Return

Leiva had never expected that while accepting a commission to hunt trolls outside the border, he would actually run into these two.

Back at the Adventurer's Association, it was inconvenient to make a move with so many eyes watching... but now, the situation was completely different.

Leiva exchanged a glance with his teammates. Over ten people immediately fanned out, forming a tight encirclement around Aise and his companion.

"You two actually dared to brutally murder a comrade of our adventure group!" Leiva shouted with a righteous facade. "Do you think I will let you off easily after committing such a cruel act!"

"That guy clearly..." Eni tried to argue, but Aise raised a hand, stopping her.

"There's no need to beat around the bush. Just say it directly, how much compensation do you want." Aise stared coldly at the Bone Crusher Adventure Group before him.

When traveling abroad, avoid making trouble whenever possible... this was what Xia Lun had warned him.

"Cass was a teammate who lived and died with us! How could his life possibly be measured by money?" Leiva said with a look of indignation.

In reality, that guy was just a rookie who joined the adventure group last month. Dead was dead; Leiva didn't feel the slightest bit of pity in his heart.

"Then what do you want?" Aise's hand slowly rested on the hilt of his sword.

"A life for a life, it's perfectly justified." Leiva snorted coldly, revealing a sinister smile. "Your life, or hand over that woman behind you. Choose one yourself."

Eni's face turned pale, not expecting things to escalate like this.

Aise didn't waste any more words. He leaped high from the carriage, crashing toward the enemy's encirclement like a falling meteor.

"Heh, arrogant fool. None of you intervene, let me handle him."

Leiva drew his longsword and stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with ferocity.

The two swords clashed, sending sparks flying. Leiva only felt a massive force transmit from the blade, numbing the web of his hand. He staggered back several steps before steadying himself... Aise, on the other hand, advanced instead of retreating. Pressing forward step by step, his dancing sword light forced Leiva to retreat in defeat.

The members of the Bone Crusher Adventure Group looked at each other in dismay. They hadn't expected their captain to be completely suppressed so quickly.

"What are you standing around for? Come help! Shield bearer!" Leiva yelled in humiliated rage.

A burly man holding a massive steel shield hurriedly stepped forward, stepping in front of Leiva and blocking Aise's offensive.

Aise's longsword slashed against the giant shield, leaving behind a series of moderate gouges.

"Attack together!"

With the pressure alleviated, Leiva rallied his forces and led the group to launch an assault on Aise.

Although the team Leiva led today did not consist of all the members of the Bone Crusher Adventure Group, all their core strength was concentrated here. Including him, there were four high-tier experts, along with several other capable mid-tier fighters. This was already quite a formidable force.

The shield guard blocked Aise's attacks from the front, Leiva and another high-tier warrior formed a pincer movement from the sides, and a high-tier mage provided support and harassment from the rear...

Two fists are no match for four hands. Even Aise was immediately suppressed by their coordinated teamwork.

Most adventure groups... excelled in team combat. Relying on precise tactics, they could defeat many monsters stronger than themselves.

"Heh, got him!" Spotting an opening, Leiva thrust his longsword at a highly tricky angle straight toward Aise's neck.

In the nick of time, an ice cone shot out from behind Aise, forcing Leiva to pull back his sword to parry.

Eni gripped her staff nervously.

"You guys, go grab that woman! After we kill this kid, we can take our time playing with her!" Leiva barked at his remaining subordinates.

Several members of the Bone Crusher mercenary group exchanged glances, lecherous gleams in their eyes, and completely surrounded the carriage.

"This girl is so pretty and delicate."

"Once the captain is done, it will be our turn."

"It'd be a shame to kill her when she's this beautiful... We could sell her to a brothel for a lot of money. I'd definitely be a regular customer."

Eni's hands trembled as she gripped the dagger hidden on her body. If she had to face that kind of fate, she would definitely choose to end her own life.

The shield guard charged forward with his shield. In his haste, Aise could only conjure a wall of ice in front of him.

With a roar from the shield guard, the ice wall was smashed to pieces. The giant shield slammed directly into Aise, sending his body flying through the air.

"Young Master Aise!" Eni let out a cry of alarm.

"Don't scream, it will be your turn soon," the surrounding members of the Bone Crusher Adventure Group chuckled darkly.

"The captain is almost done over there. Why don't we strip this little beauty naked first?" someone suggested, drawing a chorus of lecherous agreements.

"Good idea."

The men closed in on Eni. She raised her staff to resist, but with a flash of sword light, the staff was cleanly snapped in two. An eager mercenary lunged at her, and Eni instinctively drew her dagger and stabbed outward.

"Ah!"

The dagger plunged into the man's lower abdomen.

"Stupid bitch!"

The guy was a mid-tier warrior, after all, so this was far from a fatal wound. He snatched the dagger directly from her grasp and then slapped Eni off the carriage.

The surrounding men swarmed over, pinning down Eni's hands and feet, and began tearing at her clothes.

"Let me go, let me go right now!" Eni let out a miserable shriek, but her struggles were in vain.

Aise lay sprawled on the ground, feeling as if all his internal organs had shifted. His ears were ringing, and every breath brought heart-tearing pain.

The faint sounds of Eni's tragic screams reached his ears, and he immediately realized what was happening.

He staggered, trying to get up, only to find himself completely powerless.

Despite his extraordinary strength, facing a fully trained and intact mercenary group left him lacking the power to resist.

"You are too weak, Aise... Let me do it. Let me take over."

Wisps of black mist began to emerge from Aise's pupils.

"Who... are you..." Aise replied in his mind.

"Have you forgotten? I am Aise... I am the real you."

"What... are you talking about?"

"You are just a hypocritical mask, the image our father and mother expected us to be. You are merely a character I played... whereas I am your true nature. Merge with me, Aise. You don't even know how to use your power... If you refuse to accept me, there is only death waiting for you, and the person you like will be ravished by those guys..."

"Eni..."

"You like her, I know. I am you, there's no need to deny it. I know everything about you."

"Merge..."

"We were originally one person anyway. It doesn't matter, Aise. We are the Child of Chaos... and chaos is the most powerful force..."

"Young Master Aise!" Eni's shrill cry for help echoed in his ears.

"Then... let's merge."

Aise slowly stood up. His pupils were instantly engulfed in dense darkness, which then rapidly receded, transforming into a crimson even deeper than before.

A wicked and uncontrollable smile crept up the corners of his mouth.

"I'm back."