The two guards had just left few minute ago, when suddenly one of the guards near the jeep, jerked and spat blood.

"Dead...both of them died. " He spoke gravely with a pale face.

Everyone looked at the guard with shock.

"What are you saying?!?" Asked the other guard in confusion, as well as shock. It wasn't that he didn't realise the meaning behind this news, but he didn't wanted to recognise it. He knew that his companion was a Telepath. He could connect and talk spritually with others. During such missions he would act as a link betwen everyone. And because of this sole reason their captain had send him on this mission. As for the two guards sent earlier, both of them were level 3 metahumans. They could easily deal with all types of dangers which could occur in this area. He himself was a level three. And if someone could kill them without any chance to fightback, he definitely didn't stand stand a chance.

"My connection with both of them is dead."

He replied still suffering from the backlash caused due to the spiritual cut off.

"What do you mean?" Questioned Hound, but it was more for the sake of confirming, than questioning. He had got a brief idea on seeing their reactions.

The guards ignored his question and immediately got in the truck. Their training took over their feelings and emotions. They couldn't dare too loose their calm in such a situation. The guard suffering from backlash, took out his gun and removed the safety. Seeing his actions, Hound didn't ask more, but took out his own staff. The crystal on the top of the staff started glowing with a dim white brilliance.

Meanwhile beggar simply looked at them dumbfounded. He didn't understand anything which occured in last few seconds. One moment they were waiting, and the other second the guard spat blood and everyone took out their weapons.

The guard in the drive seat turned on the engine, but suddenly he stopped. His actions paused in air. Behind him the other guard also jerked, and similarly his eyes became vacant. The gun fell from his hands, alerting the Hound and the beggar.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"What the fuck?!?" Screamed hound in horror. Although beggar didn't recognise what happened due to his inexperience, Hound did. Both of them had died. Their souls cut off. He instinctively raised his staff and a dim shield covered him and the beggar.

"Oy, take cover! We are under attack!" He ordered the beggar in an shivering voice. The attacks had scared him down to the marrows. He couldn't even see the attacks and both of the guards died . He was almost a 4th rank metahumans, and he couldn't see the attacks! It signified that either the attacker was far above him in ranking or the attack was purely spritual in nature. But the Telepath should have sensed such attack and alerted them! Before he could ponder any further his shield suddenly broke.

An immense amount of energy transmitted through the connection between him and shield almost rendering him dead. Still his hands had gone limp, and he could feel broken bones and muscles throughout his body.

He started coughing blood, and he could see pieces of his organs in them. He was effectively crippled.

"Waw...you are still alive. That should have been enough to kill you..." Came a voice, from front of him.

He raised his eyes, but he could see nothing. It was the same pure back darkness of the wilds.

"Who are you?? And why are you trying to kill us? Don't you know we are from..." He roared back in false bravado, before he was interrupted.

"Red Skull Gang, Liberty City. I know...I know...don't worry. I take my preys after much research." The voice answered back in a teasing tone with a hair rasing giggle.

"And why do you all always use the same cliche lines? Do you guys have a common template, which you follow? I am from blah blah land, and blah blah guy is my father..." It continued as if it had lots of time.

Hound didnt try to stop it. He slowly revolved the mana inside him, gathering energy. He would die along with this hateful voice.

"You know...gathering mana to self explode is not a logically sound choice. It's far too wasteful. Why, not I help you since you want to die?" Suggested the voice, and behind it came an arrow. The arrow didn't give Hound anytime to react before striking his heart and killing him.

Hound could do nothing but look at his gaping chest and shredded heart. Blood started leaking from his mouth, as his eyes slowly turned vacant.

"Hmm...stale chips. I was expecting something better. Such a turn off, don't you think darling?"

And the bow trembled.