Chapter 119 Last win

Chapter 119: Chapter 119 Last win

On the other hand, back at the island, Astrid stared in disbelief. For a second, he wondered if his eyes were deceiving him—but they weren’t. One of the awakened had actually done that to Miles. Astrid didn’t particularly understand what skill the attacker had used to transform his hands into something so horrifying and claw-like, but whatever it was, the result had been devastating. Miles was dangling helplessly in the air, blood pouring from his stomach as his body slowly began to fall.

"Miles!" Astrid immediately rushed toward him. He stretched out his arms, preparing to catch him before he could hit the ground. But before he could reach him, Astrid’s expression suddenly changed. The attacker was still there.

Without wasting another second, Astrid moved. His power exploded outward. The perpetrator was violently thrown backward and slammed straight into a large piece of metal that had been left hanging from the damaged structure. CRASH! The metal pierced through the attacker’s stomach, embedding itself deeply into his body and pinning him there. The figure’s body jerked.

Astrid stared at the sight with disbelief. "How could you guys do that to a human being?" His voice trembled with anger. "That’s barbaric!" He looked toward the male leader and the remaining followers. "He’s a human being! How can you treat people like this?"

But none of them cared. The male leader simply stared at him with an expression that made Astrid’s stomach turn. There was no regret. No hesitation. Nothing. They had already decided that everyone on the island was disposable.

Astrid clenched his jaw. "Psychopaths..."

There was no point trying to reason with them. He quickly bent down and grabbed the communication device he was supposed to use whenever something went wrong. Luna had specifically given it to them for emergencies. And this was beyond an emergency.

The entire island was being attacked. The mansion was already damaged. Miles was seriously injured. The attackers were stronger than ordinary awakened. And Astrid couldn’t even be sure whether they had more people coming. They couldn’t handle this for much longer.

At least, Astrid knew he could try. He had been told he was an SSS-rank awakened. He didn’t completely understand what that meant yet, but if that information was true, then he needed to use every bit of power he had to protect this place. Because if he didn’t, everyone here would die.

Astrid looked at the remaining enemies. There were only two major threats left—the male leader and the other attacker who had stabbed Miles.

Astrid looked at the second figure again. It was supposed to be a female, but the longer Astrid looked at the person, the more confused he became. The figure’s appearance was shifting in a strange way, becoming more masculine as the battle continued. Astrid frowned. Was it a man? A woman? Something else? He didn’t know. And honestly, he didn’t care. That wasn’t important right now.

What mattered was keeping Miles alive.

Astrid moved toward him and quickly created a blood thread. The thin strand wrapped around Miles’s body and immediately tightened around the wound. Blood stopped pouring out as quickly. Astrid then used his ability to pull the blood back toward the wound. His eyes narrowed in concentration. "Come on..."

The blood slowly began retracting. Miles groaned. Astrid kept one hand on him to make sure he didn’t collapse while using the other to operate the communication device. He needed to contact Luna. Immediately.

The male leader suddenly spoke. "You’re one of us, right?" Astrid didn’t answer. "I think I’ve seen you around the facility." The man’s voice thundered across the damaged island. "Isn’t that right?"

Astrid continued working. His attention remained on Miles. The leader’s expression darkened. "I’m talking to you!"

Still nothing. Astrid didn’t even look at him. He had no time to waste. He needed Luna. He needed help. Or at least, he needed Luna to know what was happening.

Then the male leader’s anger finally exploded. He slammed his foot against the ground. BOOM! The entire level of the island shook. The already damaged ground suddenly became uneven. Astrid staggered.

"Miles!" He grabbed him before he could fall. But the ground beneath them cracked. Both of them were thrown toward the edge. Astrid’s heart jumped. They were dangerously close to the abyss. One wrong step and they would fall into the darkness below.

The male leader slowly walked toward them. "You betrayed us!" His voice echoed through the island. "Killing your own people and defending who exactly?" Astrid remained silent. "This is why we aren’t returning!" The man’s expression twisted into something hateful. "Because you’re helping them!" He pointed toward Astrid. "You’re helping the people who are supposed to be killed!"

Astrid’s fingers tightened around Miles.

The man’s voice became louder. "Imagine what the doctor will do to you if he gets his hands on you." Astrid’s body stiffened. "The doctor is going to end all of your lives."

The words sent a tremor through Astrid. The doctor. He didn’t know who this person was. But judging from the fear and hatred in the man’s voice, Astrid knew that whoever this doctor was, he wasn’t someone ordinary.

Astrid swallowed. He couldn’t allow himself to panic. Not now. Not while Miles was bleeding in his arms.

The leader continued approaching. One step. Then another. Astrid couldn’t move backward anymore. There was nowhere left to go. The edge of the island was directly behind him. Miles was injured. The communication device wasn’t connecting. And the enemy was getting closer.

"It’s over, man." The leader smiled. "It’s time to go." He raised his hand. "Either you follow us..." His eyes became cold. "...or you die right here." He paused. "But personally, I’d prefer you followed us." A cruel smile appeared on his face. "The doctor would love to know what happened to his test subjects."

Astrid’s eyes widened slightly.

"You’re going to be punished so badly, buddy..." The man’s smile widened. "...that you’ll die screaming." He raised his hand to strike.

