Alpha Reborn!

"You can forget about that! You won't be returning anywhere. This place will be your burial ground." said a man from a good distance behind them.

Evan's and Lirian's heads snapped towards the source of the menacing voice, immediately on high alert. They had been so engrossed in unlocking the treasure vault and seeing what they'd gotten that they hadn't even heard anyone approaching, but now as they turned, their eyes landed on a striking figure.

The man before them was young, but his sharp features and a striking scar running down his emerald eye screamed that he was dangerous. His long, white hair fell around his face in waves, and he was dressed in the attire of a cosmic crusader, the emblem emblazoned on his chest glinting ominously in the dim light of the cave.

Evan's eyes narrowed to the size of needles as he recognized the man standing before them.

'Vera Silvermane?! No way! He wasn't supposed to find this place so soon!'

Evan felt shocked and confused.

After all, it was mentioned in the game that the hidden cave of Kobold's den of Mischief remained untouched until Vera Silvermane discovered it on August 7th.

It was still May.

That date was three months and several days away.

Something had gone terribly wrong.

'Maybe my actions have resulted in a butterfly effect, altering the timeline of this event.'

[A variable has taken place.]

[A change in the storyline has occurred.]

[Vera Silvermane has discovered the secret testing site of Kaida Firestorm and Ethan Frost before the due date.]

[It's detected that you have caused the change! You shall be rewarded for changing the course of history!! You have earned 20 EXP!!!]

The notification from the game confirmed his suspicions.

Evan sighed, 'I've unintentionally caused a change.'

Vera was a Sensory-type soul cultivator more powerful than Havelock. He could sense energy fluctuations from miles away, and when they had used skills that required soul energy, it must have garnered his attention and piqued his interest. That's how he had tracked them down all the way here.

Meanwhile, Lirian stood silently, his gaze fixed on Vera Silvermane.

'I have seen him somewhere. Ah! He is that arse with a huge bounty on his head. I didn't expect to meet him under such circumstances.'

Lirian could sense that he was strong, but he couldn't quite estimate how powerful he was. It was a concerning realization.

'He is stronger than me as I can't gauge his strength, but I don't feel too threatened by him. He should still be in the Soul Fusion Cultivation Realm.' Lirian determined.

Seeing how startled they were at the sight of him, Vera's lips curled up into a mocking and sinister smile.

"You should have looked enough. Die knowing who killed you." Vera Silvermane said as a cold and calculated glint flashed in his eyes. He pointed his finger at them, and purplish soul energy began to envelop it, growing stronger and brighter until it burst forth, shooting two beams of shimmering violet light straight toward them.

"Energy Barrier!"

Lirian's hand shot out, and the colorless soul energy inside of him gushed out of his palm, coalescing into an invisible energy barrier. It materialized just in time to meet the violet beams.

Bam!

The collision sent shockwaves rippling through the air. The violet beams dissipated into nothingness, and the energy barrier broke down right after.

ραпdα nᴏνa| сom Vera frowned, a deep line emerging between his brows as he said,

"I can't believe you came out of it completely unharmed. I have made a mistake by underestimating you. From here on, I will be going all out."

Evan knew that things were about to get intense, so he deftly equipped himself with the gauntlet of invincibility, feeling its weight settle comfortably on his arm.

[Energy weapon equipped! STR +10, STA +5!]

Immediately, he felt faster, stronger, and less tired than a moment ago. His strength had increased to 33 points, and his stamina had surged up to 25 points!

He also used the energy conversion technique to restore his soul energy to 105 points. His Breath of Frost technique transformed all of it into ice-type soul energy instantly.

Suddenly, a notification sounded in his ears.

[Ding! A quest has been activated!]

[Quest's Name: Topple the Cosmic Crusader]

[Description: Vera is the vice-captain of the Platoon of the cosmic crusaders stationed at the Mystic Forest. The sudden appearance of a giant sinkhole alerted him as he was patrolling the forest. While he was investigating it, he found traces of soul energy in the air. Following them, he bypassed all the obstacles in his way to track you down.]

[Task: Kill Vera Silvermane]

[Reward: Space-Time Transmitter!]

[In case of failure, you will die brutally!]

Evan knew what the Space-Time Transmitter did.

It could transport one or two individuals across the vast expanse of the cosmos to any location within the boundaries of the Black Eye Galaxy.

It was a consumable-type item, meaning it could only be used a limited number of times, but it was one of the most popular items in the game as it allowed players to escape from a sticky situation.

Evan couldn't help but think how good it would have been if he had it in his possession. He could have escaped from this situation with Lirian without a hitch.

'With my skills and items and Lirian's help, there's a chance that I can catch him off guard.' Evan thought. 'I need to create an opportunity to finish him in one blow.'

"Wait!"

Just as Vera Silvermane was about to make a move, Lirian's voice rang out, cutting through the tension-filled air like a knife.

Vera paused, curious about what the young man had to say.

"What? Don't tell me you're going to beg for your life," Vera said tauntingly.

"We have no enmity," Lirian said, his eyes locked on Vera's. He knew who Vera was, "Why do you want us dead?"

The Cosmic Crusader sneered. Why would he miss this god-sent opportunity to indulge in pure madness?