Rebirth-Transcending All Beings-Chapter 59: The Hooded Man [1]

The caravan ground to a halt, the horses whinnying as their hooves scraped dirt.

Their once steady rhythm towards the capital was now replaced with murmurs of unease that spread amongst the members.

Some wondered why they stopped, others clicked their tongues due to the sudden delay. Yet the sound of blades unsheathing silenced them all.

The merchants never stopped their journey for any reason — unless something had the possibility to harm their merchandise.

[Primal awareness has been activated]

Vergil moved towards the thick white blanket that covered them, instincts flaring along with a ringing pulse from his brain.

’Is it now?’ Vergil wondered. All the hints from the vision seemed to match. All that remained was for him to challenge this predetermined fate.

"Vergil, you need rest!" Elina protested, pulling his wrist back.

Eleanor’s tone was sharper. "I’ll handle it. Don’t be reckless."

"Both of you — listen." Vergil leaned forward, whispering into their ears. Elina’s eyes widened and Eleanor, by contrast, narrowed her eyes — processing his words before giving a curt nod.

Vergil placed the small box that Elvira had given him into Eleanor’s hand. He gave them one final look, before stepping out into the morning light.

He moved forward, pushing past the small crowds of people that murmured to get a good look of what was going on.

Up ahead, just beyond the first carriage, a lone figure stood in the middle of the road.

Hooded and still like an unmovable wall.

"What’s he doing?"

"We’ve got goods to deliver."

The murmurs gradually overtook the silence of the forest.

Vergil’s eyes narrowed on the target. Obscured. He wasn’t part of the vision — but that made him all the more suspicious.

Because every time he feared something would happen. It was going to happen.

One of the adventurers on the second carriage moved cautiously towards him — keeping minimum distance, hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Hey," the man called out. "Are you alright?"

No answer.

The hooded figure took a step forward, moving until he stood right in front of the adventurer.

"I said, are you—"

Then, as if something inside him snapped, his mouth opened wide.

No words came.

The adventurer blinked, confused. "Man why do we have to dea—?"

Crunch.

A jagged black horn erupted from the figure’s throat, bursting forward. The adventurer didn’t have time to react —let alone scream, before the horn split his skull.

Tearing both bone and brain with a sickening squelch.

His body stood motionless, blood spurting out like a fountain.

The hooded man gagged — tilting his head vertically, slicing flesh until finally the horn was removed from the adventurer’s head.

Leaving only a pile of mess to slump to the dirt.

The silence shattered and screams echoed across the caravan.

Then the figure’s body convulsed violently, bones began snapping and realigning — his frame expanding beyond the natural human limit.

Black insect like plates began to segment and fuse with flesh before taking an animalistic stance. A fusion of man and horror as thick talon tipped limbs burst from its side — pounding into the earth causing a dust wave — enough to crack even stone.

His spine elongated, arching until the aberration stood four metres tall.

The chitinous armour gleamed with an irregular pattern of scarlet and black — the colours subtly shifting across its massive frame.

The cloak shredded away, revealing a face far larger than before. Grotesque and stretched as six blazing scarlet eyes glowed like embers.

Yet that wasn’t the most haunting feature it had. It was the human head that was embedded like a grotesque mask on the beast’s forehead, dripping crimson tears.

Its mouth split open sideways like a flower of fangs, letting a piercing and mind crushing shriek that vibrated in the air and the horses reared back in terror.

Travellers, adventurers and guards stumbled backwards, some drawing weapons, others frozen.

Yet they all felt the same emotion.

Dread, including Vergil.

Vergil stood still, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the creature.

’Analysis.’

Name: Scarlithid (Transformation has not been completed. Stats have been reduced by 40%)

Level 35

Rank II

Lifespan 250 years

Race:Demon, Feral horror

Class:None

Strength: 142

Constitution: 147

Dexterity: 134

Intuition: 130

Demonic energy: 150

Active skills:

Crimson Howl (B-) Emits a deafening scream that disrupts nervous systems and magical flow for 8 seconds to weaker targets.

Skewer bloom(C) Creates and launches spikes of demonic energy.

Stomp (C+) Jumps forward up to 12m and crashes down with double the crushing force.

Visceral shatter (C-) Slams its horn downward. Reduces targets defense by 15%.

Passive skills"

Chitin fortification (C) Naturally creates an Insectoid exoskeleton, that increases its natural defense by 25% an and passively absorbs 12% of damage taken.

Predators pulse (C-) Emits a barely perceptible pulse every 10 seconds that highlights wounded enemies in red in a 50 metre radius.

Unholy Endurance (D+) when health drops below 30%, constitution increases by 10% for 10 seconds.

---

’Well shit.’ This was Vergil’s first thought. His limbs refused to move.

His body, once full of motion and wanting to fight, felt like cold stone as the beast’s eyes locked onto him.

Its legs kicked the ground before charging head first — the ground quaking with a thunderous force.

The horn still wet with brain matter gleamed under the fading sun.

Vergil tried to force his body to move.

Nothing.

’That skill’s binding me. If I can’t move I’ll brace for the attack.

Vergil’s mana heart pulsed, boosting his physical stats as they clashed.

The sound of a thunderclap echoed as the beast slammed into Vergil with monstrous force.

He was lifted off his feet due to the immense pushing force.

Trees splintered and cracked as his body became a thrown weapon before a thick trunk stopped his momentum with a CRACK!

Blood leaked from his mouth as he gasped violently, his lungs felt as if they were compressed to its limit before being released.

But before his mind faded, his Passive Skill kicked in, healing the damage.

[Verdant Regeneration is being activated.]

The bruised tissue pulsed with a green light, and bones began realigning.

The beast roared once more, but this time Vergil could move. He rolled over, forcing himself up — one hand pressing against the tree for support.

"Well, time to get to work."

Ding.

[Mission 1 – Survive]

Reward – 15 Stat Points, 1 Schematic

Failure – Death]