Chapter 860 Hunting for Shade (17)


    Erik and June moved with such speed and precision that they appeared as nothing more than blurs to the few guards who dared to face them.


    Their movements left no room for the guards to counter or escape. Within moments, thest of the opponents crumpled to the ground, dead.


    While catching their breath, June turned to Erik with a look of concern. "Are the others okay?"


    Erik closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating. He used his instability brain crystal power to see if their emotions and thoughts were somewhere around, which was a sign they were alive.


    It wasn''t hard since there weren''t many people in the vi now.


    When he opened his eyes, there was a flicker of unease in his gaze. "They are all alive, but Reba is not ok."


    Without another word, Erik made a quick decision.


    "Go to Camille, since Ramon has finished his part. Leave the building as quickly as possible." He then exined to him where she was.


    June nodded. Without wasting another second, he turned and dashed towards Camille''s location.


    Meanwhile, Erik set his sights on Reba. Her thoughts were a mess.


    She was locked in a fight against someone, but based on what she felt and thought, the situation was not good. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Erik made his way through the corridors while the echoes of conflict guided him.


    He arrived just in time to see the tail end of Reba''s stand against the vi''s guards.


    The room was strewn with the bodies of at least twenty guards. It was clear Reba gave hell to those guys.


    However, she was still fighting against ten opponents, which Erik found astonishing considering she wasn''t considerably stronger than them.


    The well-trained guards swarmed around her, their movements coordinated and relentless.


    Erik could tell that Reba pushed herself to stand her ground, even though the odds were against her.


    It took little for Erik to see Reba''s wounds. There were many on her, but her key problem was, she almost ended her mana, and most importantly, her stamina.


    Erik had to move. He had to attack. Without even thinking, he leaped into the fray. For a second, the guards thought a Thaid entered the vi.


    Erik was too feral, too bestial, and they got deeply confused, but more than that, scared, to realize it was a human they were fighting.


    But was he, really? Not for them. That was a demon, a creature that came there just to bathe the room in their blood.


    It wasn''t hard for Erik to kill those guys. After all, he had just killed almost 80 of them with June.


    Honestly speaking, Erik noticed the clone was reaching his limit.


    Until now, since Erik killed a lot of weaker opponents, June didn''t have problems, but now that they were fighting against cities, organizations, humans, June wasgging.


    Without the ability to grow more powerful since he didn''t have a brain crystal, June could be useful only up to a certain point.


    Erik ignored the many notifications, since there was a more pressing matter to ount for.


    He rushed to Reba''s side. "Are you ok?"


    Reba, panting from exertion and pain, managed a wan smile.


    "I could have been better." Even saying that hadn''t been simple, as her voice was tinged with fatigue. "Thank you, Erik. I owe you one."


    "Are the others ok?" she asked.


    Erik nodded. "They''re all safe. Ramon has already secured the onyx sculpture. We need to get out of here now."


    Reba tried to stand, but her injuries and exhaustion rified that she wouldn''t make it on her own.


    Erik scooped her up into his arms, mindful of her wounds. A wave of embarrassment washed over her.


    To be carried like this, so dependent on someone else for her safety, was not a position she was ustomed to orfortable with.


    In any other situation, she might have protested, especially considering Erik was her weak spot.


    However, the toll of the battle had left her body exhausted and her energy sapped to the point where even the thought of voicing a protest seemed like an insurmountable effort.


    Despite the flush of embarrassment warming her cheeks, Rebacked the strength to push Erik away or to insist on standing independently.


    The physical and mental exhaustion from fending off many guards, along with the injuries she had endured, left her nearly powerless.


    She rested her head against Erik''s chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat aforting sound. It almost made her fall asleep.


    Gratitude mingled with her embarrassment, knowing that Erik''s intervention had saved her from a grim fate.


    With ease, Erik carried her through the vi''s corridors, heading for the exit.


    Their exit was expedited by Erik''s knowledge of the vi''syout, thanks to Gabriel''s memories, and theck of additional guards, ensuring a swift escape.


    As soon as they got out, they saw the three remaining team members. Their faces got ashes as they saw Reba''s state. She was the band of giants'' princess.


    "I didn''t think things would be this hard," Ramon said.


    "And this is nothing."


    Erik set Reba down, ensuring she wasfortable, before turning to assess the situation.


    He turned to Ramon. In his hands there was a small ck sculpture resembling a dragon. "You did it."


    "I did it," Ramon said.


    Camille smiled and then put her arm on Ramon''s shoulder. "Did you have any doubt?"


    Erik sighed. "Let''s go. I bet more people areing here right now. Reba needs to have her wounds tended and to rest. This has been a weird day."


    Ramon and Camille''s gazes lingered on Reba with a blend of worry and respect.


    They saw her journey from a spirited child to the formidable fighter before them, their concern was tinged with pride.


    They had been part of her training, acting under instructions from her mother to forge her into a warrior capable of facing the world''s harsh realities.


    "Never treat her softly," her mother said, understanding that leniency would ill-prepare Reba for the challenges she knew she would face.


    Ramon and Camille knew that coddling her now would do more harm than good.


    Yet, the line between guidance and support was a fine one. Camille stepped forward, and offered a hand to Reba, not as a gesture of pity, but as an acknowledgment of her strength and the grueling battle she had just endured.


    "You did well," Camille said.


    Reba met Camille''s gaze with weary eyes, a flicker of resolve shining through the exhaustion. "I know."


    With the vi now behind them, the group set their sights on the Band of Giants headquarters.