264 - 270

Chapter 264 - No Need To Thank Me

(A/N: Two chapters combined into one!)

"I might be a bastard but you are the one who is going to get fucked," Zed's voice came as he jumped inside the hole behind a hypersleep chamber.

"What?!"

Castor Damon's pupils dilated to the size of a needle as the gravity of Zed's words struck him. Before he could even blink, the fireballs viciously slammed on the tubes and exhaust grills.

At the same time, the sparks of fire in the oxygen tubes and power chords of other hypersleep chambers exploded.

In the end, destruction was far easy than creation and protection. While the materials used for the chambers were of top quality, the fire sparks were strong enough to create a tiny bit of damage in the circuits.

Castor Damon's speed amplified and he transformed into hundreds of his virtual self as he dashed at each hypersleep chamber to nullify the damage. His movements were lightning fast but alas not fast enough.

Alarms beeped loudly while lights flashed in the hall. The self-defense mechanism of the hall activated and robots materialized in the hall out of nowhere.

"That rotten kid!" Castor Damon cursed Zed nonstop.

He has already given him the pills and yet the kid didn't follow his end of the bargain. He viciously created a mess and spoiled his well laid out plans.

Castor Damon transformed into a stream of light and arrived at the hole where Zed has jumped in.

"Bastard! Don't you dare escape!"

He shot an energy beam in the hole. The walls of the pipe exploded as the energy beam rushed ahead with a screeching sound.

Zed was already expecting this as he coursed through the pipe. He retaliated by surging out a column of fire.

The energy beam ripped apart the column of fire as it dashed forward but by this time Zed has already arrived in a duct.

He darted to a side, avoiding the attack as it brushed past him. The impact slammed him into a metallic wall and he coughed up blood.

At the same time, inside the hall, robots attacked Castor Damon from all sides.

"Get lost!" Castor Damon stretched out his palms. Energy waves erupted explosively into a turbulent mass that crashed into the incoming robots.

With a loud bang sound, the robots snapped into pieces. Smoke and dust filled the air along with the fine splinters.

Castor Damon has just lowered his hand when his eyes flickered in disbelief. He quickly rushed to the exit door but sadly he was far too late.

The spark Zed left in the circuit responsible for the virtual interface exploded, destroying the internal wirings. He could no longer enter the next zone, not until he destroys the reinforced door of the spaceship.

"I will kill you!"

Castor Damon roared in grief. Even before he could fully express his sorrow, he spun around, looking at the oxygen tank.

He now fully realized what Zed has planned. Everything so far was a distraction so that he never get time to focus on the oxygen tank as the spark inside it exploded.

Castor Damon backed away, the liquid armor protecting him. Terrifying flames of explosion erupted from the oxygen tank which crashed on the hypersleep chambers.

The octopus-like creatures, the humanoid beings, and jelly-like organisms inside the hypersleep chambers started shaking. The flames didn't even create a scratch on the chambers but their sleep was affected by the temporary disturbance in the mechanism.

CRACK

The hypersleep chambers split from inside as the beings inside them awakened. With a loud bang sound, one of the octopus-like creatures jumped out of the hypersleep chamber.

Its body was crimson, covered with sticky white liquid. Its sharp tentacles waved in the air, covered with deadly thorns.

The octopus-like creature opened its mouth and emitted circles of vibrations visible to the naked eye.

RIPPPP

More hypersleep chambers started cracking apart under the influence of strong vibrations in the air. Castor Damon gritted his teeth and disappeared from his place, leaving behind a shadow of himself.

"Stop it!"

He arrived in front of the octopus-like creature. He stretched out both his palms towards the opposite party.

A large expanse of light beam concentrated on his palms as they crashed down on the octopus-like creature. The air trembled and let out a screeching sound as if the palms carried a pressure as enormous as a mountain.

The octopus-like creature sensed the enemy was not to be underestimated so it retaliated. Two tentacles viciously whipped out, thrusting forward like sharp swords.

The tentacles came down with an unstoppable force no less than the palms. Energy waves exploded out from the crash of two attacks.

The reinforced metallic white floor started quaking and a crevice emerged from the impact. Castor Damon was alarmed by the power of the alien creature.

He was weakened due to the projection of darkness he saw earlier but even then he was a Level VII mutant, a low-rank Alpha. He could easily have achieved Level VIII with genetic experiments but he didn't since he didn't want to have a weak foundation.

Yet the alien who is still suffering from the side effects of a long slumber is showing equal power. He now realized he has to go all out otherwise he might lose all chances of Cosmic Spark.

Substance-like waves rippled from his liquid armor and bound the alien creature from all sides. The tentacles thrust out to nullify the waves but this gave Castor Damon to lift his fists high in the air before bringing them down.

A terrifying energy blast boomed out as the fists landed on the alien. Energy tempest swept out, smashing everything in its path.

The octopus-like creature released a loud grunt before its body disintegrated into a mass of sticky liquid and collapsed on the floor.

"I have to get out of this hall and plan further," Castor Damon has just taken a step when he heard a gurgling sound.

Much to his horror, the sticky liquid on the ground started concentrating. In less than a second, the liquid transformed into the alien creature from before.

"High-speed regeneration and recovery," Castor Damon cursed. "Fuck! It is a part of immortal species!"

At the same time, in a duct pipe below the floor.

Zed took out a blue pill from the glass bottle and stuffed it in his mouth. The pill melted the moment it touched his tongue and transformed into a blue mist. The mist merged with his bloodstream and overpowered the poison inside him.

"Phew."

Zed released a heavy sigh. He has never been so tensed in his over 17 years of life.

"I need to escape from this meteorite and ensure I never come close to that Cosmic Spark."

Zed decided as he opened a grill at the end of the duct and jumped in a new section.

As soon as he arrived in the new room, he was stunned by what he saw. A smile appeared on his pale face and he closed his eyes.

"If there is no road, make one."

Zed opened his eyes with a new determination. He started his journey ahead, unaware where it would lead him.

Unlike the past, the outcome this time would be due to a choice of his own. Maybe death or maybe life, but he would be happy with either outcome.

"It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees."

*-*-*-*

Present.

Year 2025.

Desolate Blood Forest.

The night sky was filled with an ethereal melody as Count Viper continued to play the ancient flute. In the sky, the projection of the archaic snake looked at Kiba from the space gate.

Kiba opened his eyes and cleared his thoughts. He was not in the mood to recall further events from his past.

He didn't want to remember the events that transpired further and made him the man he was now, at least not for the time being.

"Just like Claudia said, I should only reminisce those events when I need a dose of reality," Kiba thought with a faint smile. "After all, can anything be better than those scenes of despair and agony to keep me grounded?"

Whenever he went down the memory lane and recalled Princess Scarlet Leila De Rose's message, he wondered if her warning about power was aimed at him.

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the mind of the one who possesses it."

Sometimes he thought the warning was for him given he has fused with Cosmic Spark - The cosmic treasure embedded in her casket, something the spaceship tried to destroy.

If the warning was truly for him, he didn't really think much of it.

He couldn't deny that his powers have influenced him. He knew they had...much more than he dared to admit.

The cosmic power coursing through his veins gave him extreme comfort, making him feel he was the ruler of this world. It made him dislike humans whose very presence reminded him of annoying insects who needed to be exterminated.

But he didn't hate his powers nor he regretted fusing with Cosmic Spark.

He couldn't refute that every minute in Kiba form was a struggle as he continuously overpowered his instincts which wanted him to carry out a genocide.

Yes, it was a neverending battle with his own primal desires but he loved every moment of being Kiba.

He never thought the influence of his powers as corruption. If anything, he thought this influence as natural as an evolved being.

After all, the consciousness of every being, weak or strong, was molded by the environment. The society served as an influence which shaped thoughts and views. Personality was created from one's self-worth in society and the impact of the events in the surrounding.

For a rich business tycoon, wasting millions in parties or throwing away nutritious food was nothing. Yet, from the perspective of a poor or those from middle-class, such actions were despicable and cold.

Similarly, in a war-torn area, the moral compass of those impacted was far different than those in peaceful regions.

In the end, everyone was influenced by both internal and external factors. Whether those influences were good or bad, that depended on perspective.

In his case, his powers served the role of society. He believed what his powers made him feel was perfectly natural and healthy.

Just like how humans didn't care when it came to exploiting farm animals or killing other lower forms of life, his powers wanted him to be the same. There was nothing good or evil.

The thoughts of a commoner and a king couldn't be the same. Their actions could not be judged from the same angle.

While he felt this, he didn't want to carry out a slaughter or kill humans unnecessarily. After all, regardless of his strength, he was still a human.

He was a devilish rake but he still has seven emotions and six desires.

Those who pretend to know him might consider him immoral and deviant. They would think he was arrogant, cold and calculative, with only one aim in life: bed as many women as he can.

Yet those who truly know him well were aware of his soft side. He was warm, polite and even empathetic when he liked someone.

