BXBX NOVEL Chapter 976 Path of Carnage
Chapter 976 Path of Carnage
<They never learn, do they?> Erik said.
<Apparently not. It's like they have a collective brain cell, and it's on vacation.>
Erik chuckled. He reached the end of the corridor, a heavy metal door barring his way.
<Another one…>
This time, he would not play it subtle. He channeled his mana, the A-rank brain crystal was pumping mana like never before.
<Ah, this is what it feels like. It's much more easy.>
<Right… There was a reason why people despise weak brain crystals.>
Erik directed the mana towards the Frostwind Fire Tempest's neural links.
"Time for some fireworks."
The air crackled with frost and flame, and the temperature fluctuated wildly.
A miniature sun seemed to form in his palm, its heat radiating outward. Then he launched the ball to the door.
The metal door buckled and flew off its hinges, a fiery vortex spewing into the open space beyond, mingling with chilling temperatures that released an immense cloud of hot vapor that not only prevented everyone from seeing but also cooked alive all those around him.
The Blackguards were caught in the blast, their armor melting and their screams drowned out by the inferno.
[ENEMY HUMANS KILLED: MANA ABSORBING PROCESS STARTING.]
[0%, 1%, 5%, 30%, 70%, 100%]
[MANA SUCCESSFULLY ABSORBED, STARTING CONVERTING PROCEDURE.]
[3...2...1...0]
[MANA SUCCESSFULLY CONVERTED INTO EXPERIENCE. 1260000 EXPERIENCE POINTS AND 12600 DNA POINTS AWARDED TO THE HOST.]
[LEVEL UP.]
[LEVEL UP.]
[LEVEL UP.]
Those who survived scrambled for cover, their laser rifles aimed at the fiery entrance.
<Great! How many people did I kill?>
<Approximately 84.>
<Ah, great! These guys truly are filled with mana.>
Erik emerged from the door. The explosion set part of the surroundings on fire, which illuminated everything, but the vapor made it hard to see.
Richard was still on his shoulder, unconscious. But that was a lucky event, since Richard would have been in a ton of pain otherwise.
Erik didn't waste a second. "Come and get me," he said.
The blackguards heard him, and charged, but most of them didn't even have the time to swing their arm or press the trigger that they ended up dead on the floor.
He didn't wait for the vapor to dissipate; instead, he used it as a cover while reducing the temperature in his immediate surroundings to protect both him and Richard.
The chamber was full of bodies scattered amongst smoldering debris. But the few remaining blackguards, though shaken, were not defeated. Instead, they had a mad glint in their eyes.
The system's voice was grim. <The remaining blackguards all have multiple brain crystal powers. Their threat level increased significantly.>
Erik's grin widened, a predator's thrill coursing through him. "Excellent," he said. "Let's see what you've got from Doran's research."
The surviving blackguards attacked, plunging deep within the vapor. "Foolish."
Erik vanished, turning invisible within the mist.
The blackguards did not know that happened. Then, from the heart of the vapor, an illusion of Erik materialized.
The blackguard attacked, but that went through it. A wind blade arrived from the opposite side.
The blackguard reacted, creating a mana shield that got destroyed. Another blackguard fell.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know?!"
"Find hi—"
Erik slit the man's throat.
He reappeared behind another blackguard, his movements silent and swift. Before the man could react, Erik's hand was around his throat.
The man pumped mana into his brain, increasing his strength at least three times, but it wasn't yet enough to break Erik's grip.
"Try as you want. You die today."
He snapped the blackguard's neck, his body crumpling to the ground.
Another illusion flickered into existence. A blackguard tried to attack him by using fire brain crystal power. But the illusion went through it.
Erik had enough. He conjured a series of wind blades. They sliced through the vapor, and after each second, thuds echoed across the area.
More and more bodies slumped on the ground, heads missing.
[LEVEL UP.]
"Even two brain crystal powers can't save you."
<You are acting dramatic. I want to remind you that this situation was possible only because the cramped space prevented them from mass-attacking you, and the vapor prevented the few remaining to see you.>
<Yeah, but individually, they can't still do anything. Besides, the vapor was my doing. Tactical acumen is also part of someone's fighting ability>
The system did the equivalent of rolling its eyes up. In the meantime, Erik killed more blackguards.
The last few tried to flee. But Erik didn't let them go. He hunted them down, one by one. It took some time, though, because the fuckers went into a panic and scattered. Erik did all that while holding Richard on his shoulders.
When the vapor finally cleared, Erik stood alone amidst the carnage, his clothes untarnished and his breath even. The area was silent; the only sound was the crackling of the dying fire.
"We're almost out of here," he said, turning to Richard.
With the man still draped over his shoulder, Erik surveyed the area. He needed a way out, and he needed it fast. <System, where to now?>
<There's another elevator behind that door,> the system said, sending an image of the door to Erik. <It should take you directly to ground level.>
<Something tells me it won't be this simple this time. > Erik raised an eyebrow.
<No, it's not. You'll have to pass through a series of administrative offices to get there. And based on the security feeds, the blackguard presence is much higher in that area.>
Erik's grip on Richard tightened. <More blackguards, huh? Just what we need.>
<I'm afraid so. But don't worry; I'll guide you every step of the way.>
<All right. Just keep in mind that Richard is with us. Oh, and tell me beforehand where the fuckers are. I want to play with them a little.>