Chapter 457: Worthy Followers

Chapter 457: Worthy Followers



Out of the shadows, a whip-like snake shot forward, piercing through the bottom of Album's foot and coiling tightly around his leg.

Hidden beneath its surface were small chains that latched onto his shadow, anchoring him in place.

His foot froze, a mere inch above Sofia's neck.

Album's eyes narrowed as he glanced at the motionless limb, then slowly turned his gaze to his surroundings, scanning for the source, the attacker.

"Why did you intervene? I thought you were going to just watch."

His eyes soon locked onto Ava, more specifically, the flickering shadow beneath her feet.

"I know you're there."

A dangerous giggle resounded, and a white-haired woman materialized behind him. "Are you sure?"

Before he could react to those words, her right blade gauntlet was already slashing across his neck.

But just as the blade bit into his flesh, it stopped short, unable to sever his head completely. Album had concentrated his healing factor on that precise point, reinforcing his neck, making it nearly indestructible to someone of her strength.

Now, the blade was momentarily lodged in his neck, its entrance now healed.

For a second, neither of them moved, then, the white-haired woman-Lyra-clicked her tongue in frustration and swiftly kicked him in the back.

While doing so, she pulled away, dislodging her weapon as he was sent sprawling to the ground beside Sofia.

Dirt and dust were picked up at the impact, making quite a dramatic entrance for Ava and Arthur, who finally gained the courage to approach the new arrival.

Lyra gave them a quick gesture, her ruby eyes sharp.

"Take them. Now."

There was no time for more words.

Both of them nodded in silent thanks, not wasting a moment.

Ava carefully lifted Sofia, her broken body limp in her arms, while Arthur heaved Max, still unconscious, onto his shoulder.

They bolted from the scene, running as fast as their legs could carry them.

In the time it took them to jump out of the train tracks and onto the platform, Album was healed back up, ready to chase them down.

But before he could, a loud sound filled the air-the rumbling of the earth, the cracking of

stone.

He looked behind him and saw new faces, five of them.

Kiera, Sarah, Hiro, Leo, and Evan.

Jack really wanted to come along, but Kiera had forced him to join the others and ensure they could safely reach camp.

While he could still fight, facing a Seraphim with such an exploitable disadvantage was bounding him for failure or, even worse, death.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Rumble... Rumble...

The ground trembled violently beneath all seven of them.

Cracks snaked through the stone floor, and chunks of the ceiling above the platform's

entrance began to crumble, threatening to bury all that was underneath.

Album glanced up at the collapsing structure, unfazed.

He knew what was happening.

Those six had caused the quake.

Though... he didn't doubt that his battle had added to the damage.

Regardless, none of that mattered to him at that moment.

His next actions were more important to identify.

He stood still, weighing his options.

Album could pursue the students now-hunt them down and finish what he started-but the risk gnawed at him.

If he gave chase, those "heretics" might interfere again, and adding to that, the crumbling ceiling above threatened to bury him if he gave chase.

Even with his enhanced healing, getting trapped under tons of rubble might be his undoing.

With a final, frustrated glance at the escaping cohort, he faced his new enemies and stepped forward.

"At least I'll have six sacrifices today."

Lyra looked at the falling debris in the distance and then glanced at Album.

Without a word, she melded into the shadows, intent on leaving her family behind.

activated, his long sword slashing down.

Album leaned back at the last moment, barely avoiding being cut in half.

Still, the tip of the sword had reached him, gutting his stomach from the right to the left.

It was a grave injury, but he didn't slow down to heal.

With a snarl, he lunged forward and swung his bladed staff.

Evan immediately stepped back, and the blade clashed against the Aetheric Bulwark, sending

shockwaves through the air.

It cracked in the next moment, needing a single extra hit to break.

The force of the impact pushed them all back, but they held their ground while Evan gritted

his teeth as he channeled more Aether into his bulwark.

Just when Album cocked his hand back, about to swing again, Leo activated his ability,

Aetheric Siphon.

Album flinched, momentarily pausing, and that was all they needed.

Hiro darted to the side, out of the bulwark's protection, and activated Flash Step.

In an instant, he vanished from sight, only to reappear a short distance away, his curved blade

held bloodied and held in a ready stance.

Behind him, a clean cut formed just above Album's right elbow.

Then, blood oozed from the wound, and his arm fell to the ground, severed entirely.

Album's eyes flickered with surprise, and he quickly reacted, stomping the ground.

His right leg broke and healed repeatedly, as he used twice his maximum strength, sending a violent shockwave through the earth.

The impact hurled everyone back and sent his severed arm flying upward, allowing him to

snatch it mid-air.

Without hesitation, he slammed the limb back into place, instinctively aligning the bones.

The arm began to reattach, skin and muscle knitting together rapidly as his healing factor

kicked in.

Despite the grotesque sight and what must have been excruciating pain, Album remained

calm.

Rather, he didn't even seem bothered, more interested in something else, particularly Hiro,

his white eyes fixed on him with a puzzled expression.

'Flash Step... for such a short distance?'

Album was unable to fathom how Hiro could manipulate the ability so precisely.

Whatever technique that was, it couldn't have come from thin air.

It had to be from an outsider, not an Eartherner, someone with a different perspective,

someone who dared to ask.

....Just who was it that taught him this?

Before he could reach the semiobvious answer to that question, he was rudely interrupted.

The target of curiosity had disappeared, reappearing in front of him with blurry movements. It was his Blurred Dance ability at play.

He was nearly impossible to track as his blade closed in on Album, no longer shimmering with

darkness.

Hiro struck fast, and Album couldn't defend himself, unable to hit him, skin-deep scratches forming all over his body.

However, Album's regenerative abilities were almost instantaneous.

Every wound Hiro inflicted closed up within seconds, leaving only faint traces of the attacks.

Sarah, standing behind the group, activated Aetheric Heal while he attacked, boosting his speed even further, his body reaching a state above a hundred percent.

She kept her focus on him, constantly mending the tiny wounds inflicted by Album's fists.

Her Sacred Gift was cast on Kiera, preparing her for what they planned to do next. Leo stayed at the back, near her, his focus entirely on draining Album of his Aether. His form had split into three while everyone wasn't looking, each form performing different and utterly random actions to confuse their enemy.

When they noticed that change, Kiera whispered something under her breath and stepped out.