Chapter 61
Karl totally growling, wheezing on the ground with a face full of anger and pain. Blood was flowing from the corner of his lips, but his eyes were still shining with hatred. Feeling totally crushed and cornered, he knew the only way to survive was to bounce. With one last signal, he called Undead Platinum to help him out.
"Undead Platinum, let’s bounce from this joint!" Karl ordered with a raspy voice.
The skeleton creature immediately lifted Karl on its back, zoomed through the remaining window, and dashed out of the building. The sound of shattering glass echoed behind them, leaving Chloe, John, and Amber panting and wounded.
Karl felt the world spinning around him as Undead Platinum carried him through the narrow streets on the outskirts of town, running at an insane speed. He could only stay silent, trying to catch his breath and recover on the creature’s back.
After a while, Karl realized they had crossed the city limits. The smell of trees and the cool wind greeted his skin. He opened his eyes and realized they were far from his apartment—they were now in a forest on the edge of the state. Panic started to creep in. All his plans and arrogance now seemed fragile in the dark silence of the forest.
Karl let out a low snort, trying to calm himself. But the shadows of defeat from Chloe, John, and Amber continued to haunt him. He felt boiling anger in his chest, mixed with fear and desperation that he couldn’t shake off. Nevertheless, his mind was still trying to come up with a new plan. His usual strength that made him feel invincible now felt inadequate.
"If they can recover so quickly... I need more power," he muttered softly. "I can’t let them destroy my path."
The silent forest now bore witness to Karl’s gloomy determination. Staring sharply into the surrounding darkness, he vowed to himself: There will be revenge. It’s not over yet.
Karl sat on the ground for a moment, feeling the lingering pain and wounds. The quiet of the forest brought a strange peace, even though his head was filled with the recent defeat. Not wanting to linger longer, Karl finally decided to get up. With a tired body and the still-burning anger in his chest, he slowly walked towards the public streets on the edge of the forest.
After a few minutes, Karl heard the sound of vehicles in the distance, a sign that he was getting closer to civilization. Relief started to seep into his heart. After all that happened, he realized that just relying on Undead Platinum wouldn’t cut it. The creature was only strong in attacks but difficult to control when his enemies united and worked together.
As he walked, Karl asked the system. He felt the need for answers: how to temporarily get rid of Undead Platinum. The creature was too conspicuous, and Karl knew its presence would make it difficult for him to move around the city without attracting attention.