The Phantoms watched from afar as the abomination died once again, and this time seemingly completely lifeless.
"What should we do?" A Phantom asked their leader.
Duro, still fearful of the images which Syriong created, replied, "We stay away until there is a chance to retrieve the boy."
For the first time since he had become a Phantom, he decided to avoid a direct confrontation with his enemies.
He had done countless assassinations, captures and even extermination missions. While there were often times where the objective could only be met in a roundabout way, but he had never avoided his targets.
Nor did he ever left their success to mere 'chance'. Most of all, he almost couldn't believe his own instructions to call his men to stand down when they are so overwhelmingly superior to their foes.
However, he is not ashamed of his decisions.
The fear of the devil has crept into his soul and of all his men's. They dread to go near Syriong's corpse and the boy who could brush off a beating from a devil and slay it.
None of them knows if the lifeless body would somehow move again. Nor do they know if Kairos could decimate their forces like how Syriong did previously.
But it is not death that they feared, if they could finish their missions with a few deaths, they would have rushed in already.
What they truly fear is their own souls destroyed by Kairos.
Everyone had heard before that, devils would gobble souls, but they had once thought this as a myth. Now seeing such evil with their own eyes, they believed it to be true. The Phantoms then made the assumption that since devils are beings from the spirit realms, it is logical that such beings could only be destroyed if their souls are shattered.
Therefore, by extension, Kairos' group could somehow destroy souls. Though, slightly differing from the truth, assuming that Syriong's soul was destroyed was, in fact, a logical deduction.
The Phantoms are ready to give their life for the crown, but after death, they believe in being honoured for their services, as their souls ascend to where warriors go. It is their motivation for their jobs as death warriors, but inversely, when that 'life after death' is threatened by the possible death of their souls, they do not have any impetus towards their objective any longer.
To die is merely a destruction of their flesh, but to lose one's soul, even the bravest man would fear. It is only the thought of bearing shame, and their loyalty to the Emperor that they had not retreated.
The boys also guessed their thoughts. As practitioners, all of them knows of the existence of souls. There are even soul arts specifically to strengthen one's soul. However, none knew the way to slay a devil, until Aisa had taught Kairos.
For countless years, after Aisa, the Holy Primordial Dragon, was first destroyed and stayed in stasis, people could only seal instead of destroying devils. Though there are still beasts born of Holy affinity, people had long since been forgotten the might that Aisa wields could cull these creatures of darkness.
Without the Phantoms obstructing them, the guys turned and ran towards the Saint Empire border checkpoint, hopeful that the Phantoms does not change their minds.
As they had hoped, their pursuers kept a safe distance away, though they did not give up their pursuit.
Convinced that this situation would last for a while and they would be safe, Kairos summoned Wyrmy to help speed up their charge towards home. But as they picked up speed on the back of the Land Wyrm, the Phantoms took to the air and drifted after them.
Reaching the border quickly, they charged towards the checkpoint, ignoring the queue and attempted to barge past the guards by the post.
Commanded by the Emperor, the soldiers in this place have tripled. When they saw this group charging towards them from far, they formed ranks to obstruct them.
"Wyrmy, charge through them!" Kairos called, and he stood up on the back of the wyrm, while the others made their own preparations.
The land wyrm crashed into the soldiers like they were mere dolls, and it ignored their weapons and sent them flying. After its dragon's blood thicken within its veins, Wyrmy had become much stronger than before. Its hardened scales and longer horns gave it the protection it needed, as it tore through the soldiers effortlessly.
However, more guards fearlessly joined the fray, and those that managed not to be blown away desperately grabbed onto Wyrmy and tried to climb upwards.
What received them was a rain of blade shards, released by a flick of a finger from Jones that mercilessly decimated the enemy lines and preventing reinforcements from joining.
Those that somehow managed to mount the wyrm were smacked off by the guys.
Seeing this as an excellent opportunity to practice, Kairos leapt off Wyrmy's back into battle.
With the Eternal Empyrean, the sharp blades bounced off his skin without leaving a mark causing the soldiers that are between C and B ranks, to have pale expressions.
They recognised Kairos' rank at only Entry B, yet the boy barrelled through them without slowing down. All who crossed his paths found their weapons shattered into dust by his fist, with the Astral Cataclysm.
They felt a powerful sense of defeat, though everyone is around the same ranks, the differences in their abilities is a chasm that is impossible to breach. Even without using his Ki, Origin Energy and mana, and he is already unmatched in this place.
Then using the Lightning Flicker Body and his Eternal Empyrean Burst to boost his speed, Kairos established a perimeter which none could cross, and they charge past the Silent Lambs Empire's side of the checkpoint towards Saint Empire.
In between the two Empires is the no man's land, a rough terrain that has a total lack of natural resources but filled with powerful monsters. In this place that no settlements developed, fighters from both Empires often come to challenge the combatants of the other empire, or to hunt down great beasts.
Fortunately, because of the land wyrm's strengthened draconic aura, the others beasts are frightened even if they are stronger than it, like courtiers before their King.
A short distance behind them, the guards faithfully pursued the guys, until the Phantoms caught up. With just a few words, they were turned back.
"But, shouldn't we at least pretend to chase after them?" One of the guards who is worried of being punished for failing their duty asked an officer.
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"Are you kidding me? There are already so many double S rankers after those smugglers, we will serve no purpose." The officer shook his head. He does not wish to risk offending these powerful practitioners for the sake of putting up a show of obedience to the Emperor.
Meanwhile, the guys have already come out the other side and crossed Saint Empire's checkpoint. Without stopping, they rode straight towards the Solitary Blades' mountain, because the closer they could get to the clan, the more friendly forces will they encounter, and it would greatly bring up their survival rates.
Being far ahead, they did not see that the Phantoms did not continue the chase after coming to Saint Empire's checkpoint.
Using a talisman that caused a fog to descend in the area, they stopped to slaughter all the Saint Empire's guards, then continued to track down their targets. The massacre was so quick that every man lay dead where they stood within three breaths, and the Phantoms were once again on the road.
No matter what, they must not risk the Saint Empire guards reporting their presence across borders. But by the same reasoning, they began to close the distance towards their targets, and the boys quickly detected the Phantoms in their soul perception range.
Left without much choice they could only bid Wyrmy to speed up, but along the way, they went close to the vicinity of a minor town. Then, to their horror, they watched as the Phantoms actually detoured towards the town to wipe out all who lived in that settlement.
With over 200 SS rankers, their raid was both swift and devastating.
At first, when the guys notice that the Phantoms derailed from their tracks, they were surprised, and even a little hopeful that their foes had stopped the chase. However, when they noticed the Phantoms' intentions, their faces turn aghast, but before they could do anything, the entire place has already been razed to the ground.
What's more, the Phantoms had the time to plant evidence of a bandits' raid to conceal their own presence. Using corpses of bandits and setting the place on fire, these experienced men did not take up much time before they returned to their chase.
With everything burned, the remaining belongings on those bandits' corpses will be enough justifications for the Silent Lambs Empire to prevent the Saint Empire from using this place as an excuse to war.
Unable to aid those townsmen who died one after another, Kairos could only observe silently with his soul perception.
He bit his lips so hard that he tasted blood in his mouth, before redirecting their path to avoid further settlements ahead.
"It was my carelessness that led to this." He thought bitterly.
But having come from a village, no one could not be blamed for not expecting such tragedies to occur. In the end, the Phantoms caused the death of so many innocents because they had ignorantly gone too close to a town, and it bore witness to the truth of a popular catchphrase in Saint Empire, "Ignorance is danger."
"To the poison mire!" He shouted.
The guys rode at full speed but never gaining distance from their pursuers, then after half a day's chase, they finally reached the poisonous swamp.
"We will lose them here! Take the antidote now" Kairos commanded.
"Will the poison be enough to lose them?" Alan asked loudly.
"Certainly! This place is dangerous even for triple S rankers. Only this antidote could prevent the toxins within the marsh" Edward replied, just as loudly.
"Come on guys, take out the antidote, we had plenty right?" Jim said with a nervous tone of voice.
Then Tommy, clumsily, fumbled with a large package which he pulled out from his space-time ring.
All these while Jones looked with wide-eyed at his friends. He could feel something is odd but kept his silence. Whatever it is that they are planning, they need to be quick, because he could already feel the Phantoms are near.
The Phantoms grinned at the naivety of the boys.
They were worried of a direct confrontation, and at the same time did not have an opportunity to finish their objective by capturing Jones.
However, at this poisonous marsh, they have everything ready for them.
The Phantom with the swiftest foot dashed over with a flicker of his body and appeared right before Kairos' group.
Everyone was astonished by his appearance and unable to react to the surprise. He snatched the large package from Tommy and back away quickly. The guys desperately tried to hold him, but none touched the slippery Phantom.
"Damnit, that's all the antidotes we have! What now?" Alan roared with anger.
Kairos shook his head and patted Wyrmy, "We have no choice but to avoid the marsh. Let's go!"
"Hold on boys," an unfamiliar voice halted them.
Duro walked into sight with a broad grin on his face, then said, "You're already surrounded. Give it up." Confident of his abilities, the leader of the Phantom is the only one with his face uncovered.
In his hands is the package they stole from Kairos. Then, right behind Duro, the other Phantoms stepped out and enveloped them with a semi-circle.
With enemies on all sides, the only path left for them is to risk the toxins of the swamp.
They had not lied about the poisonous effects. Though it is slow acting and would take an hour to kill a triple S ranker, nevertheless it is certain death to enter the place unprepared.
The Phantoms took out their weapons, summoned their contract beasts, and without hesitation, they attacked from a distance. As experienced soldiers like them, they deduced with a glance from Kairos' fight with Syriong, that the boy's range is not far.
Their apprehension of going close proved to be an abnormally accurate concern. Though Kairos' combat soul could retaliate against SS Rankers by harming their spirits, the range of his attack is close due to his Astral Body not matured enough to travel far from his flesh.
The Phantoms' ranged attacks quickly forced Kairos' group to step into the marsh. No matter how unwilling the guys are, the Phantoms' attacks are not something they could withstand for a long time, and they could only brave the toxins. Even Vouno who had been absorbing all the Ki attacks that he could realised that he could hold no more after only several minutes.
"Don't falter! There might be natural cures in the swamp. Let's back away." Kairos said resolutely, and he led them into the rotting wetlands.
The Phantoms looked at each other, through their face veils, with a certain cunningness in their eyes, assured of their victory.
All they had to do is to retrieve Jones before the boy dies of the poison, and feed him the antidote. That way, their mission would come to a perfect end.
Before they set out, a daredevil among them took a pill then walked bravely into the swamp before the others. With his own body, he checked if the antidote worked and only after he did, Duro gave a menacing smile and ordered everyone in.
"Move out!"
By his command, the rest of the Phantoms immediately charged in behind Kairos and the group, at top speed.
They drifted across the swamp, spreading out into a thin line to prevent anyone from slipping past them.
At first, the antidote worked perfectly, but 10 minutes into the toxic mire, they started feeling a weakness in their bodies.
Their Ki disappeared first, then the strength from their legs went out. Then, one by one they lost their ability to drift across distances and fell into the swamp below them.
"W...what is this?" A Phantom called out bitterly.
They had properly tested the antidotes but were still tricked somehow.
"This is the body weakening powder (软骨散)!" Duro granted unhappily, "Take the cure now!"
The Phantoms fumbled with the antidote to the weakening effects, thinking that this is merely a ruse that their targets used to stall for time.
Unfortunately, right after they took the cure to the body weakening powder, the effects become even stronger than before. The Phantoms completely lost all their strength and fell paralysed on the ground.
"I'm poisoned!" One of them gathered his strength and cried out in dismay. The actual identity of those 'antidotes' they took from Tommy is Helena's counter-antidote weakening powder in disguise. Before they left for this trip, Kairos had specifically invoiced a large order from his pill master, Helena.
These pills are intended to be crushed and scattered like dust, but the Phantoms had obliviously popped them into their mouths. Of course, eating it directly gave a much stronger effect, and when they ate the cure to the body weakening powder, the tranquilising effect finally activated.
With them immobile and helpless, these powerful SS rankers found themselves quickly poisoned by the marsh's toxins. Without their internal energy to protect them, death came swiftly.
Just before their deaths, they cursed their fates and swore regretfully at not taking more measures to test those antidotes. Even as they fade away into the dark, they wondered why they were not poisoned by the marsh's toxins in the beginning.
Several minutes after the entire Phantom organisation had been wiped out, Kairos' group came back to them.
The guys had used the real 'antidotes' that retrieved from where Kairos buried it at the edge of the poison swamp, when they first crossed this mire. A perfume that made them immune to the dangers in this place.
It was in their plan all along to trick the Phantoms into eating Helena's tranquilizing drugs, and the 5 brothers played an act brilliantly to trick their foes.
To prevent the Phantoms from doubting, Helena's counter-antidote weakening powder had been sprayed with the true antidote perfume. Unfortunately, since the Phantoms consumed the pill, the perfume's effect became limited and quickly dispersed.
Without a single survivor, Kairos' group pocketed all the time-space containers on the lifeless bodies of Phantoms. For the dead did not require them any longer.