As the members of Team Asfalon stepped toward Atlas, Atlas also walked toward them without changing his expression. Both sides came to a stop just about a meter away from each other while Alberion remained leaning against the wall where he had been standing from the very beginning, his arms crossed as his sharp green eyes stayed fixed on Atlas the entire time.
’Just agree already you bastard...my instincts have been itching to kill you since yesterday.’
That thought crossed Alberion’s mind as a faint killing intent flashed through his green pupils for only a brief moment before disappearing again. He suppressed it immediately and continued looking at Atlas, waiting for his answer while saying nothing.
Himalton, the leader of Team Asfalon, stepped forward before speaking with the same calm smile on his face. "So, Mr. Atlas, what did you decide? I don’t know whether you already knew Mr. Alberion or not but I would like to say this, if your mind changed because of hi—"
"I will be joining the Exploration."
Atlas interrupted him before Himalton could finish speaking. His voice remained detached as always while his expression did not change in the slightest, "But before that, when exactly will the Exploration begin tomorrow? And also...the details you spoke about yesterday, I would like to hear them after I return from clearing this Cataclysm-rank Ruin."
Himalton remained silent for only a brief moment before nodding. Whatever reason Atlas had for changing his decision wasn’t something he needed to ask. As long as Atlas agreed to join the Exploration, that alone was enough for him.
"I am glad to hear that Mr. Atlas. In that case, arrive at the Guild around seven or eight in the morning tomorrow. As for the details, I will explain everything after you return from your Exploration." As he finished speaking, Himalton stretched his right hand toward Atlas.
Atlas lowered his eyes toward the extended hand before shaking it once. The moment both of their hands met, a thought crossed his mind.
’I thought he would try to gauge my strength or secretly probe something through this handshake...it seems I was wrong.’
Both of them withdrew their hands before everyone’s attention shifted toward the reception counter as the receptionist hurried over while holding another permit.
"Mr. Atlas, here is your permit for the next Cataclysm-rank Ruin. The Guildmaster also has a small request. If possible, could you recover the Monster Cores from this Ruin? Our recovery teams are currently occupied with several other Ruins, so they won’t be able to retrieve them. Of course, you will be compensated separately."
Atlas walked toward the counter while listening to her explanation. After taking the permit into his hand, he nodded once, "Alright, I will do it."
Without wasting any more time, he turned toward the Guild entrance. Just before stepping outside, his black pupils briefly landed on Alberion. Alberion was still leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, staring directly back at him without hiding his gaze.
Atlas simply withdrew his eyes and walked out of the Guild Hall.
The very moment he stepped outside, dozens of presences entered his perception from every direction at once. Some stood on rooftops, some mixed among the people walking through the streets while others remained hidden behind nearby buildings, pretending to be minding their own business. Even though none of them had moved yet, every single one of their senses remained locked onto him.
Atlas laughed internally.
’Heh...still waiting, huh? I expected this you damn bastards.’
He had already guessed this would happen before leaving the Guild Hall. There was no way people who had seen a Relic like that yesterday would simply give up after failing once or twice. Since they wanted to continue chasing him, he had already decided to settle this matter today and make sure none of them would think of following him ever again.
He had already decided to shed off the weak shell he had by revealing his real surname from now on, so...he might as well remove that shell from every aspect. ’I better make sure no one mistakes me for weak anymore...no one.’
The moment his feet touched the first stair his figure vanished from that spot, becoming nothing more than a blur before appearing directly in front of the first Angel who was rushing toward him at almost the same speed.
For that Special S-rank Angel, everything happened too fast. One moment Atlas was several meters away, the next he was already standing in front of him. His pupils shrank as he instinctively tried to react, but Atlas’s right fist had already reached his stomach before his body could even move. He only felt the impact.
"KHUGHH!"
Blood burst out from his mouth as his entire body bent from the punch, while Atlas had already disappeared from in front of him. Without stopping even for a fraction of a second, Atlas appeared before the second pursuer, this one only an ordinary S-rank. Another punch landed directly into his abdomen before Atlas moved again, not giving any of them even the slightest opportunity to react.
One after another, the same thing repeated itself. Atlas moved through every individual that rushed toward him, each receiving only a single punch before being thrown out of his path. None of them managed to stop him, and none of them even managed to touch him.
And throughout all these punches...He hadn’t used a single ounce of spirit energy, it was all pure physical raw strength and not only that, Atlas even held back the maximum he could get the result seemed too unbelievable.
Only when he reached the last figure whose physique was noticeably broader than the others did something finally change.
The moment Atlas stepped in front of him, his instincts immediately reacted. Unlike the others, this Angel’s fist was already moving toward him. Atlas understood it at once. ’SS-rank...whether Special or not can be figured out later.’ Without hesitating, he drove his own fist forward using nothing but the physical strength of his body.
Both fists met head-on.
BOOOOOOOM!!
CRACK!!
The collision released a violent shockwave that spread throughout the streets around the Guild. People walking nearby immediately raised their arms and reinforced themselves with Spirit Energy, yet many of them were still blown backward before crashing into nearby walls. Windows rattled, loose stones rolled across the streets, and dust spread through the surroundings.
The Guild itself remained completely unaffected. The invisible barrier surrounding the building dispersed every shockwave the instant it reached the walls, leaving the Guild standing exactly as before.
At the centre of the collision, dust covered the surroundings while more than ten Angels who had been struck by Atlas earlier could already be seen lying across the ground, blood flowing from their mouths as they struggled to even stand back up.
The Guild doors opened at that moment as Alberion, Himalton and the rest of Team Asfalon stepped outside after sensing the collision. The moment their eyes landed on the scene, every one of them stopped. Even Alberion’s expression changed slightly as he looked at the figures lying across the ground. The clash had happened only moments ago, yet more than ten S-rank Explorers had already been taken out.
As the dust gradually settled, Atlas and the broad-built Angel became visible once again. Both remained standing where they had exchanged punches, neither showing any visible injuries. Their bodies stayed slightly lowered as they continued watching each other without moving.
Atlas’s eyes shifted past the broad-built Angel and landed on four more figures standing further behind him. Unlike the others, none of them had moved from their positions. ’Four more...all of them should be SS-rank. Maybe Special SS-ranks as well. If that’s the case...why are they only watching instead of attacking together?’
Before Atlas could think further, a voice came from behind him, "Mr. Atlas, we will be joining this battle. You are now one of Asfalon’s members. If something happens to you, our team loses one of its strongest Explorers."
Atlas turned around and looked toward Himalton. His expression remained the same as always while Himalton stepped forward, but the next words Atlas spoke caused even the four SS-rank individuals standing behind the broad-built Angel to look at him with surprise.
"No, do not interfere Mr. Himalton, this is my personal matter and also I do not need anyone to Kill these lousy thieves trying to get my property." Every word sent ripples through each of them standing behind the broad-built Angel, their eyes narrowing to a slit as only one thought crossed their minds.
’Arrogant Human...’
They glanced at each other before nodding and stepping forward while one of them said "That’s quite the arrogance you have got there Human, just taking down some S-ranks made you think we were the same? Hahaha! You will die here and give us that Relic and everyone here will forget what even happened here."
Atlas’s jaw tightened at the last words he heard, his mind went blank before only one thought crossed his mind ’Kill.’
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