The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 159: Encountering the Heartless

Chapter 159: Encountering the Heartless

Debris. Overgrown walls. Silence.

That was Hex’s first impression of the ruin as he entered it. The gate was a hundred meters wide, followed by a path tens of meters wider than the gate.

After an empty area, he saw broken buildings on both sides of the path.

’According to the map, this used to be the market district, similar to Notrelune.’ Hex believed that they built Notrelune mirroring Notresol.

There were no markings on the map for the market area, indicating no to few Heartless roaming around. It made sense. If the scouts roamed these places frequently, they perhaps cleared it.

Hex raised his head. The sky was still clear, and the sun shone brightly, but Hex didn’t feel its warmth. Neither was there any breeze inside the city.

’Even though this place is open and well-lit, it gives a similar feeling as a crevice inside the mountains.’

Hex split with the others in the market area. Unlike others who moved carefully and with caution, which slowed them down considerably, he could move faster. He relied on his senses to scout. It didn’t mean he became reckless but he didn’t have to check each nook and cranny.

’There seems to be a few Demons inside the building up ahead.’

The building he referred to had two stories. Based on the energy waves, he believed two Heartless to be on the first and three on the second floor.

He preferred hunting Fiend-stage Heartless but didn’t mind taking a few weaker ones out. It would also help him compare these to the ones he encountered in the Mountains.

Within a few breaths, he reached the building and hid in the shadows. He pressed his ears against the wooden wall, hearing soft screeches.

’They haven’t noticed me.’

The lack of wind helped to hide his traces. He knew these creatures had superior attributes, so he didn’t dare to use the same standards as other animals or humans.

After a quick search, he discovered a broken window. Using Flex Step, he scaled the wall and entered the building, without making any sound.

The room he entered, had a wash bowl with cracks and a few dirty linens. It was a small room, barely big enough to fit two people. He peered through the wide gaps in the door. He saw the Heartless lying on the floor, hidden in the shadows and steering clear from the patches of sunlight coming through the tears in the wall.

Hex pulled his sword out and tried to push the door open as quietly as possible but the old hinges creaked, betraying his presence.

Screech!

Both creatures raised their heads and screeched. But before they could react, Hex moved. Using Flex Step he flew over the first creature, landing in front of the second. While going over the head of the first, he swung his sword. As he landed before the second, the head of the first creature flew in the air. The second Heartless raised its talon-like fingers at him but it was too late. It fell to the ground as the head of the first Heartless landed on the floor. A second later, the second head landed on the floor too.

The screech of the Heartless alerted the three on the second floor. He heard them scramble above his head. He raised his head and grinned.

Flex Step.

He jumped with his sword raised, barging in through the floor. The three Heartless were already running toward the stairs, causing Hex to land behind them. Before they turned their heads, their heads flew into the air.

’Demons are no challenge anymore,’ Hex thought. He already had tens of drops of chaotic energy inside. The ten Fiend crystals he refined before leaving Notrelune gave him an additional fifteen drops of energy. He also increased the quantity of Earth, Water, and Fire elements.

Even at the Squire stage, he could kill Demons easily. An increase in energy and elements increased his base attributes. The pills enhanced his physical strength, endurance, and recovery speed.

’The Demons are comparable to the ones in the mountains,’ Hex concluded after comparing these Heartless to what he remembered.

’There is nothing of worth here.’

Hex retrieved the Demon crystals and searched the building but nothing caught his eye. He focused his senses, trying to find the next prey. After a while, he found it. He smiled. There were two Fiends a block ahead. He slipped out of the building and moved through the alleys.

Screech!

As soon as he reached the block of the houses, the Fiends noticed him. They rushed through the shadows. Their elongated limbs helped them swing from building to building, especially when passing through lit areas.

’I thought sunlight could harm them. And maybe it is but not as much as I assumed. Or perhaps they can’t remain too long in the light.’

Although Hex thought about all these things, he didn’t drop his sword. One of the Fiends swung high and fell toward him, extending his talons. Hex used his sword to take it head-on. The attack sliced the talon off its limb.

Screech!

The painful screech of the Heartless echoed through the empty street. The other had reached them too. Hex readied his sword. But to his surprise, the Heartless opened its maws and shot a fireball toward Hex.

’What?! They can use the elements too?!’

Although creatures at Fiend or higher stages could use elements, he was still shocked at the sight of a perfectly created and executed fireball.

Flex Step - Second step

Hex stepped in the air, flipping over the incoming fireball. The Fiend with its talon cut off jumped right at him. It screeched and swung its other arm at Hex.

Flex Step - Third step

Hex easily side-stepped the Heartless and swung his sword at its neck. The creature tried to dodge but it couldn’t change its trajectory mid-air. His sword sliced its head off. Seeing its partner fall to the ground, spat another fireball at Hex.

But Hex expected it. He moved through the air, reaching behind the creature. As he fell to the ground, his sword cut the beast in half through the middle.

’There are more creatures up ahead.’ Hex didn’t stop. He ran up in an alley, going in the direction he sensed more Fiends.

The entire market area was filled with scenes of battle. Corpses were strewn all over the place. Some were Heartless, others belonged to humans.

Far ahead, on top of a towering building, sat two figures.

"I. will. kill. them." If the humans heard it, they would be shocked out of their wits. The words wouldn’t shock them. But those words were spoken by a Heartless.

The other figure sat clad in wide black robes. The robe seemed dirty and torn in places.

"Not now. But soon."

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