Chương 82: A Mortal?
Ernanfo's body heat increased and his heartbeat began to race.
In just a blink of an eye.
He vanished like before, leaving an explosion. It made the pavement into rubbles.
Unbelievably, he became faster than before!
"Hii-!" Renir didn't expect that speed but his body did as he turns around, feeling he might go to his blind spot, and there, he saw the glaring eyes faded.
He felt Ernanfo from his back who spun one time, lightning-quick, to kick the back of his knee.
Renir, shocked, was about to fall on his back. He tightened his thigh to stop that fall, yet his neck was grabbed down by a tight grip onto the ground, '...afterimage..?' just that moment did his thought processed what happened a split-second ago.
Thud!*
The back of his head caved onto the ground due to the force of that pushed as he was pinned when Ernanfo sat on his stomach. But while pinning him to the ground, Ernanfo used this momentum to root his left foot on the ground by piercing it and then the other.
Seeing this, Renir did not only feel fear and worry but also amazement before he heard a forced breath "Hu!"
Bhug!!*
"Ack!" he let out a pained shout as he was caved further onto the ground. The pavement created web-like crevices from his head.
In the car, Avron and Sam felt the car trembled at the same time Ernanfo's fist came down. Sam stared in even more disbelief.
"Hu!"
Bhug!!*
"... Ack!" Renir let out another pained shout before putting his guard up and saw another fist onto his face.
"Hu!"
Bhug!!*
He was hit on the neck and made his head further buried onto the ground, reaching past the pavement and touching the soil beneath. Every hit was an additional stinging pain. Renir's eyes began to color red while his skin torn off, getting covered by the blood that came out of it.
Even with the durability he had against the Giganslik, his sight was darkening from those brutal punches.
'He... all of his punch would make eyes darker and darker as if he's hitting every vitals to make me fall unconscious...!' Renir became desperate as he tried to wiggle his way out.
However, the next thing he heard was;
"Hu!"
Bhug!!*
Then, to make it worse, those brutal punches began to accelerate.
"...Hu!.. Hu!. Hu! Hu!-Hu! Hu--!"
Every hit billowed the soil beneath, making something like a smokescreen that hid them within. The ground continuously trembled, it was akin to an earthquake...
A few moments later, Ernanfo stood up while dusting his clothes off, his breathing off and he coughed, "I breathed in... too much dust." he whispered as he stared at Renir who was motionless, bloodied, and dirtied, "... Crazy strong? Maybe... but certainly, he's not a human."
Everyone stared in either amazement or fear, no, they stared in amazement and fear. But most of all, Olmen stared wide-eyed.
[Renir.... is a True Rune User? Yet, this man defeated him. A mortal... defeat a True Rune User!] He just couldn't believe what he saw. If someone narrated this scene, he would laugh and tell them they have quite the imagination. He knows how strong a True Rune User was. The Supreme Council was made out of those True Rune Users. Even he, a Rank 6, a rank below a True Rune User was respected in Gantlet. But a True Rune User getting defeated by a mortal? That shouldn't be possible.
Olmen was aware that Renir did not fight back, but still...
[I might've to report this immediately...] after a short thought, his spectral form faded and his consciousness was about to travel back into his original body as he left these words [Renir, I could've helped you if I was actually here but I could only say good luck, don't die.]
"Ka...!" Ernanfo sorely coughed one last time, "I'm thirsty." before picking Renir who was stuck on the ground.
Imee was in front of him as he carried the body, crying and sobbing. Her head drooped down, she couldn't find the words to say.
Slowly, she walked towards her father and buried her face onto his chest, and apologized, "Dad... I'm sorry... but please, take Renir to the hospital. If..." she then clutched onto his shirt which Ernanfo felt, "he dies, forget about getting your forgiveness, I'm the one who will never forgive you... ever."
At times like that, Ernanfo softened, 'Good thing, I held back.' he relieved. His hand reached on Imee's head, "I made sure to just... teach him a lesson. I still trust you didn't do anything with him but I guess, this is my punishment to you too... But you realize that he isn't what you think he is, right?"
"... I don't know" Imee sobbed, "He's still the one I knew."
