Free Web NovelNext came chaos. Pure chaos.
The corridors of the Underground Storage Area echoed with screams, gunfire, the clashing of metal, and the teeth-grinding sound of bones breaking.
Fifty-seven people. Well-trained soldiers. Experienced mercenaries. Among them were twelve Ferrymen.
They were like a bunch of radishes thrown into a blender. Chopped up. Minced. Beaten until they scattered in flight.
That silver-haired girl didn't seem like a human at all.
Her speed was too fast. So fast that one couldn't see her movements clearly. So fast that one would think she appeared in several places at once.
She bounced off the walls. She dropped from the ceiling. She darted out from the shadows. And then—then came the screams.
Every appearance was accompanied by a scream.
Three Ferrymen of the Path of the Tower? They hadn't even managed to use their Return Power before they were taken down one by one.
The mercenary leader? His arm had been dislocated, and he was now rolling on the ground clutching his dislocated limb.
Those ordinary soldiers? They [N O V E L I G H T] couldn't even touch her shadow.
What was even more terrifying was that she hadn't killed anyone. Not a single one. She was controlling her strength.
Every punch, every kick, every attack stopped precisely at the edge of "not dead, but very painful."
She carefully spared everyone's life, as if preparing to hand all the captives over to her sister as military merit.
Could things get any worse? They could.
At some point, certain areas of the Underground Storage Area had been opened. The previously sealed corridors suddenly had branching paths. Doors that were locked tight suddenly opened a crack.
Someone shouted "Run!" and rushed into the newly appeared passages. Others followed. Like headless flies.
They thought it was an escape route. But they didn't know. The Underground Storage Area itself was a maze. A carefully designed maze specifically meant to trap intruders.
Eleanor von Schwartz stood in the surveillance room, watching the red dots scurrying about on the screen. The corners of her mouth curved slightly.
"Area Three, close the passages." "Yes." "Area Five, activate the traps." "Yes." "Area Seven, send two people over; there should be three lost mice." "Yes."
An explosion echoed from afar. Another trap had been triggered.
"Run, run, run—!"
Nadezhda Popov was running wildly. She was a Wayfarer of the Path of the Lover. Sequence IV. The person with the highest sequence in this team. In theory, she should have been one of the strongest combatants in this battle. In theory.
But now, she was fleeing in a sorry state through this damn maze with another teammate.
"Nadezhda!" the teammate behind her panted. It was a Sequence III of the Path of the Magician, what was their name again... She had already forgotten. Now was not the time to remember names.
"Aren't you the one with the highest sequence?!" the teammate's voice was laced with tears. "Think of something!" "If we keep fighting like this, let alone getting the reward money, we don't even know if we'll make it back alive!"
Nadezhda's footsteps did not stop. Her breathing was rapid and chaotic. Her heart was pounding wildly. Her brain was racing—but she couldn't think of any solution.
"How the hell was I supposed to know there would be a monster of the Path of the Tower Sequence V here!"
"The intelligence said the guards were only a batch of ordinary soldiers and a female officer with unknown combat power!" freewebnσvel.cøm
"Who told me there would be a fucking high-sequence Destroyer waiting here!"
"False intelligence!" She was turning a bit red all over. If she had known beforehand that such a monster was here, she wouldn't have taken this job no matter what. If your life is gone, what use is money?
Bzz—bzzzt—the communication device at her waist suddenly rang. After a burst of harsh static, a voice came through. A hoarse voice. But still calm.
"Everyone who can receive this message, listen to me." It was Igor. Nadezhda paused for a moment. That leader of the Fire of Freedom? He was actually still alive?
"I know the current situation is terrible." Igor's voice came from the communicator. "But we still have a chance."
"As long as we can take down that silver-haired girl, or control her, we can still fight tonight."
Control her? Nadezhda's brow furrowed. That monster, how could she be controlled? If she dared to stand still in front of her for even a second, she would be dead.
"My plan is this—" Igor began to say. "All Ferrymen who still have combat capability, gather in the C-area corridor in five minutes." "We go together and hold her back." "We don't need to defeat her, just hold her back for a split second."
"And then—" he paused. "The one from the Path of the Lover, if you are still alive, listen up." "I need you to use Soul Link on her."
