Chapter 232: Into the Fire (1/2)
Thea noticed Zac’s hesitation and stopped as well.
”What’s going on?” she asked with vigilance while her eyes flashed with shimmering light, indicating she was using her observation skills. ”I can’t sense anything wrong.”
”My danger-sense is acting up,” Zac admitted as he took active control of his mental defense skill.
”Danger-sense, a skill?” Thea asked skeptically.
”Not really, just high Luck,” Zac admitted.
”The more I learn about your situation the more pissed off I get,” Thea muttered under her breath.
”You and Ogras could start a club about it,” Zac snorted, though not relaxing his vigilance as he looked around.
”Is it the mountain?” she asked.
”I’m not sure,” Zac said, his frown only deepening.
It was an extremely disconcerting feeling to have his danger sense constantly warn him about something that he couldn’t pinpoint, and it felt like doom was constantly hanging over him. After a brief discussion, they decided to change the mountain. But the feeling didn't disappear for over two hours, making him almost believe his sense was on the fritz.
But the feeling suddenly intensified by a large degree, and he whirled around without hesitation, his axe ready. Facing them just ten meters away was a small unassuming Zhix warrior releasing no aura at all, to the point that it might as well be a level 1 mortal. The moment Zac saw the insectoid he immediately took out his dagger, but he soon gave up the idea when he saw the ladder position of the insectoid in front of them.
”Inevitability,” Zac said with a stoic face, though his heart started beating like a drum.
It truly was the first place holder on the Hunter-ladder and one of the beings that stood at the peak of their world. Their plans and objectives were a mystery, and the fact that he had somehow appeared right in front of them couldn’t spell anything but trouble.
”That’s me,” the Zhix said, a small smile on its face. ”I have looked forward to meeting the Super-Brother Man.”
”I thought you’d be an Anointed,” Zac said, trying to buy some time while he figured out what to do.
”Don’t compare us to those poor miscreations. Do you know what the Anointed are? It’s forced mutation through Alchemy. They call it the Rite of Anointment, but they only stuff themselves full of natural treasures, hoping the surge of energy won’t explode them,” the Zhix scoffed.
Zac didn’t relax just because the Zhix seemed happy to talk, but rather the opposite. It looked like Inevitability felt everything was in his control, even after knowing who he was. His hand stayed close to his pouch, ready to take out his token at moment’s notice.
He finally understood how the cultivators had felt when they were trapped by Zac and Thea. The Zhix in front of him didn’t emit any aura, but Zac knew that it was above his own level by a large margin. The insectoid seemed content to speak at the moment, but Zac couldn’t figure out his real goal.
He now understood that the sense of danger came from Inevitability stalking them, and it was a proof of its ability that it could follow them for hours without them finding the slightest clue of its presence. He could only pray that it was due to Inevitability possessing some class with stealth-capabilities, rather than it simply being so far above them in power that it could easily hide from their senses.
”They invented it to combat us back in the day, you know?” Inevitability continued. ”The unenlightened needed quick boosts in power to combat our superior strength during the Great War. But that path to power has a price, they will never ascend to the E-Grade. Soon they will be irrelevant, left behind as symbols of a misguided struggle.”
”So what is your goal? Our new world is getting ravaged from foreign invaders, but I’ve yet heard of you closing any incursions,” Zac probed.
”That battle is not for us, but we are rooting for your victory,” the Zhix said with a teasing smile.
”Why?” Zac asked skeptically.
”Void chose you as a fulcrum, but I remain unconvinced, so I searched you out while that bore is busy. Why should I hold myself back if you can’t even fulfill your designated fate?” the Zhix muttered.
”A fulcrum?” Zac asked with a frown. It wasn't a great feeling to be part of some scheme of Void's Disciple, the strongest being on the planet.
Unfortunately, the Zhix didn’t seem interested in divulging any more intelligence. The next moment a terrifying aura was unleashed from the seemingly unassuming Zhix, and Zac couldn’t help but take a step back in shock.
Zac had recently made huge improvements to his combat power with his second Class and new round of titles. That had made him feel almost invincible on earth. He had thought that even if he wasn’t an even match against the Dominators he would at least be able to put up a decent fight. Perhaps he would even be able to kill them if needed with a surprising burst of power through [Hatchetman’s Rage].
However, only now did he truly understand the folly of his inflated ego. The aura that was being emitted was just monstrous, and not something that would come from some random cultivator. Inevitability clearly had his own sets of lucky encounters to power him as well, and with this high level, the result felt almost impossible to overcome.
Of course, the aura was nothing compared to what he sensed from his meeting with Greatest or the imprint of the Great Redeemer. But their auras felt so far beyond his own that making an accurate measure of their strength was impossible.
Inevitability’s aura was within his scope of understanding, but it was far beyond what he could unleash by himself. Furthermore, it was powered by an immense killing intent that could only come from killing hundreds of thousands of beings.
The Zhix warrior barely reached Zac's chin, but it felt like Zac was staring at an enormous beast when he was inundated in Inevitability's aura. He quickly released his own to combat the oppressive feeling, getting ready for battle. It was clear that the Dominator had come for a fight after all.
Zac didn’t dare to hold anything back, and Thea was clearly of the same opinion. But their goal wasn’t to defeat the Zhix.