aiden hastily caught up and hold her in his arms. She struggled but eventually came to realize the rashness of her actions.

"They appeared out of nowhere five years ago and enslaved spirit beasts throughout the inhabitable territories and especially hunt for aged predecessors of my race." – she said while gnashing her teeth. – "They were the reason why many of us died or were taken away, and the ones who could evolve to become a human were brainwashed and enslaved."

'Wait… five years ago and they were not present in canon at all… five years is the time I was sent here. Can it be… demons and beast tamers are allied together?'

= Master, there were records of them dating to cultivation era, but they were exterminated. Beast Taming Sect were humanity's traitors, who sided with the demonic army.

'This world really getting more and more complicated. And now Spirit Hall and Beast Taming Sect act together. Should I think of this as a proof of collusion between demons and Spirit Hall?'

"Na'er, we will take care of them one of these days, that I promise to you, but now let's warn the others stealthily. We need to have an upper hand in a surprise attack. Their forces are stronger even without spirit beasts."

She clenched her fists and eventually nodded.

Aiden gambled that they won't attack right away now that they lost the prime force and cover-up. Waiting for others to fall asleep or at least start having their meals while remaining in shadows or even use poison abilities would be the best option to reduce casualties. But he has his own difficulties here because most of the people in Douluo Dalu has little to no experience in actual warfare.

Tactics? Strategy? All of that simply didn't exist in face of a higher rank in cultivation. But if the opposite sides are similar in battle power, that is exactly what will make a difference.

With that, he turned to Na'er and told his plan.

* * *

Several hours later at night.

Night in the forest signifies many things. One – no light and dark enough to blind even the most prepared and second is the appearance of new wildlife. Still, neither of them was the deadliest things to come today.

They moved stealthily in teams, blending in shadows. As expected of mercenaries, no matter what you say, people who live on the edge of a blade have their own set of abilities and steeled hearts when really needed. All of them, with rare exceptions, which were left out of this attack to stay as a decoy entourage inside the camp, can traverse night terrain in the forest sneakily.

They didn't talk much with the leader, later understanding the situation never tried to refuse the plan, finding it brilliant. They divided mercenary force into teams for which Aiden synthesized sharp weapons. Nexus played a vital role in mapping out routes of breakthrough the line of enemy defenses.

'Good thing they never could spread even, or thought that no one will enter the forest to attack them prematurely. Most of their forces are blocking both sides of the roads. Really stupid of them. Giving us a good opportunity to kill of masters in the forest practically one at a time.'

With his cooking practices through these years, using absolutely unconventional lightning and ice elements created a monster of perfect spirit energy control out of Aiden. And that helped tremendously in hiding his aura.

Thirty mercenaries were divided into six groups. On their side were two and four went on the other.

"We have two spirit kings here to take care of. Na'er, although you are as strong as spirit elder, fighting spirit ancestor would be a stretch, as for spirit king – no chance in a one-on-one battle, so you stay close to me." – she just nodded. Hu Liena was a very smart little girl, fully knowing the extent of her power. – "Meltez, Xia Hong and Kiang Shi. You will stay within shadows and attack when necessary if assassination will go wrong. But remember, after each attack withdraw you rings, hide spirit power and move around in the darkness until you are fully sure the enemy no longer can detect you. Only after that, you can attempt to attack again. Don't be greedy. We are facing not regular spirit masters but elites of Spirit Hall and Beast Taming Sect and they all are stronger than you."

The trio nodded.

'Nexus.'

= Two hundred meters in three hours' direction. Spirit king inside the grove with two spirit ancestors. They are not moving.

"Let's go. From now on, no talking."

Everyone nodded.

They sneaked closer using trident formation, where Aiden was in the center stealthily unleashing his sword. The normal way to activate soul skills required time. Even starting the circulation of spirit power can't be done within moments if one is not trained to the utmost perfection in control and has sufficient soul strength.

It is impossible for most, thus any spirit masters are more or less very vulnerable against sneak attacks. But to perform one was never an easy feat.

Aiden drew closer.

Perhaps only he can achieve all necessary conditions because he was forced to stop in the vicinity of twenty steps to avoid detection. He breathed out and calmed down. Now is the time to get absolutely serious. His legs were half crouched, body slightly bent forward and sword arched back as if it was in sheath near his hip.

A fraction of a second – two rings not even appeared in reality but their skills were already applied – Tree of Life bloomed with two flowers, boosting strength and agility. Not even second passed – wings on his back unfolded themselves and were noticed by one of the people, it just that spirit king was facing another direction and yet to realize anything.

"Ambush!" – cried out another Spirit Hall master, but at this very second world lay still as if retreating in awe before something never seen after the downfall of martial artists civilization.

One of the volumes belonging to Storm Reaper Divine Art: Sovereign Edge.

And the very first move: Arrival.

Aiden shifted through the air in a streak of heavenly lightning brilliance. There was only a flash of the ark, following a motion of a sword which speed and sharpness even distorted space itself.

"M-Master Varnar." – two spirit ancestors watched in horror how the body of the enemy was directly severed in two. They were so shocked by the sudden assault, that stood there listless for several seconds before realizing the danger of their own circumstances.

Still, it was too late.

Trident attack tactics worked like a clock, no mistakes were made and a pair of murky silhouettes appeared performing a pincer attack on both. One spirit king and two spirit ancestors died just like that. However, these two people of Spirit Hall might have never guessed that if they launched a proper strike at the figure that killed their leader just now, they might have succeeded in killing him.

Aiden stood there motionless, slightly shaking. He killed before, but somehow never once it was a human. Spirit beasts felt… different. He remembered eyes, full of fright, surprise, and anger. At least a moment ago, they were not as lifeless and unresponsive to the world as this. He implanted every single second of the kill in his mind, especially the most terrifying fraction of a second when the light dimmed in his eyes and every inch of his body became limp.

This feeling of escaping life was the worst nightmare for Aiden, who watched the same in his previous life.

"Ge…" - she came with warmth and affection so deep that they immediately melted away coldness of death.

Aiden snapped out of it, looking at the most beautiful face he ever saw and embraced her, locking foreheads together. He felt her hurried, warm breathing, and calmed down.

"Thank you." – Aiden released her, not noticing a blood-red face full of shyness, and turned to other experts who were waiting by the side ready to go whenever. – "Move out, the same routine, no stupid life-risking." – then he sighed and his gaze steeled. When it comes to the battlefield, it's really no time for wimpy shit he did just now. They are at war here. – "We are here to kill, not to be killed."

They shifted in shadows like ghosts. During tonight experienced in battle, mercenaries proved themselves to be the most dreadful predators. They hunted and slaughtered dozens, killing all spirit kings by the side and afterward retreating with goods inside spatial rings and no casualties.

By the time enemy forces attacked from the front and back of the road, they noticed a lack of help from sides and were petrified finding empty camp with mere dummies sitting around the campfire.