Veilbreaker! Oops I Bleed Again

Draven stood amidst the corpses of the Jackals. His heavy breathing was visible. 

His entire body was covered in blood.

His skin was scorched.

And his fists, knees, and elbows bore deep, gaping wounds.

This resulted from punching scorching-hot Magma Jackals.

"Oh man, I'm thirsty."

He swallowed hard as the dryness in his throat became unbearable.

He fought for almost three hours in the darkness of the night. But the temperature is still almost 40 degrees because of the Magma Jackal's heat.

Then he felt someone behind him.

In an instant, he dashed forward and threw a punch, only to stop midway as he saw raised hands.

"It's me! Gil!"

"Oh, it's you." 

Draven let out a sigh of relief. 

"I thought you were an enemy."

Gil was stunned as he saw the scene behind Draven.

It looked like a massacre—an entire pack of Jackals slaughtered.

Then he shifts his gaze at Draven from head to toe.

"You look like an undead," Gil said. "Are you still okay?"

"Of course!" Draven grinned. "I'm a masochist. I can still fight anyone who wants to challenge me."

Draven then looked at the ground and picked up a small stone.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to try and figure out what's happening here."

"With a stone?"

Without another word, Draven's eyes locked onto the distant woods. 

He spotted a shadow lurking in the distance.

Just as the shadow twitched, Draven instantly bolted forward.

"You're not getting away!" he yelled.

He positioned himself like a pro pitcher, ready to throw a mighty fastball. 

Then...

"Whoosh"

The stone sliced through the air with a rapid series of impacts.

"Thwack!" "Thwack!" "Thwack!"

The stone ricocheted off multiple small trees, cutting through the forest, before striking the shadowy figure.

But instead of a solid impact, it passed right through, dispersing the figure like a wisp of smoke. 

"Hihihihihihi..."

After the figure received the hit, a laugh echoed through the forest.

Draven remained calm, trying to pinpoint the source of the voice.

"Hihihihihi..." The shadowy figure continued.

"Are you just going to laugh?" Draven asked.

"You are an interesting Verdant."

"Really? Why not show yourself and let's talk if you're really interested in me?"

Draven's tone is like he is talking to a friend, calm and cunning.

"Huh? You want to talk? Are you kidding me? You killed my shadow, and now you're asking to talk?"

"Oops, sorry about that. But you started it. You planned this Jackals' attack and tried to kill the villagers first."

"Oh… You're not just strong, but smart too."

"Just guessing." 

Draven's lips lifted in a sarcastic smile.

The shadowy figure quickly realized Draven had tricked him. He just admitted what he did! 

"NO!" 

The shadow cleared his throat. 

"Anyway, we will meet again soon, Verdant!"

"Wait! Why not now? Are you afraid?"

The voice from the shadows replied. 

"Are you rushing toward your death?"

"Death? Do it now while I'm weak and exhausted!" 

Draven picked up another stone. 

"This is your chance to kill me."

He raised both arms to the sides of his head, leaving himself open, inviting an attack.

'The voice is alternating—one moment from the east, the next from the west. Is this an ability?' Draven muttered to himself. 'I need to figure out the real one.'

"Don't worry, I'm not here to kill you. For now." 

Draven's legs tensed, veins bulging as he prepared to move.

"Really? Then if you won't—I will!"

Without hesitation, Draven hurled the stone with all his strength toward the western side of the shadowy figure.

"Whoosh!"

"Thwack!" "Thwack!" "Thwack!"

It hit.

But the same thing happens to the shadowy figure.

"What are you aiming for, Verdant?"

At the same instant, Draven dashed in the opposite direction.

Toward the east. 

With two rapid bursts of acceleration, he closed the distance and launched a powerful punch straight at the shadowy figure.

"What the—?!"

The shadowy figure was shocked.

'The hell is this guy?'

But Draven's fist passed right through the shadow.

It quickly vanished like smoke.

"See you later, Verdant. Hihihhihi!" 

The shadowy figure's laughter slowly disappeared into nothingness.

"So it was all fake," Draven muttered. "I can't feel him now."

Without a trace, the shadowy figure was gone. Draven couldn't find it anywhere. 

He walked towards Gil. "Do you know that shadow?" 

"Not really," Gil replied. "If he has an ability, that means he's from the town, or possibly a Slave Hunter. We don't have any information about anyone outside this forest."

"So that means the Slave Hunters still managed to track us, even though we were extremely careful on our journey?"

"But, how?" Gil asked.

"There is only one answer. For now, help me look for my Morphos. Mother Venice will scold me if I lose it."

Gil joined him in the search.

After a few moments, he found the Morphos Pipe half-buried in the dirt.

"Let's go," Draven said. "We need to regroup with the villagers and treat your wounds."

Gil grabbed the horse, and they quickly set off.

As they passed their previous safe zone, Draven observed the disarray.

There were scattered belongings that were left behind.

---

Meanwhile, Naisha led the villagers through the dense forest.

Their journey stretched on for over three hours.

"I hope Draven is okay," Mother Venice said with concern.

"He's strong. I watch him every time he fights. He keeps getting stronger and faster," Naisha replied. "He may look dumb, but the truth is, he sees everything."

"You know him very well already."

"Of course, Mother," Naisha smirked. "He sticks to me like glue. Anyone would get to know him quickly."

Mother Venice smiled briefly before her face turned serious.

"So, have you found out who burned the Eatherbloom?" 

"We have two suspects." 

Naisha glanced around cautiously. 

"First, the Mad Clan. It's possible they've already heard about Draven and made a revenge attack."

After the battle, many of Gorvex's men had escaped. 

There was a high chance that word had spread that a Verdant had defeated Gorvex. 

Anyone would think twice before attacking blindly. They would first gather information about what had happened to a Mad Clan leader.

The one Draven defeated was no ordinary opponent. 

It was the 6th rank from the Slave Hunters. 

And he wasn't just killed by a Beast, but by a mere Verdant.

"Second," Naisha continued, "we have a spy in our village. The first ones that come to mind are the four from the Mado Clan: Gebo, Deka, Hans, and the other one."

Naisha was 99% sure that the villagers she had grown up with wouldn't betray them. 

However, about the four… She still considered everything speculation. 

She felt conflicted, sentimental even, since the four newcomers were also Verdants who had suffered the attack on their own village.

For now, Naisha kept a watchful eye, especially on the four newcomers.

They may make suspicious moves since Hans got emotional during their meeting.

After another thirty minutes, they finally arrived at a small safe zone.

They decided to rest and wait.

"Everyone, let's take a rest. Let's build tents for the children and the elderly," Naisha commanded.

"We still need to be careful and stay alert. Tomorrow, we will continue straight to Riftwater."

As soon as they arrived, the villagers began unpacking their belongings.

Some tended to the wounded.

Naisha watched them carefully, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd. 

She saw the newcomers, and she noticed that Gebo was missing.

"Where is Gebo?" she asked as she draw near them.

Hans hesitated, glancing at Deka. 

They exchanged nervous looks before their faces lifted in forced smiles.

"He just went back to relieve himself," he said casually. "I can call him if you want."

"Go and call hi—"

But before Naisha could finish her command, the villagers shouted excitedly.

"Draven is here!"

"Draven is here!"

Draven, however, didn't stop to acknowledge them. 

He walked straight toward Naisha, his steps urgent.

"Are you okay?" Naisha asked as soon as she saw his wounded, blood-covered body.

"Wait, babe. Let me finish this first," he said with a grin.

Without warning, he pointed his Morphos at Deka.

"Show me your status!"