Chapter 169 -169



"We will stop him here," she declared, her voice firm and commanding.

"Yes, ma'am," her companion responded, ready to execute her orders.

"Shall we lay the traps here?" another companion inquired, seeking confirmation.

"Yes, lay them here," the woman confirmed, her words dripping with calculated intent.

With swift and purposeful motions, her companions began to scatter the ground with the enigmatic blue thorns known as Illusion Thorns.

[Illusion Thorns]

[The Illusion Thorn is an extraordinary blue-hued thorn, renowned for its exquisite appearance and deadly properties. Its slender and elongated structure resembles a needle, tapering to an incredibly sharp point. The vibrant blue coloration captivates the eye, enchanting observers with its mesmerizing beauty.

At first glance, the Illusion Thorn may seem innocuous. However, it harbors a treacherous secret. When subjected to significant pressure against a solid object, it releases a toxic liquid from its finely textured surface. This liquid possesses potent hallucinogenic properties, capable of inducing vivid and captivating illusions within unfortunate victims.]

The woman's mind swirled with a plan as she contemplated Anon's approach. With his bare feet pounding the ground, it was inevitable that he would tread upon the very thorns her companions had strategically placed. Once the hallucinogenic effect took hold, Anon would be vulnerable, an easy target for their lethal intentions. Victory seemed within their grasp.

"Ma'am, he's coming," one of her subordinates alerted, breaking her concentration.

"Everyone, hide. Once he steps on those thorns, we will chase him until the illusion takes hold, and then, we will end him," the woman ordered, her voice carrying the weight of conviction.

"Yes, ma'am," the subordinates replied in unison, disappearing into the shadows, concealing themselves behind trees and rocks.

Yet, a subtle disturbance disrupted the stillness. A gust of wind whispered through the desert, tickling the senses of one of the assassin girls.

"What was that?" she muttered to herself, a sense of unease settling over her.

With a quick turn of her head, she found herself staring into a pair of blood-red eyes, penetrating her soul, emanating a chilling aura. Fear gripped her entire being as each passing moment stretched into an eternity.

The figure before her was none other than Mike himself, a formidable presence fueled by determination and vengeance.

"Ma—" the assassin girl attempted to cry out, but before a single word escaped her lips, Mike swiftly silenced her with his curved kunai, extinguishing her life in an instant.

"Rest in hell," Mike whispered, placing her lifeless body gently against a nearby tree. His movements were swift and precise, an embodiment of deadly efficiency.

Mike disappeared as swiftly as he had arrived, emerging behind the second tree to dispatch another assassin girl. The cycle of death continued in his wake.

"Girls, be ready to run as soon as he crosses this point," the assassin leader instructed, unaware of the fate that awaited her.

Silence followed her command, met with no response from her subordinates.

"Do you understand?" she repeated, her voice tinged with impatience.

A male voice, filled with an air of quiet confidence, floated from behind her as a kunai found its way to her neck. The blade pressed against her skin, leaving her paralyzed with fear.

"Who are you? Why are you doing this?" she stammered, her voice trembling.

The kunai's tip inched closer to her neck, the threat of impending doom palpable. Her vision blurred as panic consumed her.

"My master would be delighted to have a wild direwolf like you after this race," Mike replied, his voice dripping with malice, his eyes burning a bright crimson.

"Fuck off! I'll kill myself before—" The assassin girl's sentence was cut short as she attempted to plunge her own dagger into her heart. However, before she could carry out her desperate act, Mike swiftly struck her cerebellum, rendering her unconscious with a single, precise blow.

"You will die, but it will be by my master's will," Mike declared, his tone laced with a chilling finality. He cleared the thorns from Anon's path, vanishing into the darkness with the unconscious assassin girl, leaving no trace behind.

"HOHOHO... What a striking youngster. It's a pity he dared to meddle with my prince. Now, prepare to meet your demise, kid." A man adorned in vibrant, kaleidoscopic attire sneered as he observed Anon dashing naked through the dense forest.

In an instant, the man vanished from his position, reappearing a staggering 500 meters ahead of Anon.

"Let's see what you're truly capable of, my dear." The man's voice dripped with contempt as he conjured a lengthy leather whip from thin air, its crackling presence emanating an eerie purple hue.

"Earth Splitter...." The man's voice resonated with power as he forcefully struck the ground horizontally with his whip.

[Earth Splitter is a formidable skill that harnesses the wielder's mastery over the earth element. When unleashed, this skill channels raw energy through the conduit of the whip. With a swift and fierce strike against the earth's surface, an extraordinary transformation takes place.

As the whip connects with the ground, a surge of potent energy ripples through the soil, triggering seismic disturbances. The sheer force behind the impact rends the earth asunder, creating a profound chasm that stretches in an unwavering line, a testament to the wielder's commanding authority over nature itself.

The resulting crevice is a breathtaking spectacle, with the earth cracking apart and quivering under the skill's influence. The split extends for a considerable distance, its length determined by the wielder's proficiency and strength. The breadth of the chasm is substantial, posing a formidable obstacle to any daring to traverse it.]

In an awe-inspiring display, the ground abruptly cleaved into two, birthing a vast trench in the heart of the forest.

This fissure dwarfed the previous one Anon effortlessly leaped over. Would he conquer this formidable obstacle once more, or would he succumb to its treacherous depths?

As the race hurtled towards its crescendo, the stage was set for a climactic clash that would redefine the very essence of the Dark Desert of Celestria.