The woman from the slum whom Kiba helped was the prime example. Her sacrifice as a mother melted his cold heart and he helped her by not only giving food but also by exterminating overlords. Then there was the red tiger and her two cubs.

He was empathetic but only when his heart truly wanted to. He has always believed empathy for the sake of empathy was no empathy at all.

Perhaps those who know the true extent of his powers would say he was irresponsible by not using his powers for the greater good and betterment of the world.

To him, such views were nonsense.

What was the use of having such power if he can't use it as per as his own wishes?

Maybe such thoughts were corrupted but then again, they were his own. Corruption by his own desires was far better than being brainwashed by others.

"Princess Scarlet Leila De Rose, maybe my mind is already corrupted which is why I don't believe in your warning," Kiba muttered in his heart. "But regardless, these powers have made it possible for me to live my life to the fullest. Just for this very reason, I have to disagree with you..."

The biggest adventure one can take is to live the life of dreams.

His powers ensured he could continue his adventure and by calling them as bad influence would mean he was being ungrateful.

"Time to end this."

Kiba opened his eyes and looked at Count Viper.

He transformed into a beam of light and rushed forward. From the sky, poisonous shards shot down explosively at him like broken stars, leaving behind trails of green blaze.

Kiba remained unfazed as he dashed towards Viper. He stretched his left hand above and made a gentle tapping motion in thin air.

Swoosh~!

A loud vibrating sound reverberated while the air mass turned chaotic. Kiba made a swapping motion above, and the air mass rushed at the incoming shards.

The sound of glass shattering into pieces ringed out as the shards collided against the chaotic air mass. The resulting fragments of poisonous shards struck at trees, blasting hundreds of holes in them before the trees melted into brown mist.

Kiba has already arrived in front of the transparent energy barrier surrounding Viper. He raised the end of his palm in the air before bringing it down in a slashing motion.

SCREEECH

An ear-piercing sound crashed out as a gigantic wind blade pierced through the barrier like a hot knife penetrating through butter.

The barrier collapsed into brittle energy pieces like a broken mirror. Viper reflexively leaped backward, avoiding an energy fragment as it brushed through the scales on his left cheek, creating a shallow wound.

Blood splattered from his cheek which quickly stopped as his enhanced healing ability took over.

At the same time, the air above Kiba concentrated into a gigantic tail before it slammed down. The tail was just a mass of air, carrying a terrifying corrosive force that locked the space, confining his movements.

Meanwhile, a spatial force enveloped Viper that made him transform into a column of light. He was soaring into the skies, rushing at the space gate where the enormous mouth of the snake was projected out.

"I can't kill that golden-haired kid otherwise Genesis Matter would try to use me as its new host," The snake was in dilemma. It could only rely on energy attacks as using a physical attack on Kiba meant a risk of contamination.

"Esteemed sir?" Viper was shocked by what was going on.

Why was he being sucked into the space gate?

"You are getting an opportunity to explore the core region before others so why are you complaining?" The old snake said in an annoyed tone.

Since Viper possessed the ancient flute of its master, the snake was obliged to help him.

"Thank you, sir," Viper quickly expressed his gratitude.

On the ground, Kiba destroyed the illusory tail. He raised his head and looked at the fleeing Viper.

"Oh well, I knew there was a chance I would fail but it still sucks," Kiba let out a low sigh. He said this but the next moment, rays of white light enveloped him and he teleported away.

He appeared in the sky, just some two hundred meters away from the space gate.

The snake looked at him in surprise. Not knowing what the human might have in plan, the snake created a force field around the space gate.

Kiba didn't attack nor speak a single word. He just silently opened his left hand.

Droplets of light concentrated on his palm into a blinding flash. As the flash disappeared, a test tube size glass container appeared in his hand.

The container was half filled with a shiny blue liquid that emitted a seething sound. The liquid droplets were maliciously attacking the glass boundary, trying to set themselves free.

Count Viper's eyes were on Kiba as he just entered the space gate. His heart skipped a beat while his heart thumped violently in shock and disbelief at the contents of the glass container.

Nanites!

"H-how could you have it?!" Viper's voice was hoarse.

The nature of nanites was such that they first struck on nucleotides. They tapped on the potential stored in the genes to fuel them before they exploded the individual into a blue mushroom cloud.

This virus from the destroyed world targetted the genetic matter of an individual. The stronger a being, the more powerful would be the resulting blast. This made them almost impossible to guard against.

Months ago, when the nanite explosion occurred in the mayor's building, Felicity was also one of the victims. To protect her, Kiba has arrived in that building. The nanites sensed his existence and targetted him due to his far higher potential than Felicity.

That time, the nanites passed through his defense and entered in his bloodstream before strucking on his very genes. He had no choice but to teleport to the wasteland outside Delta City and summon his full powers to destroy the nanites glued on his genes. He was the only person on Earth who came unscathed after being attacked by nanites.

"This?" Kiba clutched the glass container tightly as streams of golden energy enveloped its seal. "I got it from the revolutionaries you send to the city."

"What?!" Viper was terrified. He instantly thought of Rufus, Yuizi, Simon and others whom he sent to Delta City on a mission to destroy the government forces.

Back then, the government forces have entered the city to investigate the golden lightning phenomenon in the wasteland along with the disappearance of Lisa Ray. Lizenea believed it was a perfect opportunity to punch the government in the guts and give them an injury they will forever remember.

Rufus and the others succeeded by using sleeper cells who were injected with nanites. The sleeper cell members went to locations with a high concentration of government officers before they exploded. Sure, thousands of innocents died in the process, but Lizenea was fine with the cost.

As for Rufus and others, the higherups in Lizenea believed they died in a confrontation with the police force. Lizenea expected such outcome from the start so there were no detailed investigations.

"Could it be that they were killed by this golden-haired man to avenge his sister?!"

While Viper contemplated this, the projection of the snake started fading. Viper was exhausted and he has stopped playing the flute since there was no need.

The space gate starting closing up and Viper finally breathe out in relief. As the snake projection finally dissapeared, the force field also dissipated.

"Count Viper, I believe this is your property so please take it," Kiba said with a kind smile as he threw the glass container. The container rushed like a bolt of lightning, entering through the faint gap of the closing space gate.

The moment the container entered the space gate, its seal started melting. Viper was horrified, his face turning deathly white in absolute terror.

"No need to thank me."

Kiba's parting words entered his ears as the gate closed...

Chapter 265 - A Silent Night

The crevasse in the sky disappeared as the space gate closed. Count Viper was gone from this region along with the nanite container Kiba threw at him.

Hundreds of meters above the ground, Kiba closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. A cold gust of air swept past him, making his golden hair float.

"If Count Viper still lives on then I would have to call him Count Cockroach from now on."

Kiba mused while flying back to the ground. He styled his hair to their original form after which he took out a soft drink can from his storage space.

"Oh well," Kiba thought while sipping the drink. "It seems I'm forgetting something."

Kiba crashed the can after which he threw it across the sky. He then turned around, his eyes filled with amusement.

Some five hundred meters away, on a crater, the two remaining subordinates of Count Viper rose to their feet. Earlier, the ancient flute drained everyone in the forest of their strength in order to open the space gate.

The surviving subordinates were also affected and they were now exhausted but the impending crisis made them tap in unknown strength. Gritting their teeth, they started running away. They might not fear death but that didn't mean they wanted to die. The desire to live was a primal instinct which not even the brainwashing can suppress forever.

"You got a chance to leave but you didn't appreciate it," Kiba's voice came from behind. "Now, it is too late."

The two revolutionaries shuddered in dread but they continued to run. They had crossed some twenty meters when two wind blades sliced through their necks. Their faces were filled with anger and resentment as they crashed down on the ground, never to rise again.

Kiba then teleported in front of the battle tank that he has taken a liking earlier. He placed a hand on its surface and rays of white light shot out of his palm. They enveloped the tank in the blink of an eye and transferred it to his storage dimension.

Kiba then snapped his fingers and a digital chip conjured in front of him. An hour ago, when he learned about Count Viper's location and started dashing here, his senses have observed Count Viper's activities through clairvoyance. He has noticed Count Viper checking a digital map of the core region.

When he barged in the camp, he destroyed pretty much everything just from his entry. But he ensured the digital map survived. The map was stored in a chip which he silently transferred to his storage dimension before confronting Viper.

Obviously, at that time, he was angry and almost on verge of insanity. But he did remember the true reason why he left the city and arrived in this forest.

It was to find a cure for Felicity.

Saving her was far more important than just quenching his thirst for vengeance. This thought helped him in ensuring he didn't destroy the digital chip while confronting Viper and others.

"Hopefully it would help me," Kiba thought. The information he has on the core region was limited to what Eva and Emily shared with him in Delta City.

He wasn't worried though. He has the experience of exploring BSE79 and he knew that would come in handy when the core region opened up.

