Tactical Retreat

“What in the world!”

Watching Lorenzo’s body reduced to a pile of bones in mere minutes, Ewan felt his scalp prickle with horror.

‘This isn’t right. Time to flee!’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ewan turned and bolted.

But then, Ewan heard it: a heartbeat thrumming like a war drum.

The monstrous figure wasn’t physically imposing; he was merely tall and gaunt. It was difficult to fathom such a powerful thrum, like the heart of a monstrous beast, emanating from his slender frame.

Yet, the more incongruous it seemed, the more ominous it felt.

‘Imagine a Lamborghini engine crammed into a Wuling Hongguang back in my past life. What would happen?’

‘It would simply fly!’

With a thunderous roar, the bluestone ground beneath the monster’s feet violently exploded!

The monster’s lanky silhouette, like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, shot directly towards Ewan.

He was truly flying, skimming just above the ground!

“Damn it!”

Ewan cursed under his breath, twisting his body with nimble grace. Simultaneously, he activated Shadow Step, forcibly shifting several meters to the side.

However, the sense of dread in his mind did not dissipate. The monster, its momentum unchecked, lunged towards… Ewan’s shadow!

A shiver ran down Ewan’s spine, as if countless ice shards had stabbed him in the back, leaving him utterly cold.

Lorenzo’s horrific demise still replayed in his mind. Without hesitation, he twisted again, turned back, and crossed his twin blades, choosing to directly confront the monster’s attack.

Boom!

The ground immediately cracked, spiderweb-like fissures spreading across it.

Ewan’s knees were slightly bent, every muscle in his body taut. At this moment, he felt as though he wasn’t just fending off a monster’s assault, but resisting an entire mountain!

“Damn it… this is absurd… With this kind of power… why the hell are you messing around in the Lower City?”

Under the immense pressure, Ewan’s face contorted in a grimace. He struggled to widen his eyes, hoping to discern the monster’s origin, but through the mask that seemed woven from congealed blood, Ewan saw only infinite desolation.

No joy.

No sorrow.

He was like a dead man.

Yet, from those stagnant, lifeless eyes, Ewan perceived a raw, primal craving for the flesh and blood of the living.

“An evil cultist?”

Ewan suddenly understood what Lorenzo’s cries of ‘Lord’ had truly meant.

Aside from brainless fools deluded by evil cultists, who else would constantly utter such terms as ‘Lord, my Lord’?

“Who do you worship? The God of Love? The Moon? Wither?”

The monster did not reply.

‘Naturally. Whether they’re devout followers or simply individuals corrupted by an evil god, their minds are usually addled. How could they possibly answer me so easily?’

“Get – out!”

Facing the monster’s increasingly terrifying force, Ewan suddenly roared.

The veins on the backs of his hands, gripping Elizabeth, pulsed violently. His hands made no outward movement, yet a booming shockwave erupted from them.

Then, with the crossing of his short swords, it violently burst forth!

It was Thunderclap – Modified! Usable even without an empty hand!

Under the powerful shockwave, the monster staggered backward, each step leaving a clear imprint on the bluestone floor. After three steps, he regained his footing.

‘What kind of monster is this?’

Ewan’s eyelids twitched.

‘He took a Thunderclap – Modified at such close range, and only retreated three steps?’

Ewan had believed his body, reinforced by the Mercury Well, was still powerful enough. But compared to this monster, it seemed somewhat lacking!

‘It’s a shame I can’t just burn him to death with the King of Wither’s flames. Using Crimson Flames within my domain wouldn’t leak my aura, true. But if I don’t incinerate him completely, it will definitely leave traces!’

‘Using that power in Belland is still too risky. Normally, I can only use it as a blood potion.’

Since fighting him was out of the question, escape was the only option.

‘But…’

Ewan’s peripheral vision swept over the surroundings. On the deserted street, the moon cast his shadow long and far.

He could definitely run, but his shadow…

The premonition of death began to hum once more.

After a brief moment of rigidity, the monster resumed its movements. He tightened his grip on the blood-stained cleaver and lunged at Ewan once again.

The distance was too short, the target too large.

Nowhere to run!

“Damn it, do you think I’m afraid of you?”

Seeing his escape strategy fail, Ewan, whose mood was already foul, felt the fire within him reignite. He abruptly stood his ground, put Elizabeth away, and then turned, charging at the monster empty-handed: “Take this, my ultimate move: Infinite Holy Light, Yellow Springs of the Azure Abyss, Ultimate Killing Heavenly Demon Palm!”

Ewan’s sudden ferocity and roar caused the monster to stiffen. Its cleaver, previously poised for attack, now shifted into a defensive stance.

At that very moment, Ewan’s Infinite Holy Light, Yellow Springs of the Azure Abyss, Ultimate Killing Heavenly Demon Palm arrived, and from his palm, an endless brilliance erupted!

‘Infinite Holy Light, Yellow Springs of the Azure Abyss, Ultimate Killing Heavenly Demon Palm? What a load of crap! Take this, you idiot, maximum power Illumination Spell!’

Dazzling light descended, illuminating the street as if it were broad daylight.

All shadows were momentarily dispelled.

The monster let out a piercing shriek of agony. More than the reduction in its attack capabilities, the most crucial effect was that its eyes, accustomed to darkness, would be temporarily blinded by such intense light!

The monster went berserk, wildly swinging its cleaver and charging around like a maddened bull, smashing through countless walls.

But when the light completely vanished and its vision returned, the ravaged street was already empty.

‘He ran?’

“Not… not tasty…”

The monster pulled another distorted shadow from its black raincoat and chewed on it.

“Not tasty… not tasty…”

Following the moonlight, he wandered off in a certain direction, without the slightest hesitation.

****

“Damn it, such a powerful evil cultist just openly strolling the streets! Are the Empire’s Silent Ones just freeloaders?”

In a dark alley, Ewan couldn’t help but punch the wall.

‘What kind of mess is this?’

First gangs, then an evil cultist, and innocent people dying because of him. ‘Am I really a human magnet for bad luck?’

“No, this probably just confirms that old saying.”

Ewan leaned against the wall, sitting down, and gazed up at the bright moon.

“‘The gifts of fate have always had their price marked in secret.’ Especially for me, a yellow-haired villain despised by fate itself.”

‘From now on, I need to be more cautious, Ewan Campbell. Anyone can get carried away, anyone can grow arrogant, but I cannot.’

“I should leave here first.”

Ewan pushed himself up against the wall, preparing to depart.

But at that moment, he suddenly heard the heartbeat again.

“What?”

Looking up in alarm, a tall figure reappeared in the nearby shadows, steadily approaching.

“Damn it, how did he find me?”

‘Did he use some tracking magic, just like Lorenzo?’

Ewan lightly tapped Elizabeth, and a faint electric arc spread around his body, neutralizing any potential tracking marks. Then, he quickly hid deeper into the alley’s shadows.

The monster passed the first intersection without hesitation, continuing straight.

The monster passed the second intersection without hesitation, continuing straight.

The monster passed the third intersection, and still… continued straight.

“Why?”

In the shadows, Ewan’s eyes widened. That monster seemed capable of directly pinpointing his location!

‘What do I do, what do I do? If he traps me again this time, it won’t be so easy to get away.’

Just as Ewan was panicking, in this dark alley, he suddenly heard… a sigh.

“Oh, I can’t do anything with you.”

From the shadows, a fair arm suddenly reached out, covering Ewan’s mouth, while a fragrant breeze brushed against his ear.

“Don’t move.”

Then, he was pulled into a patch of darkness.