Legacy of Hatred

Chapter 337: Chase

A circular array of intricate symbols lit up in the northern edge of a flourishing forest. The grass waved as white light rose past it, parting the cozy shade created by the vast crowns above, scaring away the animals busy enduring the midday’s heat.

Two figures materialized at the array’s center, their robes mostly missing or torn. The symbols went dark right afterward, but a faint, almost unnoticeable white halo continued to surround the two, suppressing their presence.

Liam and Lancelot didn’t speak. They briefly checked those foreign surroundings before exchanging a glance. Lancelot frowned at the voice speaking in his mind, but also followed its directive, nodding west and leading the way.

The spirit had sent the two to the most distant exit, but the tomb remained relatively close. Moreover, the Church could already be on high alert.

The only saving grace was that the distant exit was unique to those who had claimed the inheritance. It was a countermeasure Archbishop Ignatius had prepared for the winners’ safety, meaning the Church didn’t know about it, but that only delayed the inevitable.

Liam and Lancelot had to prioritize putting as much distance from the area as possible, regrouping with their teammates, and finding somewhere safe to plan the next move.

Nevertheless, much of that was wishful thinking. Leaving and regrouping could still be possible, but settling down probably couldn’t happen.

There would be proof of Liam and Lancelot’s achievement, and their feat wouldn’t just blow over. Rumors would spread with continuously greater intensity, attracting anyone interested in the rewards they had obtained.

Honestly, Liam belonged to that category. His right hand now had a second space-ring, this one white, bigger, and full of wonders that he was desperate to sit down and go through, except he couldn’t.

Achieving a modicum of safety had to come first.

Lancelot obviously shared Liam’s mindset. He only drew a black jade from the circular pendant with a stylized man hanging from his neck, sending a quick communication before storing it back and focusing solely on running.

Theoretically, there was safety to be found nearby. Kilrest had been close to the next Outer Circle. Traveling to the tomb had put more distance from that border, but not enough to make it unreachable in a short time.

Politics would become a shield as long as Lancelot and Liam crossed that artificial boundary. Still, the two barely had the time to start acting upon those intentions when an interruption arrived.

A heavy aura washed over the forest, pressing on it, freezing animals, plants, and air alike. That presence didn’t even attempt to hide itself or its power, expanding far and wide, enough to engulf Liam and Lancelot in it.

And to Liam’s surprise, the aura felt familiar, a hunch that didn’t take long to receive confirmation.

Liam and Lancelot didn’t stop running even after the aura retreated, only for a stern voice to resound above them, rustling the leaves in a wide area as its echoes kept spreading through the forest.

"Juniors, I know you are there," The voice declared. "Stop at once." freēwēbηovel.c૦m

’Elder Dominic?!’ Liam internally realized, knowing that his ears couldn’t have possibly lied to him. ’What is he doing here?’

Four months had passed since the public tournament. Moreover, Liam had moved multiple times, definitely leaving the Shrouded Desert Sect’s area of influence, so the branching expert’s presence there made no sense at all.

Most importantly, it seemed as if Elder Dominic had been waiting for someone to appear in that very area, even preceding the Church.

"Juniors, I won’t repeat myself a third time," The voice returned, feeling heavier now, even affecting the various branches. "I mean no harm, unless you are the one I’m looking for."

No matter how insane that sounded, everything fell into place. Liam realized he was the reason behind that unexpected development. It seemed the vague threat the Elder had uttered in the valley hadn’t been vague at all.

Naturally, neither Liam nor Lancelot stopped even once, but the latter glanced at him in question. There was no time to explain, and Liam didn’t know if the Archbishop’s cloaking method included his voice, so he only shook his head.

"You dare?!" A snort resounded through the forest now, the tremors it caused even heavier, being properly violent. "It’s you, isn’t it?"

The voice wasn’t the only thing seeping through the thick, vast crowns. The widespread aura might have receded, but Liam felt its source as clear as day, being too powerful not to notice that it was getting closer.

But the time for empty threats was over. Liam’s hair stood on end as dense energy gathered somewhere ahead to his left, resonating with the ground, until the soil itself exploded.

The explosion had more ethereal than physical effects. An earthquake spread, but it was the air that carried the full brunt of the attack, shaking violently, expanding spherically, shattering trees and soil alike.

Luckily, the Archbishop’s cloaking method seemed to be working since the attack missed Liam and Lancelot completely, even being quite distant from their position. The shockwave reached them, but only in the form of a heavy wall of air that pressed on them.

Liam and Lancelot endured the attack’s leftovers with ease, but that was only the beginning of the apocalypse.

A scene that Liam had been blessed or cursed to witness unfolded in his vision again, except that he stood at its center now.

The ground in every direction kept exploding, unleashing obliterating shockwaves that shattered and uprooted entire trees, sending anything that survived flying.

Despite the attacks always missing Liam and Lancelot, never getting close to them, the two ended up in the storm they created. They air almost turned solid as it kept slamming on them, alongside wood shards, rocks, and whatever else the shockwaves had sent flying.

That still wasn’t enough to stop the two, but the forest was disappearing right before their eyes. Moreover, it was almost over, and random attacks always had a chance of hitting them.

"Junior!" The voice shouted as the explosions subsided. "You called yourself William, right? Come out, or I’ll level this forest to the ground!"

Lancelot caught up with what was happening, sort of, but wasn’t at liberty to comment on it. The same went for Liam. The two could only hope that the almost unnoticeable white halo would continue hiding them even in the absence of trees.

"Did you lose your gall now that you don’t have an audience?" The voice returned through a violent snort. "Coward!"

Liam halted his steps before he could even realize what he was doing. Lancelot followed suit, silently questioning him with his gaze.

Another chunk of ground blew up, this time closer than before, uprooting and shattering entire patches of trees, sending gales of dense air and debris everywhere.

Nevertheless, Liam didn’t move as that storm hit him. Some wood shards stabbed him, but the wounds were superficial at best. He paid neither of them any heed, his cold, dark eyes instead rising toward Lancelot.

"Brother," Liam spoke for the first time since that hurried escape. "You and me, do you think we can kill a branching expert?"

Lancelot saw that something about the previous taunt had flicked a switch inside Liam. He also realized how insane that question was, but there was a reason behind it. After all, he and Liam weren’t exactly the average rooting expert.

And Lancelot didn’t need words to convey his intentions. The crazed smile that broadened on his face was enough.