Chapter 124: Fragments of archetypal concepts

Chapter 124: Fragments of archetypal concepts Seeing Kael’s skill with the bow, Roberta’s eyes widened in disbelief. Three purple boars lay dead on the damp ground, their bodies still bleeding, filling the air with a sharp, metallic stench. Her gaze returned, almost against her will, to the young man. Kael Medici. One of the young masters of the Medici clan, a lineage with a thousand-year history that had kept its banner flying high in power for decades. If it weren’t for the misfortune that befell her clan, Roberta would never have witnessed such a scene with her own eyes. A long sigh escaped her lips. She tried to calm the turbulence that stirred in her chest, forcing herself to regain her composure. She then set about collecting the corpses of the beasts, for her bow was still motionless: she had not had a chance to attack. But at that moment, Kael raised a hand, signaling her to stop. Roberta frowned, confused, until she understood why. From the thicket, a white tiger with purple stripes descended. Its steps were stealthy, its eyes cold as knives. Beside it, its cub followed, still clumsy but equally majestic. Kael didn’t move. His steady, serene gaze reflected an unnatural calm. He waited silently as the tiger took the body of one of the boars and dragged it into the darkness of the forest. Only when the creature disappeared among the trees did Kael approach the other two corpses. Roberta followed him, still feeling a remnant of unease in her chest. "How do we store it?" he asked flatly, as if there were nothing unusual about the situation. In reality, he knew that Roberta must have some method of transporting the bodies, and he was slightly curious to see it firsthand. Roberta did not respond with words. She simply extended her hand and touched the lifeless bodies. Immediately, the corpses began to rise into the air, floating slowly as if they no longer belonged to the realm of gravity. Kael’s eyes narrowed. His keen senses detected no trace of magic, no aura, no vibration of a Zu. It was impossible to attribute it to an artifact or a common technique. The conclusion was immediate: that power had been born with her. In this vast and ancient world, there were countless oddities. Some humans, at birth, carried fragments of archetypal concepts embedded in their souls. They were exceptions, living anomalies that defied logic. Roberta was undoubtedly one of them. A fragment of the concept of Gravity lay deep within her being. That was why the corpses were now floating above the forest, as if obeying some invisible law. To the uninitiated, it could have been mistaken for magic. But Kael knew for certain: it was not magic, nor was it an aura, nor was it Zu. It was something much more terrifying: an innate gift, impossible to perceive until it was too late. His gaze grew colder. That ability meant Roberta could manipulate gravity without leaving a trace, a power impossible to prevent. The caution in his heart rose greatly. Someone like that was dangerous. As dangerous as a snake hidden under the grass, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Kael understood better and better why, in his previous life, the Blander family had risen to become one of the most powerful. It was not only due to the strength of Aiden and his daughter, but also because their ranks included individuals of great ability. That simple fact made him realize that the road ahead would not be easy. I have to reach rank 7 as quickly as possible, he thought, frowning. Taking the inheritance would not be as easy as he had anticipated. His initial plans, which had seemed so solid, were crumbling like sand between his fingers. The demonstration he had prepared had to be rethought. Minor corrections were not enough: he had to redo the entire design, add new variables, anticipate his enemies’ moves, and consider even the most unlikely scenario. Only then could he survive. His gaze then fell on Roberta’s body. A cold gleam appeared in his dark eyes. I must kill this woman... if I don’t, she will become a threat that is difficult to handle. It was a simple, straightforward thought, devoid of mercy. For Kael, eliminating her was not a matter of hatred, but of necessity. She was an obstacle, and obstacles, sooner or later, had to be removed. Even so, he didn’t rush into anything. With a slight shake of his head, he looked away, putting his immediate thoughts aside. Patience was his best ally; impulsiveness, his greatest enemy. There were still prey to hunt, opportunities to seize. As he moved forward, his mind was racing. Plans sprang up like tangled roots, branching out in all directions, each one prepared for a different scenario. Inside, Kael was no longer looking for the best outcome, but the worst possible one. On the other hand, Roberta, feeling