Chapter 194. Change of plan
Minutes earlier, Leo stood among the steaming remains of the mutated mercenaries at Point C, his crimson eyes scanning the destruction with cold focus. He reached into his item space, pulling out a plain wooden bow and a single arrow.
He closed his eyes and directed the arrow’s mana. Leo’s signal for phase two was a sharp release that sent the arrow skyward with a loud whistle, climbing high before exploding in a bright flash of fiery light.
Erin would move to Rin, Lucian to Velmera, and Leo would go after the remaining mercenaries as planned.
"Time to hunt the rest of these scumbags," he muttered, cracking his knuckles as the bow disappeared back into his item space.
The silence was broken by a light, playful female voice. "Hotshot, hunting is on hold for now."
Leo spun, only to freeze as Erin perched on a low tree branch, her silver-white robe swaying gently as she swung her legs with casual ease. She pulled off her hood and white neck mask, revealing a sharp grin and violet eyes that sparkled with amusement.
"Great work, Reo," she said, whistling at the pile of charred mutant corpses. "You left the scavengers barely anything.
Leo’s red eyes flashed with annoyance as he yanked off his own mask. "What the hell, Erin? The signal is now active! Why don’t you go for Rin?"
Erin walked toward him after jumping down and landing lightly, her braid bouncing. With a confident and piercing smile, she stated, "I’m making modifications to the plan."
"You are going to save your girl."
A mana pulse rippled through the air as she lifted her arm and flicked her finger. Leo backed away as a figure was dragged across the forest floor at a terrible pace, kicking up leaves and dirt, followed by a harsh scraping sound. A normal person would’ve been torn apart, but this captive was far from ordinary.
The figure skidded to a stop between them, bound in glowing chains of light mana. Leo looked down—a cult soldier, his tattered robes bloodied, his white mask shining in the patchy sunlight. His wounds from the drag were already healing, knitting with unnatural speed.