Free Web NovelChapter 94: _No Longer Prey
Ambrose stood still, not daring to move a muscle.
That... voice.
It sounded like it was right behind him. Yet it also sounded like it was coming from every angle. Not to mention his instincts flared, subconsciously making him know if he didn’t do as he was told, he was done for.
[WARNING: Psychic link detected.]
He frowned. ’What does that mean?’
[Someone has created a mental link with the host, allowing them to send their thoughts to you.]
His face paled. ’... You mean telepathy?’
Shit.
Of all the kind of people he imagined ambushing him in the middle of the holy city, a telepath wasn’t in his bingo card.
He swung his head to the ice-cream shop, peering through the clear glass doors. Devon was at the counter, discussing with the person behind it.
"Look ahead." The voice echoed just then.
Taking in a deep breath, he brought his head forward, his shoulders stiffening as he waited for what the person had to say next.
"Move forward." The voice added. "Again... don’t try anything funny. I’m right behind you and not the patient type."
Ambrose closed his eyes for a beat. Then—they opened again, spatial awareness spreading out like sonar. As that happened, he took steady steps forward.
It was difficult finding the culprit through the sea of people strutting around. But soon, his spatial scan pinpointed him... standing casually just a few meters behind him.
’Aura, run a scan on this jackass.’
[Scanning...]
[Scan completed.]
[Target identified: B-Rank Esper. Abilities — Telekinesis. Telepathy.]
Telekinesis AND telepathy?
Yeah... not good at all.
"Stop." The voice came again. "Turn your head to your left. Across the street to the other walkway."
Ambrose closed his eyes with irritation for a breath. Then he did as the voice said, his eyes scanning the other side of the street before landing on an alleyway between two large buildings.
He somehow had an idea of what was coming next.
"Walk into that alley."
’God, I hate this,’ Ambrose thought to himself but had no choice.
He crossed the street, glancing left and right. Everyone seemed clueless of what was happening to him. The closer he got to the alley, the faster his mind went through different escape plans.
’I should just try calling Devon.’ the thought rushed in quickly. ’Wait—that wouldn’t work. A quick SOS text then?’
[That’s even dumber.]
His heart beat quickened as the darkness from the alley loomed ahead. His fingers trembled, gaze darting around. ’My fire ability.’ the thought echoed once he got right in front of the alley.
He swerved his head to his right, spotting the culprit. A man in a black outfit and hat that shielded his face. He lifted his chin as another psychic command struck Ambrose.
’What are you waiting for? Walk in.’
Ambrose’s fingers curled.
Without warning, he darted straight into the alley, leaving the B-Rank Esper stunned for a second. Then the man smirked, stretching out a hand.
"I was beginning to think this was too easy anyway." He murmured, rushing toward the alley.
When he got to the entrance—fingers ready for a telekinetic attack—however, he frowned. All he could see in the narrow stretch of darkness were trash cans.
He could still sense that he was in here so inched a step. Then another. And another.
Unbeknownst to him, Ambrose had crouched behind one of the plastic trash cans, heart thudding like war drums. ’Why the fuck am I afraid?’
This wasn’t an A-Rank or S-Rank threat.
It was only a B-Rank.
He’s defeated a B-Rank monster on his own. Even faced an A-Rank at Norfolk. He’s evolved after all that. Gotten stronger. Now wasn’t the time to play prey.
"Let’s not make this harder than it needs to be." The B-Rank raised a hand, twirling his fingers.
The movement made all the trash cans within his line of sight hover off the pavement, staying levitated by a few meters.
Nothing would’ve prepared him for what came next.
Ambrose bolted right at him, arms spread out and back lowered. He kicked himself off a wall, summoning one of his twin blades. Aiming to strike the guy’s arm.
An invisible force slammed into his chest before he could get close, stealing the air from his lungs. It left him suspended, limbs straightening like a puppet being wrung.
"I was told you’d be stubborn." The man flicked his wrist, making Ambrose fall hard onto the pavement.
He groaned, struggling to fight off the telekinetic influence. But it was futile, the man making him rise to his knees as he circled to his back.
"Nice blade you’ve got there." The B-Rank analysed the twin blade beside Ambrose. "Tell me—how did you pull it out of thin air? Seems like some sort of special weapon skill."
All the man got was silence.
Ambrose’s eyes twitched as he thought of a way out of this. He would’ve used his fire abilities but then that would mean he couldn’t afford to leave a witness.
Which would also mean... he’d have to kill the guy.
’I–I can’t...’ his thoughts stuttered with hesitation. ’Maybe I can still find a way to escape. Or scream for—’
The second his mouth parted to scream, the man locked his fingers on his forehead. Ambrose’s head got slung backward, giving him a view of his kidnapper.
Underneath that hat was an average looking face with sideburns etched on his chin. He stared down at him with cold, hazel eyes which gradually narrowed into slits.
’Let’s see what you have here,’ this time, the man’s voice echoed right inside his skull.
The moment he pushed deeper into his head—something pushed back. A sharp, metallic hum rang through his skull, foreign and unyielding.
[WARNING: Forceful telepathic interference detected.]
’... Does that mean—’
[Mind reading.]
Ambrose’s body went into panic mode, his muscles twitching despite the strain being placed on him. Sparks ignited between his fingers.
Blue flames swirled around his wrists, his eyes lighting up with the same colour.
The man’s eyes bulged behind him. "What the—?"
He didn’t get the chance to finish.
A flaming pillar exploded around Ambrose’s body, blasting him back until he skidded through the pavement. The levitating trash cans fell with a loud crash, alarming a few people outside the alley.
Ambrose didn’t give the man breathing space, grabbing the fallen twin blade and leaping into the air again. Flames coated the blade, his gaze locked on the man.
The latter’s disheveled brown hair fell across his face. But he was no pushover, lifting a hand and twisting his wrist. A trash can lid shot from a corner like a missile, striking Ambrose’s chest.
Pain shot through the Guide but he ignored it, landing on the ground and driving his blade straight through the man’s chest.
Blood sprayed out, the B-Rank’s eyes flashing with momentary shock. That didn’t last long—Ambrose’s blue flames utterly consuming his body until there was nothing but embers and a scorched blackness on the pavement left.
—Silence.
Ambrose remained in that position. Crouched. Fighting to take in air as reality began creeping past the adrenaline like an unwanted guest.
His twin blade disappeared back into the system’s storage space as his palms splayed across the floor. Pulse racing with terror.
"... I..." the words refused to come out, his ears ringing as the sound of someone yelling behind him dulled out. "... I just killed a man..."
