Kai Lane: Beginning

Twenty minutes before:

Three lights moved quickly through the forest. The lights represented three people covered in blood. One of them looked serious. He looked like someone who took his duty seriously. He had brown hair and eyes. One of his eyes was green. One of his hands was on the hilt of his sword, ready to strike at any moment. The sword trembled as if it might fly out of its scabbard at any moment.

The other man was young with short blond hair, blue eyes, and sweet cheeks. He had a sweet smile on his face. He was relaxed and showed no signs of worry. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying himself. He was also covered in blood. But he didn't seem to mind. As he moved quickly through the forest, his posture showed that he was ready to attack at any moment. Yet, he exuded a more optimistic and friendly air than the other two.

The last youth was probably the calmest of them all. He didn't seem to have any intention of fighting. No one knew how deep his pale blue eyes were. Unlike the others, who cut their hair short to be ready for battle, his hair was long. It covered his ears and extended slightly past the nape of his neck. Unlike the others, he had no blood on him. A black sword hung from his back. Unlike its owner, the sword had a lot of energy.

Sirius had the ability to gather energy for a long time. Kai could advance to Step 2 with this intense energy whenever he wanted.

The three people were Kevin, Jack, and Kai. They had been wandering in the forest for a while, killing many Hunters. Only Jack and Kai actually fought. Kai wanted to avoid fighting as much as possible, and they didn't see anyone who could stop them, so they quickly came here before Kai could act.

They weren't doing it for fun. They were doing it for the weak Developmentalists. Among the Hunters they killed, some could have been killers of the weaker Developers.

This was especially true given the number of corrupt Hunters.

Kai squinted for a moment and looked at the others.

"Something strange is up ahead. I'm not sure what it is, but the First Leader is there. What do you think?"

Kai may have been the strongest, but he was acting with the others. He couldn't act without their input. The last time he acted alone, many people died and a war broke out.

Jack frowned and tilted his head, thinking. Kevin spoke directly. He had always been like that: He was someone who didn't think too much and always left it up to Kai and Jack.

"Let's go. If he's there, he'll be waiting for us. Isn't he more dangerous than the others? What we have to do is face him."

Jack sighed and shook his head helplessly. The bright green of his right eye grew brighter for a moment.

"It's better for everyone if we leave. After all, he'll be the last obstacle before we get home."

Kai nodded, and the three friends moved quickly toward Afro. They didn't try to create a diversion or do anything else. Since Afro was waiting here, he must have guessed that they were coming.

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After all, there were many Hunter corpses around. Afro would be prepared for a surprise attack.

Kai kept glancing around while Kevin and Jack took the lead and faced Afro. Afro's red hair fluttered in the wind, and fear flashed in his eyes for a moment, but then it was gone. Then it disappeared.

"I guess you don't understand what they are."

Afro realized that Kai could see his formation, though he didn't know how. But even if Kai could see it, what difference would it make? The books Kai read in the Garden of Eden were mostly about development. Even if he had known the books from his past lives, he still wouldn't have been able to understand the Formation in front of him. It was not something that could be learned just by reading a book. To understand it, he had to have experience with Formations.

But there was no such chance for Kai. He didn't know it was a formation. He could only guess. After all, Afro specialized in such things.

"Ghost of the Skylands, Greatest Genius, Kingslayer, King of the Black Thunderbolts. This formation is here for you and you alone. I have no power to stop you. So I will rely on the formations. I can't wait to try."

Jack and Kevin immediately gripped their swords. They had to shut this guy up. Meanwhile, Kai looked at his surroundings with a little more interest, but still without a trace of fear. He certainly didn't believe these things could kill him.

A smile appeared on Afro's face.

"How lucky I am. I don't have to wait that long."

Glitter shot out of the formation, and blue, glitter-covered chains emerged from the ground and clung to Kai's arms. The chains hardened and tightened completely in an instant. Kevin and Jack looked worried, while Afro looked excited. Soon, however, all three of their expressions changed.

Kai was not resisting at all. Not when the chains attacked him and not afterwards. He let the chains catch him.

This was because Jack and Kevin wanted to fight on their own. Kai respected their decision and fought the way they wanted him to. Even without the chains, Kai would not have interfered in the fight.

Jack and Kevin laughed inwardly. They felt awkward that Kai had accepted their request to "fight on their own," even in front of Afro.

Afro didn't understand the situation, but he knew Kai was strong. That's why he had chosen him. That's why he tied the chains to Kai. It was in his interest that he did not resist.

FIIIIUUU....

Afro bowed his head as the sound of the wind echoed in his ears. He saw the young man smiling as his red hair was cut by the thin black blade.

"You must be careful."

Suddenly, Afro applied force to the ground with his feet. He launched himself into the air. The cold metal sizzled where he had just been as the katana slammed into the ground, shattering it. Afro was upside down in the air, staring into Jack's eyes.

"Jade Eye!"

When Jack's eyes turned completely green, the sword accelerated and flew out of the ground, straight into Afro's chest. It was impossible for Afro to dodge such an attack while he was in the air!

But Afro wasn't worried at all. He looked solemnly at the sword coming toward him, then suddenly turned around and attacked Jack with his mental energy.

Even though the Jade Eye blocked most of the 300-year-old mental attack, a force that made his mind uneasy touched the energy focused on the sword. The katana trembled slightly, striking Afro's armor and tearing his clothes. Before Afro could hit the ground, darts shot from his wrists at Jack. Each one was laced with poison. For Afro, there was no honor in combat. The winner lived, and the loser died.

Jack drew his sword back and blocked the darts. By then, Afro had already retreated, but he didn't look worried at all. As Jack and Kevin looked at him again, they began to understand what Kai meant when he said this man had many hobbies.

"You use armor."

"I've done it myself."

As Jack had guessed, the armor was made by this man. The armor had already been made by this man. What else could he be hiding? But that didn't worry them. They were hiding things, too.

Afro smiled and spoke.

"We must be more serious."