Free Web NovelChapter 19: Chapter 19. Entering Derulo City’s danger zone
Eldorath Empire.
Hessington State.
Derulo City.
At the edge of the Southern District.
The stars dotted the evening sky. The weather was a bit cold. Winter was approaching.
A cab pulled to a stop.
Aiden got out of the cab. He paid the driver. The car turned around and left.
Aiden stared ahead.
This place contained no skyscrapers. Just a very large electric fence spread across the perimeter. Beyond it, a fortress stood. Beyond the fortress, there was a large forest spreading for as far as the eyes could see.
Anywhere beyond the electric fence was considered part of the danger zone. The danger zones of all cities were like this.
There was a military outpost, which was the fortress outside the fence. The military outpost there rotated military personnel sent from the empire military there to guard the place. In case of a chaotic beast invasion into any city, the military outpost would be the first line of defense to buy time for warriors from guilds, freelance warriors, warriors working with the warriors association, university students and staff, warriors from Artifact Engineers Association, and the Alchemist Association, to arrive.
This practice was not just done in the Eldorath Empire. It was how the system worked everywhere. The International Union personally came up with this structure towards handling beast invasions.
Aiden proceeded towards the entrance that led one into the danger zone.
Two military personnel, a man and a woman, were having a conversation. They were legendary rank 2 warriors.
"Warrior’s card, please," the woman said.
Aiden handed his warrior’s card to her. The woman scanned it with a device.
"He’s linked to a university. Derulo City University, huh. Not bad." The woman nodded towards Aiden and handed over his warrior’s card back to him.
Aiden nodded back politely.
"First time entering the danger zone?" the woman asked.
Aiden nodded. "Yeah."
"The danger zone is divided into four parts: the rank 1 region, the rank 2 region, the rank 3 region and the rank 4 region," the woman explained. It was a natural procedure to orient those entering the danger zone for the first time. "The rank 1 region contains rank 1 chaotic beasts, the rank 2 region contains rank 2 chaotic beasts, the rank 3 region contains rank 3 chaotic beasts, and the rank 4 region contains rank 4 chaotic beasts. The deeper one advances, the more dangerous it becomes."
"Noted," Aiden replied.
"You can enter the danger zone, kid. Stay safe," the man replied.
"Thanks, seniors." Aiden nodded politely and went through the gate.
He passed the outpost and headed towards the forest. As Aiden was walking, he could hear the occasional roars of beasts ahead.
Very soon, he arrived at the edge of the forest. There was a sign.
Derulo City Danger zone. Rank 1 region.
Aiden glanced it for a moment and entered the forest.
The moment Aiden entered the forest, the sight of trees greeted him. The place was very dark. However, thanks to his transformed body, he could see clearly.
"I can encounter any rank 1 beast ranging from beginner rank 1 to legendary rank 1 here. It’s a rank zone. It means any chaotic beast at rank 1, regardless of sub rank, can be found here. I need to be careful and observe my environment first, else I will die before I even know it," Aiden thought.
He narrowed his eyes. He scanned several places not too far from his vicinity.
There were many advanced rank 1 beasts ahead.
"Shit," Aiden cursed.
His eyes turned crimson. Several blobs of his blood appeared before him and transformed into two crimson wings. The crimson wings attached themselves to his back.
Aiden flew out of the area towards a quiet tree he had not noticed any creature on. Apart from the tree, every other place was full of advanced rank 1 chaotic beasts.
Aiden sat on the tree. His crimson wings turned into blobs of blood and disappeared into him. He didn’t want it to draw any attention. He hid covertly in one of the thick branches of the tree. The leaves covered him completely.
He narrowed his eyes again. Ten advanced rank 1 chaotic beasts were approaching the area he was previously standing.
The chaotic beasts eventually arrived at the place. They looked like panthers.
"Shadow assassin panthers," Aiden thought. These creatures were very deadly. He had read about them. They were called shadow assassin panthers because they were very fast. They had the wind affinity. They were very good at attacking enemies from their blind spot.
Had he been careless, they would have killed him before he even knew how he died.
The creatures roamed the area for a while. It was obvious they were hunting for prey and that was what had led them here. The only reason why they had come here was because they could not dare to attack the other advanced rank 1 chaotic beasts at where they previously were.
"Most likely, my smell brought them here. Fortunately, I was careful," Aiden thought.
The creatures sat down beneath a tree. Aiden could not tell whether they were waiting for weak prey to appear, or they could still smell him but didn’t know where exactly he was hiding, and because of that, they were waiting for him to show himself so they attacked him.
However, he was sure of one thing. These creatures were hungry. And anyone who was unlucky to show up would be their prey.
Suddenly, Aiden heard human voices from afar. He scanned the direction the voices were coming from. They were entering the rank 1 region of the danger zone. Three individuals.
"Are you sure the target entered this place?" one person said.
"Yeah. I have been following him since he left the university. After all, the first young master said we should kill him. And the reward is a promotion. I was using an advanced rank 1 invisibility bracelet, so he did not notice me."
"Alright. Let’s just find him, eliminate him and get this over with."
A glint of realization flashed through Aiden’s eyes.
"I see. Steven’s brother sent assassins after all," he thought. "They are all intermediate rank 1 warriors."
His eyes turned cold. "It seems these shadow assassin panthers will stop bothering me. After feeding on these fellows, they will most likely leave this place. I will also get to absorb their blood essence. How convenient."
