Chapter 79: Too Easy

The next day, the forest had grown quiet—too quiet.

They moved deeper into the corrupted woods, alert and on edge, expecting an ambush at any moment. Vell raised his hand, halting the group as his predator-like eyes squinted, scanning the unnaturally still trees.

“Something is here,” he muttered, his voice low.

“I feel it too. We are being watched,” Wren said, her mana-infused claws extending instinctively.

Before Vell could reply, a sword came flying out of the shadows, aimed directly at his head. He caught it casually between two fingers. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it flying back in the direction it came from, using the exact same amount of force. The enemy then revealed themselves. Two figures were perched on the branches of the trees, while the other two stood on the ground, blocking their path.

’Hmmm.’ He looked at them all, his expression unreadable, but one thing was certain: these were not ordinary enemies.

Each of the figures wore dark, intricate armor, its surface etched with glowing crimson runes that pulsed with mana. Their faces were hidden behind sleek black masks, their red eyes glowing menacingly through narrow slits. The tallest of the four stepped forward, his voice deep and confident. “So, you are Vell.”

Vell tilted his head, unimpressed. “And you are…?”

“We are Mother’s elite guards,” the man replied, his tone dripping with arrogance. “The strongest underlings she has ever created. Each of us is stronger than any of the captains you have fought before.”

The other three nodded in unison, their armor clinking softly. “You stand no chance,” another one added, her voice sharp and cutting. “Surrender now, and perhaps we will spare your pathetic team.”

’Wow, how cringe,’ he thought, not impressed in the slightest.

“Boys, shall we show them the true extent of Mother’s power?” the tall one commanded.

“Yes!” they all yelled in unison.

Yenna immediately took a defensive stance, and the kids followed suit, ready for a fight. Vell, on the other hand… just stared at them. Then, he laughed.

It was not just a chuckle. It was a full-blown, uncontrollable laugh that echoed through the silent forest. He bent over slightly, clutching his stomach as if he had just heard the funniest joke of his life. The guards froze, their confident auras visibly cracking.

“What is so funny?” the tall one barked, his deep voice carrying a hint of confusion.

Vell wiped a tear from his eye, his laughter dying down to a grin. “You are serious, are not you?” He straightened up, his eyes piercing through them. “You really think you can scare me with that? ’Mother’s strongest underlings’? Please. I have seen things scarier than you in my sleep.”

The tall guard growled, his fists clenching. “You will regret mocking us!”

“Oh, I doubt that,” he shot back, his grin widening. “I am just curious which one of you I am going to break first.”

The guard snapped. “Kill him!”

The four of them rushed forward, their dark armor shimmering as their mana flared. The forest floor trembled with their combined power as they closed the distance. Vell did not move.

At the very last second, the first guard swung a massive, rune-covered sword straight at his head. Yenna shouted, “Vell!” but there was no need.

With one hand, he caught the sword mid-swing. The blade stopped cold, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground. The tall guard’s eyes widened behind his mask. “What…? How?!”

’Something is wrong. He was not this strong before,’ the guard thought, a flicker of panic in his mind.

Vell smirked, his grip tightening. A loud crack echoed as the sword shattered in his hand, the pieces falling uselessly to the ground. The guard stumbled back, his voice now laced with fear.

“You are supposed to be weaker than us!” another guard screamed, charging in with a spear.

He sidestepped the attack effortlessly, grabbing the spear’s shaft mid-thrust. With a flick of his wrist, he ripped it from the guard’s hands and snapped it over his knee as if it were a mere twig. “Too slow,” he said flatly, delivering a punch to the guard’s stomach. The impact sent him flying backward, crashing through several trees before he finally came to a stop.

The remaining two guards hesitated, fear now visible even through their masks. “You… you monster!” one of them cried, hurling a dark mana ball at him.

Vell did not even flinch. He walked straight through the attack, the corrupted mana licking at his skin but doing no damage. “Not bad, but this is how you do it.” He formed a mana ball in his hand and closed the gap in seconds, grabbing the guard by the hair and lifting him effortlessly off the ground.

“Tell me how it tastes, okay?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

The guard whimpered, struggling in his grasp. “P-Please…”

Vell tilted his head, considering him for a moment. “No.” He sent the mana into the guard’s body, and it began to do its work, eating him from the inside out in an excruciatingly painful process.

The last of Mother’s elite guards stood frozen, his sword trembling in his grip. “S-Stay back!” he shouted, desperation in his voice.

Vell stepped toward him, his red eyes glowing brighter. “You called yourselves the strongest, did not you? So what is wrong? Where is all that confidence now?”

“Y-You are a monster!” the final guard stammered, taking a step back.

His smile faded. “No,” he said coldly, his aura flaring around him like a dark storm. “I am something far worse.”

Before the guard could react, Vell disappeared in a blur of speed. A second later, he reappeared behind him, his hand resting on the guard’s shoulder. The guard stiffened, his entire body trembling. “W-What…?”

“You lose,” Vell whispered.

With a single, precise blow, the guard crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Silence fell over the clearing. He stood alone, surrounded by the broken forms of Mother’s so-called strongest guards. He cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders as if he had just finished stretching.

His group stared at him, their mouths hanging open.

“Uh…” Yenna finally managed, her voice shaky. “That was… fast.”

He turned to them, his smile returning, this time softer. “What? Did you expect them to put up a fight?”

Mia and Sia ran up to him, their faces full of awe. “Daddy, you are so cool!” Sia squealed, jumping up and down.

Wren crossed her arms, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Show-off.”

Yenna just sighed, shaking her head. “You are impossible.”

Vell chuckled, ruffling Mia’s and Sia’s hair. “Come on, we are not done yet. Mother is still waiting for us.”

As they moved forward, Yenna glanced at the unconscious guards. These were supposed to be Mother’s best, and Vell had torn through them like they were nothing. She looked at him, ’Just how strong is he going to get?’

Vell, walking ahead with that confident grin, seemed unfazed. But deep inside, he could feel it—the hunger for more power, more strength. Mother was close, and he could not wait to face her.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep