Chapter 165: The Mission Starts - Wraith Nest I

Nikolai struggled to sleep after the third round and instead began preparing himself. He looked at the unconscious cat beside him. A flash of inspiration crossed his mind, bringing a curious smirk to his face.

"Well she probably wont wake up for a while."

'Should I try using cat nip on her next time...'

'How wild would she get?'

He watched her chest rise and fall, Risa's arms and legs spread out over the bed. After everything ended, she seemed to have returned to her usual self.

The feelings he resisted for so long finally settled, and the strange sensation and attraction towards her gradually became calm.

'Since the moment we met in that damn jeep she felt strange.'

'I wonder why she became so aggressive... is it because of the wraiths earlier?'

'Maybe the alcohol...'

"Oh well..."

In the early morning, he felt a sense of calm. In three hours, Ryan would contact them, and the mission would start. He quickly grabbed the heavy suit and walked towards the shower with a towel and a change of underwear.

He made sure not to forget the suit Alexei gave him. The special suit felt heavy yet squishy—it was a truly strange material.

The silver design almost sparkled within the lights of the bathroom. A hidden compartment on the back revealed several straps. He carefully set aside the clothes as he climbed into the standing shower. The silver square showerhead had dozens of nozzles to spray the water, from a fine mist to a heavy flow.

'Haa... the water feels amazing, it's removing the sticky feeling.'

Nikolai started rubbing soap on his chest.

'Ahh I feel relaxed again...'

His face loosened as he turned around—Risa's shadow appeared in the shower. Yet he noticed her limping and leaning against the wall. Her hand slid along the smooth tiles before she grimaced.

"Ngh... it hurts..."

"Are you alright? Come here."

"Nya..."

Nikolai offered his hand, pulling her under the water, spreading the soapy suds and bubbles between their bodies. Shocked by the sudden action, Risa hugged him tightly. Her naked body rubbed against him.

'Last night must have been rough on her...'

He noticed the resistance and her blood, yet couldn't stop his inner beast wanting her several times... Now, her crotch was puffy and swollen with a red hue. It hurt just looking at it...

"Does it hurt to walk?"

"You could have called me..."

Risa looked embarrassed for a moment before looking down, her low voice lacking the same confidence as last night. Instead, she sounded more feminine and cute.

"I am sorry, Nikolai."

Her beautiful emerald eyes gazed up at him—she felt guilty about what happened. Her hands trembled as she squeezed his wrists as she rubbed against Nikolai's chest.

'Why does it feel like I'm taking advantage of her now?'

'It is almost as if she was an entirely different person from last night...'

"There's nothing to be sorry for, but can you really fight today? You're struggling to walk."

Nikolai began massaging the melon shampoo into her hair while watching her response. She tightly closed her eyes while holding him close.

"Yes... Yes, I can fight! It heals faster when I touch you..."

He started cleaning the dirt and grime off her body with care. As they stood together under the showerhead, something felt different from last night when they saw one another naked.

"Alright, somehow I think it will be harder than we think, so be careful."

"Of course!"

After they were clean, both of them walked out of the bathroom.

Risa wore her combat uniform, with a long red military trench coat hiding it. Nikolai was the same, with the special suit underneath his combat uniform and military coat. His boots felt firm on the smooth marble floor, giving a reassuring clack of sound every step he took.

"Then shall we head to the meeting point, Panther 3?"

"Hehe, anything you say, Which Wolf."

***

The two enjoyed a light breakfast before leaving, though they could live through other means. The taste of coffee and breakfast in the Imperium tasted too good.

"Oh? You came together... that's unexpected!"

Ryan seemed to be a little surprised—his voice increased in pitch when the pair arrived. Brian looked calm and nodded. However, he peeked at Nikolai and Risa several times.

"Is it?"

"Of course... by the was, Clara was asking about you. It seems she liked you."

"Hmmm..."

'Ryan seems to dislike me getting close to Clara. Well, let's just ignore his feelings. I don't plan to get close, anyway. She felt like bad news and something annoying.'

Risa sat on a nearby wall as they set up just above the nest entrance. She greeted both Bruce and Brian and then began looking through her phone.

'Well, she seems to have recovered enough to fight...'

Bruce, however, looked annoyed. He glared at Nikolai and Risa, who came together in the same car, and noticed her holding his arm until they reached the group.

"Is Alex not coming with us this time?"

Nikolai asked Ryan, ignoring the fairy user glaring at them.