Astrid prepared himself. If he had to fight, then he would fight. If he had to kill them, then he would.

But just as the attack was about to come—BEEP.

Astrid froze. The communication device finally lit up. His eyes widened. Luna. He immediately picked up. "Luna!"

Her voice came through. "Who is that? Miles?"

Astrid didn’t have time to explain. He looked at Miles. Then at the approaching enemy. Then at the destroyed mansion. He needed to tell her everything. "They’re here." His voice trembled. "We aren’t going to make it—"

WHOOSH! A powerful gust of wind suddenly slammed into him. The device flew from his hand. "No!" Astrid reached for it. Too late. The communication device spun through the air and disappeared over the edge of the island. It fell into the bottomless abyss below.

Astrid’s eyes widened. The male leader laughed. "Now let’s see how you survive." He was about to unleash his power.

But Astrid’s expression changed. His eyes moved toward Miles. Then toward the blood that had soaked through the man’s clothes. Astrid raised his free hand. A thin strand of blood suddenly lifted from Miles’s wound. It moved like a living creature. The blood wrapped around Astrid’s arm. Then another strand formed. And another. The strands twisted together around his body.

The male leader launched his attack. Fire came rushing toward Astrid. Astrid immediately raised his hand. The blood surrounding him expanded. A massive blood shield formed around himself and Miles.

BOOM! The fire slammed into it. Instead of burning them, the attack rebounded. The force sent the male leader flying backward. His own body caught fire. "AAAAARGH!" He crashed onto the ground, screaming as flames spread across him.

Astrid stared at him. His eyes were changing. The blood around him began spiraling faster. He lifted his hand. The blood thread wrapped around the man’s neck. It tightened. The leader clawed at it desperately. Astrid pulled. The man’s body was dragged across the ground.

"You wanted me to follow you?" Astrid’s voice was strangely calm. "Then why don’t you try making me?"

The blood tightened further. The leader’s face turned red as he struggled to breathe. Astrid’s eyes began glowing with something dark.

Then suddenly—the attacker who had been impaled earlier moved. His body jerked. The metal embedded in his stomach began sliding out. Astrid’s eyes widened. The wound began repairing itself. The torn flesh slowly closed. Bones shifted back into place. The man pulled himself free.

Astrid stared. "What?"

But then something inside Astrid changed. His eyes began dripping blood. One drop. Then another. The blood slid down his cheeks. And a voice echoed directly inside his mind.

[Blood Sovereign triggered.]

[Dominion established.]

Astrid froze. Then his entire expression changed.

The blood around him suddenly exploded outward. The remaining attacker’s body began leaking blood. Blood poured from his skin. His veins bulged. He tried to move. Nothing happened.

"What are you doing to me?!" the man screamed.

Astrid didn’t answer. He simply looked at him. The man’s stomach suddenly opened. The force ripped through his body, and he screamed as his entire body lifted from the ground. His limbs jerked violently. His bones began cracking. The blood inside his body was completely under Astrid’s control. The attacker tried to resist. He couldn’t. His body twisted helplessly in the air before finally collapsing into a ruined mass of flesh.

At the same time, the male leader staggered toward the edge. He looked behind himself. There was nowhere left to run. Astrid turned his gaze toward him. The man’s eyes widened. "No..." He stumbled backward. "Wait!"

Astrid didn’t respond. The man fell over the edge. His scream echoed briefly through the abyss before disappearing into the darkness.

Astrid stood there breathing heavily. He looked around. The island had gone strangely quiet. The attackers were gone. All of them.

Astrid finally released the blood surrounding his body. The blood dropped to the ground. He immediately turned toward the sky. A helicopter was still hovering above the island. Astrid narrowed his eyes. That couldn’t remain there.

He raised one hand. A blood string shot upward. It wrapped around the helicopter. The pilot didn’t even have time to react. Astrid pulled. The helicopter was dragged downward. "What the—" CRAAASH! It disappeared into the dark abyss below.

Astrid watched it fall. Only when everything was finally silent did the blood dripping from his eyes stop. He stood there for a moment, almost unable to believe what had just happened. He had done it. Alone. He had protected the island. Or at least, what remained of it.

Behind him, Miles had collapsed onto his knees. His breathing was weak. His eyes slowly opened. He looked at Astrid. A faint smile appeared on his face. "You did it..."

Astrid turned. "Miles?"

"You saved the whole base..." Miles breathed out weakly. "All alone." His smile widened. "You’re my hero."

Astrid stared at him.

Miles lowered his head slightly. "And thanks..." His voice became softer. "...for saving my life."

Astrid’s expression finally softened. He turned toward the mansion. Half of it was damaged. Walls had been destroyed. Windows were shattered. Parts of the outer structure were completely ruined. But it was still standing.

Astrid smiled faintly. They had survived. Luna would come back. Everything would be okay. At least, that was what he wanted to believe.

Astrid took a step forward. Then another. But he didn’t notice it. He didn’t see the hand gripping the edge of the cliff behind him. A hand covered in blood. Slowly, fingers curled around the broken stone. The person pulled themselves upward. A head appeared over the edge. Then another hand. The figure dragged itself onto the island.