Chapter 81 - 271 - 277

Chapter 271 - Impartial

Northern-East Region, Desolate Blood Forest.

An area of approx 10 sq.km was barricaded by gigantic walls and steel fences. Drones and robotic insects soared on the border to prevent any possible beast tide.

Inside the walls, there were wooden and concrete infrastructures connected by streets. In the extreme corners, there were helipads and airways which were constantly guarded by droids and humans alike.

A cargo plane took off after beast corpses and treasured minerals were stored in it. To protect from the dangers in the wilderness, the plane was surrounded by a force field.

On the ground, every single street in the area was weaved with streams of people. The sea of people was filled with every race and ethnicity. White, black, brown, and so on...the color of skin holding no significance in the current era. The attire spread in various ranges; not only in design and style but material as well.

Kiba and Ashlyn were walking on one such street while observing their surrounding. Ashlyn was her usual cold and showed no interest, unlike Kiba who looked at everything with interest.

Before arriving in the forest, his experience was limited to Delta City. He was curious about the lifestyle of people from other parts of the world and the current situation offered him a cursory glance.

He turned around and noticed many shops and stalls. He even noticed a brothel very far away which amused him to no end. If not for his female companion, he might have wanted to it check around. Of course, it was only to expand his horizons and ensure it was of standard quality...

Kiba and Ashlyn walked for a few minutes when their attention was suddenly caught by loud cheers.

"Kill!"

"Don't let him live!"

"Kill?" Kiba was amazed. He knew the rules of this fair didn't allow killing so why were dozens of people shouting for someone to be killed.

Curiosity made him step towards the source of the commotion. He noticed around fifty people standing in a circle; their heads lowered to observe the scene in the middle.

Kiba followed their eyesight and noticed a twenty-meter wide pit. The boundary walls of the pit were lit with flames while the top of the pit was covered with needle-thin metallic wires emitting bolts of current.

In the center of the pit, a man and a savage Level II wolf were facing each other. On a corner, a woman and a child were sitting; their faces filled with terror.

"Dad! Please be safe!" The child muttered while his mother closed his eyes.

The wolf pounced on the man's chest and clamped down its jaw to chew his flesh. The man disintegrated into streams of smoke and appeared behind the wolf. In the smoke form, the man knocked his elbow on the back of the wolf with a heavy force. The wolf slammed on the rough floor but it quickly got on its four and roared viciously while eyeing the mother-child duo before focusing on the man.

Kiba was startled by the situation. He understood what was going on inside the pit; the man has to defeat the wolf to save his family while the wolf has to kill the man and his family to survive. It was a standard dog-eat-dog setting with a humane touch.

While he understood what, he didn't understand why here given the rules of the fair.

"They have the bloodline of Renegades," Ashlyn answered his unasked question while pointing at an unsightly imprint on the neck of the man fighting in the pit.

"Ah!" Kiba nodded in understanding.

A long while ago, Eva has informed him the nine families have legal rights to take slaves. This was shocking for him since the world government has pretended to be champion of humanity. The historical records, annual holidays, media and so on were filled with valore of Nine Sovereigns who did everything for the freedom and equal rights of all.

Obviously, the censorship and propaganda powers of the government helped in hiding the dark side of nine families.

Still, Kiba was confused about what type of people the nine families could take for slaves. He was sure they could not take anyone they wish as slaves given the constitution on which government was established.

Eva has said the only requirement was they have to be associated with Renegades - the descendants of the royal and noble dynasties which ruled various kingdoms and empires on Earth before the arrival of evolution comet and the founding of the world government.

From the known history, it has been said the surviving members of these clans established Lizenea - The nation of revolutionaries. The history propagated by the government said these members were spared by the sovereigns in mercy but they didn't appreciate kindness.

Kiba did understand this information was either fabricated or only half-truth. After all, wasn't it said cut grass and pull out roots was the best policy to prevent future trouble? How can the legendary founders of the world government not know something so obvious?

"Renegades... rather an ironic and funny term for descendants of royalty who ruled masses," Kiba mused.

He shook his head and looked around. The sea of people around the pit was excited and shouting merrily. For them, it was nothing more than watching a sport but only more thrilling.

Ordinary sports were bound by rules but not the competition in the pit. It was a true life and death crisis with no match-fixing. The best part - real human lives were on the line, unlike most choreographed animal sports.

The pit satisfied the most primal desires of blood and gore. In the forest, including this region, they didn't have to pretend contrary to their nature and act as if they cared about the lives of others. The organizers of The Fair used this desire to attract the attention of the masses in order to profit themselves. Five men in yellow dress were asking for bets on who would win and the profit they would receive if they were right.

"I'm betting an Oxsea Bead on the wolf!"

"A bone of three-headed lion!"

"Skull of golden bull!"

"Haah~" Kiba let out a soft sigh. "The true nature of humans is same whether it is slums or here."

He could not help but recall memories filled with despair that Akshobhya made him remember in the final round of their battle. (Chapter 110).

-----

*

Around seven years ago.

The Northern Slums, Delta City.

In a makeshift-throne room inside a ruined building. The rulers of the slum - overlords - were enjoying a feast.

In the slums, people would kill for a piece of bread much less a proper meal given the lack of resources. But this crisis was only limited for the poor slum dwellers and not the overlords and their subordinates.

The overlords have sole monopoly on the grants commissioned by the government for the slum dwellers. Of course, in return, they have to help the government officers by providing free prostitutes and helping in organ harvesting.

The benefit of not having any oversight in slums meant the poor population could be used for any use. The high-ranking members of the government did know about the corrupt activities but they overlooked by pretending to be ignorant. After all, just from where the scientists could get an unlimited number of human specimens whenever they need if not for such oversight? Or how would brothels be filled with women if the rights were given to one and all?

The answers to such questions resulted in the overlords benefitting. Sure slums were undeveloped and had no advancement but they were still the top of the top here. It was better to be the head of a snake than the tail of a lion.

In the center of the room, there was an enormous cage. The overlords and their subordinates looked at the activity in the slum with amused expressions.

Zed was inside the cage along with two dogs. He was starved and famished, the same could be said for the dogs.

One of the dogs leaped on him to chomp flesh from his shoulder. Zed darted to a side while clenching his fist. Waves of flame erupted out, slamming fiercely on the head of the dog.

Growl~

The dog shook its head wildly, trying to extinguish the flame on its head. It started scratching its legs without looking around.

Just then, the other dog joined in. Zed jumped up in defense while launching a fireball on the incoming dog. The dog twisted its body in mid-air and narrowly escaped the fireball.

"This slum insect is not too bad," A slum overlord said while drinking crystalline wine and munching on a chicken leg. "Sadly for you, it means you are losing the bet."

"You are right but I don't mind," Another overlord agreed. "Let's reward him for being so impressive."

The lips of everyone in the room curled up in a sinister grin. The overlord from before took a piece of bacon from a bowl.

He arrived in front of the cage and his mere presence stopped the dogs in their path. He made a sweeping motion and the flame from one of the dog's head extinguished.

The overlord looked at Zed while showing him the slice of bacon. Zed's stomach made funny noise and his mouth instantly watered.

"You want this piece of nutritious bacon?" The overlord asked him with loud laughter. "Then take it from those wild dogs."

After saying this, he threw the piece in the cage. The eyes of the dogs turned red and their senses flared at the sight of meat. They leaped towards the bacon and Zed did the same...

What followed was the pain of his flesh being ripped apart while the spectators jeered at him.

"Someday I will return this favor just like I returned the one I owned to my caretaker by sending him to the afterlife," Zed muttered to himself, his eyes glinting with coldness.

*

-------

Present.

Kiba smiled at the plights of his past self. The time has favored him rather well and he was now a spectator to a scene not so different from the one where he was the main attraction.

"I should feel empathy but I don't," Kiba thought while observing the man and his family in the pit. "Was I always like this? Cold and detached to the plight of others because no one helped me when I needed it the most?"

He thought of the times he truly wanted to help others and realized those occasions were very rare when he was Kiba. As Zed, he was not this cold, at least not to this extent.

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the mind of the one who possesses it."Princess Scarlet Leila De Rose's final words ringed inside him.

Kiba shook his head and cleared his thoughts. He focused on the fight inside the pit and observed how the man lost one arm while protecting his child.

The wolf slashed its claw at the neck of the man but just then the woman appeared in between. Blood splattered from her back as she saved her husband from a fatal wound.

The man's eyes turned watery and he lost all sense of rationality. He turned berserk and started attacking the wolf with everything that he had.

"Sacrifice..." Kiba's expression turned downcast. He remembered a similar sacrifice done by the red tiger and that woman in the slums.

