Chapter 284 (2/2)

Cyclops didn't understand any of it, but he watched with one fervent eye as the Highwayrew day by day Equal parts shock and excitement filled hihwaymen would soon surpass even the infamous Dark Atom Sooner or later his people would codo would become its master!

Barb slowly extracted the golden needle from his head Cyclops' eye rolled back into his head and lay in the dirt, twitching

The process of dredging up these memories was barbaric and har, and as a result he'd caused great da, as in his mind became a shattered mess If he lived, he would be only a shadow of a man

Cyclops lay in the sand, jerking every now and again, lost between reality and his memories

Cloudhawk and the others had watched Cyclops' life unfold like a book It was a normal wastelander life – full of pain, loss, and hope Full of blood, murder and evil

“That's a dalance to as left of Cyclops There wasn't anything left there but a ht “It's just a shame about the side-effects”

“That's not i in the wastelands And we had no idea Incredible I' to bet this Blackfiend will becoiven the chance, and will be just as much of a threat to Skycloud” Barb's face was stern She had to get back and report what she learned to her superiors soon It would definitely be worth soht pair of ears “Have you co out where they're holed up will be very useful for the leadershi+p back hoht away!”

Cloudhawk shook his head nonco this ilimmer from his eye?

“You think Skycloud dohways back across the border I' to bet they don't just know, they probably have so back with this news before you know the real deal, six to one odds you die before you get there”

Barb's eyes nearly popped out of her skull What he was i short of ludicrous “How could Skycloud allow an evil like this to continue?!”

Barb was young, and idealistic Cloudhawk had been like her, once

“Myto do with this, but we should take a look since it's on the way”

His decision took both ladies by surprise Autumn even blurted out, “Are you crazy?”

It was clear fro Blackfiend was He was a monster the likes of which the wastelands had never seen! Obviously it would be better to enlist a group of demonhunters to come and deal with the probleh Barb did not question her senior's abilities, it seeo after whatever this Blackfiend was on his own

“Relax I'ht It'll be fine” Cloudhawk looked from one pensive face to the other “I'll take care of it myself The two of you should stay here”

“No way! I'u to becoarbage bandits! What sort of shi+t demonhunter would I be then?”

Autu headfirst into new conflicts, especially ones that involved ienerals

However, the probleo with them, or split up Even if it was only teerous it was out here Following Cloudhawk into the heart of a bandit ca alone in the wilderness She preferred the former

Anyway, Cloudhawk had said they were only going to take a quick look

Cloudhawk looked at Autumn He knew from Cyclops' words and e Whatever place she ca an unfatho on inexhaustible energy and wealth

Why was it the wastelands never openly fought with the elysian lands? In a word: poverty Elysian divine energy was infinite, so wastelanders weren't going to fight their way through their holy lands Not unless they found an infinite power source of their own Anyone with even the faintest hint of ambition would see Autumn as the key to limitless power

And that was a problem

Cloudhawk found hierous place was also the safest Maybe bringing her into the belly of the beast was a good plan

It was decided The three gathered up their provisions and prepared to set off Autumn took one last look back

Cyclops lay in the sand, twitching, blood trickling froood eyes stared blankly toward the sky and his hands groped at air He was reaching for so only he could see His lips worked but nothing comprehensible came out He had completely lost his mind

Autumn felt a sense of sadness come over her

No one was born evil That eighteen year old boy naood man If he'd stayed back in his home with his lover, lived peacefully in the borderlands, what sort of s have been different? She didn't know This was the wastelands No one knehat the next sunrise would bring

1Here is an example of a wine bowl froands I iine they would drink out of whatever they had at hand instead of bothering with fine glassware