Kiba transferred the digital chip back to his storage dimension. He tapped a foot on the ground and soared into the sky...

At the same time, around two miles away.

A silver-haired girl - in early twenties- rose to her feet by taking support from a tree. On her lips, there were spider bites piercing.

She was none other than Alina.

"Seems like Count Viper and others were attacked while I was taking a stroll," Alina muttered while wiping sweat from her face.

She bitterly smiled while wondering if she should be sad or happy. She was disillusioned with revolution and didn't care about their mission but she didn't want her people to die.

"Count Viper used the treasure imparted by the elders so he must have survived at the least," Alina thought while remembering the melodious tune she heard. The ethereal tune sucked every bit of energy from her while making her enter a trance.

Alina retrieved a few pills from her storage bracelet and stuffed them in her mouth. They melted into streams of energy, filling her drained body with strength to the brim.

"I can now explore the forest on my own by reasoning I'm trying to find others," Alina's lips curved up into a smile. "Given the circumstances, the Elders couldn't fault me."

She hummed her favorite song while happily starting her journey...

Some ten miles away.

On a grass track, Ashlyn's joyful smile faded and was now replaced with her usual cold poker expression.

She shook her head, trying to understand why she felt cheerful when she heard the music notes some time ago. The graceful tune sucked her strength but made her forgot every bad memory about her cursed existence.

Ashlyn took a deep breath while retrieving energy pills from her storage space. Streams of blue light enveloped around her black suit as she consumed the pills.

"Are you all right?" Kiba's voice came from the sky.

Ashlyn raised her head and looked on as he appeared right in front of her. She nodded her head.

"That's good to know," Kiba responded with a smile.

"Are you fine?" Ashlyn enquired. She clearly remembered how they were about to enter her crystal house to rest for the night when he suddenly turned furious and rushed out explosively.

"Yeap," Kiba answered. "Sorry for disappearing like that."

Ashlyn didn't reply. She turned around and started walking towards the crystal house.

"And thank you," Kiba added as he walked alongside her. They were a few miles from the crystal house so he knew she was rushing to help him. The use of flute stopped her but it was her intention that counted.

Ashlyn didn't respond. They increased their pace and silently returned to the crystal house under the night sky.

"Good night."

Chapter 266 - Where Is He?

The nascent rays of rising sun ripped apart the night sky, bringing back a new day. The sky was blue and a chorus of greys, streaked with silvers and golds, blessed by a radiant sun.

Sunlight lit up colors in the fading monochrome world, waking the guests and inhabitants of the forest. Birds melodiously chirped in nests, bringing calmness to anyone who heard the notes.

Inside a crystal house, sunlight fell in one of the bedrooms through the closed windows. Kiba covered his eyes while trying to get a few extra minutes of sleep.

~knock~

A knocking sound came from the door.

"Haah."

Grudgingly, Kiba left the bed while complaining about lack of sleep. He opened the door and saw ever glowing Ashlyn. She was fresh from a bath, clad in her usual black suit from neck to toe.

Kiba forgot every word of complaint. His eyes were glued on her gorgeous face and his heart thumped loudly. She was the most magnificent woman he has seen and the fresh look further enhanced her beauty if it was even possible.

She wore no makeup or mascara, and yet her natural skin could make even the legendary fairies jealous. She was flawless whether it was her crystal clear skin tone or her facial features.

Now, he felt his resolve to be a good guy in front of her weaken. Only he knew how hard it was for him to not scheme against her to get in her pants. Of course, he also knew he wasn't trying to seduce her due to her being a very difficult target and lack of time.

Kiba cleared his thoughts and brought his eyes on her hands. She has two hot coffee cups in her hands which were emitting a delightful and energetic fragrance.

Ashlyn handed him a cup of coffee while sipping from her own cup.

"Thanks," Kiba took the cup from her.

Ashlyn nodded and left. Kiba placed the cup on a table and covered it with a lid cover. He then went to the washroom to freshen up and take a bath in lightning speed. His actions were so fast that multiple shadows of him were visible.

Five minutes later.

Kiba sat across a table while sipping the coffee.

"Rather good," Kiba thought.

Ashlyn didn't know cooking but preparing coffee was rather simple with a coffee machine. The crystal house has modern kitchen appliances so it was nothing surprising.

He continued to drink coffee while thinking of yesterday's events. He realized he was getting too tired after using his powers.

He could understand fatigue from sexual activities but not battles.

"Could this be a side effect of being in Kiba form for more than a week?"

He wondered as he enjoyed the strong taste of the coffee. When he lived in the city, he would transit between both Zed and Kiba forms continuously. He couldn't recall a time when he was only being Kiba for more than two days.

This obviously changed after he arrived in Desolate Blood Forest. He didn't see the needs of being Zed given the dangers and lack of privacy.

"Cosmic Spark is supposed to be an energy source that could power multiple galaxies. There is no way my body could handle the continuous stress from borrowing the power of cosmic."

He knew he was not even using 1% of Cosmic Spark's powers but even that was far too stressful for a human. Obviously, Cosmic Spark gave him his present form whose appearance was different than the one he was born with. Yet, in the end, his body was the same just like his consciousness. This form just molded his body better to wield the power coursing through his veins.

"I really need to think of a way to solve this problem."

Kiba mused if things would have been different had he actually trained his powers. He never really did any formal training like most mutants who polish their abilities under expert guidance. The top academies provided battle facilities along with genetic research so that an individual could exploit the abilities to the fullest.

As Kiba, he has not even spent a week in testing his powers ever since he fused with Cosmic Spark. He obviously tried to use his lab equipment to research his genetic material but the influence of Cosmic power hindered him from getting any result.

He originally built his lab to study Cosmic Spark and negate its negative influence but he failed. Of course, the lab was useful for other purposes so he didn't regret spending the resources.

In a way, he never really cared in learning how to use his powers to the fullest. He knew there were many abilities waiting to be discovered but he never had the patience or time to seek them. The reason was rather simple - for him, power was just a means and not the end unlike most. He believed he has enough strength to survive and live so he focused his time and energy on seeking better things.

Thousands of women - married or otherwise - couldn't have been happier by his decision. They truly appreciated the time and energy he spent on polishing his skills which made them scream euphorically.

His sacrifice to not focus on power and instead focus on mastering the art of bedding has reduced the burden of countless husbands who care about the joy of their wives.

Whenever Kiba thought of his noble sacrifices, he would feel his eyes moisten... He truly lived for the happiness of others.

~tap~

Kiba placed the cup on the table and rose to his feet. He then stepped out of the room and walked into the kitchen to prepare breakfast...

***

Central District, Delta City.

In a high-cost residential community, a two-storied house stood out with its lavish design. The house was built in an area of about 3000sq. feet with a separate garage and security room.

The front door opened up and a blonde man in early forties stepped out followed by a raven-haired woman. He gripped a file in his hand before turning towards the stunning raven-haired woman.

The woman was blessed with long legs, a striking face, and truly lust-inducing cleavage. Her almond-like eyes and her soft hairs added extra charm to her gorgeous body.

"See you in the night," The man hugged her enthusiastically. "I love you."

"I love you too," The woman responded. "And I can't wait for night."

"I'm so glad our relationship not only survived but thrived after that disaster named Kiba passed through our lives," The man said with a smile.

"Me too," The woman replied though there she flinched a little. She prayed her husband didn't notice her reaction so she quickly gave a peck on his cheek.

The husband-wife duo was none other than Daniel and Sarah - the owners of SBC News. Months ago, they earned Kiba's wrath by running news on Agatha's pregnancy. To humiliate them and teach them a lesson they could never forget, Kiba almost ruined their lives by creating discord in their marriage. He seduced Sarah and made Daniel watch a live broadcast after which he threatened to expose his affair to media. Thankfully, Agatha intervened and saved them from destruction.

Sarah waved at her husband as he left the house. She then closed the door and rested her back against the wall.

She closed her eyes while remembering the inferno named Kiba. She loved her husband but she couldn't deny she missed Kiba in bed.

Her husband made love to her but Kiba fucked her. And she knew she thirsted for a good, raw fucking instead of pure vanilla sex her husband loved.

She couldn't help but moan slightly as she recalled the night he took her anal cherry while her husband was just three steps away. At that time, she was not only frightened but also highly turned on as she kissed her clueless husband while Kiba penetrated her from behind. The thrill from the forbidden encounter gave her goosebumps and made her wet with excitement.

"Just where is he?" Sarah wondered as she opened her jeans and rubbed her vaginal lips. "God, he promised to be here when I need him...and I fucking need him between my legs!"

At the same time.

In a high-class apartment.

A woman in early forties prepared three tiffin boxes. She was at 5'9" with a fair complexion, large breasts, and curly hairs. She was clad in a blue dress, her curly hair hunged halfway down her back.

Her eyes had a misty look as she packed the boxes. She was lost in thoughts, daydreaming of a man whom she missed.