Kiba let out another sigh. He knew what his heart wanted him to do but his mind reminded him of his faulty logic.

"If I help that man and his family then I would be harming the wolf who has done no wrong to me," Kiba thought rationally. "In the end, the wolf is only doing what it has to do to survive. It has done no wrong... But by taking away its meal, I would be leaving the wolf to starvation by death."

Ashlyn has already turned around and left the pit. She was not interested in the pit nor she felt any emotion, neither positive or negative due to her upbringing as a cursed one. She believed this was none of her business so she left while waiting for him outside.

"Oh well... when have I ever cared about logic or emotion?" Kiba mused with a smile.

Inside the pit, the man collapsed on the floor while the wolf pounced on him with its mouth wide open. The woman and her child screamed in despair while the man closed his eyes to accept his fate.

Swoosh~!

Out of nowhere, rays of white light enveloped the man and his family. The onlookers were stunned into silence and even before they could react, the family of three disappeared in a blinding flash.

"What?!" The five workers of this pit were shocked. They have taken the bets but the main contestants have disappeared. They were terrified and worried about how they will report this scene to their superiors.

"That man was going to die and I was going to win the bet! These damn organizers are a fraud!" An angry onlooker shouted angrily. He has gambled a substantial income and was sure his gamble would succeed.

"How can the Five Dark Stars allow such fraudulent organizers to orchestrate this fraud?!"

"I want my promised reward! My bet was right"

"Me too!"

Those who were about to win the bets turned towards the five men in yellow with absolute hatred in their eyes. While those who were about to lose sighed in relief while pretending to be just as angry.

"Guys...this is a misunderstanding!" The five workers were sweating bullets.

They were worried about the mob mentality and the loss of potential gain would make the gamblers insane. The rules of the fair restricted conflicts but who could stop a riot?

"We have no idea what just happened!" One of the workers tried to pacify the crowd.

"We don't care!" A furious voice came from the crowd. "Just give what you promised and we will leave."

"How could we do that? There was no clear winner---" A worker tried to reason but stopped in between as he felt the venomous gazes on him.

"Do you accept our condition or not?!"

"Let's calm down and discuss!"

"How the hell do you expect us to be calm down?!"

Kiba observed everything with interest before bringing his eyes back on the wolf. It was roaring angrily at the loss of its food despite its hard work and intense struggle but sadly, no one cared about its complaint.

"No one but me," Kiba corrected himself with a smile.

BANG

The onlookers and organizers were in the middle of the discussion when a loud bang sound came from the pit. They quickly turned around and noticed with shocked expressions as an invisible and formless force shattered the metal wires covering the top of the pit.

Even before they could get over this shock, a crimson pill conjured in front of the wolf. The pill was dazzling and emitting a powerful aroma.

Just a single breath of its aroma made the spectators feel refreshed and energized.

"A Grade 5 pill used for breaking through to the next level!" An expert onlooker muttered in disbelief.

"You got to be kidding me! Such pills could be only manufactured by those high-rank pharmacy companies"

"Aren't those companies helped by top scientists who charge millions?!"

"Yes!"

"Fuck! I have to get that pill!"

"No! It is mine!"

Many onlookers jumped in the pit without caring about anything else.

"?" The wolf was stunned and confused, its jaws dropped to the ground. As it decided how to react, the pill turned into a stream of light and shot in its mouth.

ROAR

The wolf felt bolts of energy coursing through its veins. Its body expanded while its skeleton mutated further as the wolf evolved to Level III. Its claws stretched out and turned into crystalline-sharp and the same happened for its jaws.

"Bastard! That pill was mine!"

"If we can kill it, we can still salvage the medicinal properties of the pill!"

"Then let's kill this useless beast!"

As the organizers and others rushed into action, the wolf leaped high in the air and escaped the pit by slashing through the coming opponents. Dark flash started converging on its front claw as it pierced through the human flesh.

"Ahhh!"

The wolf's eyes were filled with absolute hatred and viciousness as it gazed at the human onlookers after stepping out of the pit.

For days, it was kept starved and confined before its match with that human. Now, it would make them repay for all its misery and hunger!

In the meantime, Kiba turned around and started walking away from the pit.

"In the end, I just couldn't be unfair," Kiba thought of his actions as he joined Ashlyn. "I hope the wolf enjoy a delicious meal."

Ashlyn looked at him and then at the mess that was taking behind. Blood and flesh were spluttering in the air while tragic screams reverberated loudly.

She has a pretty good idea on what actually happened as she was far too familiar with the teleportation fluctuations.

"Sadist."

Chapter 272 - Treasured Jewels Guard

The Fair Region, Desolate Blood Forest.

The area around the pit was suddenly filled with chaos. More than fifty spectators and the five organizers were terrified by the sudden new developments. First, that man and his family in the pit disappeared without any trace. Everyone was asking for blood especially those who lost a bet and were disappointed to see the man and his family surviving the situation.

After all, that man and his family teleported away the moment he was about to be killed. It was not just a loss of possible monetary gain but also the disappointment of a sport ending in anti-climax fashion.

Even before they could complain about the lack of excitement by this development, fate decided to reward them with a thrilling development.

The savage wolf has mutated to level III thanks to the pill it just consumed. After leaping out of the pit, it pounced on the spectators. Its crystalline claws pierced through their bodies while its mouth chewed human flesh to satisfy its hunger and enjoy the feast.

"Oh, God!"

"Save me!"

"No!"

"AHHHH!"

Before, when the onlookers watched the match between that slave man and wolf, the rush of adrenaline in them was high. Now, when they became the participants in this sport, the adrenaline in their bloodstream surpassed all limits. The reversal of roles has truly added thrills in their lives...

Some distance away, Kiba and Ashlyn were walking away from this chaos. He sensed her questioning glance from time to time and knew she knew his role in the mess behind.

"It is always better to be a participant in a sport rather than being a spectator," Kiba said with a smile, "And given the loud voices from behind, the onlookers seem to share my view."

Ashlyn observed his smile and made a conclusion the smile was the same as when he toyed with Amir and others. The smile she associated with his sadist side.

She let out a soft sigh before stepping on a new street.

Meanwhile, some five miles away from the walls of The Fair.

Huge trees stretched from the ground along with emerald grass. Rabbits and squirrels rushed from one place to another while small birds rested in their nests.

Suddenly, three columns of light conjured in thin air and transformed into the man and his family from the pit. The family of three was shocked by the change in scenary.

The woman and her child hugged her husband tightly. The heat and scent of blood and sweat from his body confirmed he was truly alive and this was not a dream.

"Carr, what happened?" The woman asked while wiping her tears.

"I don't know, Naomi" Carr looked around. "But we should rush away."

Naomi agreed but she was not sure of their chances in a safe escape. Her husband has lost an arm and was injured in other places. Even she was bleeding from her back due to the attack from the wold when she protected her husband.

Just then, green rays enveloped the husband-wife duo. They were startled but could do nothing as the rays merged into their wounds.

Carr looked in disbelief as new veins and flesh stretched out from his severed arm. In just a matter of a minute, he has a new arm. Naomi was equally stunned as she felt her wounds disappearing.

The family of three looked at each other in bewilderment. They were happy but also terrified. After all, this just seemed to good to be true.

"Could this perhaps be a ploy by the organizers?" Naomi asked. She has heard rich men liked playing sick sports in which they make participants initially happy but then drown them in despair.

"No idea," Carr answered, equally worried.

As a descendant of those known as Renegades, he has never lived a happy time and the same went for his wife and child. They were born as slaves and died as slaves. This was a fate set the moment the nine sovereigns defeated ancient powers and took command over the world.

Years ago, Carr and Naomi cursed their fate for giving them this sinned ancestry but they realized complaints were useless. Those of lower births and humble beginnings had no power to oppose the rich and strong.

"Harper, everything would be alright," Naomi pacified her child was still crying.

Harper remained silent while praying inside. He truly hoped gods were not playing with them and would allow them to live happily.

Just then, a flash of light appeared in Naomi's hand. In just a blink, the flash converged into a short glass bottle filled with 30-40 energy pills. These pills were often used to satisfy the need of food as each pill has enough nutrition to satisfy a day's requirement.

Naomi and Carr didn't know how to react.

"Relax, this is not some ploy or even a game. I have freed you from your confinement because I wanted to," A voice ringed inside their minds. "And these pills are a parting gift from me."

It was difficult to determine the gender of the speaker or even feel emotions in the voice.

The family of three were too stunned to respond. They couldn't understand why would anyone help them to such an extent.

"Whether you can maintain your freedom and live happily after ever would depend on your determination, wits, and hard work," The voice said in a concluding tone. "Good luck."

