Chapter 10— Bloody Skull of Salem
"My, my! How interesting! I'll admit I didn't expect you to surrender. I even anticipated it. But look at you now. Sheesh! How boring! Sigh!"
"You don't have to mock me. You've already made me bend my head and kneel. I'd do anything to keep this life of mine." Grimm said with gritted teeth while suppressing the surging waves of emotions that roared in his heart.
"How noble. How pathetic. You know what I think? I think— that YOU—" Skye walked towards him. "Have forgotten who is in charge here—" Skye said while crushing the fingers on Grimm's right hand with his foot.
"Aah! Aah! Stop it! Please! Stop! Aah!" Grimm painfully screamed in tears while freeing his fingers from Skye's foot and gently holding his fingers with his other hand while trying to ignore the pain that coursed through his body.
"Well, I see now that you have learnt your lesson. I hope that from now on, you will learn to be more co-operative with me. You see— you are my target and as much as I'd like to kill you right now as part of my job, well— let's just say that I have taken an interest in you. I am NOT like a regular assassin, I mean, a regular assassin wouldn't waste his time talking to you like this, but you see—"
No sooner had Skye finished talking when Grimm suddenly shot an object at his face, which turned out to be a bomb that exploded with a loud bang.
BANG!
Grimm suddenly rushed in the opposite direction from Skye, intending to escape. He ran for a while until he was quite a distance from Skye's location. He sat down under a tree and breathed heavily.
"Ha! I got him! I didn't think he'd fall for it, but apparently, he's more stupid than I thought. He was busy blabbing on about not being a 'regular' assassin, not knowing I was secretly preparing a bomb from the start! Ha! But I must say, he really is different from other assassins— normal assassins wouldn't be so arrogant! How foolish of him to think I'd actually surrender. I wonder if some random idiot can just waltz into the Underground and become an assassin these days, because that guy sure looked like an idiot! Hahaha!" Grimm laughed in relief and mockery.
"Oh really! You think so? Well, I think— that YOU are the one— that has fallen into MY trap." An vague voice sounded out of nowhere.
"Wha—?"
"Oh! And just you know— I was wrong before— that talkative guy wasn't the most stupidest guy in your group, YOU are. Were you really that naive to believe that I would trust you do easily because you knelt down? Your kneeling ain't worth shit you know! But just to be clear— I was always going to kill you, but now— I'll have to do it sooner. Goodbye. Please— be more smarter in your next life." Grimm turned around and looked at an uninjured Skye standing behind him pointing his dagger at his neck.
"But how? How did you do it? That bomb was—cough— able to fatally injure someone on Black Snake's level at the range at which it exploded in front of you—so how?" He asked with an eerie calm, which surprised Skye a bit.
"Like I said earlier—simple illusion— but you couldn't do it—even if you had 9 lives. Just die. You ask too many questions."
"Bl*****" Grimm suddenly said.
"Wha—? How do—" Skye asked in slight shock.
"—I know that name? And how do I know that it is you? To put in your words— you ask too many questions. But the same way I know, others will..."
"You mean Black Snake?"
"No, not him, THEM"
"Who's this THEM you're talking about?"
"Heh! You'll know soon enough. But since you have sent me to my death, although I am not high up amongst them, they'll still avenge me. And when that time comes, you'll surely regret what you have just done this day. YOU WILL DIE! Without even a grave to bury you! Hahaha! You think you've won! You think you've beaten me! I may have lost this battle, but you will never— survive!— in the war that will tangle you up within it! Hahaha! Cough! Cough!" Grimm laughed, even in his last breaths.
As soon as he died, Skye vaguely saw a number—and what seemed to be ten rings dissappering from Grimm's body, but it happened so fast he wasn't able to register what it was.
'What was that? And what did he mean by those words exactly? I feel— so uneasy.'
Skye wasn't lost in his thoughts long enough before a big hand came down smashing on his body, sending him flying a few feet away and crashing on a tree.
