Chapter 365 Training arc
Tension hung narrowly in the atmosphere between the two. The next few seconds was characterized by a deafening silence.
Ruan Zhaohui's brow corrugated, her eyes gleaming with a ghastly vehemence.
Alec Whitman wore a subtle stare, firm and obviously warring her away.
That moment of silence between the two was intense, like they had killed each other ten times over by just standing.
Whitman's gaze shifted from Ruan Zhaohui to the broken glass behind her back.
"That cost me a fortune. You could have used the door you know?"
Ruan Zhaohui flashed ‐ reached him in front him in less than a second, the table sliced apart cleanly by her swift movement that Whitman's eyes didn't see coming.
He frowned as her hand clutched his neck, she was biting her down on her teeth strongly such that it was evident in the pulsating muscles that could be seen on the base of her chin.
Her grip on his neck tightened with each pulsing of her muscles.
Whitman's eyes narrowed, he glared down at her, his eyes unwavering.
She exhaled and released her hand.
"It's useless. Killing you isn't worth it I swear."
Whitman caressed the part of his neck that had been in her grip as she talked.
"Know something Whitman. I am very reserved, calm and collected. I will try my best to prevent the unnecessary death of hunters and I will do even better when it comes to preserving the lives of non-hunters."
She shot a soul-piercing scowl at him.
"This is the last time I will tolerate your schemes. I don't know what you are planning. But I dare you Whitman, go further than this and you will see my wrath. If it will take me to burn all of America down to destroy you. I would do it unapologetically."
She whizzed into the sky, breaking into the roof and leaving splintered stones in her wake.
Whitman caressed his reddened neck, turning it like he was trying to loosen his tie - only that there was no tie. He wore a round-necked shirt and grey jacket.
He craned his neck to look at the hole that had been left in his office, flimsy pillars of light falling on his floor.
This was becoming more of a trouble than he had thought it would be. He had to deal with Eric's problem and that pest of a detective that just wouldn't get off his back. And now Ruan Zhaohui was on his back.
What informations did she have?
Why was she so angry with him?
Whitman wasn't sure what to think but he knew very well that Ruan Zhaohui wasn't the type to kill him or generally hunters anyhow. The world needs more resourceful hunters who would be very instrumental in battles to come. That was her line most time when she addressed the public.
Losing someone has resourceful as Li Mingwu also would have hit her so badly that she could get blinded by her rage. Whitman understood that much.
'But the fact that she stopped means she does not have enough evidence.'
Whitman rubbed his beards and pocketed his hands again. Looking at the supposedly unbreakable glass.
"Still, I have to be wary of her. With Li Mingwu gone. I need three years... all this just has to someway die down for three years..." a grin curled up his lips.
Thinking of the greater exploit he was about to enter into gave him so much joy. It was all worth it. Yes it was.
—
The sky was white but something about it felt off. The air felt crispy and rough, there was a faintly intoxicating smell in the air.
Raith rose to his feet and looked around him. It was an expanse of nothing. The ground was stony and edgy, it had even made him secure a few scratches on his skin as he fell and rolled due to Thard - Harl's throw.
The land was obsolete and antiquated, as though the landscape were what was left of an apocalypse that must have swallowed a civilization.
The grey clouds that suspiciously loomed above the desolate land gave an eerie and uncomfortable perception of the land.
A moment later Thard - Harl appeared behind him.
"Spacing out?"
Raith was dragged out of his thoughts by the asura's unpleasant voice. He frowned and turned.
"What did you do? Where did you bring me to?" His tone was harsh. He was tempted to be rude but he held back. Unfortunately, memories with the asura were quite unpleasant even when it was his so-called clone.
Raith had thought that if he had so much difficulty defeating that monster at that type with that power, how would he do with Thard - Harl? What were his powers? Were they the same with that so-called clone?
Of course, he was sure Thard - Harl would have superior powers to the clone he fought.
Anyway, it was all unpleasant. If anything he wanted to avoid staying with this guy for any longer than necessary.
Thard - Harl gave him a scrutiny look and walked past him with his hands behind his back.
"What are you doing?! Are you not going to answer me?!" Raith scowled at him.
"I have told you young man. I brought you here to train you. This is my place, this is where I have had to abode in for the past thousand years in order to stay away from the prying eyes of the celestials, primordials and demons."
He continued further not glancing back to Raith even as he spoke.
Raith picked his steps and walked up to him.
"Train me? See, I appreciate the effort but I am the kind of person that particularly needs training. I will grow naturally as I continue to engage in battle."
Thard - Harl stopped forcing Raith to also come to an abrupt stop behind him.
"As you can see, I don't really have an proper training of some sort and yet I was able to dispose that monster..."
Thard - Harl's hard gaze made his statement finish with an awkward tone. His face became tensed as he looked into the asura's lifeless eyes - his pale skin further contributing to that feature.
Thard - Harl carried an obtund air around him. But it wasn't like that when Raith had met him just a few minute ago. Whatever this was, he just suddenly changed.
Raith stayed silent as Thard - Harl also did for the next couple of minutes.
Finally, he opened his mouth and said: n-(OVelB1n
"You will stay with me and train. Until when? I don't know. According to my promise to Fel and for my project, I will train you even if it has to be against your will."
Raith gulped.
The asura's tone did not just sound with seriousness. Raith's heart trembled as he spoke. Almost everything Raith had known in the past few minutes of knowing the asura felt like a lie with this air that suddenly came on him.
Raith tried to frown... he did. But he couldn't speak against what the asura had said. He looked around the desolate plane.
'Instead of trying to argue. I know what to do...'
Raith raised a corner of his lips.
"So... we shall start with testing how far you have come."
"Wait we are starting right now?"
Raith with his brows raised and eyes widened emitting innocence.
"Yes, we are..." The asura paused and continued, "I want you to fight me."
"Uh?"