The voice disappeared but the three continued to be in a trance. It took them a while to regain composure after which both excitement and nervousness appeared on their faces.

"Let's leave," Carr said. "We will try out our best to achieve our dream."

He wanted his family to live a better life and even hope for a day when his descendants would not have to live with the fate of being a slave.

Naomi and Harper nodded happily and they left the area...

***

The Fair was more like a bazaar, filled with a sea of people and colors. There were hundreds of stalls and shops offering beast hides, skeletons, rare herbs, treasured fruits, valuable minerals, and so on. Then there were large concrete buildings where an adventurist could give the resources to the organizers of The Fair in exchange for either crystal money cards or resources. Not only that, even aircraft facilities were available which one could use to transport resources from the forest to anywhere else. Of course, such services were very costly.

Kiba and Ashlyn checked various stalls and shops. So far Kiba found none of the items he wanted but he was not disappointed. The items he wanted were rare and precious so chances of finding them in open stalls and shops were almost none. Still, he wanted to check around to see if his luck would offer him something. So far, he found nothing he needed or wanted, but then again, that was given. As Zed, he was a billionaire and he has pretty much everything he ever needed or wanted in his house and underground facilities. And something that he might still want was not something he could find so easily.

"There is a new danger for every man in Desolate Blood Forest," A loud voice came from a megaphone. "If you want to protect yourself, visit Byron's Charm Shop."

Kiba was checking a food stall when these words entered his ears.

"Danger for men?" Kiba was intrigued. He was confident on his own strength for protecting him but he was still curious to see what type of danger only targeted men.

Women have fought for centuries for equal rights and the current era offered them what was theirs. Yet this new danger in the forest was only aiming for men and not women. He was a firm believer in equal rights and hated concepts such as a good man not attacking women.

"No matter where you go, you would find misogynist and sexist," Kiba thought of the new threat.

Ashlyn walked alongside him and soon they arrived in front of Byron's Charm Shop. Kiba was stunned in disbelief.

When he heard charm shop, he expected amulets, talismans or even modern weapons. But there was nothing like that...there was nothing about charm in this shop.

There were stocks of only one item in the entire shop with different varieties in size, color, and materials.

Kiba's forehead was covered with dark lines as he checked the item and read its name: Treasured Jewels Guard.

The Treasured Jewels Guard has padding for the lower abdomen and a special contoured groin cup to provide complete protection to the treasured area. The guard was kept in place by a dual-velcro strap, which ensured comfort and ease in wearing.

"What a fancy name for a groin guard," Kiba muttered in disbelief.

Byron - the shop owner- was a man in mid-thirties with dirty brown hairs, a short beard, and a thin body. He noticed Kiba and his heart skipped a beat after seeing Ashlyn. He quickly cleared his thoughts and closed his eyes. He didn't want to offend a customer and besides he knew beauty means fatality. She was far too attractive for someone like him so he didn't even try to think of her, knowing she was out of his league.

Quickly, he arrived in front of Kiba with a shopkeeper smile. He gave a low bow to greet him in professional etiquette.

"Welcome to my humble shop," Byron said in a polite tone. "I'm glad you are ready to take protection against the threat that has endangered men."

"What threat?" Ashlyn asked in her usual cold voice. Even she was curious about a threat that only targetted men and not women.

"Haven't you heard?" Byron noticed Kiba's expression and realized they were truly clueless. "The precious jewels of countless men have been shattered by Nutcracking Demoness!"

"..........." Kiba's jaw dropped to the ground and his eyes turned wide. He gulped down and turned towards Ashlyn.

"That demoness is pure evil incarnated in a human body with beauty so striking that even nature would hide in shame," Byron continued without noticing their reactions. "So far, more than a hundred men have lost any chance of expanding their family name. That demoness has ruined dreams of those men having any posterity."

"Really?" Kiba asked while wiping sweat from his forehead.

"Yes!" Byron quickly nodded. "She is an enemy of men but she is a woman so it is still understandable. But then there is that traitor who betrayed men---"

"Traitor?" Kiba interjected in between.

"You wouldn't know," Byron once again nodded and continued. "That demoness is helped by a handsome man who shamelessly betrayed his own gender. In fact, as per the story that is told by the victims, that man is the true conspirator. He gave idea to the demoness and created situations so that demoness could take advantage."

Kiba's face turned dark. Why was he given so much credit unnecessarily when he was blameless? Sure, he unknowingly helped Ashlyn when she experimented her nutcracking art a few times but that was unintentional.

Her victims took his shocked facial reactions as a sign of him being a wimp and thought they Ashlyn was leaving him for them...

But this story of him being the true conspirator and traitor was far too stretched. He made a mental note to find the storytellers and tell them to stop adding fictional details. He was an honorable man with a crystal-clear reputation. Such stories were tainting his pure character.

"So you could understand the threat we men are facing," Byron said with a pained expression. "For us men, our jewels are the most precious. They are a gift we use to expand our bloodline but this demoness and that traitor are hellbent in stopping us from carrying our responsibility..."

"........."

"This is why I built this shop," Byron proudly declared. "I used costly materials to invent Treasured Jewels Guard!"

Invent?

Kiba wanted to remind him that he was just copying crotch guard with a new design.

Perhaps Byron understood his gaze so he explained, "The demoness is very strong. Her kicks are powered with a terrifying force that can break through anything. Ordinary materials are not a match to stop demoness from cracking jewels so we use a Level III Divine Silkworms' thread along with the shell of Dinotortotise to build this super effective guard."

Byron even explained the hidden formations involved in the design of Treasured Jewels Guard.

"Since this involves the future of humanity, I'm not here to make any profit but only help men by selling them these valuable body charms," Byron continued with a sincere expression. "The price range is $9999 to $99999."

"...." Kiba's lips twitched.

Byron was basically extorting with such high price range. But Kiba did notice that there were many guard boxes missing from the shells so they must have been sold.

Could there be people who truly believed in the threat of Nutcracking Demoness?!

But then again, the threat was real! He has seen it with his own eyes when Ashlyn slammed kicks into jewels.

Remembering the screams and tormenting expressions of the victims made Kiba feel numb with dread.

The mercenary Issac was the first victim but he was not the last. The list of victims was far too long to remember so it was no wonder the story of nutcracking demoness spread like wildfire.

This shopkeeper was now using the jewel crisis in the forest for his own good. In fact, he has made a good profit by selling over a hundred Treasured Jewels Guard to needy customers who were dreadful of the danger lurking in the forest.

Byron even used a part of his profit to further spread the legends of the evil demoness. After all, every successful business requires advertisement. And for his business, the story of the sinister woman was the main attraction point. The more people dread the evil, the more customers he got.

Not only men but even women visited his shop in large numbers. Women obviously didn't fear the sinister demoness but they wanted to buy Treasured Jewels Guard in order to protect their own man.

After all, if their man's jewels were broken, then how would they perform in the bedroom?

A regular man spends a good part of his life thinking about his bedroom performance. He treasure his jewels for they are not only a means of expanding family but also a means to incomparable pleasure. And this is why a man truly fears losing these jewels.

Kiba sighed in admiration. There are people who are ready to exploit any situation but then again, that was a sign of a shrewd bussinessman.

Kiba looked at Byron in praise. People like him either would become far too rich or die too quickly due to their over smartness.

Kiba shook his head and once again turned towards Ashlyn. He really wanted to see her reaction to this.

"Do you know more about this demoness you speak of?" Ashlyn finally spoke.

Byron turned his head towards her. Earlier, due to her striking appearance, he didn't look at her as he found her far too alluring. He was afraid he would make a show of himself if he starred at her.

"Yes! She is about twenty-one years old! I even know her gorgeous appearance!" Byron answered with a smile. "She has entrancing emerald-green eyes, dark hair, creamy-white skin, and is always clad in a full-body black suit---"

The words Byron was about to speak died in between and his throat turned dry while his face began sweating.

He started shaking as he once again looked at Ashlyn, and as soon as he did, his eyes jumped out of socket.

A chill passed through his spine and his entire back was soaked in cold sweat. His treasured jewels shrunk in horror while the fine hairs on his back stood up in attention...

Chapter 273 - Give Me A Review!

Byron's Charm Shop.

Ashlyn's expression was her usual self but her eyes carried an extraordinary frosty glint as she looked at Byron.

Byron was sweating and trembling as if he has seen a vicious ghost in broad daylight. He was excitedly speaking out the facial description of the infamous Nutcracking Demoness when he realized Ashlyn fully matched the description. He cursed himself for being so dense and stating bad things about the sinister demoness in front of the demoness herself.

Gulp~

Byron's throat was dry as a desert while knots formed in his stomach. Every muscle in his body was tensed with stress. Unconsciously by instinct, he closed his thigs tightly while placing his hands on his pants to guard his most treasured possession.

