Chapter 1.20: Luther Graves meets his match

The words fey and mortal sent a chill down the backs of everyone here.

That’s right; profound lifeforms were already not mortal anymore. Their lives were much longer, and they were vastly more powerful. Trepidation and nervousness appeared on the faces of all the merchants. However, the pirates were instead enraged!

"Just one bloody punk at the early-stage Profound State. Do I need to fear you, military brat?" The Black Tyrant Leader rose to his feet as he spoke, withdrawing a powerful and menacing glaive from the side. He pointed the blade at Flash Northson, absent of fear. "Come, profounder. Show me what makes you so profound."

"Hmph," Flash frowned, knowing a fight was already unavoidable. In his heart, he sneered. This wouldn't be the first villain who overestimated themself, as Flash had seen it often. Luther's glaive seemed to be a ranked magic treasure, but so what? How much power could a hero bring out of such a weapon? Flash wasn’t concerned as he said, "I only want the child, Luther. Hand her over, and this matter will end here."

"This child is the property of my Giovoncci Merchant Group," the skinny man barked coldly. When Flash’s cold glare reached him, the man calmly stepped behind Luther’s hulking figure. He shouted confidently, "You cannot simply take her from us!"

"You heard the man," the Black Tyrant Leader Luther Graves sneered. "Son, take your new slave and go below."

"But father…" Luciano Graves was scared, but he wanted to see this fight with his own eyes.

"I SAID GO!" bellowed Luther.

"Yes!" Luciano immediately hopped up and ordered two pirates to lift Micayle and follow him out the back.

"Property…" Micayle suddenly looked like she had lost her soul. So, in the end, the elders only viewed her as an asset. Now her value was in being sold to this pathetic youth next to her. This experience was something she would never forget.

"Property, you say? Slave, you say? Do you mean this living, breathing, humble girl?" Flash Northson asked with a smile that wasn’t a smile. The skinny man paled, realizing his mistake. Luther Graves merely sneered. In Luther’s opinion, all of the sophistry was for fun. Flash ignored their reactions. All that mattered is that his actions were now justified. He shrugged his shoulders as if he were left with no alternative, "It seems I have no choice but to arrest you all and take her with me."

Trafficking the humble was illegal in Origin Province, this was a decree of the World Government. By calling the girl their property, he just admitted to enslaving her. Now, the World Government could get involved without a warrant.

"Attack! Kill him, now! The dead can tell no tales!" Black Tyrant leader commanded furiously.

"KILL!"

"KILL!"

The surrounding pirates all screamed furiously and charged Flash Northson.

"Shit," Flash cursed, as he expected Luther to attack directly.

He willed the tornado around him to burst, the wind blades skewering several of the pirates in the front. Flash withdrew the snake-head scepter on his back and slammed it on the floor, causing the entire ship to shake. A bright bluish-white light shined on the jewel in the snake-head’s mouth.

"Free Wave Spear!"

A white magic circle appeared on the ground. Spikes of water burst forth from the magic circle. A powerful gust appeared and launched a spike each into the hearts of six villainous pirates, who were immediately sent flying amidst trails of blood. Their agonized voices were groaning incessantly.

"Die!" Black Tyrant felt enraged when he witnessed this scene. He charged forward, wielding his glaive as he rushed ahead of his remaining lackeys and slammed the blade down in a vertical slash.

"Overestimating yourself!" Flash grabbed his scepter with both hands and used the pole to block the blade.

Bang!

Flash was surprisingly tossed back, crashing into the opposite wall. His eyes revealed a flabbergasted look. He coughed up a mouthful of blood but was truly shocked in his heart. 'How the hell was that attack so incredibly strong?'

"Go die, die, die!" Luther Graves’ glaive was surrounded by a torrent of black energy, viciously hacking at Flash repeatedly. Luther let out a cry of madness as he pierced forward with wild savagery.

