521 Knowledge and Warning ? (1/2)

With Roly Poly cradled in his arms, Zhao Yao was able to remain invisible as he walked down the passageway.

Now that Champion had recognized him, he had to conceal himself extra carefully. This required not only invisibility but Elizabeth's illusory powers as well. They ensured that no one would be able to see, hear, or even smell him.

This should be at least 99% effective. Unfortunately, Butcher belonged to the 1% that could still sense his presence.

After all, the illusions were carried and spread by sound waves. Having fought Zhao Yao before, Butcher knew how this worked. In fact, he had previously strained the muscles in his ears to block out the waves to protect himself from their reverberations.

He had experienced first-hand what they felt like and the familiar sensations warned him that danger was coming, even though Zhao Yao was still hundreds of meters away.

”You must all retreat immediately! Hurry! If not, it'll be too late.”

The bulk of the apostles were at a loss at how to respond to the Butcher's frightened outburst. Indigo, however, burst into raucous laughter.

”Well, well, Butcher. The bark is certainly worse than the bite,” he taunted, ”Won't you look at your face right now? You're as terrified as a child. Not to worry, I promise not to bully you…”

”Idiot! Do you think I would be afraid of you?” Butcher spat, ”He is coming. If you want to live to see tomorrow, you will listen to me and run.”

He then shouted wildly, his voice echoing through the hall, ”God of Death! You've made enemies with the wrong man. You must order a retreat instantly or we will all be dead. Your apostle is not just some man. He is the Headless Horseman!”

”So what if he is this Headless Horseman? If I want him, I will get him,” God of Death's defiant response boomed through the phone in Ah Kong's hand, ”For Christ's sake, get a grip on yourself, Butcher. I command you to stay here with Team Flash and finish him.”

”You are truly out of your depth here. This is the Headless Horseman we are talking about!” Butcher snarled, ”Tank Top, Black Robe, we're leaving. Now.”

He knew perfectly well the true horror of the Horseman's powers. The apostles here were not his match. He did not want to think about what catastrophe would befall them if they were defeated and captured.

”Boss, is the Headless Horseman really here?”

Tank Top and Black Robe had not quite reached the height of the Butcher's abilities yet, so they could not detect the approaching sound waves. Naturally, they were a little skeptical of what seemed to be an overreaction to nothing.

”Headless Horseman? Isn't that the Jiangmen City Cat King endorsed by the authorities?” Indigo piped in, boring his eyes into the Butcher, ”God of Death, sir, as I've said before, these three beefcakes are of no use to you. Team Flash can single-handedly solve any problem that comes your way.”

”You idiots,” Butcher seethed.

He knew that there was no point trying to convince these morons that fighting the Horseman was futile. They would have to learn this the hard way. When they fall at his feet, God of Death would know that he was telling the truth. However, he was not going to wait around for that to happen. He grabbed onto Tank Top and Black Robe, ready to hoist them out of here.

He was just about to make his move when the God of Death's voice drifted menacingly from Ah Kong's phone, ”I have no idea what you plan to do next, Butcher, but I do know that if you take one more step, someone will die. The only question is who? Your parents? Your sister? Her husband? I know they've got a really cute son as well.”

Butcher clenched his jaw tightly, gritting his teeth.

”Don't. You. Dare,” he bellowed.

The God of Death merely chuckled in response, ”Oh, Butcher. You know I don't joke around. So if I were you, I would turn back and make sure that I get the Horseman.”

”It's too late,” Butcher shook his head, ”He's too close. We won't make it.”

The sonic waves were mounting in strength. He cast his eyes on the opening of the tunnel.

”He's here,” he said gravely.

The first thing Zhao Yao saw when he exited the passageway was the dozen apostles that had gathered around the clearing. He also spotted a solemn-looking Butcher.

”Ah, Butcher? He looks like he knows I'm here,” he sighed.

It seemed that there was no need to conceal himself. He proceeded to swallow Roly Poly, whom needed no illusions or tricks to crawl into his mouth to return to the extradimensional belly.

Without the cat, Zhao Yao instantly materialized into a living, breathing, very normal-looking man.

Indigo sniggered. There was nothing extraordinary about this person. He did not hesitate to take a few steps towards Zhao Yao.

”You? You're the apostle who broke into our facility? I heard you're the Headless Horseman, Cat King of Jiangmen City?” Indigo asked.

Zhao Yao did not bother responding. Instead, he quickly opened his mission panel to verify if he had failed the task now that his identity has been compromised.

”Phew, it's still there.”

Indigo narrowed his eyes at Zhao Yao.

”Hey, Headless Horseman,” he demanded, ”Did you listen to what I was saying?”

The yellow-haired apostle next to him sneered, ”I think he's gone into shock. He must be a little surprised that there's so many of us in his welcoming committee.”

The red-headed apostle guffawed at his companion's words. He chimed in, ”Butcher, you're afraid of this guy? Seriously? He doesn't look too bright, does he? He might be a Cat King, but we all know that's a label that the authorities stick on their puppets. He's probably never even seen a real battle before.”

Butcher closed his eyes. He did not intend to speak or respond in any way. The men of Ivory had been in power in the south for far too long. They had become too complacent to fear the unknown.

”That's enough talk,” God of Death's annoyed voice could be heard, ”Grab him.”

Indigo was the first to act. As he strode towards Zhao Yao, a silvery glow emerged from his body.