"What's wrong?" Kiba was amused by Byron's current predicament.

"N-nothing..." Byron stammered. "As I was saying, the Nutcracking Demoness--- I mean Venerate Saintess is an incarnation of a heavenly angel who reincarnated on Earth to save humanity."

"Really?" Kiba asked with a playful smile. "I seem to recall you calling her as evil and an enemy to all men."

Byron's knees buckled. He could barely stand under the presence of the woman whose very name frighten men. Now, this traitor was trying to send him to gallows by reminding the demoness of the words he spoke earlier. He obviously identified Kiba as the traitor thanks to the details he has heard and seeing him close to the demoness.

"You heard it wrong!" Byron replied loudly. "The Saintess is a pure, holy woman whose every action is to help Earth."

"Is that true?" Kiba asked with a doubtful expression. "But then why is she shattering jewels of men?"

"Population control obviously!" Byron quickly answered. His brain was working at lightning fast as he continued, "The age of evolution has increased fertility and this, in turn, made Earth overpopulated. The resources we have are limited, and if the current rate of population growth continued, our planet would be in a severe crisis that might lead to very extermination of Earth. Not to mention, the Saintess only target vile men who are a shame to humanity. Her actions would ensure such vile genes would not be passed to the next generation."

"I see," Kiba nodded, half convinced. "Then what about that traitor you mentioned who betrayed his gender?"

Byron inwardly cursed Kiba for creating so many troubles for him. But he knew he has no choice but to be submissive.

"You heard it wrong! The man I mentioned is actually a hero, an ideal of our gender," Byron used his experience as a shopkeeper to suck up. "He is helping the Saintess in making our planet a better place for everyone. Every man considers him as an idol and wants to become like him."

"If you say so," Kiba could barely control himself from laughing. "Then what about these Treasured Jewels Guard in the shop?"

"That's..." Byron didn't know how to explain this. After all, he couldn't tell he wanted to save men from the demoness while making a profit for himself.

"Perhaps you built this shop to make money and help the Saintess in her mission to help the world?" Kiba offered him a possible explanation with a smirk.

Byron's jaw slammed on the floor. The traitor was indirectly asking for a bribe!

Wasn't betraying his gender wasn't enough?!

Byron tried to calm himself. He used great efforts to smile which turned out to be unsightly. Money could be earned again but jewels...!

Sure, there were cloning facilities and genetic experiments which could help in recovery but why loose jewels in the first place and experience tormenting pain?! Besides, genetic and cloning procedures also had side effects due to the mutated structure of the human body.

"Yes, that was the very reason I built this shop," Byron's eyes were filled with tears as he continued. "Also, the products I sold would actually prove to be useless in front of the saintess..."

Byron walked to the counter and took out over thirty red crystal cards. They were money cards and their combined worth was around $100000. He directly handed them to Kiba without batting an eye!

"I have a feeling you are linked to the saintess," Byron said as he passed the cards. "The money is meager but please use it to help the saintess in her journey."

"Sure, if that's what you want," Kiba took the cards with a smile. He didn't have any money cards besides the ones Ashlyn stole from the unlucky man during Vermillion Moon Fruit episode. Now, he can purchase in the fair without worrying about exchanging his loot.

Ashlyn looked at the transaction without speaking a single word. After Kiba placed the cards in his pocket, she turned around and stepped out of the shop. Kiba followed her while waving a hand to Byron.

Byron collapsed on the floor and sighed in relief.

"I survived!"

Tears streamed down his face as he realized he has survived a calamity which countless men didn't.

***

Kiba and Ashlyn passed by a few more shops. They were walking without a fixed destination when a soft voice called out.

"Hey handsome," the feminine voice said, "Do you want to experience a ride to heaven?"

Kiba turned around and noticed the shop from where the voice came. The shop was actually a two-storied building covered with decorative red lanterns and lights. On the board outside, there were posters of women in seductive and alluring postures, leaving little to the imagination.

"Is it a brothel or a striptease bar?" Kiba wondered while bringing his eyes next to the board where a woman around twenty-five years old was standing.

She was wearing an almost transparent yellow mini-dress and little black kitten-heeled shoes that encased her petite feet; adorned with white knit socks that stopped short of her knees. She has a warm ivory skin tone, dirty blonde hair, and yellow eyes.

Kiba was stunned in amazement as his eyes moved on her breasts. They were perfectly sculpted: enormous - creamy-white and fluffy. The thin yellow strap of her dress was only wrapping those soft pillows but even then he could pinpoint the pink peaks. The soft flesh quivered and strained against its confinement, trying to free from the dress and expose to the world.

Internally, Kiba was all praises for the gorgeous sight in front of him. Those boobs were worthy enough to make him drool even though they were covered.

"You are certainly the most attractive and good looking man I ever saw," The woman named Hollie said with an alluring smile. She folded her arms beneath her tits and pushed them up. "So you must have vast experience in judging the quality of these soft cushions."

Ashlyn looked at Hollie in bewilderment. She didn't notice any cushions outside the shop nor in Hollie's hands. So why was she speaking about cushions and saying Kiba has vast experience in judging quality?

Hollie bent down to adjust her socks and in the process further exposed the soft valley of her cleavage. She then straightened up and walked towards Kiba in slow, mesmerizing steps.

Kiba made a light coughing sound while trying to divert his attention from her. He was afraid he would not be able to maintain the guise of a honest man if he looked at those mounds again.

"Why don't you give me a review?" Hollie asked with a wink. Without waiting for his reply, she wrapped her arms around the back of his head and shoved his face between her tempting breasts.

Chapter 274 - Mirage Theif

Under the soft, red glow from the lanterns and lights, Ashlyn was dumbfounded. Not only her but even passersby in the street were bewildered by the illicit display of immodesty in public. Sure, the shop seemed to be either a brothel or a strip bar but still, they were outside on the street!

Why couldn't youngsters control themselves in the public?!

Kiba was also surprised though pleasantly as Hollie shoved his face in her breasts. She has squeezed him tightly on her chest after which she pinned the soft pillows of her breasts against either side of his face.

The thin, almost transparent fabric of her yellow dress didn't restrict in the least bit for Kiba to enjoy her soft flesh. Her warm bust filled his vision, making him forget everything else.

"So soft!" Kiba was all praises. He decided to feel them more before giving an honest detailed review.

The alluring lilac perfume on her body filled his senses as she smothered him with her tits.

Months ago at White Angel Corporation, Eva asked him how he wanted to spend the final moments of his life when he reaches the end of his lifespan. At that time, he didn't have an answer but now he did.

Death by smothering on such soft, milky-white flesh was one of the best ways a man could ask to die. Well, he felt death could even be better if his cock was in the wet, tight tunnel of gorgeous beauty.

Yes! He now has an answer on how he wanted to die. He made a mental note to set conditions right when his time for afterlife comes but for now, he wanted to focus on his current task. He didn't want to lie in his review so he allowed her to buffet him with the soft flesh of her boobs.

"Oh god!"

Hollie rubbed the fluffy pillows of her breasts against his face. Kiba groaned in pleasure even though she has effectively cut air from him. His lips curved up in a smile while his cock throbbed hard enough to burst through his pants.

Hollie continued to wedge his face up in the soft valley of her cleavage for a few more moments before freeing him.

"Are my pillows good enough?" Hollie asked in a teasing tone as Kiba raised his head and looked at her.

Ashlyn was having a hard time understanding her words and action. While she was fully clueless and ignorant about innuendos and sex, she has studied enough biology to understand the attraction breasts held for a man.

Do women refer to breasts as soft pillows? If yes, then what did she meant when Kiba might have vast experience in judging the qualities?

Ashlyn contemplated in confusion while Kiba grasped for breath.

"It's getting late so maybe I would hear your answer someday later if we ever meet again," Hollie said with a wink. "Now, the time for fun is over as I need to accomplish my original goal."

"Goal?" Kiba looked at her in bewilderment.

Hollie didn't reply. Her right-hand flickered and left behind a blur as it moved on Kiba's wrist. Her speed was fast like rolling thunder and even before the retina in his eyes could register her actions, she took out the silver bracelet clad on his right wrist.

The bracelet was one of the five created by Claudia. It was made from alloys of Vajra and Adamantine, backed by super powerful formations in the form of invisible electronic circuits.

Zed has given one of the bracelets to Felicity for her protection. The bracelet protected her in the nanite explosion though it lost all its power in the process. Afterward, Zed handed another bracelet to Felicity's mother - Kyla- so that she could clad it on Felicity when they were alone.

