Bloodlust answered his rage, filling his body with power and adrenaline Leo desperately needed. Despite the new broken bones and the pain threatening to overwhelm him, he forced himself to rise, glaring at the one who dared to strike him. If this was to be his end, he would go down fighting.

“You should have stayed down, Narzak trash,” the figure spoke, her voice a strange mix of softness and harshness. “Your trial is over. You aren’t going anywhere.”

Leo narrowed his eyes, sizing her up. She was smaller than him by a head or two and honestly didn’t look that much different than a human. Her body had the same general shape as his old species, though, with obvious female characteristics he could see even with the furs she wore.

Her skin was another matter—blood red, marred by white blemishes scattered across its surface. Then there was her hair, if it could be called that. It consisted of thick, flexible needles that formed a mane that fell down to her back.

He activated Identify, but just like with the last two survivors, it failed.

“No idea what are you talking about,” Leo hissed through clenched teeth, yanking his dislocated shoulder back into place. “I have no connection to this Narzak. Nor am I doing any trials.”

The alien snorted, twirling her long, curved sword before pointing it directly at his chest. “Your armor says otherwise. I would recognize it anywhere.”

Are you kidding me?! He groaned inwardly, looking down at the damaged Narzak Trainee Chestplate. “It was a reward for destroying a nest!”

She scoffed, never lowering her blade. “And I’m supposed to believe that? No one with half a brain would wear Narzak gear if they weren’t part of their faction. That’s common knowledge, trash.”

Maybe for you, it is! Leo wanted to scream. And so he did, just more politely. His life depended on this. “Listen, I swear I’m not part of Narzak. I’m a survivor of the sixty-fourth Outbreak. A Void Rift brought me here.”

The alien quirked an unimpressed eyebrow. “You want me to believe that someone with a full Void evolution is a part of the new Outbreak? Oh, and let’s not forget about your skill or item that protects you from Identify. Nobody as weak as you can get that stuff without a powerful backer.”

Leo bristled. As much as he wanted to be angry at being called weak, he couldn’t. Compared to her, he was probably no stronger than an ant. That was why he took a deep breath and forced his bloodlust to back off for now. Relentless Hunger couldn’t remain active without combat anyway.

Yet, the question remained. What should he tell her?

Should he explain everything that had happened along with the item he got from Naz’Tor? Would she even believe him? He really doubted that, but it couldn’t hurt to try. He was a breath away from death anyway.

So he raised his hands up and started talking. “You could say I have a backer. Someone from the Merchant faction. They gave me an item to hide my status until help arrived.”

That gave the alien a pause. “Merchant faction? Why would they give a nobody like you an obscurial item? What are you hiding?” Her golden eyes narrowed. “Remove it now, or your head rolls!”

Mistakes were made! Leo flinched, unsure how to proceed. Not removing the necklace meant death, but the same most likely would happen if he did take it off. He was a Prime Akirian, after all; Naz’Tor had already told him what that meant on Sazim.

Damned if I do, damned if I don’t. I need to get out of here somehow.

His chances were slim, tiny even, but he had to try. His skills were made for situations like this, so maybe, just maybe, he had a chance to make it out alive.

“All right, I will take it off. Just give me a moment,” he said and slowly reached for his neck. At the same time, Essence gathered in his body, activating Reinforcement and preparing another skill that just might buy him enough time to escape.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Moonless sk—

“Not so fast,” the alien interrupted, and Leo froze, quite literally at that. His entire body got encased in ice, leaving only his head exposed. “Please tell me you didn’t just try to escape.”

“I didn’t?” he lied while gathering Ruination in his body. This was his last shot.

“Yeah, I don’t believe you.”

Without further warning, the alien swung her sword right at his exposed neck. At the same time, Ruination pushed against the ice, trying to melt it, but it happened way too slow. She was no random Voidling that he could one-shot with his overpowered affinity.