"Ah... because this mission is a little difficult for a non-combatant like Alex. I told him to sit out."

"I see, Alex wasn't a combatant. I didn't know that..."

'Strange, Alex was stronger than Brian, at least. Is it related to the nest being close to his sister?'

"Well, of course. I wonder what type of man you are thinking Alex is."

Nikolai shook his head and sighed—he shouldn't ask about someone's secret lightly. He couldn't tell them the secret power inside him; others wouldn't casually tell theirs. Not everyone had someone like Elizabeth to help...

"It's almost time. Ryan, hand over the communication devices."

After setting up the comms device on his ears, Ryan immediately stepped away.

"This is Panther 1. Can you read me? Over"

"Panther 2. Clear, over."

"Panther 3. Clear, over."

"Panther 4. Loud and clear."

"White Wolf. Clear, over!"

The roll call ended without issue. Ready for battle, everyone grasped their weapons. Once again, Bruce began casting his magic. However, the blessings he cast did not apply to Nikolai.

"Hmmm..."

A strange dark aura flickered from Bruce's hand before it enveloped Nikolai for a moment. He could feel a strange sense of dissonance before the dark aura shattered.

The next moment, Bruce vomited blood, causing Brian to shout out to him.

"Panther 4?!"

'Did this fucker just try to curse me?!'

Nikolai's eyes became cold because he knew Bruce had feelings for Risa. Yet, he planned to ignore them until they attacked him. This action crossed Nikolai's bottom line. He looked to the left, a huge forest expanse, while Risa blew him a kiss. Enjoy exclusive chapters from m-v l'e|-NovelFire.net

'I will kill him!'

"What's the matter, White Wolf?"

Ryan's voice seemed aware; he could probably feel his old friend's anger. Yet Nikolai said nothing and didn't respond.

He moved to the spot they had decided on earlier.

"Be careful Risa. That fairy bastard tried to attack me."

Nikolai whispered in Risa's ear—the sight looked a little doubtful because his lips touched her nape and cheek before he pulled away.

"You too, Nikolai... it seems that this mission isn't simple..."

Risa spoke in a low and concerned tone. Yet, her ears continued to flicker, and she was able to hear the sounds from within the nest.

'I see...' Sёarch* The ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Suddenly, before Nikolai could adjust himself...

A voice sounded from the entrance of the cave, which caused his eyes to narrow. He then looked at Risa before turning to the old male standing in silence with several wraiths beside him.

'Who is that... he feels familiar.'

[Nikolai, who did you offend?! That man is an Elder Wraith!]

"I would have loved to say that it was a pleasure to greet you." The old male with pale skin turned to Nikolai and sniffed the air. "However, since you have brought someone we find disgusting and hold a grudge against... Then I shall kill you without mercy."

"Ris—"

Nikolai didn't even have enough time to call out her name before a sharp spike sliced through the air—his head just remained.

'Without my Blood art... I would be dead!'

He only dodged the old man's attack by flicking his head to the side after he felt danger.

"Oh? You survived the first blow... how annoying."

The old man then turned to the six males and ten females behind him and spoke out in a hoarse growl.

"Slay them all!"

"Risa, don't hold back!"

Nikolai could shout to her, his blade slicing across the air before a flicker of silver and the powerful impact sent his body floating back from the force. Their weapons clashed together with an explosive burst of energy.

In mid-air, Risa suddenly launched herself towards another female wraith; holding two daggers, she twisted her body, slicing the woman's throat. As a red mist appeared, Nikolai lowered his blade towards the Elder Wraith, yet the old man's body vanished before Nikolai felt a sharp pain in his stomach.

"Agh!"

His abdomen received a heavy knee strike, forcing blood and mucus up into his mouth as the sensation made him nauseous.

"You are an interesting kid."

"Tsk, shut up.."

The elderly wraith's voice resounded in his ears as his eyes recovered, the sharp blade from the elder wraith stabbing towards Nikolai's throat.

Clang—!

"Haa!"

"Hrrk..."

Risa kicked away another opponent and flew in front of him using her incredible speed. Her dagger stabbed toward the elderly wraith and clashed with his other handspike.

Even with one blade against three, the pair struggled to push him back.

"Move it!"

Nikolai didn't even have the time to see what happened to Ryan, Brian or Bruce... his body soon began to take damage while leaving shallow wounds on the elder.

"Old man, back off!"

"Not until I've killed you! Little bastard."