The Extra's Rise-Chapter 426: Windmere (5)

The enforcer moved with practiced stealth, his power masked but palpable even at this distance. He was good—very good—at concealing his aura, but I could still sense the unmistakable resonance of an Integration-ranker.

'High Integration-rank,' Luna observed in my mind.

I activated Lucent Harmony, feeling the familiar sigils light up along my arms as perfect tranquility settled over me. All nine elements of mana fell into perfect balance, enhancing my control and perception. With my high Integration-rank power flowing through me, I bent the ambient mana around my body, weaving it into a cloak that rendered me nearly invisible.

The enforcer paused at the brothel entrance, head tilting slightly as if listening to some distant sound. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought he'd sensed me despite my concealment. Then he pushed the door open and disappeared inside.

I moved quickly, using the shadows as cover. Sliding through the door behind him, I followed at a distance as he made his way directly to the staircase, clearly familiar with the layout. The few remaining patrons inside studiously avoided looking in his direction, suddenly fascinated by their drinks or the floor—anything to avoid acknowledging the predator in their midst.

At the top of the stairs, he paused outside the room where I'd spoken with the woman earlier. Drawing a blade that gleamed with an unnatural light, he kicked the door open in a single violent motion.

I didn't waste time on subtlety. Launching forward, I brought Evolvis down in a sweeping strike aimed at disabling rather than killing. The enforcer sensed me at the last second, whirling with inhuman speed, his blade rising to meet mine.

Our swords clashed with enough force to splinter the floorboards beneath us, the impact sending a shockwave through the narrow hallway. His eyes widened in shock—clearly, he hadn't expected resistance, let alone from another Integration-ranker.

"Who—" he began, but I didn't let him finish.

I pressed my advantage, driving him back with a series of quick strikes. He was good—dangerously so—but I could tell I had the edge in both power and technique.

He recovered quickly, adjusting his stance and counterattacking with a flurry of blows that would have overwhelmed a lesser opponent. I parried each strike, reading his movements with practiced ease, looking for an opening.

I spun just in time to deflect a second attack—the enforcer had created a shadow clone while I was focused on his blade work. The duplicate dissolved under my counter-strike, but the distraction had given the real enforcer time to retreat down the stairs.

I followed, staying close to prevent him from setting up another ambush. We burst into the main room of the brothel, now empty of customers. Only the bartender remained, pressed against the wall, eyes wide with terror.

"You're making a mistake," the enforcer said, his voice surprisingly normal for someone who radiated such menace. "The mayor protects this town. You have no idea what you're interfering with."

"I know exactly what I'm interfering with," I replied, Evolvis glowing brighter as I channeled more power into it. "A serial killer who sacrifices innocent people to extend his life."

The enforcer's expression darkened. "Sacrifices are necessary. The mayor's work ensures the safety of everyone."

"Everyone except the people he murders," I countered, launching another attack.

Our battle intensified, blades clashing with enough force to shatter the nearby tables. The enforcer was fully engaged now, no longer holding back. His aura flared darkly, pushing against mine as we fought for dominance.

I needed to end this quickly. Activating Mythic Body, I felt strength surge through my muscles as my physical form enhanced beyond normal limits. Soul Vision followed immediately, the world slowing around me as my perception sharpened to supernatural levels.

The enforcer's eyes widened as he felt the shift in my power. "What are you?"

I didn't bother answering. Instead, I channeled more power through Evolvis, the blade glowing with intensified energy as the Seraphim's Embrace activated, its ancient power sharpening my focus until I could read even the smallest twitch of his muscles, anticipating each move before he made it.

The final exchange happened in the blink of an eye. He lunged forward with a desperate attack meant to impale me. I sidestepped, letting his blade pass harmlessly by my ribs, and brought Evolvis down in a perfect arc.

The enforcer's sword shattered under the impact, and he crashed backward into the bar, sending bottles and glasses flying. He lay there, defeated, his dark aura flickering as he struggled to rise.

I approached cautiously, Evolvis pointed at his throat. "Who are you working for?"

He glared up at me, defiance warring with fear in his eyes. "You think the mayor is the real power here? He's just a servant, like me."