Kael’s gaze running over her body, let out a small smile full of satisfaction. It wasn’t the innocent smile of someone flattered, but the expression of someone who had won a small victory in a silent game. That look, far from being lewd, conveyed curiosity. A fleeting spark that, in an instant, turned into cold indifference. The change was so quick that it was almost admirable. Fufu~... as expected of a former young master. His self-control is not superficial, but deep and ingrained. A fleeting reaction, then nothing. That ability to withdraw so quickly is what separates the weak from those who once held power. The thought crossed her mind, tinged with slight amusement. However, the satisfaction was fleeting. She had expected more. A crack, a visible reaction, something to confirm Kael’s vulnerability. But all she got was a wall of indifference. At that moment, a sudden thought popped into her head. Could it be... that he knows about my condition? Her smile faded a little. The thought unsettled her. However, she immediately shook her head. Impossible. There was no way Kael could have known that. Only her master knew about her condition; no one else. To everyone else, what they perceived in her was nothing more than gravity magic. The two continued through the forest in silence, searching for their next prey. ... The sun continued to shine brightly high in the sky. Kael and Roberta advanced silently through the purple bushes. Each broken branch sounded like an echo in the poisonous forest. A few meters ahead, a group of green foxes with purple spots waited. Their long, curved fangs dripped thick venom that fell onto the grass, burning it with a faint hiss. Their eyes, red as embers, were fixed on a nearby hiding place, waiting for the moment to pounce on their prey. Kael raised his bow slowly. Three arrows were drawn at the same time, his face unchanging, his breathing calm. Roberta waited silently, ready to move. Swoosh. The arrows whistled through the air. One pierced the skull of the first fox, sinking in until it broke through bone and brain. The animal shook itself, spitting black foam as it fell with a muffled scream, its body convulsing until it lay still. The second arrow pierced the eye of another, bursting it like a rotten fruit. The fox rolled around on the ground, scratching desperately, its poison bubbling in its throat until it choked to death. The others managed to dodge, but the fury unleashed them. They growled in unison, their poisonous saliva dripping in viscous threads, their eyes burning with rage. Kael moved calmly among the trees, preparing more arrows. Roberta followed him, staying close. The foxes charged. The ground shook beneath their paws as they spat out shrill cries. The air was filled with a putrid stench. Kael fired another burst. Swoosh. Swoosh. An arrow pierced the throat of one, passing through and exiting through the back of its neck. The animal dragged itself a few meters, drooling poison and blood, until it was left hanging from a log by its wound. Another was struck in the abdomen. The arrow sank in, tearing his entrails. The fox fell and began to bite his stomach in a frenzy, tearing off pieces of flesh until he bled to death. The last one, driven mad, dodged furiously, lunging straight at Kael. His fangs dripped poison, his body tense like a shot arrow. But a figure stood in his way: Roberta appeared in front of him and, with her bow already loaded, calmly released the arrow. The bullet entered the fox’s open mouth and exited through the back of its skull. Its head exploded in a shower of bone and brains that stained the nearby leaves. "Let’s continue," Kael said calmly as he moved forward again through the forest. Roberta looked at Kael’s back for a moment; she wanted to shout that she wasn’t his servant, but she simply sighed deeply. She approached the bodies of the green foxes with purple markings and, when she touched them, just like the boars, they began to rise as if defying gravity. ... Elsewhere in the forest. Elizabeth stood frozen as she stared at the creature in front of them. It was a large monkey, two meters tall, with silver fur and some purple patches. At its waist were small monkeys the size of a hand. He looked at them both with great hostility as they entered his territory. Michel stood in front of Elizabeth, circulating his mana essence, which transformed into an aura. He didn’t give a damn about the rules of competition because the wild beast in front of him was of Baron rank, and he was accompanied by several other beasts. The ground shook beneath their feet. The little monkeys screeched in unison, like a sinister chorus, as the beast raised its arms and let out a roar that tore through the entire forest. Elizabeth felt the air grow heavier, and Michel’s eyes flashed with a cold light.