CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 617: Research Purposes

Suddenly, Asher materialized in a flash, Virelass manifesting right beside him the very next instant. Sensing their arrival, Malrik turned toward Asher and questioned, "Done checking on your maid?" his voice relaxed but tinged with a hint of curiosity.

"I am, we can depart now," Asher responded calmly and steadily, "though you should take me to Thornvein County first; from there, I can guide you to the battlefield," he continued.

A teleportation scroll from the Star Academy had transported him to a forest, and from there, he had followed a carriage to reach Thornvein County; getting there directly from the Wargrave Ducal lands was impossible without help.

'I need a full map of the Empire or similar; I'm clueless about paths to many locations,' Asher thought inwardly with mild frustration, 'it ought to be simple to get; the Wargraves must possess one... or maybe they don't bother with maps,' he pondered, shaking his head faintly.

Malrik stood up from his chair while saying, "Fine by me; I suggest Virelass returns to your soul, however," he remarked, approaching Asher with steady strides. Asher nodded agreeably, and instantly, Virelass slipped smoothly into her scabbard, fitting perfectly as if it were her natural home.

Malrik's eyes fixed on Asher's scabbard briefly, curiosity flickering subtly. After a short gaze, he dismissed the notion with a head shake. Before Asher could question the stare, a hand rested on his left shoulder, and abruptly, the world seemed to engulf, squeeze, and burst around him; then it spat him out, everything warped, twisted, and disorienting, like reality bending and snapping back.

In the blink of an eye, Asher's senses sharpened again. Vision filled with light, touch returned to his limbs, the acrid smell of scorched soil hit his nose, and far-off winds whispered. Once his sight cleared, he realized he hovered mid-air, enveloped in Malrik's crimson-orange Solar Energy, cocooned securely within it.

Asher glanced below, spotting Thornvein County directly underneath. Malrik's insane velocity had brought them here in mere seconds. Asher marveled silently at the speed of Crownstar Life Rank experts—surpassing light itself? No clue; measuring such velocity defied reason.

His attention turned to the enveloping energy; no questions needed. He knew instinctively that lacking it meant instant death, as enduring that velocity unprotected was utterly impossible.

Earlier smug about his achievements, Asher now felt a subtle wave of inadequacy wash over him, witnessing Malrik's casual display of vastly superior might.

"No need to hold me up, Big Brother; I can fly myself, you know," Asher said with a light sigh.

Malrik nodded once, and the crimson-orange shroud around Asher dissipated instantly. Asher hovered steadily via his Perfect Control of Astra energy, balancing effortlessly in the sky.

"Let's go," Asher declared, then rocketed ahead like a missile, trailing sonic booms that cracked the air, startling Thornvein County's inhabitants who feared an abrupt assault.

Malrik trailed Asher leisurely, without effort. Silent, he glided invisibly, producing no booms, no waves, no traces—as if the world yielded to his passage. Soon, minutes later, they reached the battlefield: a ravaged forest remnant.

Asher hovered over the chaos he had wrought, spanning over a hundred kilometers of total ruin. Molten terrain lingered after two days, radiating intense heat, smoke twisting lazily skyward, ravines gouging the land, chasms and pits sprawling, sword scars littering the sparse woods.

A faint smile crossed Asher's lips at his own devastating prowess. Without battling Debro, he'd never have uncovered this hidden, immense destructive force inside.

Malrik let out a whistle at the scene, then commented, "You're even more of a monster than I realized," descending to touch the molten ground, unaffected by its searing heat on his footwear or person. He strolled about, blue eyes scanning the battlefield methodically.

Unsure of Malrik's intent, Asher stayed airborne quietly, observing. After thorough inspection, Malrik discovered nothing—no Debro corpse even. No doubt: the organization had retrieved it. As a Wavestar Life Ranker, Debro held knowledge; not elite, but likely privy to secrets, guesses, or overheard whispers.

Malrik shook his head, produced a recording device, and silently captured the destruction. Clearly for their father, Azaron. Task complete, he ascended gracefully.

"Discover anything?" Asher inquired evenly.

"Nope, though the site wasn't wiped clean, 'The Maddened' organization visited for sure. No bodies remain—not one, not even Number Four's tamed beasts or monsters," Malrik explained, recording from above to cover all angles.

"Why record the battlefield?" Asher wondered aloud, puzzled by footage of fights involving minor figures like him and Debro.

"For research," Malrik replied curtly before stowing the orb in his space ring.

Asher eyed him skeptically, unconvinced, yet held his tongue. What retort fit?

"Looks like we're finished here," Asher said softly, gaze sweeping the wreckage once more.

"We are," Malrik affirmed briefly.

As Asher prepared to depart, Malrik called out, "You seemed proud of that destruction; want to see mine?" A broad, mischievous grin spread across his face, blue eyes locking with Asher's purple.

"What do you mean, show me yours?" Asher probed, brows furrowing. Malrik's suggestion was ambiguous; a sudden power demo attack? This vast wilderness of forests, peaks, and ridges hid devastation perfectly.