Chapter 61: Formidable Figure

Standing before Nyx—and towering menacingly—was a daunting figure. His long, jet black hair was slicked back with a good deal of jell.

Locks of hair poked out from the main abundance. His eyes were greenish in color just like the shade of his hair. He had a cigarette at the corner of his lips.

He wore a suit without a suit jacket, a tie and long, black pants. He had a few, mild strands of beard on his chin. A tattoo of the number '606' lingered on his neck. Smoke came wafting from the cigarette as he smirked.

"Been a while, Nyx, and that's how you greet your pal?"

Nyx pulled his hand away, and stood up straight. He glared at the figure before him and sneered. "Cliff …"

Cliff placed both his hands in his pockets. "When you say it like that, it doesn't sound like we're friends."

Nyx gritted his teeth. "What are you doing here? How did you find him?"

Cliff tittered. "Let me guess," he shifted on his feet, "You thought he had to die for us to get signaled, huh?" his voice, soothing and deliberate.

Nyx's black horns grew longer and sharper. An aura appeared around him. He scowled. "I'm not going to let you stop me from achieving my goals. Father gave me four more days—it shouldn't be for nothing!" his aura erupted as if it were an explosion.

Cliff raised a brow. "Do I look like I care about you or your goals? Do I like I give a shit?"

Baron appeared next to Nyx, along with Krod and Alura.

Alura looked daggers at Cliff. "I knew I sensed him…"

Cliff smirked. "Y'see? One night in bed and the girls are sensing my presence and shit … can't do without me…" a smug took his face.

Alura looked at Nyx. "Boss, you're not planning to fight him, are you?"

Nyx didn't say anything.

Krod peered at Nyx. "Boss, this is your only chance. He's alone and Jin's weak as fuck. We can take him. All of us. Let's get one of them out of our hands and take the system from the weakling!"

Nyx glared at Krod. "Says the one who almost got killed by the weakling!"

Krod averted his eyes. "But I'm okay. It's Clarke who almost got killed…"

Nyx looked at Cliff again.

Alura shook her head. "Boss? Why can you answer him and not me? We should not fight him. They hurt you in the past. You were on the verge of death. If it weren't for Baron getting you out of there, you would have perished!

"Look, boss. You have four more days. You know where all his friends live and you already almost killed him. We can always get him again. We should leave before more of them arrive!"

Nyx heaved. "You are correct. If we fight here, this whole building is going to go down. Others will intervene. And he might use that skill on me where I can't port away again. Even if I win, I would have to fight his comrades."

Krod's blood boiled. "What the fuck, boss? What are you doing? Can't you see he's alone? He's the weakest one, remember!? We can take him!"

Nyx powered down. "There's no telling how strong he's become in that space of time. In the past, he—as weak as he was—killed three of our comrades and all of you were almost killed as well.

"I can one-shot his body if I use all my power, but his sacred weapon is too dangerous for us to take chances with. We are going to leave while we still have the chance … unless you want to risk things big. Come, let's—"

Krod lunged into the air, and toward Cliff. "I'm tired of waiting things out!"

Suddenly, Cliff grinned. He teleported back a few metres. He raised his hand, and an object began to manifest in it. It was a scythe. First, it glowed green, then it began to materialize.

It was a green scythe with a red gem, and a long, sharp, curved blade. When the weapon was radically conjured, he started spinning it. Expeditiously passing it from one hand to the other, moving it from front to back and then front again.

Then, he slashed the blade. It shrieked as it cut through thin air. And as Krod closed in, the blade sliced through his abdomen. He was cut in half.

The two parts of his body had collapsed. Blood gushed out from the cut. His eyes rolled up, his mouth remained gaped. Death.

"KROD!!!" Baron screamed.

Alura pulled him toward the portal Nyx made. Baron didn't stop screaming. They walked into the portal, and it closed.

Cliff looked down at Jin, as he walked up to him. He opened his hand, uncurling his fingers and the scythe disappeared. He then jammed both his pockets into his pockets.

Jin remained on the floor, sprawled out, bleeding. In excruciating agony, he trembled. His eyes were barely opened. His face was numb and swollen.

His clothes were soaked in his own blood. He couldn't move much. He suffered an injured spine, and a damaged head.

Cliff spat out his cigarette and fished his hands down his pockets. He pulled out a box of cigarettes and an old-fashioned lighter. He took out the last cigarette from the box, and then carelessly dropped the empty box.

He then flicked his lighter. It clicked, sparked, and finally a flame appeared. He placed the cigarette in the incandescent flame. The cigarette lingered there until it started to burn.

He closed the lighter and placed it in his pockets. And alas, he gave the cigarette to his lips, still holding it intact with his index and middle fingers.

He brimmed his mouth with smoke, moved the cigarette and parted his lips. Smoke escaped along with his breath. Then, he placed the cigarette at the corner of his lips again.

He smirked. "You got beaten really bad, kid. You fight like shit. Saw the whole thing. But I gotta admit that you did surprise me a few times for someone merely on level seven.

"My name's Cliff, and you're coming with me…"