Affinity:Chaos

Grey didn’t kill the people he encountered. He might want their items, but he didn’t want to end their lives. Losing their storage rings was enough punishment for them. Only those who came with clear killing intent would be killed. 

He only encountered three people, and they only wanted to take the treasure he was rewarded by the voice. After beating them, he took their rings and let them be. 

Almost one hour later, Grey stopped by a riverbank. 

‘Someone’s following you.’ Void said telepathically. 

Grey was a bit astonished when he heard this, he had been very careful and had been sensing his environment, but he had not sensed the presence of anyone. He knew Void would never lie to him about something like this, so he was certain that someone with adept hiding skill had been following him, hopefully waiting for the perfect time to attack. 

‘Strength?’ He asked. 

‘I don’t know. I only managed to confirm it after so long. But since they can hide from me for such a long time, it means that they are strong.’ Void replied. 

‘Or just insanely good at hiding.’ He added. 

Grey squinted his eyes, but didn’t show any signs of finding out that he was being followed. There was no use doing that now. The person was still hiding, and he hoped it was someone in the Ninth stage who got a good treasure. When everyone dropped their treasures, he made sure to take a good view of everyone’s treasures, as well as the people they belonged to. 

The group decided to rest there. Their journey to the underground castle was stressful, especially during the ending part when Grey was slightly possessed. He wanted to rest his head, while Cori wanted to play around with the bunny leader. 

Void was more interested in the storage rings Grey had acquired. There were a few things he was certain he needed… well, wanted in them. Grey kept the storage rings in his spatial storage, and he couldn’t go there now since he was the only one who could sense the person following them. 

Thirty minutes later. 

Grey, who was seated in a lotus position with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and looked in a particular direction, a small smile formed on his face. 

‘I guess they are tired of waiting.’ He thought internally. 

A figure walked up to him, staring into his eyes. When Grey saw the face of the man, he almost jumped in delight. Of all the people he wanted to acquire their treasure, he had the greatest urge to steal from this man. The thought of even following the man came to him, but he didn’t want to be the bad person, so he let him go. 

Who would’ve thought the man would deliver himself to him? 

His eyes shone with a brilliant light, and for the first time, Void saw a glow in Grey’s eyes, one that he was very familiar with. Grey’s eyes shone in the same way Void’s eyes glow whenever he sees shiny things. 

“Kid, I don’t want what you have, I’m just curious about what the voice gave to you.” The man spoke calmly. 

“There’s no need for you to see it, it’s useless to you.” Grey answered. 

The man paused and took a glance at Grey, for some reason, he could tell that there was something wrong with the way Grey was reacting. He could even sense some sort of excitement around Grey. When he was following him all this while, he didn’t sense this, it only appeared when he showed himself. 

“Kid, just show me. I know it’s not important for me, I just want to fulfill my curiosity.” The man walked closer to where Grey was seated. 

He had monitored Grey’s movement and knew there were no prepared traps. During their time inside, he knew Grey was a fearful array master. 

Grey looked at the man and chuckled, he stood up from where he was standing and said with a straight face, “There’s no need in hiding your true intentions. You followed me here, the fact that you waited till now means that you’re certain you can take it from me.” 

The man didn’t speak, he kept staring at Grey. After some time, he spoke up. 

“Yes, I want whatever you were given. Since I have no idea what it passed on to you, hand over your spatial ring.” 

“That’s more like it.” Grey laughed softly and his aura calmed down, he raised his head up and muttered, “I hope he doesn’t disappoint me.”

The man was taken aback by Grey’s statement, but when he recalled how easy it was for Grey to take out those people, he understood what he was saying. The only error in Grey’s thought process is that he doesn’t know that the man is already aware of his freakish physical strength, and already had a plan to counter it. 

The man continued walking closer to Grey, his face still straight as he said, “You have a bright future ahead of you, it will be a shame to die for mere treasure.” 

“Worry about yourself, not me.” Grey replied and his aura changed. 

His figure blinked and before the man could react, he appeared before him and punched out. 

His hand entered the body of the man, and Grey’s eyes widened. The expected result wasn’t what he saw, rather, he didn’t get the feeling of hitting anything. He raised his head to look at a smile on the face of the man who was still standing in the same spot. 

“You think I would attack that blindly?” The man asked, “I’ve followed you, I studied your attacks.” 

Grey withdrew his hand and tried to touch the man once again, but his hand went through. He looked on with a thoughtful expression, and used the earth element to try to hold down his foot, but it was futile. 

Without wasting any time, he vanished from the spot he was standing. The second he left the place, an attack came from below him. 

“So sharp.” The man commented. 

Grey squinted his eyes and his spiritual senses spread across the place. He wanted to figure out where the main body of the man was hiding. He didn’t believe this was the main body of the man.

“You’re searching for me?” The man looked at him thoughtful, he smiled and said, “Unfortunately, you’re still too young.” 

Grey tried to find out the position of the man, but he was unable to. The man continued attacking while speaking with him. 

“I’m not demanding much, just give me your storage ring.” The man said. 

Grey finally stopped searching for him, he had been attempting it for a while now but it was unsuccessful. 

“Just the ring?” He asked. 

“Naturally. I’ll have no benefit in killing you.” The man nodded. 

Grey put on a pained expression before tossing a storage ring at the man. 

The man stretched out his hand and grabbed the ring. 

When the man was grabbing the ring, Grey focused all his senses there, he noticed a slight tear in the place. 

‘Got you.’ He said internally. 

“Out.” He said softly and with a snap of his finger, a loud explosion occurred in the void and a spatial tear appeared in the air, along with it was a human figure that rushed out of the place. 

“You think I can’t get you out? Stop dreaming.” Grey sneered. 

The man was hiding in the void, although he didn’t know why he was unable to track him, he knew as long as he passed the ring to him, he would have to use his body to receive it. 

What appeared before him was like a projection, now, he was facing the real person. 

The man stood mid-air and looked at Grey, his facial expression was ugly. 

“You’re smart for a little kid. But it doesn’t change anything, I’ll still take what I want.” The man settled himself and looked down on Grey. 

Grey took flight and stood in the same position as the man, looking him straight in the eyes, “Much better, now say that again.”

The man didn’t speak, rather, he attacked. He made use of the space and lightning element, sending out multiple lightning bolts that disappeared and reappeared close to Grey. 

Grey dodged them and attacked. His attack was more direct, but stronger. 

The man blocked the attack and moved closer, attacking with a powerful lightning blade. 

Grey blocked the attack, but was forced back. The man’s attack power was strong, especially when he focuses everything on one attack. 

The man continued attacking, but Grey kept on blocking the attacks. He dodged some and blocked most of them. Even when the attacks pushed him back, he wasn’t hurt in any way. The attacks weren’t on the level that would endanger him, yet.