Chapter 124: Wicked Smile

“Alright, maybe I underestimated my situation.”

Aether frowned, rushing through the shadows, using his affinity to his advantage, and sticking near the darkest places. He couldn’t sit in one place; if he did, then the others would find him.

He needed to be on the run, and yet, he was so tired he couldn’t hardly keep his eyes from closing. Even now, as an echo, even after his muscles had gotten stronger and were made to resist more, they were still sore and almost giving up.

Before, he only had to worry about one group, but now, with that shitty mage asking for more help with affinities related to tracking, he had to run from more than one group. He regretted using the lantern, but one thing was still saving him.

If he found a way to steal it or destroy it, he could be free.

’And at least, on the bright side, I’m keeping them busy.’

But how was he going to find and destroy the lantern with so many people following and tracking his every step?

’Give me a break, would you?’

Climbing on top of a building, Aether looked down, seeing the street below him filled with people, all looking for him.

He didn’t know whether he should feel honored that the King thinks he’s so popular, not for the right reasons, but did it matter? He took a deep breath, knowing he can’t stay there any longer, and continued to run, jumping from building to building.

The streets were packed, so even with hiding inside the shadows, it was hard not to meet someone face to face. And plus, even here, the clouds covered the light that would have given him away.

Stopping suddenly, Aether saw a scout on top of the roof of the building in front of him. He wasn’t looking in his direction, so he was safe, for now. Thinking quickly, he decided to jump down, only to realize, while in the air, that there was someone there.

…

’Since when did I start thinking before killing again?’

Voipiercer came rushing from his marks; in the fraction of a second, it had come to kill. Just like its ability said. Summoning Voipiercer was simple, really; he was right with his first idea, and it depended on him.

If he wanted to kill, then it was going to come out. Even if in reality, he wasn’t going to kill his enemy, to summon it, he had to want to do so. Everytime.

But this day, he didn’t have to act.

…

[You have killed…]

“Yeah, yeah, shut up.”

Continuing to walk through the street, he found himself face-to-face with another. Giving him the choice of either running past him and trying to get away, or killing-

[You have killed…]

’There isn’t a choice, as there is only one answer.’

…

There was only one choice, which was to kill every single one he came across. Maybe that was how he was going to win, by killing them, not by destroying the lantern-

“Not going to work, they will just send more reinforcements.”

…

Even if he killed all of them, he wouldn’t win; he had to find the lantern, that was the only way.

’Yet, I don’t mind getting some shards.’

[You have killed…]

[You have killed…]

[You have killed…]

[You have killed…]

[You have killed…]

…

…

[You have killed…]

Aether sighed, wiping the blood from his face and looking at his hand. Blood ran down the black steel of his blade, painting his hands in crimson. It was a sight he was familiar with, and the killer knew it.

But he has seen more than just a killer, if he had to say, with those that he didn’t really kill with his hand or blade.

He had probably already killed over two thousand humans. And if he counted the sacrifices made by Elpis, since they shared the fault of those they sacrificed, there would be more.

…

’Elpis!’

How could he have forgotten? He didn’t have to find any lantern; he didn’t have to kill anyone. The scouts tracked him from his touch, but if he wasn’t himself anymore, they wouldn’t be able to track him.

And he had a way to do exactly that.

Summoning his smile, he stared with a bright smile. Putting it on his face.

It was weird, since he hadn’t worn it in so long, but before in Frozen Crown, you couldn’t see him with it off, and it wasn’t like it was powerful before; it had no power. It’s just… it reminded him of the ending he had created.

And every wicked thing did he have to do to create it.

…

[Identities]:

1-Elpis Thusia

2- ——

3- ——

’Had I really not gotten any of the Children of Praise?’

He had been the one to kill them, so he fulfilled that part of the requirements, but if he had to guess, he didn’t have their identity because he didn’t know them well enough. He had known Elpis’ present and past, but he only learned their past after he killed them from their card. That was why he hadn’t gotten their identity.

And it was probably the same for Avrie. And while he had learn Azel’s past, that she was the Queen’s daughter, and the role she gave her, he hadn’t been the one to kill her, so that was why he didn’t get her identity.

…

“Man, why are there so many requirements? I mean, it’s like you can only get the identity of those who are your friends.”

His body felt weird while it slowly changed. He became taller, his voice deepened, and the color of his eyes and hair changed. Well, his whole body changed, but he couldn’t list them all. His face had become sharper, and his stance held more pride.

He looked exactly like he remembered him.

’I really don’t want to think of them… I have to understand they are a thing of the past…’

…

“Hey, kid, have you seen where a cloaked figure went? He has some sort of mark on his arm.”

The boy turned to the scout, tilting his eyes.

“A mark? No, I haven’t seen anyone pass by here. Maybe he went in another direction.”

The scout sighed, nodding.

“Well, thank you. If you do see anyone with that description, report to one of us. I’m sure you can identify who I’m talking about after all, we stand out.”

The scout left, going in another direction, just like the boy had instructed.

’Well, I didn’t lie, no one has passed by me with that appearance. How can I pass myself?’

It had worked wonderfully, but now it only allowed him to mislead the scouts, and it stopped their only strength, that they could track him. They now just have the area where they last saw him, so now they had to be quick, before he ran away. He wasn’t going to run, but they don’t know that.

He still had to be careful; his marks stuck to him even now, with his appearance changed, so if they saw him with his marks, then he was done for.

But wait, couldn’t that… clear his name?

If they saw him with Elpis’s appearance and with his mark, after, even if the lantern tracked him, couldn’t they see that he wasn’t the person they saw with the mark?

“Plus…”

Taking out his brush, he painted over his arm, and while the darkness of his marks still stuck through the pain, if he painted more layers, he could hide himself.

So, could he have tried to make this plan, it would have allowed him to stick to his normal appearance without having his mask on all day, but it was risky; yes, he didn’t have to show himself from up close. But after he saw what that mage did to his member, using his veins to stop her, it was still risky.

Plus, that was not the only danger. After they tracked him with his lantern, what if they didn’t believe him, still thinking that he was the Abyss, even after they saw someone else who looked different from him with the mark?

What if his paint didn’t stick, and his marks got revealed, he was dead. Since he wouldn’t have time to run away.

“But wait, if anything does go bad, can’t I retreat to the Infinite Library? Do the vines stop me from going there?”

…

Climbing on top of a building, he looked down at the District.

Even now, after he had killed so many of them, there were still more than he could count. He couldn’t keep his mask on much longer; he didn’t have the essence, and his earring too was useless with this many people.

As much as he didn’t want to admit it.

He found himself in a very bad situation, yet it only made it more exciting when he found a way out.

And he only knew one way to escape this.

…

“When have I not taken a risk?”

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