The bracelet Kiba has was also for protection though its formation was different from Felicity's. Back then, Claudia explained that the bracelet was a way to defend Zed when he could not rely on Kiba. She further made him use it by saying that this would convince Felicity to wear it. After all, Felicity was no fan of jewelry and they could not tell her the true function of the bracelet.

Grudgingly, he decided to clad it on his wrist. Unknown to him at that time, Claudia basically tricked him for his own good. While Claudia didn't really lie, she didn't reveal the true reason for making him wear the bracelet.

The bracelet was one of the methods to stop him if his powers make him berserk. This would help him gain rationality and overpower his primal desires of blood...

"Goodbye, handsome," Hollie's lips closed on his cheek for a soft kiss after which she tore through the crowd on the street.

Kiba was stunned and it took him a while to gain clarity on what has just taken place. He was basically fooled by a thief who used the convenient brothel location to trick him and steal his bracelet.

Ashlyn was equally amazed by the development. She didn't even get time to blink her eyes as Hollie left in hyper speed movements.

Her sudden explosive actions created deep cracks on the tiled street. The cracks spread like spiderweb as she left the scene, leaving behind the victim and his female companion.

"Oh well...I haven't' been robbed in years," A smile appeared on Kiba's face and his eyes sparkled as he mused further. "The world would be a lively place if all thieves were like her."

He closed his eyes and concentrated to find the amazing thief that robbed him in such a marvelous fashion.

Hollie's movements were so explosive and fast that she left a trail of afterimages. Every single afterimage was like a crystal-clear mirage, no different from her real body. In less than a second, each street was filled with hundreds of her phantoms; making it impossible for one to determine the true path she has taken.

Across the streets, the crowd felt a strong gust of wind brushing past them as Hollie dashed through.

"What was that?!"

Hats, cigarettes, fruits, and bags left their owners and jumped high in the air under the energy fluctuations of super speed.

"Oh my god!"

Many women's face flushed red with warm blood as their skirts and dresses fluttered in the air; exposing their hidden curves and gorgeous legs.

The men were left jaw slacked at the merry sight and were so spellbound that they didn't feel the least bit of pain as the fruits and other things in the air landed on them. They just stared at the women with perverted gazes.

"Mirage Thief!" A middle-aged mercenary standing across a fruit stall muttered in utter amazement as he saw more than hundred virtual phantoms of Hollie swept past him.

"You mean the legendary thief that robbed an ancient scroll from World Heritage Museum?!" A woman in mid-forties asked in shock while pinning her skirt tightly.

"Yeap!" The mercenary nodded.

World Heritage Museum was located in the State of Avalon - the power center of the human race. It was one of the most secure places on Earth and yet Mirage Thief stole an ancient scroll. This incident has made the World Government ashamed and they placed a $100 million bounty on her.

♫♪~♫♪~♫♪

Hollie hummed a happy tune while running through the streets. For the world, she was running in super speed, but as far as she was concerned, she was simply walking.

From her perspective, everything in the world was taking place in slow motion.

Hollie continued to hum merrily while looking at the silver bracelet in her hand. She could have easily stolen without doing what she did but she wanted her victim to remember this day for more than one reason. He was cute and handsome so she didn't mind going to such an extent.

Hollie was absentmindedly rushing through a street when she heard a sharp whistling sound behind her. Surprised, she turned her head to look back.

A stream of golden light was catching up with explosive speed. In the stream of light, she could make out her victim who appeared to be amused as he chased after her.

"No way!" Hollie refused to believe her eyes.

"Hey, gorgeous," Kiba called out with a playful smile. "I need to experience those pillow for some more time to give a honest review."

Chapter 275 - Three Dark Stars

The street was filled with a sea of people belonging to various ethnicity and colors. On the surrounding, there were shops and stalls of different sizes.

Hollie speeded through the crowd without making the least bit of physical contact with anyone. The crowd was shocked out of their wits as they saw virtual phantoms passing through along with a strong gust of wind that swept away their items into the air.

Hollie herself was surprised though for a different reason. She saw Kiba chasing after her without sweating the least bit. Her current speed was not really fast from her own standard so she was not worried.

She was startled but not shocked and fully confident in her ability.

"You too are blessed with enhanced hyper speed?" Hollie asked while taking a right turn and stepping into another street. She jumped through a passing cart before twisting in mid-air to avoid an obstacle after which she tapped on the ground.

"You can say so," Kiba answered while following her from behind. He decided to ask the important question that was as important as his bracelet, "Am I going to feel those soft pillows of your breasts again to give a detailed review?"

Hollie blushed a little by the question. She has thought she was thick-skinned with her earlier actions and words but now she felt her supposed victim was even more thick-skinned than her.

"If you can catch me then I might think about your request," Hollie replied with another wink.

Her lips curled up in a smirk and she increased her pace a little bit. A little bit by her standard increased her current speed by twice which terrified everyone on the street.

Swoosh~

The tiles on the street cracked and shattered into little fragments as she rushed ahead. The stalls and shops in the vicinity turned upside down under the resulting speed fluctuations.

The passersby were sent rolling high into the air. Men and women alike were frightened into embarrassment as they felt their clothes being shredded into pieces.

"My Grade II armor!"

"Fuck your armor! My designer dress is torn! I spent a fortune to buy it and that too on a discount!"

"Designer dress your sister! Clothes are clothes, designer or not!"

By the time the crowd crashed back on the ground, they were naked and left with nothing. They quickly closed their thighs while trying to hide their private parts by crossing their arms.

"God! What just passed us? Was it a damn tornado?!"

Hollie's steps were so fast that they didn't even create afterimages any more. All she left behind was erupting speed waves that created mayhem on the surrounding.

Kiba was stunned by her explosive movements. He didn't think she could accelerate her speed to such extent but he obviously realized he was wrong.

His body flickered and he disappeared in a series of blurs as he chased after her. He had no trouble in avoiding contact with the passersby or the obstacles in the path. While his senses didn't make him perceive everything in slow motion like Hollie, his psychic force activated his clairvoyance ability to help him see things clearly.

This time Hollie was truly startled. He was catching up to her despite her accelerated agility.

"Sighs~ Working as a breast reviewer is a hard job," Kiba said as he stepped beside her. "So many efforts to help a woman evaluate the worth of her soft pillows.

"....." Hollie felt warm blood flushing her cheeks bright crimson. She noted her victim was far more shameless than she thought was possible.

Kiba closed into her in the next moment much to her amazement. He stretched out his right hand to retrieve the bracelet from her.

Hollie's eyes flashed a bright glow. She decided to take things seriously somewhat and increased her speed further.

Just then, a sharp screeching sound reverberated through the sky and Kiba raised his head to notice the source. Around twenty attack drones were rushing towards him and Hollie from all directions.

Kiba obviously remembered the rules of The Fair. When he first arrived in The Fair through the metallic sensor gates, he got a digital card which served as his identity card. On the back of the card, the rules of The Fair were written in bold text.

No conflicts were allowed within The Fair. The drones were here to ensure the rules were followed and offenders were punished.

Kiba wondered if mutant guards were also arriving to catch them. He inwardly complained of so many complications despite no fault of his.

As a precaution, ever since the chase began, his body was flickering with strong vibrations so that no camera lens could capture his image. He wanted to avoid troubles if it was possible and enjoy his time here.

The drones split up to tackle the offenders. Five drones in the front shot out red laser beams which transformed into energy blasts by the time they crashed down.

Hollie jumped off from the street high into the air, all while avoiding energy blasts effortlessly. She landed on the roof of a shop when another droid targetted her.

"So slow," Hollie traversed through walls by the time the attack landed on the roof.

Her reflexes were countless times faster than a bullet and she effectively dodged the incoming attacks. With her fast speed, she easily leaped from one shop to another before running on the walls.

She stepped back on the ground and started rotating her arms in circular motions. Powerful winds generated through her rapid arm movements that instantly transformed into two horizontal columns of vortex.

The powerful sucking force from the vortex engulfed five drones into them. Like boats caught in a chaotic storm, the drones disintegrated into pieces of metals.

A droid marked Kiba's energy signals and blasted out a net. The net rushed at him like a bolt of thunder, enveloped with streams of current. The coordinates programmed into the net helped it avoid crashing on the obstacles and people in the crowd.

The air was filled with a sharp buzzing sound as the net caught up to him. The net quickly opened up to enwrap his body.

Just then, his body disappeared into orbs of white light. The net entangled and crashed on the ground below.

Kiba appeared right above the droid that launched the net on him. He tapped a finger on the droid and clusters of light emitted from his fingertip.

A wild force rampaged through the drone and it exploded into minuscule particles.

At the same, in the sky, three drones struck him from behind with energy blasts and poisonous bolts. From the front, two droids launched more nets on him after marking his body.