She wondered just how many days it has been since that man touched her. She missed his personal fitness lessons.

"He was such a good trainer but now he is missing," The woman sadly thought. She opened her cellphone and tapped on 'Fitness Goals' app. Her id was Trainee #132.

[The trainer is offline.] The notification read.

She quickly typed and sent a message in the chat window.

[My wet, tight vaginal muscles need deep raw training from your rod.]

The woman was slightly embarrassed by the use of such obvious innuendo. She then closed the app and opened another app named ' Mistress' Massage Centre'.

A short flash video of a high-class spa played after which the menu appeared.

[Welcome back, lucky customer.] A notification flashed on the top of the app. When she read the notification, she couldn't help but smile.

She still remembered the day her husband took to the spa after he earned a 70% discount due to a lucky encounter on the internet. Only she knew how her husband has turned so lucky. She laughed when she recalled how the owner of the spa gave her a golden card, offering a yearly 99% discount. Her husband's happiness knew no bound at her achievement. He was truly joyous knowing his wife could enjoy the best massage service in the city without worrying about sky-high price.

The woman chose the 'Book an appointment' from the menu. She selected 'deep massage' from the options before clicking on the masseur list. There were around twenty names but the first name - Head Masseur- was not available. Dejected, she closed the app.

"Just where has he gone?!" The woman thought sadly. She needed a deep massage to relieve the tension she was feeling from her daily activities.

"Suzane!" A male voice brought her back to reality.

Suzane raised her head and looked at the owner of the voice - her husband- Morgan. She liked her husband but wished he cared about her needs in bed. He was faster than a bullet and he would be finished even before she could feel anything. She felt he was a selfish lover who ignored the needs of his partner.

"Here," Suzane handed him his tiffin box while giving a light kiss.

Just then, her children entered the kitchen. Loren and Olly took their respective lunch boxes and thanked their mom.

"Mom, you look depressed from last two weeks," Loren said as she placed her box in her bag.

"Does she?" Morgan asked.

"Dad! You are an investigator sent by the government to solve the mystery of golden lightning! Yet you are so clueless about mom!" Loren said in a frustrated tone.

Morgan was distressed by his daughter's outburst. He then observed his wife's face and did notice her skin was missing the ravishing glow she used to have when she visited the gym and spa.

"You should start gym again," Morgan remarked after which he gave her a kiss on her lips.

When he tasted her lips, he now recalled something he has missed from the last two weeks.

"Have you stopped applying the new lipstick you have taken a liking earlier?" Morgan asked as he remembered the new lipstick flavor he first experienced during the dinner they had with Emily and that cocky golden-haired rake.

"Ah...yes," Suzane answered, her cheeks flushing with hot blood. "They are out of stock."

"Oh! I truly liked that flavor!" Morgan said.

"Me as well! I loved that taste...I mean flavor!" Suzane replied. "I wish there would be more stocks!"

"Tell me the lipstick's brand name and I will check in other cities," Morgan added. He felt he should help his wife in this matter and gain some praise from his daughter.

"I'm afraid the company owner has disappeared without any warning," Suzane said, her expression downcast.

"That's too sad," Morgan patted her on shoulders.

He understood how women were picky about specific brands. They cared too much about their health and makeup items.

He wished he could find the company owner and make him give hundreds of those flavored lipsticks to Suzane. He was even ready to owe a favor to that genius company owner who made such alluring lipsticks for women.

"I truly hope the owner return soon," Morgan said with a smile.

Olly, who was silently listening to the conversation, winced nervously. He wondered just how ignorant his father could be despite being a reputed investigator.

The last two weeks were nothing less than a blessing for him, no, for the entire family. The wife hunter has disappeared and there were no more warning from gods regarding that fiend.

Olly could now freely live his life without worrying about the good son nightmares. This should be a time for celebration and festivity.

But his father was rather sad!

How could he hope for that demon to return?!

Chapter 267 - No Cooperation

In the kitchen of a high-class apartment.

Suzane has already handed the lunch boxes to her husband and children. Her face has flushed red after listening to her husband's words of concern.

Morgan was missing the flavor he used to get from her sensuous lips. She credited a new brand of lipstick for that alluring taste. After all, she could not give credit where it truly deserved knowing it might hurt her husband's fragile ego.

Still, her husband's words of missing the flavor and his urge to buy more lipsticks of that particular taste made her happy. It turned her on and made her shudder in ecstasy.

If only her personal trainer was here then she would have flavored her lips and her husband would also have been pleased... Only now she realized how her husband's and her own happiness was connected to one man.

She prayed for his quick return.

Olly was crestfallen by the conversation, especially by his father's attitude.

Couldn't dad understand he is simply pushing mom to continue her affair?!

Then again, Olly remembered his father was unaware of Suzane's extramarital activities. He knew the fault was his and not his father's.

It was his efforts that resulted in the successful tryst between his own mother and that motherfucker. Whether it was the restaurant where the fling took place in women's washroom or City Heart Hospital, every single activity took place right under Morgan's eyes. Yet Morgan continued to be oblivious.

How could it have been possible if not for Olly blindfolding his father?

Olly cringed when he recalled how his father was excited when he observed the silhouette sex in hospital. Morgan lusted after the woman in silhouette due to her wild side in bed, unaware of her true identity. He also envied the lucky husband of that woman who gave such excellent fellatio, unlike his wife...

When Olly thought of this, he lowered his head in shame. He swore he will take this secret to his grave.

"God, please keep that devil out of this city," Olly joined his hands and silently prayed. "If not for me, do it for the sake of countless husbands and lovers."

Morgan, Suzane, and Loren looked at Olly in surprise. His devoted and pious expression truly stunned them.

"I'm proud of you son," Morgan said after Olly completed his prayer.

"?" Olly looked at his dad in bewilderment.

"After knowing how dejected your mother looks, you prayed for her happiness," Morgan said, his voice filled with admiration. "Well done!"

"..."

"No father! I'm not praying for her happiness! I'm praying for yours and mine!" Olly bitterly thought in his heart.

"Awww... Olly, I love you," Suzane was touched by her son's actions. "I couldn't have asked for a better son than you."

She kissed him on his forehead and ruffled his hairs in a loving manner.

Olly wanted to weep.

"Mother, forgive me but I was not praying for your happiness!" Olly thought to himself.

Obviously, he could not say his thoughts out loud. He just lowered his head, embarrassed, not knowing how his actions were perceived by his family.

"I now realize Zed was right about Olly," Loren remarked about her brother while brushing her hair from her face.

"About what?" Olly curiously asked. He didn't like Zed after what he witnessed in Sweet Love Club.

"That you are a good son," Loren answered with a smile. She was truly proud of how her brother has grown up in the last few months. Earlier, he used to be brazen and arrogant but ever since that fiasco in the art gallery, he has changed for better.

Olly was struck on the spot as her words ringed in his ears like a clap of thunder.

"Good son..." Olly started feeling nauseated.

Like a nightmare, his mind flashed with the haunting memories of the day he discovered the affair between that fiend and his mother. He fully remembered minute to minute details on how pussy hound stepped out of his parents' bedroom after making out with Suzane. That rakehell has fully made himself comfortable, evident from how he took out the rich drinks stored in Olly's father's cabinet.

Then there were those two words which that rake used to express his gratitude to Olly for all his help.

Good Son.

Before he met that devil, he never knew just how hard it would be to prove filial piety and become a child that his parents can be proud of.

"I hope I'm not the only Good Son!" Olly muttered as his head began spinning and darkness engulfed his vision. In just a few seconds, he lost consciousness and collapsed on the floor.

"Olly!"

***

Desolate Blood Forest.

Under the cover of emerald bushes and towering trees, Kiba and Ashlyn sat on grass floor. In front of them were the breakfast dishes Kiba has cooked earlier.

Porridge (served with honey), smoked salmon, bread toast, sauteed mushrooms, and two glasses of sparkling wine.

Not the best combination of breakfast and certainly not something that Kiba took pride in. They were in a rather hurry so he prepared these dishes with the help of appliances in the crystal house.

Kiba suggested to have breakfast out in open and Ashlyn agreed. They started munching on the dishes without any conversation.

Kiba has just stuffed a mushroom in his mouth when he started hiccuping. Ashlyn was startled and she quickly offered him a glass of water as his hiccuping turn worst.

"Thanks," Kiba gulped down the glass. Yet the hiccuping showed no signs of the end.

"I should be immune so why?" Kiba wondered when he suddenly remembered something one of his lovers has once said.

"When you sneeze or hiccup loudly, it means someone is remembering you."

He obviously didn't believe in such sayings.

Kiba shook his head to clear these random thoughts and drank more water. A few minutes later, the hiccups subsidized.

He resumed his breakfast while Ashlyn has already completed her share. She rose to her feet and walked towards the crystal house. She pressed her right palm tightly on the front door after which runic seals appeared around the house.

