The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 215: Schemes behind schemes (5)

Chapter 215: Schemes behind schemes (5)

"OPEN THE GATES!"

The SS3’s Vice-Captain’s voice reverberated through the air as he ran toward the gates. His colleague, the SS1’s Vice-Captain, watched with trepidation as the group neared. It was still two minutes till they could open the gates.

’Shit.’

Hex noticed the hesitation on the man’s face and understood the gravity of the situation at once.

Screech!

The shriek of the Calamity knocked some of the trailing soldiers of SS3 out cold. Hex turned and saw the Heartless shriek as it came towards them.

"Open moron!"

"I can’t. Wait just a little while."

The SS3’s Vice-Captain almost vomited by his colleague’s mistimed change of attitude to comply with the rules.

The others didn’t understand but Hex understood his frustration. He had read the letters. The SS1 Vice-Captain was notorious for his tardiness when it came to the opening of the gate. Yet, the letters and punishments had scared him and on this night of all nights, he wished to abide by the rules.

’Just my fucking luck,’ Hex cursed inwardly. His plan went well so far but now he faced an unforeseen obstacle.

’They won’t survive two minutes. Will I be forced to blow my cover?’

Even if he retreated, his survival would cause suspicion if everyone else died. Hex shuffled and moved the furthest away from the incoming Calamity.

In the twenty seconds of discussion, the Calamity arrived at the gates. It landed on the roof of one of the buildings near them.

The soldiers, whether they belonged to SS1 or SS3, all trembled. Some whimpered while others cried out loud. None cried as loud as the SS1’s Vice-Captain.

"Alert the other side," the SS3’s Vice-Captain snapped at him, which caused the man to scramble backward. "And open the damn GATE!"

"You lot remain behind us," the Vice-Captain said to the group, his demeanor calm and composed again. His instruction was for the group they considered the ’goods’. Hex huddled with the others, remaining furthest back.

"Men, get ready. We are the logistics team. No matter what happens, we will deliver the goods. Understood?!"

Hex watched the Vice-Captain walk to the front, pull a flask from his belt, and gulp down the content of it. His subordinates, who trembled a second ago, inspired by their superior’s action, pulled flasks out too.

The entire team stopped trembling as they gazed at the Calamity. The creature cocked its head. Its skull parted, showing two rows of fangs.

"Shri...Shri...Shri."

To Hex it seemed like it was mocking them.

"BASTARD!" One of the members of SS3 shouted, stepping forward. He didn’t like being mocked by a mindless creature.

But the next moment, his hand he used to point at the Calamity, parted and fell on the ground. Only when the blood splattered and spluttered did the man and the people around him react.

The man screamed but his scream was cut short as his head flew in the air. Even when his head fell on the ground and rolled over to his teammates they struggled to understand the sight in front of them.

Hex was perhaps the only one in the crowd who saw the Calamity move, attack, and swirl back to behead the man.

"Screw you!"

The Vice-Captain was the first to snap out of the shock. Seeing one of his men die in front of his eyes, infuriated him. He pounced at the Calamity, forgetting the difference in power between them.

He tried to punch the Calamity but the creature sidestepped him with ease and hit him in the stomach as a counterattack. The VIce-Captain flew back and hit against the building closest to them. He lay there, unmoving.

Before the others could react, the Calamity attacked. Hex watched all this solemnly. All the deaths were on his head. Hex didn’t justify himself. He knew such a thing could occur but he still proceeded.

’Life and death. Heaven remains unfeeling about the death of men and beasts.’

This thought appeared as he watched the soldiers being massacred. The other ’goods’ trembled and whimpered but none even tried to help, either the soldiers or themselves. They feared their fate yet accepted it.

Creak.

A muffled sound fell on Hex’s ears. He turned and noticed the massive gates leading to the Temple district open a little bit.

"To the gates."

Hex shouted and rushed to the gates. The people close to him followed behind him. They didn’t consider whether Hex could save them or not. They ran because they heard someone tell them to.

The soldiers of SS1 scampered away as the gate opened a meter wide. They climbed into the holes designed especially for such instances and hid in the wall.

As he tried to inspect behind the gates, Hex failed to perceive anything. His enhanced senses only noticed a darkness inside.

’It’s close.’

Hex sensed the Calamity move toward them. The Knights didn’t obstruct them even a bit. He barely covered half of the distance to the gate, when the Calamity appeared in front of him, blocking his path forward.

Blood dripped from its talons as it looked at the surviving six members. Hex didn’t see when it killed the seventh.

’Is this it? Will I have to abandon my plan and just retreat?’

Unless Hex let the Calamity kill him, he would have to expose himself. No one would believe a captive would be able to escape a Calamity. After all, if he had the ability, how did the others capture him?

Hex sighed and willed his heart to pump energy into his blood. Only by going all out would he be able to escape.

The Calamity screeched, taking its first step to pounce. Hex readied his technique, ready to scale the wall.

"Vile creature."

The voice wasn’t loud but seemed to be the mandate of nature. The power in it slammed against the Calamity, sending it flying straight into the buildings near them. Hex watched with wide eyes as the creature shot through a couple of buildings before coming to a stop.

It didn’t die. Hex sensed its energy. But it was injured.

Stunned, Hex turned toward the gate. An old man, no an ancient man stood in the opening, holding a stick.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.