Aiden walked outside the Exo Hall Base, where the air was thick with a sterile scent, the air felt cold.
His eyes darted around. "This town must have somewhere I can buy some armor."
Unlike most Exodites, he never got the chances to be properly equipped for a Zone Destroying. The only weapon he carried was Mira's dagger a blade without a name, yet one she was hellbent on perfecting. According to her, it was powerful enough that he wouldn't need another weapon for now.
Still, he had seeds of doubts planted in him.
How strong were those Specter Wolves? He hadn't yet faced them directly, nor did he understand their full capabilities. Were they just beasts, or something far worse? Without testing Mira's dagger against them, he had no way of knowing.
Lost in thought, Aiden's musings were abruptly cut short by a sudden, iron-tinged scent filled his nostril.
His steps slowed as he rounded the corner, his instincts screaming at him to be cautious. The dim street stretched ahead, bathed in the eerie glow of overhead lamps. And there scattered across the pavement were bodies.
"Dead wolves… they're dressed like Callin's subordinates." He muttered.
What…that is like a wisp of energy? Aiden noticed that above some of the remaining bodies was a blue glowing wisp. It pulsed, shifting and twisting in the air as if alive.
Aiden slowly crept up to them, but the moment he got close, his CAD suddenly whirred to life. A pulse of energy surged through it, and in an instant, the wisps rushed into his CAD, like a vacuum.
He flinched. But aside from a brief flicker on his CAD's interface, nothing happened. However when he glanced at the screen his heart pounded loudly.
3/100.
It took him a second to process.
"These are… Soul Remnants."
He had a realization. He had unknowingly absorbed Soul Remnants. But who had killed these men? And why were their souls still lingering?
Aiden's fingers instinctively reached into his pocket, he began fiddling with a small metal ball he always carried. The familiar weight helped steady his nerves, his rapid heartbeat beginning to slow.
He felt good about it because he now he some currency from this current world to help him. Just that he was worried that, he didn't know what having Soul Remnants mean.
'I need to get out of here.'
Whoever had done this could still be nearby. And he had no intention of finding out who.
Without another moment's hesitation, he turned and disappeared into the town streets. He needed to hide. And what better place than the Market District?
…
Finn had arrived at the Ugly Wolf Restaurant. He walked straight up to Elen immediately explaining what happened. Her expression became distressed, hugging and crying Johnny.
She haven't proper time to watch over Johnny so as he grew up, because she is one of the few workers of the ugly wolf and because her boss, was very strict. It caused Johnny to become mischievous doing his own thing.
So, knowing that Finn saved Johnny she thanked him, with food but he denied it. After begging continuous begging Elen gave up, and Finn left.
…
The market district was alive with activity. Exodites and Specters bustled between tightly packed stalls, their chatter mixing with the scent of sizzling street food. Overhead, the sun hung low, casting an amber glow across the city.
Aiden moved through the crowd. His instincts prickled, he had the feeling of unseen eyes was on him. The feeling of being watched grew stronger with each step.
He turned around to see it was Master Callin, staring him down. They both stood face-to-face, neither willing to back down, the charged tension cracked in the air.
"Took me long enough to find you, Aiden."
Aiden head dropped low. Then it jerked back up facing Callin. He noticed a distinct scar running from the corner of Callin mouth to his cheek his handiwork.
"Callin." His voice was calm. Almost amused. "Didn't think you'd still be alive after that gift I left you."
Callin's lips curled, his scar stretching grotesquely as he sneered. "Oh, I remember it well. Every time I eat, every time I speak, I think of you. It reminds me of the pain." His hand twitched over the hilt of his axe. "And I've decided to return the favor slowly."
Aiden tilted his head. "I thought you'd be looking to kill me quickly."
Callin's grin widened. "I was. But then I got... inspired."He gestured two fingers. "Father brought me two othrr Exodites to take my anger out on…making them scream. See what makes them break." His eyes gleamed. "And now, I'll do the same to you. But worse."
Aiden's smirk faded. His gaze flicked to the down and around, he couldn't help but think about Mira and Riven. His heart skipped a beat because, the helper said he isn't ready yet.
'I really need to strengthen myself first but I need time to think about Mira and Riven. ' He thought.
Then he moved, a burst of speed, he moved like a blur flash of silver. By the time Callin reacted, Aiden was gone.
Above them, the crowd barely had time to react as Aiden launched himself onto a nearby awning, then sprang onto the tiled rooftops.He landed smoothly, he needed the high ground, Callin had subordinates all over on the ground.