With a whooshing sound and blinding radiance, the house transformed into a crystal cube. Ashlyn gripped the cube and transferred it to her storage space. She then turned towards Kiba who has already finished his breakfast.

Kiba jumped to his feet and transferred the plate to his own storage dimension.

"Let's go," Kiba said while stretching out his hands. The heavy breakfast made him feel sleepy but he knew now was not the time to rest.

A few minutes later.

Kiba and Ashlyn resumed their journey. Their destination was The Fair hosted by a few reputed organizations in a part of the forest.

Kiba's goal was to find some of the mutated herbs and fruits on his list. As per information shared by Ashlyn, the exchange was usually through crystallic money cards issued by any branch of World Banks. Had he known about the fair before he entered the forest, he would have brought money cards like the poor man they stole from. He wasn't worried though.

He had plenty of resources which he planned to use to get what he wanted either directly or indirectly in The Fair.

And if this didn't work out for him... well, he has a plan which he truly hoped he didn't have to use.

Swoosh.

Gentle streams of breeze brushed past Kiba and Ashlyn while they proceeded ahead. They were leaping from one tree to another instead of dashing on the ground.

A few birds in nests protested as the duo disturbed their rest. Kiba smiled at their response but didn't say anything.

The beautiful sunrays lit up the whole sky into wonderful blue. The soothing weather and the mesmerizing sight of the forest could not be a better combination for a person to be in a euphoric trance.

Ashlyn's face was the usual cold. The beauty of the surrounding didn't allevate her mood. If anything, she was slightly dejected. The fault was not of nature but rather of living beings.

One of the reasons they were rushing through trees was to attract the eyes of nefarious people. After all, the sound made from their long jumps along with the disturbance in trees was definitely not a way to be cautious or being subtle.

It was simply inviting trouble from murderers, treasure hunters and even rapists. So far, more than thousands have already fallen under the hands of such villains.

Sadly, such criminals didn't target Kiba and Ashlyn at all despite their efforts to stand out.

Ashlyn couldn't be gloomier by the outcome.

They have already crossed seven miles and yet never faced a single human with evil intentions.

Why couldn't people cooperate and attack? The duo was rich and they were practically asking to be robbed! Yet no assistance at all!

"Haah."

Ashlyn couldn't help but let out a soft sigh. She brushed apart leaves from a branch she was closing to while thinking of her current bottleneck.

From the last few days, she has not achieved any real progress in the art of nutcracking. She was sure she was on a verge of threshold in her art, and confident that she could achieve qualitative evolution.

But she was missing one critical factor for advancement: practice targets.

While a few savage bests did try to attack the duo, a stern look from Kiba stopped the beasts on their tracks. The beasts were terrified and rushed away with explosive speed.

The beasts and birds might be strong but they were simply useless as far as her problem was concerned. They could not help in providing a solution.

Only human males could help her. Yet they refused to follow the natural script of trying to take advantage of a gorgeous woman like Ashlyn.

The world was truly failing to meet expecations of a young maiden...

Chapter 268 - Puzzle

Ashlyn and Kiba leaped through a hundred more trees before they sensed human presence. The trees also turned sparse and there was an open area ahead.

Kiba followed by Ashlyn landed on the grassy ground. They turned around and noticed a track passing through the region ahead. The track was actually a graveled road though far away from being a proper road.

More than ten horse-drawn wagons and carts were speeding through this track. The horses were mostly mutated Hackney and Gypsey Horses with metallic hoofs.

While the wagons and carts were curtained, it was not difficult to guess they were carrying corpses of beasts and birds. Each vehicle was accompanied by a team of mutants who were continuously on guards. A few teams were using the help of surveillance drones for better safety.

There were even groups who didn't have any vehicles. Some were walking on foot while a few were flying through the skies.

Kiba noticed a team in the sky which gained his attention. The team has six members but only one of them was responsible for their flight. It was a woman in a long white dress marked with floral patterns.

She has placed her right hand on her forehead, her eyes closed. Blue streams of telekinetic energy emitted through her forehead and surrounded the entire team in an energy barrier.

The woman has brown skin tone with cyan hairs and eyes. She was fairly gorgeous with a stunning, petite figure but this was not the reason she caught Kiba's attention.

Hs furrowed his bows and looked carefully at the back of the hand which she has placed on her forehead.

There was a tattoo of a golden wheel with eight spooks.

"Dharma Chakra," Kiba muttered.

Months ago, Psychic Hunter Akshobhya attacked Zed by using an artificial satellite in outer space. Akshobhya tried to turn his brain into a vegetable by making his mind overloaded with stress and fatigue.

After some struggle and help from Claudia, he was able to transform into Kiba. In the battle that followed, he copied Akshobhya's psychic ability and retaliated by using the satellite connection to establish a reverse link. Thanks to this link and the shock factor, he was able to peek a scene from Akshobhya's memories.

The scene was of the Dharma Chakra gate outside the monastery. He has sensed the awe, respect, and fear that monk held for Dharma Chakra.

Since Akshobhya was far stronger than him in psyche and knew how to hide his memories, Kiba was not able to check more memories.

At the end of the battle, the monk offered to explain why he targetted Kiba if the latter showed mercy. Kiba obviously was not in the mood for clemency after how the monk stated his plans of dissecting his unborn daughter.

Not to mention, he was so furious that he didn't care for reasons. All he wanted was to ensure the monk lived a life far worse than death.

And he did what he set out to do.

Akshobhya's present state was such that it invoked pity and terror from anyone who saw him.

Later on, after Kiba has rested enough and calmed his mind, he realized the initial target of the monk was Zed and not Kiba. The monk only lusted after his powers when he transformed into Kiba. So it confirmed for him that the monk was not aware of his other form when he targetted him.

This obviously startled him.

He could understand people coming after Kiba but not Zed. So he wanted to know Akshobya's reason.

Obviously, he didn't know Akshobhya's identity, status or location. So he knew he has to rely on the scene he has seen in Askhobhya's memories.

Based on info he got from Claudia and Eva, he theorized the monk was affiliated to Dharma Chakra. He didn't know what type of organization Dharma Chakra was nor its aim.

"I must find a way to get information about Dharma Chakra from her," Kiba thought as the woman in the sky rushed forward.

It was obvious she and her group were going to The Desolate Fair just like others on the ground.

Kiba and Ashlyn also stepped on the track and walked ahead. Many groups did notice them but no one openly displayed nefarious intentions this close to their destination.

Men were stunned by Ashyln's breathtaking beauty, but contrary to her expectations, they quickly shook their heads and turned away.

Both Kiba and Ashlyn were bewildered by the response. Why isn't anyone trying to take advantage of her?

"Are they gay or asexual?" Kiba mused.

Ashlyn was obviously disappointed by such reaction from potential practice targets. While she wasn't aware of her spellbinding beauty, its effect on the opposite gender, love, or how relationships functioned; she knew she was a magnet that attracted evil men who always loved to speak bad things to her.

Such men would speak things like 'you would not be able to walk straight for days,' 'rock your world', 'show you a good time,' 'make you scream,' and so on.

She did not understand the meaning of such terms but the tone and expression used by men made her sure they didn't have good intentions. So she didn't felt any guilt when she practiced her nutcracking art on such people.

She glanced at Kiba as she recalled how he planted the idea for this art. She genuinely admired his intelligence and his ability to think of devilish schemes to get what he wants.

When she thought of this, she let out a soft sigh. She remembered the last time he taught her something was after he shared body heat with Anya. He has explained to her how to use the surrounding for benefit and scheme wisely to achieve desired efforts.

As they walked forward, Ashlyn poked him.

"Hmm?" Kiba looked at her.

"It has been a while since you taught me," Ashlyn said in her usual cold and emotionless tone.

"...." Kiba's breathing turned rugged while his back turned cold.

Teach her?!

No way!

"I only shared general wisdom but she learned sinister arts!" Kiba was terrified of her. The first time he taught her to work smart, she actually learned the art of nutcracking. The second time he explained her 'wedding food' scheme but she learned how to act cute before kicking the enemy in his balls.

He has already realized his teachings were dangerous for society. She was already a threat to men with two lessons.

So what would happen if he shared some wisdom and once again she learn something threatening?!

Kiba was curious but he didn't want to find out. He couldn't bring himself to endanger his gender by helping her.

But how was he supposed to refuse her?

She rarely speaks much less request for something. Not to mention, he did like her due to the help she provided to him.

"What to do?" Kiba started sweating.

On one side was his own gender and on another side was an alluring woman. The choices were tough but he made a decision in less than a minute.

Kiba took a deep breath before saying, "The supreme art of war is to subdue an enemy without fighting."

Ashlyn continued to look at him for further explanation. What he said was rather vague and not helpful like the previous lessons he shared. Then again, in those two lessons, he has shared practical examples.

"This time I will give you a question," Kiba said while stepping ahead. "Find its answer and you will learn something good."