Shit…

Just as the blade was about to slice through his throat, it stopped. The alien’s eyes widened as suddenly, a humanoid lion uncloaked at her side. The creature had her sword hand in its grasp, snarling straight into her face.

“Back off,” the beast growled.

“W-who are you?” the female alien stuttered, tugging at her trapped arm, but the lion’s grip didn’t budge. “You’re interfering with official Zatiro business.”

The humanoid lion didn’t respond and simply glared harder. If Leo had been free, he could have cut through the tension in the air with his blade alone.

Time to get the hell out of here. He decided, increasing the output of Ruination. If the two aliens wanted to fight, who was he to stop them? Just a little bit more.

However, because the universe wanted to prove to him that today just wasn’t his day, another voice entered the area. And this one belonged to a small, floating blob of yellow fire that zipped toward their group.

“Kirej! There you are!” the new arrival shouted. “Oh, and you found our target! Good job.”

Wait, target? Leo stiffened, ignoring how the lion preened at the praise.

“W-who are you?” The red-skinned alien asked again, fear now flickering in her eyes.

“Ah, Kirej, let her go,” the ball of flame ordered. “Forgive me, my lady, but you forced my friend’s hand. If you would just agree to take a few steps back, I will explain everything. I cannot, however, allow you to attack our target again.”

So I’m the target after all. Leo thought, allowing himself to hope.

His assailant hesitated for a moment, but then she backed off, cradling her arm. At the same time, the ice around him faded. The floating fire took it as a cue.

“Wonderful, thank you, my lady,” it beamed. “Allow me to introduce myself… I’m Darius, one of the thirteen ancient flames. Together with Kirej, I’m here on official Merchant faction business.”

The female alien’s gaze landed on Leo for a second before it returned to the ancient flame. “You’re still trespassing. Sazim is currently on lockdown. You’re violating the treaty.”

“Oh, no, no, no,” Darius laughed. “We’re doing no such thing, my dear! Our mission is fully authorized by your leaders. I have the details here. Please take a look. Kirej!”

The lion pulled out a small, sleek device and handed it over. To Leo, it looked similar to a flash drive, just more fancy.

The Sazim’s native took the item, her eyes flashing. She stood like that for a few seconds before a sigh left her lips. “I understand… Everything seems to be in order.” She bowed. “Forgive me for almost jeopardizing your mission.”

“Not at all, my lady,” the floating flame was quick to reassure. “You were just doing your job. I’m sure our new friend here understands that.”

Leo, feeling the weight of three gazes, quickly nodded. “I’m all good! No hard feelings.”

For the first time since she arrived, the red-skinned alien smiled. “I’m glad. Forgive me again, and if you ever need anything, please ask for Sermeza at the nearest Battalion barracks.”

“Will do,” he muttered, fighting the urge to collapse. Without the ice and adrenaline to support him, the pain from his new injuries returned in full force.

The female smiled again and disappeared in a bright flash. Leo took it as a sign and fell to the ground.

“Blast it!” Darius cursed. “Kirej, the potion. Fast!”

The humanoid lion instantly crouched before him, took out a vial filled with some red liquid, and practically showed it down his throat. Leo coughed, fighting the tears in his eyes as the potion lit up a fire inside his gut. Thankfully, it went away after a few seconds, leaving him gasping but no longer in pain.

“T-Thanks,” he panted, trying to catch his breath. “For the potion… and for saving me.”

“It was nothing!” Darius chirped, zooming around. “We’re just doing our job. Naz’Tor would kick us from the Merchant faction if we failed a mission this simple.”

“I doubt he would care that much.”

The floating flame laughed, and even Kirej let out a snort. “Oh, you’re wrong, very wrong! Naz’Tor is invested in you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have called us nor given you that necklace.”

“I see,” Leo muttered. “So what now?”

“Now? Now, we wait for you to recover and then escort you to Naz’Tor. Simple as that.” Darius turned to Kirej. “Secure the area!”