"Even if you were a human in the past, that doesn't matter anymore, just like your name. You chose to bee a Voidspawn," the woman scoffed. "You will receive no thanks from us. You betrayed humanity."

  Leo couldn't help but snort. "Betrayed humanity? Are you even hearing yourself? I'm just doing what's necessary to survive." He quirked an eyebrow. "Besides, I don't see 'Human' in your evolution's her. Hypocrite much?"

  The woman in the lead growled while many others raised their ons a bit. He didn't even blink at the hreat; they were already aiming their bows at him the moment he nded oreet.

  Nyx, be ready just in case. If this escates, I will have a job for you.

  'Uood.'

  "Filth!" The leader spat. "Don't you dare pare yourself to us. We are the chosen ones of the Light. We have asded while you allowed the Void to cim your life. We are not the same!"

  Leo rolled his eyes. "Do you even hear yourself? Stop being so dramatic." He shook his head. "Ah, whatever. You wao talk. Let's talk. I even have a question for you. You hate what I became ter."

  The entire group bristled, but no oacked. In parison to his first meeting with Holden's party, at least he didn't have to fend off any arrows yet. However, he retty sure that would ge soon. Unlike Cra, the people before didn't seem too friendly.

  Oh well, I should be fine now. He noted, feeling the growing Essence reserves in his soul. No idea if I defeat them, but I definitely escape.

  "Lower your hood, beast!" The woman shouted again, ign most of what he said. "No more words will be exged between us until you do so."

  Leo sighed. Was it really too much to ask for another normal group? He really got spoiled by Holden and the others. Now, he only hoped that not all survivors would be like this.

  "As you wish." And so, with a mock bow, he lowered the hood, watg as their eyes grew wide. "Satisfied? I know I'm not winning ay tests. o rub it in. Now, we skip the theatrics? I'm looking for someone and would be grateful if you could tell me if you know them."

  Instead of answering him, the entire group exged a few looks. Some nodded while others only tensed. Finally, the woman in the lead turned ba with an expression even less weling than before.

  Great. He pursued his lips. I don't think I'm getting any information from them. Better get ready for the iable.

  Just as a weak Reinfort began to thrum quietly beh his skin, the leader spoke up. "Voidspawn! We're you a ce to stand down and surrender! Allow us to se your soul from the wretched curse that you've allowed to spread. It will be quid painless. That I swear on the Light."

  Leo blinked and then blinked again. There was just no way he heard her right. He had to wonder just what kind of a mental asylum she and her group escaped if they thought this was normal. Hell, he had bee an Akirian in this short time, and his mind was in a better state.

  "Yeah, how about no," he chuckled. "I didn't e this far just so just a bunentally ill idiots kill me. I think I'm just gonna leave. It leasure."

  Before he could even move, the woman scowled. "So be it."

  At o least four arrows shot toward him, followed by small golden missiles of pure energy. Leo clicked his tongue, and as he dashed forward, the cloak on his body disappeared, returning to the safety of his soulscape.

  While every arrow flew above his head, he activated Vron Prote and cshed it against one of the missiles. The projectile spshed against the barrier, draining a k of his Essence away. Definitely not a good sign if he wao withstand more of those hits.

  Bloody light affinity. Shit's at least as strong as my shadows...

  He weaved between another salvo and pouowards the Emmisarry. The male fighter already had his glowing sword ready, but before they could even csh, a white, transparent barrier exploded between them, blog Leo's empowered strike.

  He scowled and jumped away as a particurly rge missile headed for him. It erupted in the pce he just vacated, blowing up the ground.

  Yeah, I definitely don't want to get hit by those. He noted, gathering more Essen his body. It enveloped his entire fiving birth to a Decoy within a sed. The illusion e darted in the opposite dire, straight for a duo of archers in the distance.

  Distract!

  As the decoy left him, Leo fuelled more power into Reinfort a straight for the leader herself. Another barrier stopped his approach, but this time, he answered with his own affinity, summoning a dozen spears for the csh.

  At first, the barrier seemed to hold, but with another push, it shattered into pieces, a loud gasp ing from someone in the baot that he cared much for it, as he rushed the woman, his bdes ready to taste her blood.

  Somehow, she mao raise her two golden daggers just in time to block his attack. She grimaced visibly uhe strain, and maybe, if not for another volley of arrows, Leo could have overpowered her. Unfortunately, he had to dance away, releasing another decoy as the sudden onsught became a bit too much.

  Shit. He winced when one of the arrows grazed his shoulder. It stung as hell, burning the exposed flesh. That's gonna leave a mark.

  'Leo! Why are you not running?!' Nyx shouted over their link, almost making him step into another arrow.

  Calm down. I have everything under trol. He replied just as the ground in front of him exploded again. Each time he tried to get close, another barrier would pop out, or a salvo of projectiles would interrupt him. Those people knew how to cover each other's backs. And all of that without uttering a single word.

  'It sure doesn't look like it. Just get out, or I'm stepping in. Yetting carried away.'

  Don't. He growled, leaning away from a crest wave of golden Essehat one of the warriors sent at him. I'm just practig and gathering information... and, well, teag them a lesson.

  'Leo...'

  Enough. He ordered. Stay bad wait for my retreat. Once I do that, gather what we need from the corpse.

  'I... As you wish.' She hissed back, evidently not happy.

  Sorry, but there's just no time fuing here. We will talk ter. With that, the liween them closed, giving him a ce to once more focus fully otle.

  Let's kick it up a notch, shall we?

  The bloodlust waiting in his mind was let loose as a fresh wave of power filled his body. Leo grinned and summoned multiple small shadow orbs around him, filling them with as much rage and hunger as he could. Then he shot them into the air, letting gravity cim them as they fell towards the group.

  A few shouts finally sounded around the battlefield as all of the Emissaries tried to move away from the desding balls. Most succeeded, managing to escape far enough or hide behind a barrier. Two of them weren't as lucky. They screamed as Eruption within the orbs activated releasing a few tiny shadow tendrils that went righ for their bodies.

  The attack was far from lethal; Leo didn't have enough time and Esseo spare for it, but it still gave him something he needed very much.

  An opportunity. A perfect distra.

  Faster than any of the Emmisaires could react, he closed the distaween him and the woman in the lead. She still tried to raise her dagger to block, but he spped it away a his other bde do the rest of the job.

  It desded towards the woman's arm, cutting through the flesh almost at the shoulder. The unprotected skin stood no ce, and within a blink, the limb fell to the ground as blood sprouted out like a fountain.

  As a final goodbye, Leo spun around and spped the woman with his tails. She tumbled away, screaming all the while as her other hao grasp the bleeding stump.

  This got all the other Emissaries moving, as most attacked him with reckless abandon while oo assist their leader. Arrows, missiles, and waves of golden energy desded upon his position.

  Yeah, I think not. He snorted and summoned forth most of his remaining Essence.

  A huge wall of shadows cshed against the light, and while the tter finally puhrough after a moment, it didn't matter any longer. Leo had already backed off, climbing the building within seds.

  A few of the Emissaries looked like they wao follow, but another series of screams and shouts had them rushing back to the group. They must have reized that the life of their leader and teammates had to be more important than chasing after a 'Voidspawn.'

  Leo shook his head as he watched the quickly retreating group from his perch.

  Hopefully, this will teach you something. And if not... well, that ain't my problem. Yht this upon yourself. Hypocrites...

  However, as he saw their disappearing forms, a frown spread over his face.

  Did I really get carried away? Nah, no way.

  Chaos65