This was actually a compromise he decided to have. He couldn't fully betray his own gender so he decided to insert this problem.

If she could indeed solve the question, then....well. it was not his fault. It would only mean Lady Luck didn't like men.

Ashlyn nodded her head in agreement. She thought he was trying to exercise her brain so she was grateful.

She was a bit nervous though since she didn't understand human relationships due to her upbringing as a cursed one. Still, she wouldn't give up before she heard the puzzle.

"Let's say, there is a man living in a city. He is an ordinary, weak mutant living a normal life," Kiba started his puzzle. "He is happily married and devoted to his children. One day, by an accident, he discovers that his wife is having an affair with his best friend who is also married. The man continues to play the role of an ignorant husband while he thinks of a way forward.

"The man is obviously hurt by the betrayal and he knows he couldn't forget or forgive. So it wouldn't be wrong to say the marriage is dead as far as the man is concerned. A divorce might be the next apparent step but he dreads divorce. Since the city is governed by laws and is basically a no-fault area, he knows the family court would ruin him by giving his kids to the wife. Furthermore, the wife would take at least 50% of his assets while making him pay child support and so on. The man thinks it would be unfair for him so he rules out this step. He also doesn't consider informing the wife of his friend. While he understands the wife of his friend is innocent and a victim just like him, the first thing he wants to ensure is his own good. You can say the man has become cynical due to the tragic events."

Ashlyn silently listened to the information.

"Now, he is living in a law and order society. That means he could not resort to murder, kidnapping, poisoning, and such means," Kiba gave a short pause before continuing. "After all, there is a heavy chance of him being discovered by law agencies. So what should he do to get both justice and revenge?"

Ashlyn processed everything he has said. It was obvious the man could not use force. Since the man was an ordinary mutant that meant he didn't have godly abilities (mind control, reality warping, etc) which could easily solve this problem.

Hiring professionals would be impossible since the man was living a normal life which was a nice way of saying he was not rich.

The courts were obviously out of question due to their idea of justice.

Ashlyn felt the question was far too difficult for her to answer. Firstly, she didn't know much about relationships much less close bonds like marriage or friendship. And secondly, she has lived a closed life so her exposure to the world was limited.

Ashlyn pondered for a long time while she and Kiba covered almost a mile on foot. She didn't want to accept defeat since this question was a means to earn wisdom.

It was afternoon and the sun was increasing the temperature. But given their powers, they were unaffected and Ashlyn didn't even notice the heat.

"Hint?" Ashlyn said after some time.

"Well..." Kiba thought for a few moments before saying, "A mind is a terrible thing."

"?" Ashlyn looked at him in confusion. Was that supposed to be a hint to the solution?

"Yeap, that was a hint," Kiba answered her unasked question.

Chapter 269 - Confrontation

The evergreen forest was sparse of trees in this part of the forest. The dazzling sun brightened the sky with scorching blue.

Wagons, carts, and people continued to flow through the graveled road. Everyone's destination was The Desolate Fair.

Ashlyn pondered possible solutions to the puzzle Kiba has given to her.

From the information he has shared, it was evident the man in puzzle didn't want to reconcile with his wife. So a separation was obvious but the question was how without losing children and assets in a divorce while also taking revenge on his wife and his best friend. The man was not strong nor had any amazing abilities nor he was rich so his choices were very limited. The only advantage he had was that the adulterous pair were not aware of his knowledge about their affair.

Ashlyn's thought of something.

Didn't Kiba give her this puzzle so that she could grasp the wisdom he has shared?

"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting."

It was apparent the solution to this puzzle was in these words.

Then she recalled the hint he shared: "A mind is a terrible thing."

Ashlyn tried to connect the hint with the wisdom along with the details from the puzzle.

Kiba looked at her and smiled. The solution to this problem was very hard.

In this modern era, there were no adultery laws and divorce was no fault even if adultery was cited as a reason. The man in the puzzle could not depend on the courts but he also could not take revenge by ancient methods such as murder, kidnapping or poisoning. If he takes law in his hand then he would risk jail time and if he relied on courts, he would lose assets and custody of his children. No matter how one looked, the man was trapped in one way or the other.

With such conditions how was the man supposed to have revenge without losing anything?

"Ashlyn," Kiba called her out.

She turned towards him.

"You wouldn't be able to think of an answer in such a short time," Kiba said with a faint smile. "So relax and ponder over it when you are free."

Ashlyn nodded. She obviously understood he would not give her a puzzle which she could solve in a short time.

"If you fail to find a solution then you don't have to feel bad," Kiba further added in a sincere tone. "No one is perfect or fully wise. A problem I find impossible to solve might take you a minute to answer and vice versa. We all have our strong and weak points."

Ashlyn was surprised by his words. She once again nodded and thus assuring him she would not lose sleep over this.

"Great," Kiba secretly sighed in relief. In the future, if she failed to find an answer then he would share the solution with her.

VROOM

The sound of wheels skidding on road surface ringed from behind.

"Hmm?"

Kiba and Ashlyn jumped to a side and narrowly missed a vehicle brushing past them. It was a modern open jeep.

A group of five were in the jeep. They continued to drive the jeep without caring about the people on the track.

The people were startled and offended but they ignored the impudence of the group. In the forest, very few could successfully bring modern vehicles to this part of the forest given the dangers lurking in the shadows.

Most vehicles were horse-drawn wagons or carts which were manufactured here. The teams on foot assumed the group in the jeep was either strong or had great influence if they dared act so brazenly. It was wise to ignore them for their attitude instead of starting a conflict which might end badly. After all, even if they defeated the group they might be harmed in the process and it was not worth the efforts for such a small episode.

"No one here has any guts," The man driving the jeep said aloud. He loved the feeling of showing the adventurists their place.

"Austin, let's slam the jeep on that team ahead," A man from a seat behind said.

"Good idea, Farhan," Austin readily agreed to the proposal.

Can anything be more exciting than holding other's life in one's own hand? The thrill of playing with preys was the best sensation a human could ever have.

Austin placed his hand on the gear knob to change the gear. He moved the gear ahead but the jeep stopped instead of an increase in speed.

The impact of the sudden stop made everyone jerk. The heads of the three members on back seats collided against the front seats.

"What the hell are you doing?" A man named Ricky cursed Austin.

"I didn't do anything," Austin checked the gear knob but it was fine.

"Then why the heck did jeep stopped?" A man named Keith angrily asked.

He checked around and noticed the people on the road were looking at them with an amused expression. He realized they have noticed how they collided against the seats. It embarrassed him to no end to know others were having fun at their expense.

"I don't know," Austin answered with a frowning expression.

"I know," A voice came from everywhere and nowhere. "Should I explain?"

Austin, Keith, Ricky, Farhan, and Spencer were startled. Just then, the three on the back seats were slammed to the doors by a walloping force. This created enough space in the middle seat for a new person.

On the seat, rays of white light appeared out of thin air and converged into Kiba.

Austin and Keith who were in the front were shocked.

Before they could react, Kiba gripped Austin's head from behind and crashed it on the digital fuel screen next to the speedometer.

"See there is no fuel in the car," Kiba patiently explained while continuing to hold Austin's head. "And without a source of energy, the jeep can't magically run ahead with a load of five idiots."

No fuel?! How?!

The others in the back seats regained their wits. They acted at the same time and attacked Kiba but he disappeared in thin air.

"Who the hell was he?" Austin felt nauseous.

"No idea but we would teach him a lesson he will never forget," Reith muttered, his eyes bloodshot.

"Let me teach you a lesson first," Kiba said as he appeared in front of the jeep. "Don't degrade the forest with pollution."

As the group jumped to take action, Kiba flipped a finger on the hood of the jeep.

Circles of energy swept out of his finger. With a bang sound, the windshield and other parts shattered into pieces while the circles of energy moved forward.

The group was startled and quickly leaped out of the jeep as the seats exploded into fragments. The impact from the explosion sent the jeep flying into the air before crashing down on the ground.

Sparks, smog, and splinters erupted from the wreckage of the jeep. Ther group darted to avoid splinters and the shockwaves.

"Son of a bitch!" Austin's veins bulged out of his neck.

It was very difficult to have a modern vehicle in this part of the forest and now it was destroyed in just a minute.

The others from his group arrived next to him and looked at Kiba with venomous hatred.

Austin's muscles popped out of his clothes. Slowly, he morphed and his entire body was enveloped with dark titanium steel.

"I'm more than enough to kill him," Austin stopped his friends from taking action. "That bastard would regret provoking us."

The others nodded in agreement. Austin was a level III mutant, just a step away from being a Beta. Most people in the forest were either level I or level II. Betas were sparse and Alphas were as rare as unicorn horns.

This knowledge and his trust in his own strength gave him utmost confidence in tackling his opponent.

His group members had the same confidence in him. Sure Kiba has destroyed their jeep but they believed it was due to the surprise factor.