Skye got up groaning, but not for long, because the hand soon closed in on his face and landed a vicious jaw breaking punch on Skye's mask, causing a few cracks to appear on it's surface. Skye was soon sent flying once again, but this time he managed to gracefully land a flip on a tree nearby. Skye was left with no room for respite, because a giant fireball soon enclosed his vision and exploded, causing him some injuries after sending him a few meters into the air and crashing on the ground.
"Ha! You've got some tough skin boy! I didn't think you'd be able to survive that onslaught of attacks! I'm beginning to like you already. But unfortunately, you're going to be dead in a while, so I don't have time to share drinks with you." Black Snake said with a laugh.
"Oh please..." Skye said while getting up. "Don't underestimate me! Those attacks of yours didn't even make a scratch! Besides— I'm not that really into drinking, so I'm gonna have to decline your offer. By the way, how do you know that I am a boy? I could be a girl for all you know." He continued.
Black Snake laughed. "No girl could do take care of those fools the way you did— BOY! I'm not stupid."
"So you were watching. Why didn't you try and help your subordinates? Didn't they mean anything to you?"
"Yes, I was. Why would I care about the lives of those idiots when all they ever do is infuriate me. And aren't you an assasain? Why do you care? I know everything about them. I might not look it. But I'm extremely smart."
"Of course I don't care about the lives of your subordinates. I just wanted to test your reaction and I gotta say, you are one hell of a cold blooded leader. Though I can't really say that you are smart, let alone extremely smart."
"You runt! I'll—"
"There is one thing though. I knew you were watching, but how much of that—did you actually see?" Skye said while rushing forward with a quick burst of speed.
"Enough to crush you! Into a bloody pulp!" Black Snake shouted while also rushing forward. A stream of lightning could be seen in his hand, coating them in a claw shaped gauntlet, giving off huge sparks.
'I can't let those hands of his touch me. I'm at a huge disadvantage here, especially since I don't have any offensive magic spells except for Mana Burst. What do I do? Let's try...'
Skye leapt up into the air and brought out his sniper rifle. With his grace and agility, he dodged and weaved through the terrain and continuously fired shots at the gang leader. But Black Snake was surprisingly flexible and agile, dodging the bullets with a grace almost impossible for his size, keeping the fight at a temporary stalemate.
Black Snake suddenly jumped into the air and threw two fireballs at Skye's direction. Skye quickly put away his sniper and leapt to avoid the balls of fire coming towards him. But as he dodged the two balls, a shock filled his body as Black Snake hit him with a lightning strike. The latter then hit Skye with a punch from his lightning gauntlets which quickly sent him falling to the ground.
Black Snake soon caught up to Skye and continuously bombarded him with a barrage of strikes that sent a wave of pain coursing through the latter's body.
"Hahaha! Great fight you put up there! It has been fun playing with you, but it is time for you to say goodbye to this world. Any last words?"
Skye suddenly sprayed a mouthful of blood at his face.
"Do—whatever you—want."
"Shit! You sprayed blood on me! No matter! You're soon going to be dead! Feels good, being able to win and crush my enemies like this. Don't you think, BOY?!"
"Ha—hah—ha! Hah—ha—ha!" Skye suddenly started laughing.
"What's so funny, you bastard!"
"You really think that you've won! You really think that you've— crushed me? Well, the poison should start its effects right about— NOW!"
"SNAP!" Skye snapped his fingers together.
*Phwark*
Black Snake suddenly started coughed up black blood.
"You! What have you done to me!" He asked in pain.
"In simple terms, I used poison— you at least deserved to know how you died. I knew that I could never beat you in one-on-one combat, so— I used some, tricks, as some might call it. In a few short minutes, the poison will enter your brain and heart, and shut them down, ending your life, once and for all." He said coolly.
"You bastard— you think this poison can kill me? Impossible! You will leave your life here!" He said while rushing towards Skye with a flurry of attacks.
"That won't work. You can feel it can't you?—your life slipping away, and you can do nothing about it."
