Chereads / Grey Fortune / Chapter 23 - Way Home

Chapter 23 - Way Home

● Graviton

Exact Location: Somewhere in 24r Lens Street.

A man tripped over a trash bin that was kept on the street as he took a corner down an alley. He quickly picked himself up and continued running. His chest pounded up and down and his eyes were covered in tears. His right hand was placed over his left shoulder to stop the bleeding in his arm.

The street was empty as everyone was preparing for the Gravity Fall day. He had stepped out of his home to get a chore done and suddenly found himself in the situation he was in.

The man took another corner but was forced to a stop by the large wall covering his path. He cursed and turned to find another route, only to see the gray-haired blue-eyed man, Leo Silas already blocking his escape route.

Leo's gray hair was neatly tied in a low ponytail. He wore a plain white shirt coupled with a pair of white trousers that had a few stains of blood. In his hand was a small shiny dagger that also dripped blood. His lips opened and closed as he said some words that held weight in his heart.

"Esna elrytra victos."

"Esna elrytra victos."

"Esna elrytra victos."

The man scanned the place, looking for anything he could use to defend himself but found nothing usable. He looked up at Leo who was now a few meters away from him.

"All these years I've tried to rally every Grey Lander to do something about your kind, I yell at the top of my voice, I got stoned by some, but I never once thought about picking up a weapon myself," he said.

"I too was a sinner, I urged people to do things I was too afraid to do, I was a coward." He paused and raised the dagger, caressing the side with his fingers. "I thank the Greyes for planting the bravery in my heart. Now I don't need anyone-- not the other Grey Landers and certainly not the Star Lord… I will rid this planet of your kind and bring forth the heaven promised."

He lunged forward and swung the dagger at the man's neck. The said man pulled back with fear and horror pouring down his face. He threw a few punches in an attempt to fight back with his working arm but Leo Silas effortlessly dodged the attack. A smile crawled up his lips as he watched the man's 'pathetic' attempt to put up a fight.

He raised the dagger over his head and planted a cut in the man's chest. The man screamed and staggered backward in pain. Leo stepped forward and slashed the man again on the chest, then his abdomen, his arms, his thighs, and his right eyes, before finally digging the dagger deep into his chest.

Leo pinned the man to a wall and stared deep into his eyes, watching as he drew his last breath.

"Ah… fascinating."

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● Inner Core

Exact Location: Somewhere inside the Forbidden Zone.

Thomas used the pillars and other items around to dodge his attackers' assault. The two Rogue Sweepers continued to hurl their weapon at him, giving him no chance to think about anything but dodging.

The dark-skinned man shot his rope to the roof and used it to propel himself over yet another attack. He landed at a far end of the room away from the two. He curbed on the ground and clenched his left fist while pulling out a small pencil-sized device that immediately turned into a long assault sword after he touched a button.

He created some space between himself and the two, getting enough time to assess the situation. He turned to Owen to see him barely holding his own against his opponent.

"It's not fair, why do I have to handle two of you guys." He opened his clenched fist to reveal three round devices he had been hiding. He tossed the device on the ground and everywhere suddenly got covered in smoke, giving Thomas and his comrade, Owen enough time to sneak out of the building and into the Zone.

"I thought you were stubbornly going to keep fighting," Thomas said after they strayed clear from their assailant.

"I would have taken on all three of them if not for my air supply, I'm almost out," he stated.

Thomas rolled his eyes and slipped the transforming sword back into his side pocket. "Rogue Sweepers. I didn't think anyone would go against the Star-Lord after the last time."

"Those are not Rogue Sweepers, I don't think," Owen replied.

The two quickly hid behind a boulder as a creature dragged the body of a Sweeper with it. Their map system was malfunctioning and it only showed the coordinates on the map without the signals of their comrade. The only thing they were certain about was that if they kept going in the same direction they'd get to the Protection Wall. But with their short air supply and the place swarming with creatures, it won't be as easy as they hoped.

They stayed that way until the creature went out of sight. Thomas let out a deep sigh before speaking. "What makes you say they aren't Rogue Sweepers?"

Owen stood up on his feet. "It's what I think, no… I am sure of it. The way they fought, their equipment… something's up."

"I asked how you could tell they aren't rogues."

The blonde-haired man hissed and started in the direction that led to the Protection Wall. "I'd be waisting my time trying to explain it, let's just go."

Thomas scoffed before following him.

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