Now that Austin has decided to settle scores there was no way Kiba would live much less escape. This was a good way to regain the respect they lost and also terrorize the spectators.

Some teams and solo adventurists stopped in their paths to observe the fight while others ignored and continued their journey ahead.

"Get ready to die!"

Austin leaped forward like a ferocious beast. Gravel flew in the air while dust swept out as he stretched his hands.

Columns of dark molten metal shot out with a seething sound.

The molten metal stretched out like waves before enveloping an area of hundred meters into a cocoon. From the outside, it was like a volcanic metal has formed a barrier from all sides.

"Don't even think you can escape now," Austin has a smirk on his face. He could imagine how his enemy would beg for mercy while trying to flee in the next few minutes.

"Sure, I won't ever think of escaping," Kiba assured him.

"You really don't know what is good for you!" Austin raised his right hand. "I will let you experience pain you arrogant bastard!"

The dark metallic liquid below Kiba's feet started bubbling up. Fine threads leaped out and started wrapping around his feet.

Each thread was as heavy as a giant pillar and as hot as a wildfire. Kiba continued to remain unfazed and relaxed.

"Arrogant?" Kiba has a playful smile on his lips. "I guess I can't disagree."

BANG

Golden streams of light flashed around him while his aura exploded out fiercely. The metallic chains split into drops of liquid before evaporating. The aura was filled with an annihilative force that wreaked destruction as it moved forward.

The molten liquid on the ground and in the air started fading under the onslaught of the terrifying aura.

Austin's pupils dilated in disbelief. Even though his body was covered with titanium steel, he felt a numbing sensation all over his body.

"What are you?!" Austin's heart was filled with an ominous feeling.

"An arrogant bastard," Kiba answered as his body disappeared and appeared right in front of Austin.

"!!!"

Austin leaped backward. He gritted his teeth and his hands transformed into hammers. At the same time, molten drops of liquid started converging on his back into wings.

He flew high in the sky while crashing his hands together. Waves of vibrations emerged out and swept towards Kiba.

From the ground, razor-sharp, metallic needles shot at Kiba from behind. Austin flew along with the waves of vibrations, crashing down his hammers on his enemy's head.

"Let me teach you another lesson," Kiba said while lazily stretching out a hand.

"There is nothing wrong in being arrogant as long as you have strength or wisdom to back it up."

Golden radiance erupted from his palm like tidal waves. The radiance concentrated into hundreds of filaments that shot all around.

"You neither have strength or wisdom to back your attitude from before," Kiba lowered his hand. "And relying on the influence of others to be cocky is simply courting death."

Like a sword, the filaments cleaved the incoming needles in the back while others moved in front. The filaments cascaded outward and destroyed vibrations before piercing through the hammers and other parts of Austin.

"Ahhh!" Austin let out a heart-wrenching scream. The metallic skin on his body split like broken pieces of a mirror while blood gushed out like a fountain.

Golden filaments rose to the sky and ripped apart the metallic cocoon, exposing the bright sky.

Keith, Ricky, Farhan, and Spencer were shocked out of their wits. Their chest moved up and down violently as they stared at their defeated friend.

He was defeated just like that?!

They looked at Kiba who was standing with a nonchalant expression. His hands were in his pockets as if he was in some park.

The other teams were also surprised by the quick resolution of battle.

"He must be a Beta!" A treasure hunter muttered.

"Those five have spent their luck! This is why you shouldn't be so brazen unnecessarily!" A female adventurist said to her partner.

"Indeed. You never know you might offend someone you couldn't afford to," The woman's partner agreed.

Kiba stretched out his hands before turning around.

"Goodbye," Kiba said and he started walking away.

"This is far from over!" Spencer loudly shouted while taking a martial stand. "You are alone and we are not! Get ready to pay the price for your actions!"

How could they just let him leave after he made them lose their face in front of so many people?! If they did, then what would their organization say?! Would they even be able to show their faces in The Desolate Fair much less the core region?!

This was not a matter of their own pride but of their organization. And pride could be only gained back by teaching that bastard a lesson!

Blinding red orbs converged around him. The ground started cracking into spider-like threads under the intense pressure from red orbs.

Keith raised his head and roared. His nails stretched into claws while dark stripes appeared on his face. His teeth expanded and his ears elongated into that of a beast's, his eyes turning dark and sinister.

The others similarly prepared themselves and summoned their powers. They reasoned Kiba was a Level IV mutant - Beta but they were sure their coordination could overpower him. There was no chance he was a Level V or above otherwise why would he be going on foot?! Strong mutants were eccentric and they treated themselves with pleasure!

Spencer controlled the dozens of orbs around him as he decided to launch the assault now that Kiba was walking ahead absentmindedly.

"Excuse me."

A soft, feminine voice came from behind. The voice was like the rise of the sun after a cold night, the breath of fresh spring.

Spencer and others turned around in a daze. Their eyes popped out while their jaws dropped at the sight of world-shocking beauty.

Ashlyn was standing there with a warm smile on her lips. Her smile was so beautiful and mesmerizing that even flowers lowered their petals in envy and shame.

Ashlyn continued to smile warmly while taking a step ahead and coming in front of Spencer. The red orbs flashed with terrifying might but Spencer was fully focused on Ashlyn.

"Yes?" Spencer asked.

"Would you please rock my world?" Ashlyn asked with her infectious smile.

Skill Activated: Acting Cute!

The second skill she gained after Kiba explained her the wedding dinner scheme. She was clueless about what her words truly meant but from her experience, she was sure they were words that made evil men go crazy. If he answered 'yes' then that meant he was a bad guy and she could experiment with her first skill.

Spencer's jaw dropped further. Such a gorgeous woman is asking him?!

He has often read about love and temptation at first sight and he wondered if this woman was love struck with him for such a reason.

He then thought of the powerful orbs of energy floating around him and was sure this also proved as an attractive feature.

"Oh god! I'm sorry for doubting your existence!" Spencer internally cried in joy. "I will now regularly attend church and light hundreds of candles to express my gratitude."

Farhan, Keith, and others cursed Spencer for his godly luck. This woman was flawless and no less than a legendary fairy and yet she wanted Spencer and not them.

What's more, she was asking him and not the other way round! Not asking for a date but for a make out!!

Just why?!

Farahn and others refused to believe they were any less handsome than Spencer. Heck, they were sure they were far more muscular.

But what could they do? They could only burn in envy and try to smile forcefully in order to congratulate their friend.

Spencer took a deep breath. Even he had hard time believing his luck but he knew he hasn't heard wrong.

"Yes," Spencer nodded and gave his best smile. "I would love to rock your world."

Ashlyn secretly sighed in joy. She has finally found a bad guy who agreed to be her practice target!

"You will be gentle, right?" Ashlyn said the words she has previously heard from a group of mercenaries who tried to take to take advantage of her not so long ago. They have said words like 'Don't worry, I would be gentle, bitch!'

She believed these words were also demeaning judging from the tone those mercenaries used. If this man agreed with her question, then he was definitely in the same league as those mercenaries.

"Relax! I would be gentle!" Spencer was huffing with expectations. His mind was working like a machine while trying to think of spots for a tryst.

"Thank you," Ashlyn's smile bloomed further. Her words were from her heart and she was truly grateful to this man.

Farhan and others could not believe their ears. This woman was being grateful?! Has the sun rised from the opposite direction or was this a dream?!

Fuck!

Just what good deeds has Spencer done for him to have such luck?! Was he a sage in a previous life that saved thousands of lives and was getting the karmic reward now?!

Spencer's eyes and expression was filled with naked lust. Ashlyn recalled those men she practiced her skill has the same looks on their face.

Spencer lowered his head while closing into Ashlyn. He started closing his face with hers for a kiss with his eyes closed.

"God! I'm truly grateful!" Spencer thought as he waited to taste her sweet lips.

His mind was filled with ecstasy from expectations of the pleasure about to come, but just then, the expected pleasure turned into an unbelievable pain.

CRACK

Ashlyn's knee viciously slammed right into his balls. The force was so terrifying that his precious jewels shattered and shoved right into his bladder.

The look of lust turned into absolute horror. The pants of expectations transformed into groans of agony...

Chapter 270 - Desolate Fair

The sky was bright blue under the scorching sun. The air was filled with severe heat but Keith, Ricky, Farhan, and male spectators from other groups felt a chilling cold below their torso.

The testicles of a human male are very delicate organs and are loaded with nerves. A low-powered blow to the groin can result in pain, shock, nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing and possibly even death.

Usually, men are on guards when it comes to protecting their treasured jewels. Alas, lust overpowers even the most basic instinct.

Spencer was fully relaxed and excited when he moved to close his lips with Ashly. His eyes were closed as he waited to taste the sweet taste of the angel's lips.

In moments of carnal expectations, the nerve sensors were most active to amplify the feelings. This is why one usually feels a bolt of current or a tingling sensation even at a faint sensuous touch or kiss.