"Like hell! I'll kill you!"
Skye quickly shot a Mana Burst at the poisoned man, but he soon deflected it and caught Skye hand, taking the latter by surprise.
"Now I've got you! I see you didn't bring your rifle out to fight! Turns out you couldn't use that attack from earlier! Without your weapon, you're nothing! Haha!"
"Did you really think I didn't prepare a backup plan? Look behind you."
As Black Snake turned to look for a few seconds, a smirk rose on Skye's face as he suddenly freed himself from the former's grip and leapt into the air, sniper in hand.
'Fell for it! Even though the power cell is at 50% capacity, it's still enough to at least finish him off. How foolish for turning your back to the enemy.'
"Hey Black Snake, made you look! Now, prepare to die!" Skye said in a mocking tone while a red light flashed in his mask. The light on the mask formed a shape that was strangely similar to a skull.
"It's you! You're HIM! You're— The Bloody Skull of Salem!! But how? And why? This— is not possible! Noooo!"
'Aim for the chest! Fire!'
A familiar bullet made of light shot forward from the sniper and penetrated the gang leader's chest leaving a wide hole in its wake.
"Goodbye, Black Snake, it was— a good fight."
The only thing that could leave the latter's mouth before his death was "How? We have never crossed paths before! You are one of the most dangerous assassins on Salem! How could we have offended you?"
The only thing that Skye could answer was " It's personal."
In his mind, Skye thought. 'You may not have offended the Bloody Skull of Salem, but you had surely offended Skye.'
"Mission Target, confirmed kill."
"Time to go home."
'I don't care what happens next! I will survive! I will become strong! And no one! Shall stop me! Whoever's coming—let them come. And they will come, only to die!'
Somewhere, a vague figure had witnessed the fight that had just happened.
"The Bloody Skull of Salem, huh— Interesting." The figure said with a chuckle before disappearing.
...
My name is Skye. No last name. None that I remember. Not that I care. Ever since I was classified as a grade 4 talent with barely a future, my life has been a constant road of struggle. I did so many things to survive. But by coincidence, fate, or whatever you wanna call it, I found a book of untold origins and unimaginable power, that caused me to remember the memories of my past life.
After seeing how my weakness affected my past life, I will use the power of the book to change my fate! I will become strong!
But that doesn't mean my life in this world has ended. By day, I am usually known as Skye, a handsome genius with grade 4 talent, but at night, I become someone else....
I am known as the Bloody Skull of Salem, and this is where my road begins!
...
*Meanwhile*
"Master Silver Serpent, I am ashamed to report to you that Black Snake, the traitor has died." A figure spoke with their heads bowed.
"Isn't that a good thing? Although I didn't want him to die just yet, his death doesn't affect my plans much." The familiar melodious voice rang out.
"Well...the thing is— the spy who was sent to keep an eye on him has also died, my lady."
"Hmm? Who did it?" The lady suddenly released a mountainous pressure that affected the figure.
"It—it was the man known as the Bloody Skull of Salem, my lady."
"Hmm, you may leave now."
After the figure left, Silver Serpent said to herself.
"So you finally did it, you finally awakened your power. I didn't expect anything less from you, Prince. But still, you're still too weak right now. So fight and become stronger, so that you can finally be of use to me."
...
We have taken a glimpse into the story of our young protagonist and his unstable future, but now, we must turn back the hands of time and travel to a few years ago, where it all started. Follow me through the sands of the universe and into the past to relive the memory that birthed a story...
The journey begins.....
NOW!
I mean, not right now, like the next chapters now, did you guys really think I'd fit at least three chapters of flashbacks in this chapter? You are so naive....
I've already gone past the limits of a normal chapter, and you still want more...
You guys are so greedy.....
...
AN: If you like this novel, please vote with Power Stones. Drop a review and let me know your thoughts on my book. Don't forget to support my book so that I can create more chapters. Recommend to your friends kay:-)