CHAPTER 175: ASHES

Lukas didn’t even get near the dark smudge before he saw the dark smudge disappear again.

He had only traveled around twenty feet before the dark smudge did so.

When the dark smudge appeared in his vision once more, it was now at least six hundred feet away.

Suddenly, the surroundings in his vision, which were like thermal sight, turned back to normal.

The timing of thirty seconds for his Ether Realm was up.

Lukas tried to activate his Ether Realm immediately, but this time when he entered his Ether Realm, he could no longer see where the dark smudge had gone.

Ashen had gotten farther and slipped away once again.

Lukas frowned as it meant that he needed to level up and upgrade his abilities for him to have a higher probability of success the next time he encountered Ashen.

With this thought, he turned around and made his way back to meet up with his teammates.

A familiar sound then erupted in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Slaughter Points +1600]

[Current Slaughter Points: 5300/80000]

[Host Level: 8]

[Current Abilities: 8]

At least he got Leeroy this time, Lukas thought when he saw the system’s information panel.

"Lukas. Are you all right?" Emma asked when she saw Lukas approaching them.

Lukas shook his head and said, "I’m fine, but they got away again."

Riley sighed and said, "If only Sherry were here with her Cognitive Dominion ability."

What Riley said struck Lukas and he had an idea on how to deal with Ashen next time.

This was the benefit of having reliable teammates.

Riley and the other teammates were standing around a pile of ashes.

Rex couldn’t help himself but spit onto it.

So many innocent lives had perished due to someone like Leeroy.

And it was most satisfying to see Leeroy now reduced to something as insignificant as a pile of ashes.

"Thanks to you, this scum has met his deserved end.

"How I wish his painful last moments could be forever."

He walked over to Lukas and gave him a pat on his back.

Rex recalled how Leeroy had been squirming in pain while Leeroy was being turned to ashes by the lightning prison and ice palace.

"I, for once, have to agree with you," Emma chimed in and the others also nodded their heads.

"Only once?" Rex said.

Emma shook her head and confirmed it for Rex, "Yes, only once."

"I think we should make a move back to the hotel," Lukas interjected and said.

There was still work to be done.

Riley nodded to his suggestion, and Riley gave the order to get back to the van.

They got into the van that was still there where Harianto parked it.

Vroom.

The familiar puttering of the engine could be heard as Harianto stepped on the acceleration pedal.

...

Hazel was looking out of the hotel’s windows in the direction of the slums with a frown.

There were sounds of gunfire and screams of men in pain coming from the slums.

After Lee He Song was taken care of by Lukas, the other gangs had taken the opportunity to try and swallow the territories of the Hong Men gang.

It was a never-ending cycle of violence for those in the slums.

Her expression turned into a smile when she heard the puttering sound of the van approaching.

She sighed with relief when she saw Lukas and the others coming back to the hotel safely.

"Welcome back."

Hazel greeted them when Lukas and the others entered the hotel.

Riley nodded at her and said, "We need your help. Maybe we should talk about it somewhere private."

After hearing what Riley had said, Hazel knew it was important.

"Come with me," she replied and led Lukas and the others to a meeting room at the back of the hotel.

After the doors of the meeting room were closed, Riley began to brief Hazel on what had happened.

She nodded as she took down everything Riley said.

"Killed a Shadow Lotus member?" Hazel was astonished when she heard about what Lukas had done.

The Shadow Lotus had committed many acts of terror, and they weren’t punished for any of it.

The Security Forces weren’t able to deal with them.

But this time, Lukas finally showed them that there were consequences to their actions.

"Yes, the man with the ability that allowed him to be like rubber was killed," Riley replied and Hazel’s pen scribbled faster as she felt happy about the outcome.

"Now, I need you to inform Sherry for her to ask the Governor to activate the security forces to search and find where Ashen is.

"And what’s her next instruction for us, now that we’ve lost track of the Shadow Lotus," Riley said.

Lukas interjected, "Ask Sherry whether she can create a form of her cognitive dominion grenade that could control someone’s mind for a moment.

If not, maybe send me a sample of her blood. I would need it to be able to wield her ability temporarily."

"I will get it done," Hazel replied.

It was a long shot, but it was the best they could do.

Ashen might have left the city by now with his ability.

"Have a good rest. I’ll get them to prepare a sumptuous dinner for you," Hazel said as she got to work, contacting Sherry.

Lukas and the others nodded and left the meeting room.

Hazel waited patiently for Sherry to pick up the call.

The phone rang but no one picked up on the other end.

After a few moments, the phone call ended.

Hazel tried again.

This time, after a few rings, the phone was picked up.

"Secretary Sherry?" Hazel asked.

She waited for a reply and all that she could hear was the sound of wind rustling loudly in her phone.

A moment later, Sherry’s voice could be heard intermittently.

"Give... me... a... moment..."

Bang.

The noise of a door slamming came through Hazel’s phone next.

After the bang, the rustling of the wind stopped, and she could hear Sherry’s voice clearly.

Sherry was now in a small hut built on a mountain.

She was in the North Battle Administration Area, on her way to the hibernation facility of Derrick.

When she heard Hazel’s briefing on what Lukas and the others had done, she felt a sense of relief.

Finally, there was some progress in their fight against the Shadow Lotus.

"I will inform the Governor, and I can try with the cognitive dominion grenade. Heck, I’ll send him a sample of my blood. In the meantime, ask them to get ready to..."