Escape(II)

"Jaye! Retreat! He has gifts that mainly work in close quarters! We'll use my flames to tire him out and you'll land the final blow!" Roared out one of the only two guards left standing.

"Why the h-"

{Freeze.}

[Layer.]

Adonis' spear left the air quaking as he reaped yet another life.

Though he didn't have enough stamina left to fully control anyone, he sure did have enough to stun them just for a mere second, allowing him to kill them.

"Huff…huff…huff…"

Zarbon, the only guard left, watched in horror as this child, covered in blood and sweat, stood valiantly, his gaze burning with fervour and passion as his blade pointed toward him, inviting him to a challenge despite his pathetic state.

He grit his teeth in anger as he took multiple steps back, his hands waving across the air as he sent multiple balls of fire hurling toward Adonis.

Unsurprisingly, Adonis easily dodged these attacks but as he did so, a thought popped into his mind.

'I wonder if I can…'

He moved and directly headed to the high level guard who he still hadn't killed and was only knocked out.

He placed his hand on his back and immediately activated [Snatch].

His stamina rapidly depleted and reached ground zero but as this happened, Adonis madly grinned.

Just as it seemed his body had reached its limit, the guard's body shrivelled up and Adonis' stamina spiked and reached its zenith.

'So it does work.'

Zarbon froze as he saw this, his heart racing as his thoughts ran wild.

'Did he awaken the [Devour] Gift..? How?! Wh-'

{Kill yourself.}

Adonis didn't even wait as he spoke those words. He immediately turned and continued to run, smiling as he heard Zarbon struggle against his own body.

'I need to be fast. I have to get to the clearing in three hours at most or I'll miss them.'

****

On a desolate dirt road cutting through the depths of the Keilah forest, a carriage calmly and silently made its way, its wheels creaking softly against the uneven path ahead of it, full of rocks and potholes.

At the front of the carriage, guiding the horses with steady hands was an old warrior.

He was bald, bearing a full white beard as his gaze held the ferocity of a dragon's and his body the majesty of a seasoned veteran.

Even as he heard the screams of horror and anguish coming from the Styl mansion, he remained stoic and unbothered and calmly led the carriage through these dangerous lands.

Suddenly, his brow rose as he noticed something ahead.

"Master, it seems like today is the day." He calmly said, his deep voice rapidly reaching the ears of one of the figures within the carriage.

"Oh?"

Ahead of them, lying naked on the road, was a young boy. He had long dark hair and his body seemed to be covered in a near endless amount of scars as the blood that constantly leaked through his bruises told his entire story.

The air trembled for a mere moment then suddenly, floating above the boy, a duo appeared, both veiled by a mantle of milky white energy.

"Hm. Despite the state of his body, his life force is strangely powerful. I can see his body actively trying to heal using the surrounding qi." Stated one of the figures.

"Hm. Unfortunately, it seems it can't directly control any of it so it's forced to devour his own life force, thus creating a cycle that'll only lead him to death. How funny. To have such an ingenious body and yet no qi roots."

The other figure nodded in agreement.

"Alright, Marlo, we're taking him in. Go fetch some herbs for him. I'll be healing him in the meantime."

One of the veiled entities waved its hand and the boy's body was suddenly enveloped by its energy and carried into the carriage alongside the two entities.

***

Adonis's eyes violently snapped open and he sat up straight, looking around in alertness at the unfamiliarity of the place he was in.

Before he could further analyse his surroundings, a voice startled him.

"There is no need to worry, boy. If we wanted to harm you, we would've done so when we found you. Relax."

Adonis looked to his left and his gaze met a young man's.

The young man had long white hair, deep scarlet pupils and a presence that reeked of nobility and power. Just being beside him made Adonis' heart tremble in fear.

'Calm down.' Adonis ordered himself as he breathed out and ignored the man for the moment.

The carriage he was in was rather luxurious and spacious with its velvet drapes that elegantly hung down from the windows, its spacious seating area filled by red couches and its thick wooden walls that emanated a rich aura of life and warmth.

Adonis was woken out of his daze as he heard a chuckle coming from his right.

'I didn't even notice them.'

"You're quite the airhead, aren't you?"

To his right was an elderly woman that seemed to be a carbon copy of the young man with her long white hair and deep bloody pupils.

Adonis rapidly stood up and formally bowed.

"My apologies, I was still on alert due to my circumstances, I didn't mean to be rude."

"I'd like to thank you for healing my wounds and allowing me into your carriage, for as long as I live, I will remember this favour." He concisely said.

The young man chuckled and patted Adonis' back.

"Oh, please. There's no need for any of this, come, sit with us. We'd like to know more about your plight, young boy."

Adonis didn't stand on ceremony and immediately sat next to the man, his posture relaxed yet attentive as he awaited for the conversation to unfold.

"May I please first know who I'm talking to?" Carefully asked Adonis.

"Oh, my! You truly are on edge!" Exclaimed the old lady. "I am Saleh, Elder of the White Dragon Nomad group and this is Rylo, Legacy Heir of the White Dragon Nomad group." She added.

"Is this enough, now?"

Adonis' eyes widened.