Against The Eternity Chapter 98: [97] Chapter - 59: Grandmaster’s team (Part - 1/2)

Read chapter 98 of Against The Eternity by Phoenixfly_steller on NovelPedia.

[97] Chapter - 59: Grandmaster’s team (Part - 1/2) Meanwhile, as Eklavya went his separate way to fulfil his part of the hunt, Zeliang and his group went in the opposite direction through the rain-soaked forest. The ground was moist beneath their feet, with mud squelching softly as they ran through the woods and over irregular ground. Zeliang was at the front, running steadily despite his previous injuries, while the rest were behind him, in formation, with no let-up in their pace. They ran in complete silence. Finally, as they came across six members of the Falling Leaf Sect, there was no hesitation. Steel clashed with steel, ki was unleashed in quick succession, and for a brief time, the rain-soaked forest was filled with noise. But this was to be no drawn-out battle. With greater numbers and coordination, Zeliang’s group soon overpowered them. One by one, the members of the Falling Leaf Sect fell to the ground, into the mud, as their blood was washed away instantly by the rain. Without a break, without even looking back, they went forward. As they went deeper into the woods, the atmosphere grew thick, not with pressure, but with thought. The rain muffled their footsteps, but could not muffle the growing unease within them. Chandra, running slightly behind Zeliang, finally spoke up, his voice low, yet laced with tension. “Young Master, I’m afraid we’re going too far, aren’t we? In helping the Dark Ghost Devil, aren’t we making ourselves into enemies of the Falling Leaf Sect?” Zeliang’s pace did not alter; his eyes fixed intently ahead, through the dim woods. “We’re not helping him,” he said firmly. “We’re settling our own score. They killed our comrades. This… is revenge.” Chandra said nothing, and his discomfort did not go away. The forest seemed to close in around them, the shadows stretching longer and darker in the failing light. “But what if he betrays us later?” he said, his voice a little lower. “What if the sect sends a Spirit Warrior after this?” Zeliang took a deep breath as he ran, rain hitting his face and running down his jaw. “From what I’ve seen… he won’t betray us,” he said, his voice unwavering. “We have a common enemy. And even if he did…” He paused for a moment, leaping over a branch without slowing his pace. “…it’s unlikely the sect would send a Spirit Warrior for something like this. They probably don’t even know what’s happening yet. And even if they did… Eklavya isn’t someone powerful enough that he will be able to fight against a spirit warrior with us.” Chandra’s brow furrowed, and he was still unconvinced. “But the Elder you injured is still alive. He could report everything.” Zeliang shook his head with a smile. “Even then, I doubt they’d act immediately. Spirit Warriors aren’t sent lightly. They’re pillars of an empire, not tools for small retaliation.” “But what if—” “Let’s not waste time worrying about possibilities,” Zeliang said, cutting him off. His voice was firm, though his face was calm. The storm around them seemed to be growing in intensity, the rain falling harder as it came down through the trees, making the ground slippery and dark. Zeliang raised his wrist and channelled his ki into the mark. A faint golden screen materialised before his eyes, shimmering in the rain. He rapidly scanned it. “We’re close,” he said. “The Grandmaster team is ahead.” Without hesitation, Zeliang slowed his pace slightly and raised his right hand, forming a sharp signal with his fingers. Immediately, the remaining nine members understood. The ten men parted, moving out into formation, spreading out at calculated intervals so as not to alert their quarry. The men’s movements were clean, precise, and almost invisible under the rain’s din. Zeliang’s eyes turned to Chandra, who was still by his side. “Since coming to the Mati Empire,” he said, “I must say… I am impressed.” His eyes turned to his men, who were blending in perfectly with the forest. “Their assassination techniques,” he said, his voice laced with