"Fast!" Flash felt the true threat of death as the blade arrived mere inches from his abdomen before he could react. Flash closed his eyes, lamenting his horrible luck. Who knew this eighth-level Earth Extremist Luther Graves was a true genius that could fight above his power base? Luther was able to bring out 40% of that magic treasure’s power. This attack was too fast and powerful to resist. "That black energy…no, no, this isn’t a magic treasure. This is a sin weapon! Luther Graves made a lifebound artifact? That should be impossible…who helped him do this? Is this really how it ends for me? How truly laughable. Fuck, I underestimated my opponent. I won’t even get to show my skills before dying."

Life was like this. Underestimating the opponent could very easily lead to openings. Such openings in a life or death struggle would almost always lead to death. Flash had just learned this lesson the hard way.

Clank!

Just as Flash accepted his pathetic fate, the sound of metal colliding with metal snapped him out of it.

His eyes snapped open. In front of Flash stood a lovely young lady with long auburn braids and tattoos on her legs. Her shape was exquisite, and her skin looked chocolate and velvety. She was truly captivating, and Flash could feel his heart beating uncontrollably just being in her presence. He had only experienced such a feeling once in his life. This one time was earlier today.

"Kiya…?" Flash Northson momentarily mistook the girl for her gorgeous mother, as only such a creature was comparable to this one in his heart. However, he quickly realized many differences. Kiya’s outward appearance was graceful, soft, and delicate. However, this young lady radiated a natural majesty and heroism. "No…who is this?"

"You came with my little brother and his friends, right? You should also be connected to my daddy’s school," Miracle turned around and said quietly after knocking Luther Graves back with a single swing of her dagger. She didn’t even look back as she continued, "Go get my brother and get out of here. This ship will explode soon. This is only the back end of their forces, and the elites are a few kilometers away. That’s why only I am needed here. My seniors are already headed over there."

"This…" Flash, a decorated soldier and leader, was displeased at being dismissed. After all, no matter what, this young lady was clearly only at the Earth Extreme. Flash had already been at the Profound State for two years! How could she give a profounder as he demands? "Young miss, you seem to be very strong, but there are two earth extremists here. I’ll help you…"

"You’ll only get in my way," Miracle turned back around after glancing indifferently at Flash Northson. All of the sweetness and gentleness she showed in front of her brother was nonexistent at this moment. "Please leave, senior."

Flash was quite displeased, but he felt a terrifying pressure from this young lady’s glare. He subconsciously realized that if she attacked, he would probably die! This startled Flash, who climbed to his feet and hurriedly offered a salute.

"I’ll be leaving then, Lady Extreme," Flash no longer believed this young lady was really a child at the Earth Extreme. She was too terrifying! Flash stopped wasting time and exited the way he came.

"You! Move again, and you die." Miracle glanced at Luciano and the two pirates holding Micayle. They were trying to withdraw silently, but Miracle’s words stopped them dead in their tracks.

"Little bitch!" Luther Graves climbed up from the crushed machinery around him. "I admit you have some strength, but you are a fool for letting your back-up leave. Just you alone will never…"

"I really hate the chatty types," Miracle interjected coldly. Her figure already blurring, she appeared in front of Luther. Miracle easily wrapped her legs around Luther’s neck, giving the man a sudden glimpse at heaven. Before Luther could be baffled, Miracle’s legs tightened, and the tattoos on her legs radiated divine light. She tightened her abdomen and flipped, slamming the man’s head into a nearby panel.

CRASH!

Half of Luther’s burly body was buried in the machinery, crimson liquid starting to drip to the floor.

"I’ll cripple one person for every second that passes before that girl is released. One." speaking up to here, Miracle sent out another kick, her boot impaling the gut of an unsuspecting pirate. The pirate howled in anguish, but Miracle ignored his plea. She only spoke coldly, "Two."

As Miracle spoke the last word, a terrifying pressure descended on all the pirates on the caravan. None of them were able to move an inch.