Kiba floated in the sky and stretched both his arms out. Destructive golden force emitted out of his palms like tidal waves and slammed right into the incoming attacks.

The attacks obliterated in less than a moment but the destructive force showed no sign of stopping. It moved further and enveloped the drones, destroying them.

Kiba looked down and noticed Hollie has already created a gap of more than a mile. He closed his eyes and teleported from his location while ignoring the droids that were catching up.

Hollie let out a small chuckle after not sensing her victim. Her speed was fast but she was far from her best speed. She didn't see the need of going all out for the present situation.

♫♪~♫♪~♫♪~

She resumed humming the melodious tune from before. As she speeded ahead through an alley, she suddenly crashed onto a body much to her shock.

Hollie stopped in her track and looked at her victim in disbelief.

He has caught up with her?!

Hollie's senses were faster than ordinary mutants but even she was caught off-guard as he retrieved the silver bracelet from her hand.

"Sorry, gorgeous," Kiba said as he clad the bracelet back it on his right wrist. "But I really need to have it with me. Trust me, it is for your own good."

Kiba covered the bracelet with the sleeve of his white shirt before looking at her again. His powers haven't made him lose rationality from a long while but he didn't want to take any chances. He was sure if he truly lost control here then no one would be able to stop him from carrying out bloodshed. But having this bracelet along with the ring Claudia gave him would help him in avoid this worst-case scenario.

Hollie didn't reply but moved to take the bracelet. Her agility was hypersonic but Kiba easily stepped to a side and avoided her hand.

He retaliated and pressed his right hand on her wrist while holding her other arm with his left. Hollie wasn't worried and her lips sported a teasing smile. Her body started oscillating into natural vibrations resonating with his.

The next moment, much to his surprise, her body passed right through him and she escaped from his clutches.

From the physical contact with her, retrieving the bracelet, and her subsequent escape, everything took place in a matter of milliseconds.

"You are not bad," Hollie said in praise. "But so far I was being very slow so let's see if you are good enough when I increase my speed."

"We can check that later on," Kiba replied as he fought her in lightning-fast movements. "But first let me feel those soft pillows like you promised so that I can give you a review."

"....." Hollie was left speechless as during the fight he shoved his face right into her cleavage. As she moved her arms to push him, his hands were even faster and he pressed her boobs tightly on either side of his face.

Her soft flesh gave him a heavenly pleasurable sensation as it wrapped on his face. Her yellow dress didn't obstruct his joy the least bit.

Hollie gritted her teeth at his shameless actions. Her speed amplified a hundred folds and she pushed him out.

"I will give you a B+," Kiba gave his evaluation of her tits. "They are great of course but for giving a higher grade I need to feel them without any obstruction and compare them with those I have felt before."

He darted to a side to evade a vacuum vortex created by Hollie.

"Why such drastic actions?" Kiba asked while dodging more of her attacks.

Hollie didn't respond for she has no answer. It was her who started this pillow review episode and now she was suffering loss.

She has enjoyed teasing him due to his cute and handsome features but now she knew a face was no way of knowing the true character of a person.

"Hmm?" Kiba looked past Hollie and noticed three figures catching up to them. They were clad in dark robes marked with five stars.

The surrounded Kiba and Hollie from three sides, leaving no point of escape. Their eyes concentrated on Kiba and Hollie with stern vision.

"I feel honored to be welcomed by three of Five Dark Stars," Kiba said with a nonchalant expression. "I couldn't have asked for a better welcome on my first day."

While The Fair was jointly organized by many influential organizations, in effect, it was run by a group of five known as Five Dark Stars. Kiba has read about them in the file Ashlyn shared with him a while ago.

The Three Dark Stars were surprised by his calm behavior. They ignored his words and while they were thinking of responding, they felt a breeze sweeping from the sky.

They raised their heads and noticed a stream of blue light crashing down like a meteorite. It was Ashlyn and she landed next to Kiba.

"Apologies for the delay," Ashlyn said without any emotions. Kiba smiled in response and acknowledge her presence with a nod.

The Three Dark Stars pretend to ignore Ashlyn's existence and brought their vision back on Kiba and Hollie.

"You two have created chaos and broken the law of the land," A white-haired middle-aged man named Konnor Gardner said. He has a knife scar diagonally stretching from forehead to his face. His body was well-built, his muscles showing through his robe.

"Surrender and accept your punishment," A female in early fifties named Anamarie said in a hoarse voice. "We would be lenient."

Her hairs were a mixture of white and brown. Her skin was sickly pale and covered with brown spots.

The third person in rob was a youth with short black hair. He has a red dragon tattoo on his left cheek that flashed with viciousness. He was named Mendel Stoke and he continued from where his female companion left, "Or you will be exterminated here without any mercy."

"Nice choices," Kiba said with an amused expression. "I choose neither of them since I didn't broke any law."

In the meantime, Hollie creased her brows tightly while looking around. Her body was flickering with speed fluctuations as if she was ready to escape any second.

"Gorgeous, stop acting as if you are in danger from them," Kiba said while letting out a yawn. "We both know you are in cahoots with them so no need to pretend any longer."

Chapter 276 - Garrick Angel Inn

Hollie's body continued to flicker with powerful speed fluctuations while observing the Three Dark Stars and Ashlyn.

"Gorgeous, stop acting as if you are in danger from them," Kiba said in a bored tone. "We both know you are in cahoots with them so no need to pretend any longer."

"WHAT?!" Hollie was visibly startled while the Three Dark Stars looked at him in shock. They instantly reverted their expressions to normal but for Kiba, this was enough to know his earlier observation was right.

When he said Hollie was in collusion with them, it was a mere hypothetical guess based on details he noticed. His statement was not a fact but rather a question and the expressions of Hollie and others helped him get his answer.

"How dare you accuse us?!" Anamarie took a step ahead, her hoarse voice filled with anger.

She took out the hood from her head; exposing her hair which was a mixture of white and brown. They started growing at a rate visible to the naked eye. In no time, her hair reached the end of her feet and continued to expand.

"You take me for a clueless fool like everyone else?" Kiba's aura burst out in explosive golden radiance.

The closed alley started shaking with heavy rumbling sound. The road surface cracked apart into pieces of mortar before evaporating under the impact of the terrifying aura.

Konnor Gardner, Anamarie, and Mendel Stoke were surprised by the explosive energy seeping out of Kiba. The aura was hot like a volcano and yet it carried a chilling sensation like an abyss.

"You seem strong," Anamarie's brown and white hair started dancing in the air like a banshee. "But not strong enough to act so reckless."

"Wow~ Talk about being illogical," Kiba said in an amused tone. "I didn't break any of the laws you established. That speedster woman did after she stole my bracelet thanks to your help."

"We are not in cahoots with her," Anamarie's hair converged into multiple braids. "So stop your allegations."

Each braid was sharp like a sword and durable as titanium as they floated above her head. Her hair emitted a dreadful pressure that made one feel suffocated.

"You expect me to believe she discovered this bracelet by luck?" Kiba stretched out his right hand and opened the button of his white sleeve to showcase the silver bracelet. "It was hidden but obviously there are mutants who can easily see it. But even if they notice it, they wouldn't notice its special characteristics due to the camouflage formation inside it. Yet, in less than two hours after I entered The fair, an agility based mutant target me to steal it. Don't you think it is too much of a coincidence?"

"That proves nothing," Anamarie reasoned while two braids swept forward like whiptails.

"Oh, it does actually," Kiba responded with a smile. "I hope I don't sound narcissistic but very few people in this world could spy on me without me detecting. And in this particular case, only one time did I felt my bracelet being scanned, and we all know when it was."

"The electronic sensors embedded in the door frame which lead to The Fair," Kiba continued with same smiling expression while the golden radiance around him moved ahead to tackle the braids. "You made masses, including me, believe those automatic checks were for creating a digital identity card. I guess I now know better about their true role."

Hollie's eyes flickered with astonishment as she realized he truly knows their secret. Konnor Gardner, Anamarie, and Mendel were equally stunned by the ease which Kiba comprehended everything in such a short time.

"Let me guess - The cards prove as tracking device while the detailed scan during entry help you realize the items your guests are carrying," Kiba said with a thoughtful expression. "You obviously know that while The Fair serves as a market; many guests might not share their real powerful wealth. So you use thieves to steal treasures which you consider as truly rare and unique."

The alloys that formed the bracelet were rare and precious but they could be found by many top organizations. The true reason the bracelet was considered priceless was the hidden formations - the electronic circuit diagrams embedded inside. There were over a hundred formations Claudia put in his bracelet; each formation spanning in nanosize.