"A servant to whom?"

He laughed, a ragged sound that ended in a cough. "You'll find out soon enough. The ritual is almost complete."

"What ritual?" I demanded, pushing the tip of Evolvis closer to his throat. "The one that's killing innocent people?"

"Innocent?" He spat the word. "They're fuel. Nothing more."

Disgust rose in my throat. "For what purpose?"

"You're too late to stop it," he said. "The mayor has everything he needs now. The final sacrifice happens tonight."

The mayor's mansion. It had to be.

I needed to get to Cecilia and Ava immediately. As I shifted my weight to step back, the enforcer made his move. With a surge of desperate energy, he slashed upward with a hidden dagger. I dodged, but not quite fast enough—the blade scored a shallow cut across my forearm.

In that moment, I made my decision. This man had helped murder countless innocents. If he escaped, he would only continue serving his master. There would be more death, more suffering. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

With cold clarity, I drove Evolvis down through his chest. The blade pierced through dark armor, flesh, and bone with a sickening crunch. The enforcer's eyes widened, not in pain but in surprise—as if he hadn't believed I was capable of delivering the killing blow.

"You don't understand what you've done," he gasped, blood bubbling from his lips. "He will come for you now."

"Let him try," I replied, twisting the blade.

The enforcer's body convulsed once, then went still. As the life faded from his eyes, I thought I saw something else there—not fear or anger, but a fleeting moment of relief. As if death was a release he had been denied for too long.

I withdrew Evolvis, watching as the enforcer's body slumped to the floor. Black blood pooled beneath him, hissing where it touched the wooden boards. The smell of it was wrong—metallic but also sulfurous, like something that had been corrupted from the inside out.

The bartender remained pressed against the wall, trembling. "You killed him," she whispered, her voice a mix of awe and terror. "No one's ever... he was supposed to be untouchable."

"Not anymore," I told her, wiping Evolvis clean before sheathing it. "Get out of town tonight if you can. Things are about to get dangerous."

She nodded quickly, then fled through the back door without another word.

I knelt beside the enforcer's body, searching for anything that might give me more information. In his pocket, I found a small, metallic object—a key, etched with symbols that matched the ones I'd seen carved into the victims' bodies. I pocketed it, suspecting it might prove useful.

"We need to move quickly," Erebus urged. "The ritual won't wait."

I needed to find Cecilia and Ava immediately. Now that I'd killed the mayor's enforcer, there was no telling how he would respond. If the ritual was happening tonight, we needed to stop it before it was complete.

I left the brothel through the front door, not bothering with stealth anymore. The streets of Windmere were deserted, as if the town itself was holding its breath. In the distance, I could see the mayor's mansion on the hill, windows glowing with an unnatural light.

"Something's happening there tonight," Luna murmured. "Look at the guards."

The mansion was surrounded by more security than I'd seen during our dinner visit. Men in dark uniforms patrolled the perimeter, and through the windows, I could see unusual activity—servants rushing about, carrying strange objects I couldn't quite make out.

"Ritual preparations," Erebus confirmed. "The pattern is nearly complete."

I turned away, moving quickly toward the western woods where Cecilia and the woman were hiding. I needed to gather our team and formulate a plan before the mayor could complete whatever dark ceremony he was preparing.

The hunting cabin was well-hidden, nestled in a small clearing two miles from town. Without Luna's enhanced senses, I might have missed it entirely. A warm light glowed from its single window, and as I approached, the door opened to reveal Cecilia, Evolvis already in her hand.

"Arthur!" Relief washed over her face as she recognized me. She lowered her sword and pulled me inside, closing the door behind us. "What happened? You're bleeding."

"Just a scratch," I assured her, glancing around the cabin's simple interior. The woman from the brothel sat at a small table, while to my surprise, Ava occupied a chair by the fireplace. "Ava? How did you find this place?"

"Cecilia sent me a message," she explained. "After what I discovered today, I thought it best we regroup."

"What did you find?" I asked, sitting down heavily on a wooden stool. The adrenaline of the fight was wearing off, leaving me aware of various minor injuries.