Chapter 55: Vell Vs Monsters

It was silent, the monsters erasing their presence as they slowly approached, but Vell remained calm, his hand gently resting on his sword with his predator vision activated, scanning the area slowly.

’They are not bad at hiding their presence, but that alone will not be enough to hide from me. I can still see the mana signatures thanks to these eyes… eating that snake core was worth it.’ His pose tightened, stretching forward as his sword slowly unsheathed.

’That one, make it one slice… just one… precise.’ His aura wrapped around the blade while still in its sheath, his legs began to distance themselves, his body lowering. ’More… more condensed… stronger… lethal.’ His eyes flashed with black, and then he attacked. An attack so silent that only the aftermath could be seen.

’Hohhh, not too bad,’ he thought, looking at the damage he did to the mountain and the monster lying dead. The others began being cautious, wondering if this was a lucky strike or if he could actually see them.

He did not keep them waiting for long as he sliced again, this time it was different. His arm vibrated as he swung. A soft whistle sound filled the air, and before they could react, they were only down to three. ’Hmm, that one was better, I am finally feeling like my old self…’ An annoying memory flashed in his mind. ’Tch… that just pissed me off. Fuck this.’

“Hey, can you just come out and face me head-on, or do you really want to die a dog’s death? Pitiful.” His expression changed, he knew this would make them come out, and he was indeed right, as the remaining monsters surrounded him. They were not as humanoid as he expected, they were more monster, but he could still make out some human features.

“H-Human… why have you entered our sector?” The mantis-looking one spoke, its voice filled with nervousness. He stared at it, not having any thoughts of attacking, as they also seemed to only want to talk.

“Well, we are just exploring, there is no special reason, but… can you tell me more about that monstrous mana I am feeling? Is that from your leader?” His smirk grew, his skin tingling with anticipation. But the monsters did not reply right away, they stared at each other, confused about what he was talking about.

“Leader… what leader? Or are you perhaps referring to our god? If that is a yes, then you should rethink your plan, mother is not a being you can defeat with your measly human powers.” The other monster replied, looking annoyed but not daring to attack.

’Mother, huh? I feel like I am going to be hearing these things more than I expect. So the presence is a god? Bullshit, it is just a fucking strong monster that is pretending to be a god, but do not worry, I will tear that illusion apart.’ His smirk deepened, his fingers twitching slightly as he resisted the urge to draw his blade. The air around him grew heavier, his aura unconsciously leaking as his excitement flared.

The monsters stiffened, clearly sensing the shift in his demeanor. The mantis-like one clicked its mandibles nervously, its claws raising in a defensive posture. “Human, leave, we are merely the scout team, if we do not return, the captains will—”

“Ohhh?” He cut it off, his expression looking like he had lost his mind. “So all I need to do is kill you three and your buddies back there?”

“N-no! Wait! You do not understand!” it stammered, trying to backpedal. Its companions shifted uneasily, their postures a mix of fear and readiness.

But he was not interested in their excuses. His smirk widened, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. “Oh, I understand plenty,” he said, his voice low and mocking. “You are scouts. Cannon fodder sent to gather information or delay intruders. But here is the thing—”

His hand dropped to his sword hilt, the faint hum of his aura intensifying. The oppressive energy radiating from him made the air around the monsters feel suffocating.

“I do not need delays or excuses. If there are captains, I will deal with them. If there is a ’Mother,’ I will carve my way to her. But first…” He tilted his head, his grin turning feral. “I will start with you.”

The hulking brute among them roared, charging forward in a desperate attempt to take him off guard. Its fists swung down like hammers, aiming to crush him where he stood.

But Vell barely moved. With a flick of his wrist, his blade was free, slicing upward in a single, fluid motion.

SHING!

It froze mid-attack, its fists mere inches from his head. A thin line appeared across its torso before it split apart, collapsing into a heap of lifeless flesh. Blood pooled around its remains, steaming slightly from the sheer precision of the cut.

“One down,” he said coldly, flicking the blood off his blade with a casual motion. His eyes darted to the remaining two, both now trembling visibly. “Your move.”

The mantis screeched, launching itself into the air. Its scythe-like arms flashed as they slashed toward him with blinding speed. The other monster, a smaller, wolf-like creature, darted around to flank him, aiming for his exposed back.

His predator vision made it all laughable. He could see every movement, every fluctuation in their mana as clearly as if they were moving in slow motion. His body twisted, sidestepping the mantis’s strike with ease while his sword slashed horizontally. The mantis shrieked as one of its arms was severed, its body crashing to the ground.

Without pausing, he pivoted, driving his sword downward into the wolf-like creature mid-leap. It yelped, the blade piercing clean through its chest and pinning it to the ground.

The mantis struggled to its feet, clutching its bleeding stump. Its once-defiant posture was now one of pure desperation. “P-please… spare me! I will tell you everything!” it cried, its voice shaking.

He did not answer immediately. He stepped closer, his sword dripping with the blood of its comrades. He crouched slightly, his face leveling with its terrified gaze.

“Why?” This simple question sent a monstrous chill through its body. “You said if you do not return, stronger monsters would show up, so why would I need you?” His blade got closer to its neck.

“Wait! W-we are just scouts, yes, but we know the paths, the traps, the layout of the territory!” it blurted out, desperation thick in its voice. “If you kill me, you will stumble into ambushes! I can guide you! P-please!”

“Interesting.”

“Y-Yeah, so pl-”

“Not thanks.”

He sliced its head off. For a brief moment, the body stood frozen, as if still processing what had just happened. Then, it collapsed with a dull thud, the head rolling to a stop a few feet away, its mandibles twitching in a final, futile protest.

“Guides are only useful when they are reliable,” he muttered, flicking the blood from his blade. His tone was cold, devoid of sympathy or regret. “And you already wasted too much of my time.”

The clearing was silent again, except for the faint rustle of the wind and the dripping of blood onto the ground.

“Pathetic,” he scoffed, sheathing his sword with a sharp click. “If this is the best her ’children’ can do, then this will be a waste of our time.”

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