Below, Callin snarled. "RUN, Aiden! I like it when they run!" His laughter echoed through the market as he turned to his subordinates.
Aiden crouched on the rooftop, eyes narrowed. At Callin subordinates who effortlessly jumped from, object to rooftop.
Thanks to his CAD he was easily able to see most of Specters abilities. It was was due to fight them already and being around them taking to them and even leaving from other.
Aiden ran again as he saw the Spectre swolves getting closer. 'Easily being to jump, leap, move, and faster than… at a supernatural way.'
Aiden moved through multiple building, even some meat shops still when he glanced over his shoulder. Specter Wolves were still following him.
"Damn that there of smell, feel and tastes is keeping them on my tail."
As minutes passed, Aiden was breathing heavily were he slowly down, he finally stopped, near a balcony his lungs were burning.
He hanged over, the was cold on his damp skin, the distant murmur of the market district peopl who were still watching them in curiously.
That when Aiden heard the click of boots.
Aiden sharply turned, his gaze locked onto Master Callin emerged from the shadows of a chimney. He wasn't alone.
From the surrounding rooftops, specter wolves. They spread out in a loose circle, their eyes gleaming of hunger, some crouching on all fours like they were ready to pounce.
Aiden exhaled. "So, this is how you hunt now? Like a pack of mutts?"
Callin sneered. "Wolves, Aiden. Unlike you, we know the value of a pack. And tonight…you're the prey."
Aiden's gaze flicked to the edges of the rooftop. 'No way out.' He could fight, but he was outnumbered. 'Too many. Too close.'
"No escape this time," Callin continued, stepping forward. His subordinates followed suit, closing the circle. "Let's see if you scream as loud as the last ones did."
Aiden's fingers curled into a fist. His heartbeat was steady. Unshaken. His expression was cold, unreadable, refusing to give Callin the satisfaction of fear.
He didn't calculate his next move if he had run into Callin now that he here. He wasn't sure what's his way out besides it being dangerous. He even blamed himself for being here, still he had to make tl survive.
"Tch." He exhaled sharply. "Guess I'll just have to go down."
Callin's brow furrowed. "What—"
Aiden feet slammed down, his feet surged of a Green Exo Energy rippling through the tiles. Cracks spiderwebbed beneath him before the entire section collapsed, swallowing Aiden whole.
He fell through wood, through stone, through air.
The rooftop gave way completely, and in the chaos, Callin's wolves barely had time to react before Aiden disappeared.
Dust. Silence.
Callin stood at the edge, peering into the hole where Aiden had been. A slow, irritated breath left his lips.
"You slippery little—" He clenched his jaw. "Find him. Now."
His wolves obeyed. After all beside his father he was also a little Alpha to them.
…
Minutes before Aiden used his SpaceLock ability to fall through the ground…
Elsewhere in the market district, a man who bore a striking resemblance to Master Callin, but just older about fifty years old.
He strode forward, his heavy boots crunching against the cobblestones. Despite his towering presence, there was a stiffness in his shoulders, a tension that made the people around him shrink back and hurry out of his path.
Beside him walked Elvis, the man who had informed Master Callin about the old cabin. He matched the man's pace, his eyes kept darting warily through the streets people.
"More bodies turned up this morning," the man muttered, his voice like gravel grinding against stone. "That damn Pale Requiem is still out there, cutting my men down like livestock. The streets reek of our own blood."
Elvis nodded, his expression was unreadable. "The clan is uneasy. Some think it's more than just him…maybe he's not alone."
The man scoffed, adjusting his fur-lined cloak draped over his broad shoulders. "It doesn't matter. A single man shouldn't be able to "cripple" a force like ours, yet here we are watching our own numbers dwindle while he runs free. It's an insult."
Elvis hesitated before speaking. "Lord David…We should move carefully. He's unpredictable. If we rush in, we'll just add more names to the dead."
Lord David exhaled through his nose. He hated waiting. Hated feeling like he was losing control. He slowed his steps, stared rubbing his jaw in thought.
"Find my son," Lord David ordered, his voice dropping to a low growl. "If we can't stop the Pale Requiem yet, we'll deal with the next best thing."
Elvis nodded, about to respond—
"CRASH!"
The rooftop above them split apart. And a shadow fell from the sky.
Before Lord David could react, Aiden in a blur of green energy and shattered wood came crashing down directly onto him.
He barely had time to curse before he was slammed into the ground. The force sent a shockwave through the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris.
Knocking over market stalls and sending Exodites and Specters scrambling for cover.
Elvis eyes widened. "Lord!"