"....." hearing this, Ernanfo's eyes turned cold when he heard that. He realized that his daughter, his only family, was no longer his alone, "Hmn... I... I need to rest now. Imee, you too. Let's talk another day. I wasn't lying when I said this is a part of my job." he caressed her daughter's head one last time before she nodded and slowly walked into the apartment.
Ernanfo looked at her lonely back with expressionless eyes. And then, glared at the people who were on the sidelines.
Sensing the terrifying superhuman's glare, everyone dispersed back to their own room. The apartment that night was filled with people who couldn't sleep; thinking that the world was still too big.
The car opened and Sam sat uptight than ever before. Ernanfo threw the unconscious Renir at the back of the car and entered the driver's seat.
The lock on all other doors clicked. He sighed and said with a tired voice, "Get out of the car."
Sam obediently followed and Avron next. The car revved and went out of the open gate.
The two stood in silence for a few moments. They were trying to digest what they saw. Sam looked at Avron and saw a tired face while he was wide awake from what he witnessed.
"Umm..."
Out of nowhere, Avron spoke his mind out, "Uncle just finished his daily routine which made him pale, fatigued, and extremely tired."
"....." It came back to Sam as he heard that, "Y-you mean, that was still not at full strength?"
"...Don't get surprised at every little thing," Avron's eyelids dropped even further with a sigh.
"Littl-!?" Sam was about to raise his voice but stopped.
"That was just a glimpse of the world that common people are unaware of. That's why the Alpha and the Mountain are just like children." Avron glanced at Sam one last time before turning around and walking off into the shadows where light couldn't reach, leaving Sam in a daze.
The Wicked became more mysterious than before.
And
Sam realized that Avron was not just an insane person, there was more to him than what meets eye.
Avron no longer told Sam to follow him or not. At that moment, it was Sam's choice. To get out of the mundane and ignorant yet safe world, or, follow the one who was called the Wicked and learn what is beyond common understanding.
From start to finish, his feet lost its heat and strength. Sam felt petty in front of the beyond. He was insignificant and the world will stay the same even if he died. What will he choose?
After deep thoughts, he finally decided, Sam took a stepped under the streetlights.
Avron looked back, his face was nulled of expression.
.....
As Ernanfo drove through the highway within the speed limit passing through lights. He reached for his phone in his pocket with his hands slightly trembling. Fatigue was getting to him.
"... unbelievable..." he said contrary to his expressionless complexion. With the road clear of traffic, he dialed on his phone.
Riing~* Riing~*
After a few rings, the call was picked and Ernanfo said, "Boss, I got the Renir you talking about."
There was a pause and then...
[… Good, I knew I could trust this to you. I'll be there by morning. Keep him in your dojo.]
"Sure, boss..."
After replying, the call cut off.
"Seriously, did this kid came from Gantlet too, or something?" Ernanfo felt his eyelids getting heavier by the time he was relaxed and was into a comfortable position.
Yet, that was the most uncomfortable feeling he had been.
"... seriously unbelievable... I will take care of you so take care of my daughter..." he glanced at the back mirror.
The mirror reflected the back of the car. Renir was behind the chairs and was still regaining his strength while asleep. Currently, he was half at his power, and him being unconscious helped that process to be faster so his body chose not to wake him up.
.....
In a room where there are no windows, only one locked door, yet windy. It was relaxing and placid under the silence.
In addition to the strangeness of the room, there was only one object there, a sofa, and a balding man who sat on it.
His eyes closed in a comfortable position on the soft sofa until a moment later, sweat profusely covered his face as it twitched into an uncomfortable expression.
Suddenly, those eyes opened widely. The man woke up and was trying to catch his breath. He held his chest and slightly crouched.
Only after a minute did he calm down, stood up, and open the locked door in front of him. As he opened the door, he met a man of the same age as him. However, this man's face was filled with lines that made looked older, especially because of his graying hair.
"Olmen, good timing, you're back." the man greeted.
The balding man was indeed Olmen, "Seth, I need to go and report to the Supreme Council right now. There is something they need to know."
The older-looking man, Seth stopped him, "Yes, that's why I was waiting for you. The Supreme Council wants you to go meet them at the Rune King's Chamber."
"..." Olmen slightly frowned and processed his thoughts before asking, "Why?"
"The only Rune King is back from the third stage of Gantlet."
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