Sometime after James and Thalia left the cavern, the two made their way towards the main inheritance ground.
Because James had no desire for resources other than what would make him stronger, he did not waste time trying to collect any of the natural resources and minerals spread across the entity of the inheritance ground.
However, just because he didn't want anything else didn't mean others thought and saw the same. Some people had their own agendas and would not let anyone or anything get in their way.
......….
Thalia walked right behind James as her gaze moved towards him from time to time. It looked like she had something in mind and James could feel her gaze on him.
"Got something to tell me?"
He asked without looking back as his gaze focused on the path ahead and the subtle guide that led them towards the main grounds.
"Nothing really, you seem to be different from a few hours earlier. And I'm not talking about the new hair and eye changes. But the air around you and your presence….
James listened quietly without interrupting. He had come to appreciate the keen senses of Thalia who could somehow detect the changes even he himself hadn't noticed.
"… it feels heavier and more domineering. Almost like an explosion waiting to happen."
"Is that a bad thing?"
Even his voice had turned slightly deeper and heavier. It was almost commanding and it further drew her in. Everything about him drew her in like nothing ever did.
"No, it's not. I kinda like the new heaviness around you."
She added with a bright smile and moved to hold his left hand. Her attachment to James was growing by the day. It made her feel like a little girl who couldn't be separated from their parent
James smiled a little and said nothing else. His mind, however, remained on the 'waiting to explode' part.
'Well, I am harbouring a lot of pent-up rage and hatred'
That was the only possible explanation; his very emotions grew so intense that they manifested in his aura.
'But if that is the case, what about the effect it has on women?' He understood that it affected almost all women and that could be problematic if he didn't learn to control it.
'Could be a very powerful tool for my vengeance.'
He glanced at Thalia and observed her cheerful expression and although she was like a new light to his darkened and bleak world, he didn't want to indulge in that light and bright 'feeling'.
'My cold heart wouldn't allow me.'
A deep red glint flashed in his eyes for a moment and before his thought process could continue, his senses picked up something and he stopped.
"Something the matter?"
Thalia asked when her step forward was disrupted the moment James stopped. He looked at her for a moment and then muttered, "Don't react and stay calm."
Thalia immediately understood without having to be told exactly what. Her expression didn't change much as she slowly let go of James's hand.
Stepping back from Thalia before facing his back, James spoke out loud to no one in particular.
"I know you're there. Whatever surprise you're planning won't work now. Better step out and face me directly."
His gaze was locked on a particular spot high in the trees surrounding them and although branches and leaves covered everything, he was absolutely sure the person was there.
"…."
No one responded as the place remained quiet.
"Come out or I come get you."
James didn't have the patience to play mind games. Either the person came out or he got them and they wouldn't like what he did to them.
Thalia followed his gaze yet couldn't sense anything. But she had no doubt in the capabilities of James.
James grunted in annoyance and suddenly disappeared from where he stood. Thalia did not see him move and neither did the stalker.
James reappeared mid-air, right behind the stalker who still had his head focused in the direction James had moments ago.
With his right hand clenched into a fist, James delivered a powerful punch to the back of the stalker. He did, however, made sure to not break the person just yet.
*BAM!*
The person let out an involuntary groan as the blow came in fast and unexpectedly, sending him flying from the branch he was perching to the ground with a powerful thud.
"Ugh!"
With one blow, James had incapacitated the stalker and that too without using a shred of mana.
Before the stalker could recover, James landed by him, grabbed him by the back of his neck and slowly dragged him towards Thalia who had a hardened expression.
She held her staff in her hands, making sure to not let her guard down in case others were around. She watched with a neutral expression as James approached her and when he got close, he threw the stalker like a rag doll into the back of a nearby tree, eliciting another groan of pain.
The person was bleeding from the corner of their lips as they barely held on to their consciousness. He couldn't understand how James could close in on him without him sensing it. The only way that was possible was if James was in the Stage Forge level.
But James wasn't as people could tell your level based on the subtle aura they emitted and while it could be hidden, there was no point.
Why hide it when the aura alone could save you the trouble of having any weak-ass punk having some thoughts about you or your treasures?
'I fucked up…'
"Why were you following us?"
James inquired with a serious expression. He knew there were those out there who targeted others for their findings and even robbed them of everything they had, sometimes doing worse when a female was involved.
He despised such people that even a changed heart couldn't stomach. Yet, this person was not doing what they normally did.
He had sensed him some time ago and only turned a blind eye because the person could just be going in the same direction. But he had continued his stalking and made no attempts to attack them despite James making himself open as a target.
Something was up and James wanted to find out what.
"Speak while I still feel some empathy."
He spoke with a deep and menacing voice that left no room for arguments. Either the stalker talked or he killed him.
Though he wasn't entirely sure if he'd do the last bit, but a part of him wanted to and also why his demeanour showed no falsehood.
The stalker shuddered a little as his eyes fell on James's expression. For a moment there, the stalker thought he had seen red eyes and the stare nearly made him piss his pants.
'I didn't join the search to be killed!'
The stalker didn't need much convincing and began to explain his reasons for tailing James and Thalia, well, James mostly.
"Some people were going around sharing pictures of you. I don't know who they but they moved in groups.
"They promised a reward for anyone who sees you and reports back to them. That's all I know."
The stalker managed to explain with hands raised to show his defenceless self, his eyes darting between James and Thalia.
Of course, he had no plans of taking any drastic measures. James moved with speeds he couldn't even see, much less react to. He would be dead before he even finished his plans!
James didn't have to be a genius to know who was after him. He could feel his anger rising as it threatened to explode, but he took a deep breath that released some kind of steam from his mouth.
Clearly, he was holding back a lot, and had any of those bastards been here, he might have already killed them in the most brutal way possible.
"How were you supposed to report to them? A communication crystal?"
James managed to utter the word without sounding like a menacing monster hissing at its target. But his eyes were piercing enough to make the stalker swallow in fear.
"Y_yes,… I have it here."
He quickly retrieved the crystal and handed it to James who took it and inspected the crystal.
It was a hexagonal almost flat bluish crystal that had runes drawn on it and acted as a conduit to receive mana and then record the sender before transmitting it to the receiver, and that was just one of the many functions it had.
"When was the last transmission you made?"
"Um… About 15 minutes ago."
He shrunk a little when he said the last part, afraid James would strike him before he could even see it.
James paid little mind to the man's actions and just stared at the crystal lost in thought. A moment later, he asked another question.
"What exactly did you report to them?"
He narrowed his eyes at this point. Informing his enemies about his approach to the main ground was one thing, but the same couldn't be said when it was an update on his real-time location as the crystals could be used as tracking points should the user allow it.
*Gulp*
At this point, the man knew he was dead as what he did was not to simply report finding James but to tail him so he could act as the signal to the people searching for James.
James noticed the man's expression grow pale when he asked that question and immediately knew the answer.
Suddenly, his expression changed for a moment as he frowned a bit before a sinister smile graced his features.