The formations were truly priceless for they were actually based on the knowledge Kiba got from the spaceship inside BSE79 meteorite. Despite the small size of formations, they were so complex that not even a supercomputer could grasp them.

When Kiba first entered The Fair through the sensors, they scanned every part of his body. The sensors were able to slightly notice and complicated nature of his bracelet and concluded it was based on alien technology. The information was passed to Five Dark Stars who were obviously intrigued.

"You know too much for your own good!" Anamarie shouted angrily.

The braids shot out like arrows with incomparable momentum and tore through the golden radiance with a sharp screeching sound. The air vibrated under extreme energy currents that shattered everything in the vicinity.

The braids were like armor-piercing drills as they arrived in front of Kiba. At the same time, the road surface below him exploded and two braids swept out like poisonous cobras.

"Prehensile hair," Kiba thought, his eyes filled with slight surprise by the ease she broke through his aura. "Then again, she is one of the Five Dark Stars so this has to be expected."

Kiba jumped high in the air to dodge but the braids changed their direction and rushed at him. The sharp ends of the braids opened to reveal monstrous-looking fangs and a tunnel-like mouth that emitted a terrifying sucking force.

The air started splitting as if space was torn by the powerful devouring force. Kiba's gaze concentrated as strong winds brushed past his body.

"Why is a woman cursed with such hideous ability?" Kiba wondered aloud. "Ah! I know the answer - An ugly duck is always born in a dirty environment."

Anamarie clenched her teeth in anger. The four braids swept forward with a terrifying pressure while her remaining hair expanded rapidly to form into a cage that prisoned Kiba.

He closed his right hand to launch out a punch that surged out waves of berserk energy. The incoming braids ripped apart into fragments as if they were staws caught in a storm.

Anamarie showed no sign of stopping and more braids emerged to grab his limbs.

On the ground, Ashlyn didn't make a move. She was confident in Kiba's ability to tackle a single opponent even if it was a Dark Star.

Konnor and Mendel didn't show any reactions on their faces while Hollie looked at Kiba with a complicated expression.

"Ugly duck," Kiba called out while moving in lightning-fast movements. "Tell me, how will you feel if everyone in The Fair learns the dirty secrets of your organization."

Anamarie's body turned stiff.

"Sure not everyone would believe my words but I'm sure I can implant seeds of suspicion," Kiba continued while facing more braids that acted as whips, blades, shield and so on. "I'm confident your enemies would take advantage to germinate those seeds of doubts and ultimately ruin your organization."

The Fair was attended by thousands and thousands of people who adventured in Desolate Blood Forest. The primary reason was the safety and comfort it offered just like cities under the rule of the world government.

The adventurists were obviously delighted to find a place to rest and recover while exchanging their gains for better. This transformed into an economic cycle that helped The Fair grow to its current strength.

The Five Dark Stars were the chief organizers of The Fair. They earned a profit that would make even those from government jealous. As such, they had enemies who wanted to replace them and take the gold mine for themselves.

If doubts regarding the safety of one's possession were implanted then The Fair would lose its attraction. There were stealing and murders in The Fair but they were never associated with the organizers. But if the seeds were implanted then even unrelated crimes would be associated with Five Dark Stars thanks to other organizations.

Anamarie and others obviously realized the gravity of Kiba's words. No matter what, they could not allow Kiba to share his findings with others. The Fair offered them far too much for it to be destroyed by the arrival of one man.

"You have to be alive to spread such nonsense," Anamrie retorted icily. "And you are not getting alive from here."

"I already have taken precautions to avoid death," Kiba said while avoiding a whip-like braid that moved past his neck. A scratch formed on his neck and a drop of blood dripped down.

"What do you mean?!" Anamarie asked, her voice filled with shock.

"Why don't you see outside this hair prison?" Kiba asked in return.

Anamarie hurriedly retraced her hair and looked far away. Hollie and others did the same and they noticed ten metallic orbs flying above the streets.

Each orb opened to reveal a lens that projected out a holographic projection. The sound-image projection showed Anamarie and her two companions closing into the area where Kiba and Hollie were fighting.

Across the streets, the crowd's attention was taken by the projection and they looked at it with great interest.

"You should stop them from seeing those incriminating videos," Kiba reminded the three.

Anamarie's eyes turned bloodshot. She leaped in the air along with her two companions and destroyed the orbs before they could expose the troublesome part.

In the meantime, Kiba arrived next to Ashlyn. He didn't fear the Five Dark Stars but he didn't want to have a conflict this soon with the chief organizers. He wanted to enjoy his time in The Fair while finding what he wanted. Not to mention, his plans for the core region depended on powerful mutants as he once discussed with Fiona. So he wanted to avoid killing mutants so that they could serve the role he once served during BSE79 expedition.

"Well played, handsome," Hollie's lips curved in a smile. "Now they can't attack you due to worry of more hidden projection orbs. Blackmail is a nice way of having a compromise."

"Thanks for the praise," Kiba turned towards her and said. "How about we continue our soft pillow review project?"

Hollie's smile turned rigid and she flinched at the mention of review. She left the alley in hypersonic speed, leaving behind a sea of mirage and explosive winds.

"I guess the answer is no," Kiba said with a sad sigh.

Ashlyn looked at him in bewilderment...

***

Garrick Angel Inn was located in the central region of the area that formed The Fair. It was a high-cost inn for rich treasure hunters and strong mutants.

The inn was a two-storied building with best facilities that can be available in the region. Luxurious food, crystalline wine, fabulous lodge, and so on.

Ashlyn and Kiba sat across a circular wooden table in the dining area. Kiba checked the menu and ordered the specialty dishes he wanted to try. Ashlyn did the same after which she became silent.

The tables around them were filled with most professional teams. They were discussing local news such as beast tides, the auction in two days, the activities in the village protected by the guardian spirit and the threat targetting men exclusively.

Kiba wasn't really interested in the gossips so he tried to avoid listening. A girl around fifteen brought him the dishes they ordered. He expressed his thanks and the girl smiled in acknowledgment.

There were many families which have settled in this area and for many newborns, The Fair was the start and end of their world. This was especially true for orphans whose parents died in adventures. The female waitress was one such individual and she survived on the mercy of the inn guests.

Ashlyn took out a money card from her storage space and handed it to the girl. The girl was stunned and looked at the card with wide eyes. The card has a value of $5000 and for her, such amount was truly phenomenal.

"Thank you, miss!" The girl made a deep bow in gratitude. She knew this amount was a tip since the two patrons here have a tab.

Kiba was left in an awkward position. He has only thanked her but Ashlyn gave a large tip even before they had their meal. He felt embarrassed by his conduct.

The girl's eyes sparkled and she looked at him with expectations as she said. "Mr, you won't be stingy, right?"

"...." Kiba scratched the back of his head before letting out a hollow laugh. He obviously didn't care about money so he took a money card worth $10000.

The girl tumbled down in disbelief. She has been working here for almost a year but rarely has she seen such generous patrons. She quickly grabbed the card, thanked the two, and left the table.

Ashlyn didn't say a single word like before and started her meal. She liked Kiba's cooking but a change in flavor and style was always welcomed. Also, she no longer has to feel embarrassed at her inability to cook now that they were in an inn.

A few minutes later, they were munching down on their dishes when the dining room suddenly turned silent. There was a complete pin drop silence.

Surprised, Kiba looked around and noticed a man and a woman at the entrance. The man was around 8 feet in height with a bald head. He was wearing a vest thanks to which his overly muscular arms were fully exposed. There were tattoos all over his body and his fists were covered with chains.

The woman... It was hard to describe her features since she was covered from head to toe. She was in a white gown that enevelopped every part of her body.

If one looks carefully, they could see she has a hourglass figure. The problem was that no one truly dared to look at the man and woman. Everyone had lowered their heads in deep dread and have stopped enjoying their meal and drinks.

Kiba was surprised by such reactions. Ashamed at the behavior of the men in the dining, he decided to perform his duty as a man by checking out the figure of the woman...

Chapter 277 - Myiesha Noach

Garrick Angel Inn.

The giant, 8 feet man walked alongside the woman in white and took seats around a table in the dining room. The man's tattoos on his overly muscular arms and neck stood out and gave him a menacing appearance. His bald head shined under the lights from the ceiling as he asked the fifteen-years-old waitress for a menu.

The waitress named Isabel hurriedly passed the menu from her trembling hands. Her entire body was soaked with sweat but she tried her best to not faint. She truly dreaded this man the most in the world even though he has never been violent or verbally abusive towards her.

She passed a quick glance towards the woman who was covered in a white garment from head to toe. Her face was covered with a thin veil and Isabel could visualize the gorgeous face thanks to the short distance between them. She was a beauty with charming olive skin, sensuous red lips, red hair, phoenix eyes, a short but cute nose, and soft cheeks. Her soft, smooth feet were clad in black strapped sandals.

