Rage and killing intent burst into the eyes of every single angel as they heard Vlad's words, but the young man's smile only grew wider as he glanced at the Gifted again.
"By the way, now that you know their secret, they will have to silence you. I suggest you kill them instead, taking advantage of their weakness and your numbers, and obtain Origin Force to improve your Level."
The rageful angels were surprised when they suddenly felt a sharp intent coming from behind. They turned around and saw how the Gifted, who had previously obeyed all their commands, were now gazing at them like a pack of hungry wolves.
One reason the Gifted were so fearful and obedient to the angels was their status as God's warriors. Even if they grew stronger than the angels, they could not possibly grow stronger than God, so they had to obey them as they represented the Greater Good. However, now that they understood those were just tales, why would they follow Aliens?
Vlad did not stay to see what would happen. As both sides eyed each other, he began to sprint away, flashing into the distance with Jormungardr in his arms. Before the Gifted or angels could react, he had vanished from their sight, reaching the forest near the campus.
The reason Vlad left was because he was not interested in any group. He would not side with Aliens as that could lead to the rage of the Plane Will, and while he would fight alongside humans, he definitely would not trust those who were trying to pressure him less than an hour ago to sacrifice his soul.
For all that mattered to Vlad, both sides could kill each other, and he would not be bothered. If there was one party he felt a little sad for, it would be the hundreds of people inside the building, as they would have a hard time surviving if they did not act fast.
However, they were all adults, and Vlad was just one person. He could not protect them all, and if he were to try and teach them, it would take too long. Not to mention that right now, he was not in a very good state.
After running for nearly twenty minutes, reaching deep into the forest, Vlad climbed up a tree, reaching a high branch where his figure was covered by the leaves, before allowing his body to relax.
Immediately, waves of pain assaulted him as he coughed up a mouthful of blood, nearly passing out due to the damage. Although he might have looked fine, the battle with the Abyssal Mantis had taken its toll.
Not to mention that while "I Am Wrath" improved his physical power and the strength of his Force during the fight, it also subjected him to immense pressure, and now it was time to pay the price.
In his current condition, Vlad could not fight anyone, which was why he would not allow people to see him in this condition. After ensuring he was safe and there was no danger, he secured his position in the tree and tightened his grip around Jormungardr before finally falling asleep.
---
Vlad's eyes twitched as he slowly began to regain consciousness, immediately feeling his entire body itching as waves of pain assaulted him. Every muscle was sore, and his bones and tendons felt like they could snap at any moment.
While the initial backlash was ferocious and lasted only a few minutes, it was far from over. Vlad's body would need some time to fully heal. His vitality would accelerate the process, but he would still need around a day to recover fully.
"You are awake!"
Suddenly, a voice drew Vlad's attention, and he glanced down to see a small yellow cat looking back at him with wonder, excitement, and confusion.
"How are you, Jormungandr?"
"I am... odd."
The small yellow cat opened his mouth and spoke, yet a strange expression appeared on his face before he could finish his sentence. Everything had changed so fast for him that he was having a hard time adjusting.
Jormungandr could always think and process the world around him, but his understanding and wisdom were weak, and he was no different than a small child. And while he could "speak" before, the meows and the words now coming out of his mouth were very different.
Now, Jormungandr could speak in proper sentences, his intelligence had risen exponentially, and his ability to interact with the world had improved. That was not all; he also felt that his body had grown much stronger and his senses worked much more refinedly.
"Boss, you did this to me, right, with your memories of your past life?"
Vlad was slightly surprised to hear those words, and it seemed that Jormungandr remembered their conversation, even though he was a simple cat back then. He stared at the small yellow cat for a moment before nodding, only to shake his head the next second.
"Yes and no."
"Come on, don't be a cryptic asshole."