Chapter 204: The Guide to the Abyss

Shingin's journey continued in some distant corner of the world. Meanwhile, in another realm, Akari's symphony of carnage was beginning. The night remained deep and heavy, yet amidst the ruins, the air was thick with murderous intent. Akari stood in the shadows, a faint, excited smile playing on his lips.

The desolate, abandoned streets echoed with Akari's deliberate yet electrified steps. His head was slightly bowed, his lips curved into a smirk, and his eyes gleamed with bloodlust. Standing in his path was his prey—a man equally filled with killing intent.

The man sneered contemptuously, summoning an energy rifle that emitted a piercing blue light. However, Akari seemed unfazed. From beneath his flowing cloak, he flung a handful of glimmering blades into the air, their cold arcs slicing through the darkness.

Like a predator, Akari charged forward, snatching one of the knives mid-air with his right hand and hurling it toward the man's right flank. Instinctively, the man dodged, only for Akari to seamlessly grab a second knife with his left hand and launch it toward his left flank. Akari's precision created an intricate web of flashing steel, trapping his target in a labyrinth of no escape. The man's avenues for counterattack or retreat were completely sealed.

"Damn it!" the man cursed, twisting his body to evade the attack. Yet he was a fraction too slow—one of the knives grazed his cheek, leaving a crimson gash. Despite this, a sardonic grin appeared on his face. "That's all you've got? You think this is enough to beat me?"

No sooner had he spoken than a summoning array illuminated behind Akari. A beam rifle materialized, aiming straight at his back.

"You're dead now!" The man's eyes gleamed with triumphant malice.

But his grin froze in place. Before he could pull the trigger, Akari whipped out two pistols from within his cloak and fired without turning. Bang! Bang! Bang! The summoning array shattered into a cascade of sparks before the energy could fully materialize.

"Impossible..." The man's pupils constricted as he stared at Akari in disbelief. "Didn't you throw all your weapons?"

Akari chuckled softly, tilting his head with a mocking expression. "Who told you that?"

With those words, Akari surged forward. The man gritted his teeth and prepared to fight back. But just as he thought he'd identified Akari's next move, his peripheral vision caught sight of a weapon—falling from above.

A knife spinning through the air was redirected mid-flight by a bullet from one of Akari's floating pistols. Its trajectory shifted, hurtling toward the man's left hand. Distracted by Akari's frontal feint, the man instinctively believed this was the finishing blow.

"Got him!" the man thought, confidence surging—only for the world to spin around him in an instant.

Akari's left hand snatched the deflected knife out of the air, and in a flash of cold steel, it slashed across the man's carotid artery. Warm blood gushed forth, staining the air with its metallic scent.

The man collapsed, his disbelieving eyes locked onto Akari as he gurgled his last breaths. His gaze seemed to question: How could this happen?

Akari gazed down at his fallen prey, his expression tinged with disappointment. Licking the corner of his lips, he muttered in a low voice, "That's it? Boring."

He sheathed his weapons and left the bloodied corpse behind, the air still heavy with the echoes of violence.

Akari walked toward Hayato, Kanto, and Usagi. His footsteps echoed loudly in the quiet night. The excitement on his face had not entirely faded, and his lips held a mischievous smirk.

Kanto adjusted his sunglasses, his annoyance written all over his face. Pointing at Akari, he snapped, "Damn it! You stole the kill again! Are you done hogging the spotlight? Do you have to make everything about you?"

Akari stopped, feigning innocence as he shrugged. Mimicking a sugary tone, Akane chimed in with exaggerated mockery and a playful ghostly face, "Oh, Kanto, don't be so harsh~ Your sniper rifle is so long, are you sure you wouldn't have been the one played to death first? Pfft—"

Kanto bristled, his face twitching as he seethed in silence. All he could do was glare venomously at Akari.

Meanwhile, Usagi stood with her arms crossed, watching the scene with a detached air, as though these arguments were nothing new. However, when Hayato suddenly stepped closer to her, her demeanor shifted in an instant. She recoiled sharply, clutching her arms around herself as though shielding against an unseen threat.

"Stay away from me!" Usagi's voice was sharp with panic, her eyes filled with terror.

Hayato grinned unabashedly, his gaze curious and teasing. "Wow, you're adorable when you're nervous. What are you so scared of? I'm not going to eat you."

Akari observed Usagi's reaction with amusement, his smile tinged with malice. Taking a few steps closer, he leaned in and said in a low, mocking tone, "Not tied up yet, huh? That was your chance just now. What's wrong? Not planning to run?"

Usagi lifted her head, meeting Akari's gaze with cold defiance. Her eyes were devoid of struggle, filled instead with a bleak hopelessness. "Do you think I could escape even if I tried?"

Akari chuckled, the sound dripping with a confidence that brooked no argument. He looked at Usagi as though pronouncing an unalterable destiny. "Don't worry. One day, you'll thank yourself for the choice you're making now."

Usagi said nothing, lowering her head once more. Her arms remained tightly wrapped around herself, as though clinging to the last shred of safety. Nearby, Hayato stood dazed, his lips slightly parted, seemingly entranced by something he couldn't quite name. After a moment, he looked away, muttering incoherently to himself.

Usagi's voice trembled with fear as she bit her lip, trying to suppress her emotions. But she couldn't help asking, "Where… where are we going? What are you planning to do to me?"

Her gaze flitted nervously, searching for any clue in Akari's expression. But his pale face betrayed nothing, only that same enigmatic smile.

"Gabrielle City," Akari answered nonchalantly, glancing up at the darkening sky. His tone was light, as if discussing something utterly trivial. "The city the Watcher recently destroyed."