Chapter 63: Taken

Having been toyed with like a cat playing with a mouse, and nearly killed in the process! Since Kairen’s arrival in this world, he had never suffered such a loss. He simply could not swallow this humiliation. More importantly, Kairen noticed that the direction of their retreat was toward the Goblin Forest—indeed, it seemed to veer toward the very cemetery where Kairen had made his home. This, Kairen could not tolerate.

After all, in Kairen’s eyes, the Goblin Forest was essentially his own backyard; he would never allow any force beyond his control to exist there. So, the moment that group began their withdrawal, Kairen immediately followed.

Of course, he didn’t dare to get too close—not after his recent encounter. Though the man who’d fought him was wounded, his combat strength hadn’t diminished much, and with several dozen people at his side, Kairen knew that being discovered would lead only to disaster.

Thus, Kairen kept his distance, trailing them from afar without daring to approach too closely.

Yet he had underestimated his quarry. These people belonged to the Shadow Wraith Thieves, and their leader, Pux, had once been a member of the Forest Wardens. As a professional intelligence operative, Pux’s mastery of reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance far surpassed Kairen’s amateurish skills. Even his subordinates outclassed Kairen in this regard. Almost as soon as Kairen left the village, they were aware that someone tailed them.

But Pux, wary of the hidden threat lurking in Dole Village, chose to ignore Kairen at first, allowing him to follow them into the Goblin Forest. He hadn’t expected Kairen to be so bold—or so clueless. Not only did Kairen follow them deep into the forest, he trailed them for two or three miles, growing ever more brazen and making little attempt to conceal his presence.

This unrestrained and clumsy pursuit enraged Pux. Four miles outside Dole Village, Pux brought his band to a halt.

“Go. Deal with that fool who doesn’t know his place,” Pux commanded.

At his order, several second-tier thieves stepped forward, preparing to apprehend Kairen. Yet before they could make a move, Kairen strode out of hiding, utterly unabashed.

His swaggering appearance left Pux and his men momentarily stunned.

“What are you planning to do?” Pux asked, unable to fathom Kairen’s actions. By rights, shouldn’t he have realized his cover was blown and fled the scene by now?

But not only did Kairen step forward, he spoke with brazen arrogance: “What do I want? You raided my village in the night and nearly killed me. How could I simply let you leave? Naturally, I’m here to see that none of you escape.”

Pux and his men were left at a loss for words.

“Detain us? You, alone?” someone scoffed.

Kairen shook his head coldly. “Of course not. It’s not just me.”

Pux arched an eyebrow, catching on. “Indeed, it’s not just you. There’s that little girl as well.”

No sooner had he spoken than the masked woman, having just caught up, revealed herself beside Kairen. In a low voice, she urged, “Let’s go. The two of us can’t take them.”

“A sensible judgment,” Pux replied, “but you’re not leaving. Seize them!”

At his command, his men lunged forward. The masked woman’s expression changed, and she grabbed Kairen’s arm, ready to flee. But Kairen shook her off, giving her a reassuring look, then turned to Pux and declared, “I told you, none of you are leaving. If I have one virtue, it’s that I always keep my word.”

As his words fell, Pux and his thieves suddenly heard a strange, rapid clattering—a sound like bones knocking together. The eerie noise made the Shadow Wraiths falter, and they soon discovered its source.

In the blink of an eye, fifty second-tier undead of all shapes and sizes had surrounded them from behind.

“Undead? How are there undead here? Damn! The brat’s a necromancer! Quick, take him down!” Pux was the fastest to react. After a moment’s shock, he snapped back to his senses and immediately ordered his men to seize Kairen—but it was already too late.

Even as his command rang out, the undead launched their attack.

Kairen’s ten second-tier Goblin Skeleton Mages struck first, unleashing spells from afar.

Wind Blades. Bone Claws. Netherfire. Corrosive Arrows.

Ten different spells rained down among the Shadow Wraiths, instantly killing or incapacitating ten of them.

Meanwhile, Little Green charged forward astride a skeletal boar, crossing dozens of meters in mere seconds and leading forty second-tier melee undead into the fray.

Though the numbers were similar—both sides had around forty combatants—Kairen’s undead were all second-tier, far outclassing Pux’s forces.

In a matter of moments, the Shadow Wraiths’ formation collapsed, and Pux himself found Little Green bearing down on him.

Pux, who had taken such pleasure in tormenting Kairen mere moments before, now became the hunted. Little Green could sense Kairen’s scent clinging to Pux—clearly this hateful human had just injured Kairen, and that was something Little Green could not forgive.

With a savage onslaught, Little Green attacked as though intent on tearing Pux limb from limb. Though Pux was formidable—matching Little Green in rank and wielding a sword—his earlier injuries had weakened him. In truth, even at full strength, he would have been no match for Little Green.

Their battle was brutal and one-sided. Only the prospect of extracting information from Pux kept Little Green from finishing him off at once; otherwise, the fight would have ended in just a few blows.

Still, the battle did not last long.

Within minutes, it was over.

Of the Shadow Wraith Thieves, all but a handful of second-tier members—including Pux, who were captured—were slain.

The swiftness of the victory left the masked woman, who had rushed after Kairen in concern, utterly dumbfounded.

As for Kairen, whose thirst for vengeance was not yet quenched, he strode up to Pux—whose limbs Little Green had already shattered—and declared coldly, “I told you none of you would leave. When I say something, I mean it.”