The same was the case for Spencer. His mind was forming sensual pleasure even before it arrived while his nerves turned more sensitive.

Sadly for him, these expectations and biological workings of nerves gave him an incomparable agony he could ever experience in his life.

A crunchy cracking sound ringed from his body before his broken jewels pierced through his bladder.

His face turned white while tears formed in his eyes and he collapsed to his knees. He opened his mouth slightly and bubbling foam streamed down.

Ashlyn observed his face and her smile expanded further. She once again praised Kiba for teaching her Acting Cute skill. It just made things too easy and she could get the result without spending much of her strength.

Some distance away, Farhan shook his head and gained clarity. He felt uncomparable dread and praised his luck for not being in Spencer's shoes. Just the sound of jewels shattering and the loss of color from Spencer's face made his skin crawl.

Goosebumps formed on his skin as he recalled how he was envying Spencer when Ashlyn chose him. He now felt an incomparable joy for her not considering him.

"Beauty might be dangerous but intelligence is lethal," Farahn thought with absolute horror. He fully realized how Ashlyn used her intelligence and beauty to lower their guards before landing a fatal blow below the belt.

The knee kick was absolutely terrifying given the force and speed she used. Then there was the black suit she was clad in. It further reinforced her kick and made Spencer experience hell.

"Bitch!" Keith roared loudly. His eyes were bloodshot as he pounced explosively on Ashlyn with his claws aimed at her head.

Ashlyn stepped to the side and Keiths's claws swept past her by a hairbreadth. She quickly raised her left leg vertically before slamming it down on Keith's neck.

BANG

Keith slumped down with his face crashing on the gravels under the might of the kick.

At the same time, Ashlyn twisted her right foot on the ground while moving her left kick in a circular, clockwise motion to tackle Ricky who has launched an assault from behind.

She kicked straight out to his jaw using the bottom of her boot. His bones released a cracking sound while blood and snot came out from his nose. He was sent flying in the air under the disbelief eyes of everyone.

This was far from over as Farahn has caught up from the other side. He refused to believe she could continue to kick with such power without a single break.

Much to his horror, Ashlyn landed her left foot on the ground for rest but at the same time, the right foot started moving out for a back kick on his chest.

Farhan was startled but he was ready. He crossed his arms to take the kick while energy darts appeared around him.

With a screeching sound, the darts rushed ahead.

A cold glint flashed in Ashlyn's eyes and she darted sidewards with one leg in the air. Her body twisted and aligned properly to do a proper summersault to avoid more shards before tapping her feet on the ground.

Meanwhile, Ricky's eyes radiated brightly and veins popped out. His body split into two and then three. In less than a minute, there were hundreds of his self.

Every Ricky took out a steel pipe from his coat before rushing at Ashlyn. The pipes were modified and reinforced with electrical circuits that could discharge thousands of volts on an enemy.

Earlier, his anger and shame made him lose rationality but now he was in his senses. He knew he couldn't afford to underestimate this demonic woman.

"Haah~" Ashlyn let out a soft sigh from her pink lips and her expression changed to her usual cold.

She was disappointed at her performance. She was only able to defeat one enemy with her nutcracking art unlike during her previous confrontation with mercenaries.

She did understand this was due to the strength of her new enemies. They were Level III mutants so they could not be defeated like other nutcracking targets.

Ashlyn leaped twenty feet high in the air while stretching her hands out. The short, blue discs clad on her wrists flew out, leaving behind two trails of blue light.

The spectators were amazed by the fluctuations of energy ravaging out from the discs. The very air was sliced apart while gravels and soil on the ground twisted into vortex under the influence of energy fluctuations.

One of Ricky's bodies shot out the steel pipe towards an incoming disc. Ripples of current shot out, making the air filled with a buzzing sound as electricity dangled in blinding flash.

Alas, much to his disbelief, the disc easily pierced through the ripples of current before slicing the steel pipe as if it was made of straws. The edges of the disc were incredibly sharp and they cut through Ricky's head.

His head was minced in fragments. Red and white pieces of brain and muscles split out in a volcanic fashion.

The other bodies of Ricky were terrified. His body could not even last one second under the assault of one of the discs.

Just how vast was the difference in strength?!

Ricky didn't get time to think. The potential of the disc didn't diminish and it proceeded to his other bodies.

Two bodies tried to overpower the disc from behind by slamming down steel pipes on it. The disc wasn't affected the least bit but the hands of two bodies slashed into pieces as energy fluctuations continued to discharge from the disc.

RIIIIPPPP

The sound of blood splattering was ear-piercing as discs cut through Ricky's bodies. One after another a new body collapsed on the ground, dying the ground crimson.

The disc automatically turned after slicing through one body and proceeding to another. If Ricky leaped or jumped, the disc would turn and follow Ricky's new pattern before slashing right through him. There was no escape...

At the same time, Farhan and Keith faced the other disc. Keith cursed loudly as he narrowly dodged the disc at the cost of his left claw.

In a moment, new veins and flesh popped out from his cleaved arm to form into a new claw.

"That damn bitch!"

Farhan fiercely punched out in the air as the disc curved towards him horizontally into a chopping motion.

A column of red light blasted from his punch and struck the incoming disc. Dazzling sparks flew out while the ground cracked under the intense clash.

"Watch out!"

The nearby spectators leaped backward to avoid the energy shockwaves. The trees in the area were very few but they turned into dust as the resulting shockwaves ripped through them.

TRINGGG

The disc ripped through the red light, spreading the energy fluctuations further in the sky. Farahn's eyes turned wide as in no time the disc cut through his raised hand.

"ARGHHHH!" Farahn let out a miserable scream.

The disc showed no sign of stopping. It rammed through his arm before slicing apart his neck.

THUD

His headless body fell on the ground and shuddered for a moment.

"You got to be kidding!" Keith's scalp was numb with dread. The track and ground nearby were dyed with blood and gore.

The scene made him nauseous and he controlled his urge to throw up.

He looked around as the two discs flew out of deceased bodies and made a quick curve in the air. They then flew in his direction, making him tremble with horror.

Even before he could blink, much less dodge, the discs penetrated right through his heart and neck.

Despite the carnage, the discs were crystal clean, without a single trace of blood.

Ashlyn made a grasping motion and the discs flew back to her. They passed through her hands without harming her and clad back on her wrists.

A few hundred meters ahead, Kiba observed her with a smile and said, "Let's go."

Ashlyn nodded her head and caught up with him.

The other teams who were looking at the battle gulped down. Their throats turned dry in terror at the one-sided battle.

"First there was that handsome golden-haired man and now this gorgeous beauty! They both are frightening!"

"What's more, they are a team!

"That man was at least kind in his fight and didn't torture at all!"

"Right! That woman was terrifying and demonic!" A man muttered.

Ashlyn didn't hear the entire conversations but she heard the part about Kiba being kind.

Kiba and kind!?

She has a strange expression on her face. She quickly cleared her thoughts and obviously didn't bother telling others he was a true sadist.

The onlookers also shook their heads and resumed their journey. They each have resources they either wanted to sell or acquire in the fair.

***

Some twenty minutes later.

Kiba and Ashlyn raised their heads as they arrived at their destination. The track ended here and in front of them was a metallic gate. As far as eyes could see, the entire region was barricaded by large concrete walls.

Above the walls, drones were floating to carry out surveillance. Almost in one mile radius from the walls, there were artificial insects flying from one corner to the other while emitting an odorless scent. The scent was made from the blood and flesh of high mutated beasts along with secretive compounds. It made weaker beasts feel the existence of high-rank beasts in the fair and ensured there was no beast tide.

Dozens of men and women were continuously passing through the gate. There were around ten guards but they were just sitting on chairs and doing nothing but playing cards. From time to time, they would observe women passing by but there were no nefarious acts.

Some hundred meters away from this gate, there was another gate but much larger. Through that gate, groups with vehicles were rushing through. The arrangements were rather same with the addition of a few extra guards and drones.

It was rather hard to imagine this scenary was a part of Desolate Blood Forest where the law of jungle rules supreme.

Kiba and Ashlyn joined the queue to enter The Desolate Fair.

"Hmm?" Kiba noticed electronic sensors embedded in the frame of the gate. The sensors recorded the heat signal and gave a digital card to every individual passing through the gate.

Both Kiba and Ashlyn got their respective cards. There was an identification number on the front of the card while on the back there was a set of instructions.

"Flights are restricted, conflicts are illegal and killing would lead to death penalty," Kiba read the starting instructions. He checked the other rules and was impressed. If the rules were truly implemented like the card said then it wouldn't be wrong to say this was a civilized place just like cities under government rule.

Kiba looked around after entering the fair. Juat a quick glance indicated there were more than thousands of humans in the area along with pet beasts. There were infrastructures, both wooden and concrete.

"Ashlyn," Kiba turned towards her. "Let's check if we can find what we want."

Ashlyn nodded in agreement....