Isabelle found it hard to believe such an alluring woman was in her early twenties.

"Myiesha Noach from The Five Dark Stars!" Isabelle thought with both admiration and fear. She then took a quick glance at Myeisha's male companion, and her heart instantly tensed. " Harith Noach from The Five Dark Stars!"

She trembled as she observed the metallic chains wrapped his knuckles and that that emitted a murderous presence. She has witnessed those chains in action and the gore that followed.

At the same time, across a table in the corner, Kiba and Ashlyn were having their meal. They were the only ones who had an appetite for the other patrons in the dining have stopped eating. They were just sitting with their heads bowed; not daring to make a single noise.

Kiba placed the noddle and soup bowls in front of him. He took chopsticks to stuff noodles in his mouth while silently checking out Myiesha. She was sitting in the opposite direction so he could only see her back but for him, this was no problem if he wanted to.

He wasn't trying to be a pervert but he felt it was his duty to admire beauty blessed by nature with firmly rounded buttocks and tantalizing long legs wrapped by silky garment.

At times like this, if Kiba wanted, he could use the enhanced vision and clairvoyance ability to see everything he wanted. The combined might of the two abilities offered him X-Ray, telescope, electromagnetic and microscope visions.

If he tried, he could see the well-shaped and smooth ass swallowed the slender thread of her white thong between toned cheeks.

In front, she has a small mound of neatly trimmed fuzzy hair around her pussy, covering a slash of crimson.

Her breasts were covered by a matching bra that hid her ample and delightful assets - firm, nipples pointing out. She has a smooth, sculpted plain, flat belly that fully matched her hourglass figure and enhanced her beauty.

Sadly, he didn't check out her gorgeous features through his ability. He was too much of a good guy to do such a thing. No, that would be a lie. He didn't did use his powers since he believed in surprises. He wanted to 'unwarp' his gift rather than directly know the content.

Kiba lowered his head to take a sip from the creamy red soup. He was discreet in his duty and he understood the need for it since he didn't know the identities of the man and woman.

In his professional life as a Wife Thief and Rake, he has comprehended a few iron-clad concepts that increased his chances for success.

One of the basic and obvious steps was to know the opponent. Only then could a plan for happiness be created. This was the same when he seduced Sarah to cuckold Daniel and punish them for their role in the news scandal. Back then, Natalie has made a file on the likes and dislikes of Sarah. This also included kinds of stuff such as music preference, favorite food, colors, movies, and so on.

The combined use of likes and dislikes could help in creating an ambient environment that could lower the guards of the opponent. In psychology, there are hundreds of research pieces which have proved how obvious, mundane things could create effects similar to intoxicants in the right environment.

Yes, facial features, beauty, and money played a major role in easy seduction but they were no 100% guarantee to get in bed.

A good seducer only uses his/her beauty as an additional charm...

"Ah!" Kiba mistakenly sipped the hot soup in one go which woke him from his not-so-good thoughts. He couldn't help but berate himself.

"Why the hell am I always forgetting the true reason I came to this bloody forest?" Kiba asked himself. He chided his convictions that would shatter at the sight of a beautiful woman and make him an animal in heat.

Kiba wondered just how Claudia would react if the signals were not blocked. He was sure she would make some sarcastic and witty remarks about his responsibilities.

As he thought of this, he suddenly started missed his home and Felicity.

"I guess I'm still a human," Kiba mused with a smile at his sudden emotions.

He looked forward to the opening of the core region so that he could complete his true mission and return home.

As he munched on his food, he gave a deep thought on why he wanted to return soon. There was Felicity obviously since her cure depended on him. Then there was Miss Delta Pagent where he has to serve as one of the judges.

But when he truly thought further, he surprisingly realized he wanted to return so that he would be present when his daughter would be born.

This startled him since her birth frightened him to a large extent. It won't be wrong to say he was truly scared about his future when she would come in his life.

The fear was due to his worry whether he was even ready to be a father given his dreams, personality, and nature. Then there was his troubled upbringing as he has mostly lived on his own without any support from his birth parents.

He was far from the textbook example of a man who could be an ideal father.

"Haah~ Why am I thinking this now?" Kiba shook his head. "There are still three months for her to be born so there is more than enough time given I plan to leave in six weeks regardless if I succeed here or not. As for being an ideal father... like Agatha once said, idealism is overrated."

Kiba cleared his thoughts and concentrated on the task at hand. He ate his meal while checking out Myiesha from time to time without leaving any clues. He wasn't checking her figure but trying to read her body language.

BANG

Just then, a loud bang sound came from the entrance of the dining room. Everyone's eyes moved on the entrance and saw a young man stepping after destroying the door with a kick.

The young man was barely twenty. His face was flushed and he was reeking of alcohol.

"Master Fitz, please don't," an old man rushed behind him. "You are drunk."

"So what?" Fitz asked with a cruel smirk.

The old man opened his mouth to speak but didn't know what to say. If he told him that he might be courting death then he would get offended and kill him. On the other hand, if he didn't say anything, his young master might be killed for acting arrogant in a place where he might lack the strength. This would definitely make the family clan angry and the old man would be killed as a punishment. No matter how he thought, he was in a crisis.

Fitz ignored the old man and walked towards the counter where the waitress - Isabel- was taking a plate of dishes filled with a fresh meal. His eyes flashed with sinisterness and he moved his hand to grab her butt.

Isabel felt the presence behind, and in shock, she turns around before his hand could touch her. The sudden move made the plate fall.

The hot dishes sprinkled on Fitz as they fell down and his eyes burned with fury. His entire coat and pant were stained with gravy, vegetables and meat.

"You bitch!" Fitz raised his hand and chaotic air mass the size of a ball appeared on his hand. In less than a second, after absorbing the free energy in the area, the air mass turned into a volatile construct resembling a flash bomb. The fluctuations were strong enough to blast the entire inn, much less a woman, but in anger under the influence of alcohol, Fitz didn't think much.

Without any hesitation, he pushed the explosive air mass into Isabel.

"You are being noisy," A soft voice ringed inside the room. The very same moment, Myiesha's hand appeared in front of Isabel's chest.

She grabbed the incoming volatile energy bomb and clenched it tightly. Under the disbelief eyes of Fitz, the explosive energy inside the energy bomb deconstructed on the molecular level. The energy molecules were like droplets of nutrition that seeped directly inside her hand.

"Energy absorption?" Fitz wondered aloud. He was not sure in his guess but he thought he was close.

The old man behind was shocked out of his wits. It was not due to her meager display of strength but her dress. He realized her identity and he cursed inside his heart. He knew he was screwed and so was his master.

"What shitty luck!" The old man wanted to weep but thanks to his fear, even tears won't drip down. "Why do I have to serve a braindead master who courts death from someone at top of the food chain! Oh god! Couldn't he have just engaged with those prostitutes on the streets?! I'm too old to handle such a dimwit!"

The old man took a deep breath and said, "Lady, please forgive my master. He was not thinking straight---"

Fitz was incensed at the slight by his servant and he directly cut him in between, "Shut up old fart! There is nothing to apologize to this bitch in white!"

The old man collapsed on the floor in deep dread. He instantly regretted the day he took the job of being a servant due to his greed.

Everyone inside the dining room felt cold sweat drip down from their brows. Their body started shaking while their hearts skipped beats.

If you are going to court death, then court, but not here! We have no interest in dying alongside you!

"Saying he chose his words poorly would be an understatement," Kiba thought with a smile. He mused the identity of Fitz for him to be so brazen in the inn.

"Young master, quickly apologise!" The old man requested quickly as he noticed Myiesha stretching her hand.

"Damn you, old fart! Those of noble blood from Moran Family never apologize!" Fitz declared when he too noticed Myeisha's actions.

She made a gentle motion through her finger and a pulse of energy swept out. The kinetic movement of molecules around Fitz accelerated and he felt a devouring force as if it was from the abyss of hell.

Every cell in his body stretched out like rubber and even before Fitz could make a noise, his body exploded into infinite pieces as if he was a frail glass.

There was no blood or gore, in fact, there was no physical presence one could denote. His body was now just molecules dispersed in air.

Myiesha turned towards the old man.

"Since you requested me, I decided to be merciful and spare his life," Myiesha said while lowering her hand. "You can take him back with you."

The old man's jaw dropped to the ground while his eyes turned as wide as saucers.

Take young master back but how?! He was damn molecules!!

For a moment, the old man thought of asking if anyone here has a magical lamp but then remembered his master was not a genie.

"Interesting woman," Kiba thought with a smile.