Chapter 204: Who Claims That I Am dead?
Under Eve's gaze, Enzo remained unfazed.
Yet, if one were to observe closely, they would catch a fleeting glimpse of a normal brown hue mingling with the crimson of Enzo's eyes—an ephemeral moment before it vanished once more into the familiar blood red.
Enzo spoke, "You may leave now."
Eve remained unmoved.
With a soft smile, Enzo tucked a strand of Eve's cascading hair behind her ear and leaned closer, whispering, "And if you seek revenge, I welcome it. But should you fail, you should be well aware of the consequences. Rather than conquering your body, I wish to capture your heart."
With that, his hand grazed her soft curves, where an array of palm prints had already marked their presence.
Eve remained silent, her gaze coldly fixed on Enzo.
Yet, he chose not to linger, unfurling his crimson wings to soar skyward.
Below, Eve stood in a daze.
She remained motionless for quite some time, perplexed by Enzo's decision to let her go. Was he truly unafraid of the Ice Moon Royal Family's revenge?
Regardless, she was, at last, free.
Yet, Eve sensed that her heart was not solely filled with joy; a twinge of reluctance lingered.
How could this be?
Why did such feelings of reluctance arise?
"Eve, have you truly fallen, lost in the depths of desire?"
This inner questioning jolted Eve back to reality. For the Ice Moon Royal Family, she could never succumb. The next time she encountered Enzo, she would not hesitate to eliminate the man who had humiliated her!
With this resolve, Eve's expression hardened once more.
She retrieved a garment from her spatial bracelet and, after donning it, activated a spatial portal, swiftly departing the Blue Agate River region to return to the Ice Moon Royal Family.
Meanwhile, Enzo, who had soared into the sky, soon descended.
Shaking his head, he muttered curses under his breath. "Damn it, I should have killed Eve. Why do I find myself hesitating?"
"Is something amiss with this?"
In the palm of his hand, a blood element pattern emerged, its intricate lines becoming sharper and its hue a deeper crimson, though the malevolent aura emanating from it had significantly diminished.
After a brief glance, Enzo retracted the element pattern.
He was certain that he had not encountered any issues. His consciousness remained whole.
He was still himself—Enzo, the priest of the Crimson Star Tribe!
Oh~
Exhaling deeply, Enzo resolved to temporarily disregard the blood element pattern.
He oriented himself and, sensing a familiar spatial fluctuation, activated a portal to return to the vicinity of Crimson Lake.
At that moment.
The area surrounding Crimson Lake buzzed with speculation due to the recent upheaval in Blood Shadow Canyon. Members of the Gathering Place engaged in animated discussions, pondering the causes of the disturbances and the potential changes that might ensue.
Additionally, another matter had ignited fervent debate among the populace.
After many years, a sky-high bounty had reemerged from the Dark Night Forest—an astounding price of five hundred thousand gold Kafen offered for the life of Enzo.
Those who could provide information would also be handsomely rewarded.
Even more enticing was the fact that this Enzo was only of Level 6 prowess.
It was an ability that, while not weak, was certainly noteworthy within the Dark Night Forest.
Surrounding Crimson Lake, one can encounter a plethora of formidable individuals, each possessing extraordinary capabilities, all above Level 6.
Consequently, a fervent search for Enzo has commenced.
In a remarkably short span, numerous participants have uncovered vital details about Enzo.
Hailing from the Barren Peninsula, he was previously accompanied by a partner named Norma; the duo had once traversed Crimson Lake and interacted with Occam, the leader of a minor faction, before venturing into Blood Shadow Canyon.
Upon reaching this juncture in their investigation, the searchers could not help but sigh in resignation.
It was revealed that after Enzo had engaged in a conflict with Bernard within Blood Shadow Canyon, he was engulfed by a colossal Blood Puppet and subsequently vanished into an enigmatic realm, leaving his fate uncertain.
This unfortunate turn of events evoked a sense of lament among many, mourning their lost opportunity for fortune.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn.
A multitude of individuals converged upon Blood Shadow Canyon in pursuit of Enzo.
Soon, they witnessed the emergence of a spatial portal, from which a host of powerful supernatural beings suddenly appeared.
Upon their arrival, these entities exhibited palpable excitement, yet they remained within Blood Shadow Canyon, patrolling the area as if awaiting the appearance of a certain individual.
More importantly, some astute observers recognized the identities of these supernatural beings.
"It's Erdos!"
"That individual is rumored to possess Level 9 strength, even surpassing the First Leader of the Solar Dynasty!"
"No, wasn't Erdos said to have vanished mysteriously?"
"Without a doubt, that is Erdos! In Dark Night Forest, he is the sole master of dark elements!"
"Moreover, Dreammaker Kaelyn has also made an appearance!"
