The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 286: Plan: Part Two (2)

Chapter 286: Plan: Part Two (2)

"Feathered Death."

The grim look on Hex’s face as he whispered the newcomer’s name pleased both Transformed Knights.

"I didn’t know I was this well-known. You recognized me at a glance?" Feathered Death asked him. He sent a shiver through his spine due to the man’s grating voice. His voice had a similar effect as listening to a nail dragged along a metallic surface. It held none of Red Hare’s warmth and charm.

"It’s LORD Feathered Death, by the way," Feathered Death said, hissing the ’Lord’ bit. "But you people from Asterella don’t bother with proprietary. Unless you stand before your King, of course. And even then, some of you," Hex noticed him pause and look at him, "don’t even bother that bit. They go for their head instead of bowing before their feet."

"Does it matter? You guys still will kill me, right?" Hex said and turned toward Red Hare. "I thought you didn’t wish this – what’s the name you called him? – o yeah, Vulture...yes, you don’t wish this Vulture to gain anything from this burrow."

Red Hare shifted a bit. The smile on his face faltered a little bit and a scowl appeared on the other person’s face. Hex knew a little name-calling wouldn’t make them kill each other. The cost of battle didn’t weigh against the potential rewards. But the tiniest of cracks could help when it mattered.

According to Sterling, their relationship wasn’t great. They combined their powers only to gain an audience with Asterella’s new King.

Neither man spoke. They didn’t answer Hex’s question. Feathered Death instead glanced at Red Hare.

"Let’s capture the brat and then divide the loot. As per our agreement, you get the crystal, I get the corpse. What do you think?"

"Sounds good enough." Red Hare nodded and both men looked at Hex.

They didn’t consider Hex a threat. They took their time and seemed unbothered whether he heard them or not. But they didn’t move together.

He noticed Red Hare press his feet and the next thing he sensed was the man behind him. The best way to capture Hex was to incapacitate him. They knew that. Hex knew that.

Red Hare attacked with the flat side of his hand. His target was Hex’s nape. Having expected the attack, Hex prepared in advance. He pumped an enormous amount of soul dust into his heart.

His heartbeat sped up. The flow of blood increased at once. He sensed his body burn as his muscles and size increased. It destroyed his skin. The sound of bone creaking filled the room. His body screamed in pain. But it wasn’t near how much his head hurt as he split his mind in three.

Feeling the hand come at him, he executed three Techniques at once.

Frost Dragon – Tailwhip

Spikes spurted out from his back and impaled into Red Hare’s hand. Some even managed to hit his face.

Time Freeze

Red Hare could evade or block the attack, even with such little distance between them. His speed and agility surpassed Hex’s by a few levels it seemed. The effect lasted for a slit second. Hex felt Red Hare’s hand reach his nape and halt.

This try succeeded. It didn’t have to do with his level or insight. The Silver Serpents provided two rare consumables. Sterling said it was on credit. Hex didn’t believe him though. Sterling was trying to compensate and show his goodwill toward him. One of these consumables enabled Hex to execute a single-use Time-based attack.

Blink Step

Hex didn’t miss the narrow window of opportunity he gained. He utilized the space element in his circle and appeared a little distance away from Red Hare.

"Time and Space Elements!"

The Time Freeze didn’t affect multiple opponents. Lord Feathered Death reacted as soon as he noticed the use of both elements. Hex stood with his face toward him and saw a trace of greed appear in the old man’s eyes.

Feathered Death moved slower but Hex sensed the space warp around him. The walls filled with shadows. Hex didn’t see any changes in Feathered Death’s appearance. Yet, his shadow changed. Two massive wings appeared on it and moved along the walls toward him.

"Servant of Death," he hissed as he moved closer to Hex. Hex sensed the space around him wring and constrict as the shadows on the wall grew closer.

"I didn’t expect him to have those two elements," Red Hare spoke. His cold voice showed how angry he was. Hex injured him twice. And that too in front of the one man he hated.

"It doesn’t matter," Feathered Death cackled. "My shadows constrict space and time. After all, no one can run from death. No matter where he goes and how many times he tries."

Hex heard their conversation. And he had to agree with the old man. This technique could put many in despair. Escaping it was difficult.

The shadows were upon him.

"You can’t run now, can you boy?"

Feathered Death grasped his collar and grinned. Red Hare stood just a step behind. Shadow filled the walls, floor, and ceiling around them. With the help of his space affinity, Hex sensed no space pockets near them. The shadows also cut him off from the space beyond the shadows.

"No, I can’t," Hex said. He saw Red Hare and Feathered Death glance at each other. His calmness worried them. They looked around, most likely checking to see whether someone had come to help Hex.

"He isn’t there," Hex said. He stood right above the Devil’s crystal. The only place without a shadow. "He is here."

Silver light burst out from his hand and engulfed the area around him. Red Hare shifted and appeared at the other end. As a Transformed Knight, he trusted his intuition. Feathered Death also trusted his. He let go of Hex and took a step back.

But as he took the step, his leg went through the floor. The sand turned into a quagmire.

"Not so fast, kid."

As the silver light shrank back, an old man stood before Hex. Perl resembled a skeleton more than Feathered Death. His shabby appearance didn’t ease the two men though. If anything, they looked more terrified. They didn’t expect Hex to summon the Enlightened Knight. This wasn’t according to their plan.

They tried to rush out but a giant wave appeared, drawing the area in water. Only Hex and the old man remained dry. Hex stood still. A battle on the level of these men could harm him if he made one wrong move.

For now, he just rejoiced to complete the second part of their plan. But it wasn’t over. The third part would decide their live and death.