Chapter 170: Tactical Retreat

"What the hell?!"

Watching Lorenzo get gnawed into a pile of bones in just a few minutes, Muen felt his scalp explode.

Something’s wrong. Run!

Without a shred of hesitation, Muen turned and bolted.

But that’s when he heard it—a heartbeat, booming like war drums.

Thump—Thump—Thump—

The monster’s frame didn’t look powerful. Just tall and lanky. It was hard to imagine that kind of sound coming from a body like his—like the heartbeat of a magical beast.

But that only made it feel more wrong.

Think about it. If you shoved a Lamborghini engine into a shitty Wuling Hongguang van, what would happen?

It would fucking fly!

With a deafening boom, the stone pavement beneath the monster’s feet exploded.

BOOM!

The monster’s lanky figure shot forward like an arrow loosed from the string.

He was flying inches off the ground!

"Shit!"

Muen swore, twisting his body midair. At the same time, [Shadow Step] activated—he forcibly shifted several meters to the side.

But the sense of danger didn’t fade. The monster wasn’t charging at him.

It was going for Muen’s shadow.

Muen shuddered. It felt like a dozen frozen popsicles stabbed him in the back—ice-cold terror.

Lorenzo’s gruesome fate still lingered in his mind. Without hesitation, Muen twisted again, spun around, crossed his twin blades, and braced himself to take the hit head-on.

BOOM!

The ground shattered. Spiderweb cracks spread everywhere.

Muen bent his knees, every muscle straining. Right now, it didn’t feel like he was blocking a monster’s strike—it felt like he was holding up a whole damn mountain.

“Fuck... this is bullshit... With power like this, what the hell is he doing slumming in the goddamn Lower City?”

Under the enormous pressure, Muen’s face contorted. He forced his eyes open, trying to see what the hell this monster was. But through the flesh-like mask—stitched and coagulated like meat—he saw only lifeless void.

No joy.

No sorrow.

Just like a corpse.

And yet Muen could feel it—that bottomless craving for the flesh and blood of the living, staring back at him through eyes like stagnant water.

“Cultist?”

Suddenly, Muen understood what that “Lord” Lorenzo kept crying about was.

Only a dumbass brainwashed by some cult would go around calling out to their “Lord” like that.

“Who do you worship? Love God? The Moon? Withering?”

The monster didn’t answer.

Figures. Whether they were fanatics or just corrupted husks, none of them had working brains. No way they’d just respond to questions.

“Then—FUCK OFF!”

Faced with the monster’s ever-growing strength, Muen suddenly let out a furious roar.

He gripped Elizabeth with both hands. Veins bulged along his forearms. He didn’t make any complex move—but a thunderous shockwave erupted from his arms.

BOOM—!

The twin blades crossed—

Then burst open with a violent explosion!

A version of [Thunderclap] he could use without bare hands—[Thunderclap – Modified]!

The shockwave forced the monster to stumble backward. Each step left deep prints in the stone. After three steps, it regained balance.

What the hell is this thing?

Muen’s eyelid twitched.

That close, and all [Thunderclap – Modified] did was push it back three steps?

He’d thought his Mercury Well-enhanced body was already top tier, but compared to this monster, he was still not enough.

Too bad he couldn’t just torch it with the Withering King’s flame. Within his domain, crimson fire wouldn’t leak any magical trace—but if the target wasn’t completely reduced to ash, it would definitely leave evidence.

Using that kind of power in Belrand was too risky. These days, he could only treat it like a personal blood booster.

If he couldn’t win, there was only one option—

Run.

But...

Out of the corner of his eye, Muen glanced at the street. Under the moonlight, his shadow stretched long... and longer.

He could run. But his shadow—

The death-sense in his head buzzed again.

After a brief pause, the monster moved. It gripped the bloodied cleaver and charged at Muen once more.

Too close.

Target too big.

Nowhere to escape.

“Motherfucker, you think I’m scared of you?!”

Seeing his escape route blocked, already in a shitty mood, Muen’s temper exploded again. He suddenly planted his feet, sheathed Elizabeth—

Then turned and charged the monster with bare hands.

“Take my ultimate move—INFINITE HOLY LIGHT NETHERWORLD HEAVEN-DESTROYING SUPREME DEMON PALM!”

His sudden outburst and fearless charge threw the monster off for a second. Its cleaver shifted from offense to defense.

And in that instant, Muen’s so-called “ultimate demon palm” struck—exploding with boundless light.

Of course there was no such thing as Infinite Holy Light Netherworld Heaven-Destroying Supreme Demon Palm.

What he actually ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) cast was—

[Illumination Spell – Max Output], you dumb bastard!

FLASH!

Blinding white light engulfed the entire street.

All shadows were obliterated.

The monster let out a piercing, inhuman shriek. It wasn’t about damage—the real problem was that its night-adapted vision was now blinded. Completely.

It lost control—swinging the cleaver wildly, crashing around like a rabid bull, smashing through wall after wall after wall.

But when the light finally faded and its vision returned, the street was wrecked—

And completely empty.

Gone?

“...Not... tasty...”

The monster pulled another twisted shadow from inside its filthy raincoat and started chewing.

Crunch. Chew. Crunch.

“Not tasty... not tasty... not tasty...”

Under the moonlight, it drifted in a certain direction.

Without hesitation.

Without confusion.

...

...

“Goddamn it! A cultist that strong just walking down the street in broad fucking daylight, and the Empire’s Silencers are all sitting around jerking each other off?!”

In a dark alley, Muen slammed a fist into the wall.

What the fuck was going on?!

Gangs. Cultists. Innocent people dying because of him. Was he some kind of walking magnet for human tragedy?

“No, it’s probably that damn saying...”

Muen slid down the wall, slumped against it, and looked up at the moon.

“Fate’s gifts... always come with a hidden price tag. Especially for me—the yellow-haired villain hated by destiny.”

You need to be more careful from now on, Muen Campbell.

Others can forget themselves.

Others can get cocky.

But you... can’t.

“...Time to get out of here.”

Muen braced a hand on the wall and stood up, preparing to leave.

But that’s when he heard it again.

That heartbeat.

Thump—Thump—

“What...?”

He looked up in alarm.

In the shadows not far away, the tall figure appeared again—and was drawing closer.

“Shit. How the fuck did he find me?”

Did he use some kind of marking spell, like he did with Lorenzo?

Muen tapped Elizabeth’s hilts together.

A faint electric pulse rippled out from his body, dispersing any potential traces. Then he quickly ducked deeper into the shadows of the alley.

The monster passed the first junction.

No hesitation. Kept walking.

Passed the second junction. Still going forward.

Passed the third. Still. Forward.

“...Why?”

Hidden in the dark, Muen’s eyes widened. That monster—it was like it knew exactly where he was.

What do I do? What do I do?! If he catches me again, I might not escape this time!

Just as panic set in, in that pitch-black alley, Muen suddenly heard—

A sigh.

Sigh...

“Ah, seriously. What am I going to do with you?”

From the shadows, a pale, slender hand suddenly reached out—

Clamped over Muen’s mouth—

And a fragrant breeze brushed past his ear.

“Don’t move.”

Then, he was pulled into the dark.