Nadezhda's hand tightened around the communicator. "That girl is a Wayfarer of the Path of the Tower, her soul might be a bit special." "But she is very young, at most fifteen or sixteen years old." "Her soul strength is not necessarily higher than yours." "If you can successfully link her soul, drain her power, or even completely control her—" "We will win."
The communication ended. Nadezhda stood there, silent for a long time. Her teammate leaned over. "How is it? Can it work?" "..."
Nadezhda didn't speak. She was thinking. Soul Link. This was indeed her ability. Path of the Lover Sequence IV, she could establish a deep connection between two souls, then drain power from the other's soul, or even completely control the other. This was an ability she had spent over a decade mastering. It was also her greatest reliance.
But—link a soul of the Path of the Tower? That was the Path of Destruction. It was one of the most dangerous and unstable Ways Back. Linking such a soul was like reaching one's hand into a fire. If one was not careful, they would be burned to ashes.
But... "She is very young." Igor's words echoed in her mind. "At most fifteen or sixteen years old." "Her soul strength is not necessarily higher than yours."
Nadezhda licked her dry lips. Fifteen or sixteen years old. No matter how much of a genius, she was just a stinky little brat. She had been a Wayfarer for longer than that brat had been alive. Soul strength... maybe it really was worth a try.
"What do you think?" she asked her teammate. The teammate thought for a moment. "I think he makes sense." "That brat is indeed strong, but what's strong is her combat skills and Return Power." "Things like souls require time to settle." "It's impossible for her to have accumulated a stronger soul than yours in just over a decade."
Nadezhda nodded. "Then let's give it a try!"
Ten-plus minutes later. C-area corridor. Seven Ferrymen had gathered. This was all their remaining combat power. Of the original twelve Ferrymen, only seven could still move. The others were either beaten until their limbs were broken or trapped in some corner of the maze, unable to get out.
Igor stood at the very front. His nose bridge was already wrapped in bandages, his face pale, but his eyes remained sharp.
"Are you all ready?" Everyone nodded. "Remember, you don't need to defeat her." "Just hold her back." "Even if only for a split second." His gaze shifted to Nadezhda. "Leave the rest to you."
Nadezhda didn't speak. She just nodded. And then—at the end of the corridor, a figure appeared. Short silver hair. A dark gray cloak. Crimson light burned in those eyes. She walked very slowly. Very calmly. Like she was taking a stroll.
"Oh?" Her voice was crisp, carrying a hint of playfulness. "You actually dare to gather together?" "I thought you would keep playing hide-and-seek."
Igor didn't respond. He raised his hand. Then swung it down violently. "Attack!"
Seven Ferrymen moved simultaneously. From all directions. From every angle. Flames, light blades, shadows, chains—various Powers of the Return erupted all at once. They poured toward that petite figure.
Pavela moved. Her speed was still very fast. So fast it was dazzling. She sidestepped the first wave of flames. She ducked to avoid the whistling light blades. And then—a chain flew toward her wrist.
She didn't dodge. She even reached out her hand, actively meeting it. The chain wrapped around her wrist.
"Got her!" the owner of the chain was overjoyed. He pulled hard, wanting to drag her over—but he couldn't move her. His smile froze. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
Pavela stood in place, not moving a single inch. She looked down at the chain wrapped around her wrist. Then she looked up at the person at the other end of the chain.
"Thanks," she said. "This saves me from having to run over." Then she gave a tug. The owner of the chain was dragged over entirely. Like a kite. He opened his mouth wide, wanting to scream.
Pavela's other hand had already slapped onto his face. Bang. His eyes rolled back, and he passed out directly.
And Pavela, using the force of that tug, rushed in another direction. Another Wayfarer was standing there, preparing a second wave of attacks. His gesture was only halfway done. Pavela's hand-blade had already landed on the back of his neck. Another person fell.
Two seconds. Two people. Clean and efficient.
Nadezhda saw all of this. Her heart sank. This brat... had seen through their plan from the very beginning.
She saw them waiting in full battle array. She saw them assemble all available combat power. She saw them set up a dragnet. But she still charged straight at them. Just walking over so brazenly. And then brazenly defeating everyone.
Arrogant. Too arrogant. The corners of Nadezhda's mouth began to turn up. Arrogant little brat. After all, she was still wet behind the ears. I'll let you know—what the power of an adult is.
Her hands suddenly raised. Pink light spread from her fingertips. Path of the Lover. Sequence IV. Soul Link! It began.
