Unholy Player Chapter 503 A Routine Patrol in Human Territory

Upon unzipping the bag, Cannibal peered at its contents. A grotesque, distorted grin spread across his mutated face, stretching from one ear to the other. His eyes, a shade of reddish-brown, sparkled with the intensity of a man discovering a hidden treasure hoard.

The pack was packed with canned goods, various meats, and even some confectionery. The pristine, undamaged packaging seemed completely alien in this savage wasteland, evoking a deep yearning for the civilized life he had left behind.

Ever since he was cast into this hellhole, insects had been his primary source of nutrition. He frequently found himself brawling with chickens just to secure a meager meal. Clean water was a luxury he didn't have; he was forced to painstakingly gather moisture from the leaves of the Mother Tree, waiting for tiny droplets to accumulate before licking them up. This bounty was a sufficient prize to make him disregard every agony he had suffered. It was a distraction powerful enough to suppress the lingering memories of his former freedom.

He wasted no time, using his jagged yet potent fingernails to rip into a tin. Using his grime-covered fingers, he shoveled the food into his mouth, tasting the flavors as if they were a divine gift from the heavens.

With every gulp, he was oblivious to the fact that his autonomy and future ambitions were eroding. The allure of the promised rewards began to dominate his consciousness, accelerating his transformation into a loyal servant with every bite he took.

Once his concentration returned from his Sanctuary, Adyr called forth his wings to take flight.

The transformation began with skeletal, snow-white bones erupting from his shoulder blades. Soon, they were draped in plumage—one wing covered in white feathers and the opposite in black.

Following his evolution, the appearance of his wings hadn't shifted radically. They simply appeared larger and felt far more robust, as if the underlying framework beneath the feathers had been reinforced for greater durability.

With a few soft, rhythmic strokes, he was hoisted off the earth. His form ascended rapidly toward the clouds, the wind filling his wings effortlessly.

Before he could accelerate, a sharp prickling sensation alerted his instincts. He became acutely aware of an external gaze fixed upon him.

This wasn't mere paranoia; it was a palpable weight pressing against the fringes of his perception.

Directing his attention toward the source, he spotted a small, metallic gray object drifting in the distance.

The distance forced him to narrow his eyes and concentrate until the silhouette finally became distinct.

“The way they can monitor me without me even noticing,” Adyr remarked with a light chuckle. He sounded more entertained than annoyed as he identified the device: a drone of Human manufacture.

He took no offense, viewing the surveillance as a logical step. Although his memory of the evolution process was hazy, he was certain he had caused a significant disturbance.

Given the proximity to Human borders, it was inevitable that drones, or perhaps even STF or PTF squads, would be sent to scout the area.

Just as he anticipated, another presence soon grabbed his attention.

This new arrival was far larger than the previous scout.

A hoverjet glided silently out of the cloud cover, a dark metallic predator moving with the grace of a hunting hawk. It drifted forward with a sense of controlled intimidation rather than pure velocity.

It decelerated as it drew near. Once it reached his position, the craft rotated mid-air to face Adyr. The side hatch slid open with a heavy mechanical groan, the metal components locking firmly into place.

As the interior was revealed, a small detachment of soldiers equipped with exoskeletons became visible. Heavy-duty rifles were leveled at him, their aim unwavering and fingers poised on triggers, ready to shred him at the first command.

Standing in the center of this elite STF unit was a smaller individual.

Clad in a dark uniform, her crimson hair was tied in a ponytail that whipped in the breeze. Her fiery red eyes locked onto Adyr with a mixture of shock and a slight scowl.

“Adyr?” Dalin Ravencourt questioned, her voice laced with doubt. She examined a figure that looked familiar but felt entirely different, as if the silhouette was the same but the aura had been replaced.

Adyr replied without a second thought. “Yeah, it’s me.” His gaze scanned the soldiers and their gear. Instinctively, he noted the tactical details: their positioning, their stance, and their combat readiness.

The exoskeletons were formidable, featuring thick reinforcement at the joints and torso. However, it was the massive rifles that truly caught Adyr's attention. He knew intuitively that the caliber they fired would be lethal.

The moment the soldiers received confirmation that their target was actually their sovereign, they lowered their weapons. Their posture shifted instantly into a disciplined, sharp salute.

“You look different,” Dalin noted. Her scowl faded, though her eyes still betrayed her shock. “Did you rank up? To Rank 4?”

Having only recently achieved Rank 3 herself, she had hoped she was finally closing the distance between them. The realization that he might have already hit Rank 4 made her self-assurance falter, as if the chasm between their power levels had widened once more.

“Yes,” Adyr answered simply. He flapped his wings and stepped into the hoverjet's hold, acting as though the rifles had never been pointed at his chest.

“How?” Dalin pressed, finding it hard to fathom. She watched him closely as he retracted his wings and took a seat in the cramped interior. A unique, potent fragrance accompanied him, filling the cabin and cutting through the smells of grease, sweat, and fuel, further unsettling her mind.

To her, raising a single talent to Level 4 had been an exhausting ordeal. It had required endless, grueling hours within VR chambers.

The fact that Adyr already held a Level 5 talent made her wonder what she was lacking. What secret had he uncovered that she had missed?

Adyr offered no explanation. He couldn't exactly reveal that his meteoric rise was fueled by the Foundation built in his previous life. Instead, he smoothly pivoted the conversation.

“Were you out on patrol?”

Dalin caught the deflection, but chose not to push. “We were scouting for the lair of a Rank 3 Spark that dwells beneath the surface.”

She gestured through the open hatch toward the massive, unnatural void in the forest below. “We redirected here after noticing that a forest which stood yesterday had vanished entirely.”

She turned her eyes back to him. “So, you were the cause of it after all.”

It was evident from her tone that they hadn't seen the gates manifest during his breakthrough. They had only arrived to investigate the sudden erasure of the woodland.

Adyr’s memory of the evolution remained clouded. He could only recall blurry flashes of the gates and had hoped to ask them for details, but he realized they hadn't seen anything that could help. He simply replied, “Yeah. Sorry for worrying you.”

Then he added, “Can you drop me off at headquarters?”

He had matters to settle with Henry. Furthermore, he wanted to check on the progress of the Lunari Practitioners; since he was already aboard the hoverjet, he figured he might as well take the ride.