"And Lawrence, the ruler of the Giant Hand Gathering Place…"
A multitude of long-vanished, formidable supernatural entities has re-emerged, and their simultaneous appearance has sent shockwaves throughout the Dark Night Forest.
Remarkably, this occurrence has even compelled the Ice Moon Royal Family and the Solar Dynasty to suspend their hostilities.
Tensions among other factions had also significantly diminished.
The entire Dark Night Forest has descended into an eerie calm,
As the presence of these individuals poses a potential threat to the very fabric of their world. Due to the uncertainty surrounding their intentions and the motives behind their gathering, all factions have opted for restraint.
Meanwhile, as speculation swirls in the outside world, discord brews within Blood Shadow Canyon.
"We should wait here for Leader Enzo."
Xavior proposed that.
However, scarcely had he uttered those words when a figure stepped forward in opposition. This individual, exuding a powerful aura, scoffed, "Xavior, given your teachings of Primal Power in Misty World, I can overlook your comments. But be aware, we have emerged from the shadows.
Enzo may be your leader, but he is not one whom I, Hobbes, recognize as my own!"
Xavior, incensed, retorted, "Hobbes, what do you mean by that?"
Hobbes replied with a derisive smile, "What I mean is that I do not acknowledge Enzo!"
He then turned to address the others, "Friends, you must consider this carefully; Enzo's strength is likely not as formidable as one might think. To follow a weaker individual could lead to ridicule should the truth come to light."
Murmurs arose among the crowd.
And soon several stepped forward to align themselves with Hobbes, becoming his supporters.
However, many remained noncommittal.
At this juncture, Erdos chose to speak.
As the most formidable being among the group, his stance was undeniably of great significance.
Erdos surveyed the crowd and inquired, "Have you all forgotten the vow made in the Misty World? Whoever can lead us to safety shall be our leader!"
Many bowed their heads in shame.
Seeing this, Hobbes grew anxious and exclaimed, "Erdos, don't forget that Enzo is still in the Misty World, likely already slain by those Moon Tide monsters."
At that moment, a blood-red radiance descended from the sky, and Enzo plummeted to the ground.
With a smile, he asked, "Who claims I am dead?"
Though this was directed at everyone, Enzo's gaze remained fixed solely on Hobbes.
Level 7!
The crowd sensed the aura emanating from Enzo, prompting an array of thoughts to surge within them.
However, Xavior noticed something amiss.
Having had ample interactions with Enzo, he understood him better than the others, yet he now sensed a peculiar shift in Enzo—a transformation that infused him with arrogance and cruelty, despite retaining his identity.
He found it difficult to discern whether this change was favorable or not.
Thus, Xavior chose to remain silent.
Hobbes, though taken aback by Enzo's return, felt disdain upon recognizing his strength. Yet a smile graced his face as he said, "Enzo, it appears you survived—this truly brings me joy."
He then produced ten golden Kafens.
He extracted nine and leaving one, tossing it to Enzo with the words, "For leading us out of the Misty World, I am grateful. This golden Kafen is your reward; be sure to keep it safe. It may come in handy when hunger strikes, allowing you to procure some food to sate your appetite."
This statement is undoubtedly a humiliation.
Enzo slowly approached Hobbes and inquired, "So, Hobbes, are you planning to disregard our agreement?"
Hobbes shook his head.
Chuckling, he replied, "Leader Enzo, do not misconstrue my intentions. It is not that I intend to break our pact, but rather, you are simply too insignificant. In the Misty World, where everyone is stripped of their supernatural abilities, you may wield power. Only then can you claim strength.
But for now, I am the one in power! What are you, that you would demand my submission?"
As he spoke the last words, Hobbes's tone grew assertive, his facade ripped away.
The atmosphere instantly turned tense.
"Interesting, interesting."
Enzo suddenly burst into laughter and turned to those behind Hobbes, posing the question, "Do you share his sentiments?"
The group remained silent, their heads held high in disdain.
A demeanor that spoke volumes.
Enzo's expression hardened, and he calmly declared, "Very well, then let all of you perish."
Hobbes scoffed, "With you—"
Before he could finish, he witnessed the Blood Shadow Canyon enveloped by Enzo's unleashed Realm. Within its grasp, he felt his supernatural powers suppressed, his body unresponsive, akin to a lamb awaiting slaughter, utterly defenseless.
How could this be?!
Wasn't Enzo merely at Level 7?
How could his strength be so formidable, entirely shattering all norms?
Hobbes was thrown into a panic.
He attempted to protest, yet felt an invisible blade slice across his neck, mirrored by the fate of those behind him.
Seven or eight heads tumbled away, blood spraying.
In mere moments, Hobbes and his cadre of formidable supernatural beings lay dead.