Ascension Of The Blood Supreme

Streaks of blue flames danced across Miller’s figure as he approached Aiden from a distance.

Flames beneath his feet propelled him towards Aiden. He arrived before Aiden. The flames across his figure and beneath his feet disappeared.

The operative Aiden had spoken to performed a military salute to the captain and left the place.

"Operative Vhorn, on behalf of everyone in Outpost 47, I’d like to thank you for your timely intervention which has saved the base," Miller said politely.

"I was just executing mission orders, sir," Aiden replied with a calm, polite expression.

’Why do I feel like I’m staring at an ordinary person? Yet at the same time, I feel like I’m looking at a predator who’s ready to strike at any time. Even as a beginner rank 3 warrior, my instincts tell me that Aiden Vhorn is not someone one can offend just because he has a lower rank. I am more powerful than him strength wise, but I feel like offending him will come to bite me in the future. This must be why I feel like I shouldn’t offend him,’ Miller thought.

This was the first time during his military career that he had come across such an unsettling person.

"Alright," Miller said. "The beast tide is still not over. The thirteen beginner rank 3 horde commanders are still alive. Intel from hours ago indicated that they were hiding in the middle of the Red Faults. They were controlling the beast tide from there. Perhaps, they wanted to weaken the base considerably before they attacked. They must be looking for revenge."

A glint flashed through Aiden’s eyes slightly.

Did this Captain offend one of those horde commanders in the past?

Miller nodded. He noticed the glint of realization that flashed through Aiden’s eyes.

"When I was first stationed at this outpost several years ago, we experienced a beast tide. At the time, I injured one of the horde commanders, a giant lightning fox," Miller said.

"Because of that injury, the beasts retreated. At that time, the giant lightning fox was the only horde commander. But, according to the intel from my scouts, that horde commander has returned with 12 other beginner rank 3 chaotic beasts this time. Rank 3 and rank 4 beasts are sentient after all. So they are capable of reasoning. That makes them capable of revenge. Apart from probably wanting to destroy the base and feed on human meat to grow stronger, I think the beginner rank 3 horde commanders, led by the lightning fox, want revenge. If we use me as bait, perhaps we can draw them away from here."

Aiden nodded in realization. So Miller had a history with the large lightning fox, huh. Aiden had seen the thirteen beginner rank 3 horde commanders. From the interaction he had observed between them, the lightning fox was their leader.

Aiden didn’t have a problem with Miller using himself as bait to drive the beginner rank 3 horde commanders away. Heck, he didn’t even care if the man got killed. He was only considering how the man’s suggestion will affect his goals.

’His plan is not a bad idea, but it might not work. Chaotic beasts won’t let go of an opportunity to consume human meat. If he uses himself as bait, the lightning fox will kill him and attack the base with the other horde commanders all the same. If that happens, I will die. Plus, I won’t be able to kill them and absorb their blood essence,’ Aiden thought.

"Sir, before we come to any conclusions, do you happen to have any beginner rank 3 poisons at the base?" Aiden asked.

"I actually thought of that idea. But unfortunately, our Artifact Engineers Association building and Alchemist Association building have been completely destroyed. The only poisons we have left are some beginner rank 3 illusion-based poisons. There are about five of them. I don’t think they can do much in this situation. Even if we could utilize them, we would have to get close to the horde commanders to inject them with the poisons. That would mean death," Miller said.

"The illusion-based poisons will be enough." A glint flashed through Aiden’s eyes.

"I see. What do you have in mind?" Miller said.

"Don’t worry about the distance issue. I will handle that," Aiden said. "Illusion-based poisons work by stimulating the nervous system to project illusions. The 13 horde commanders will lose focus after being injected with the illusion-based poisons. They will be trapped in illusions and will temporarily lose focus of the base. They will be compromised. That is an opening we can use. That will be our moment to strike. That’s where you come in. I will lead you to their current location in the Red Faults. Then, you’ll kill them. Killing 13 beginner rank 3 chaotic beasts may be an issue if they are alert and self-aware. But it’s a different situation when they are trapped in illusions and are completely unaware of any threats around them or their environment."

Miller was completely shocked. How the hell did this fellow think?

Was he really a new operative?

Also, could he really see the location of the 13 horde commanders in the Red Faults from their current location?

How terrifying was this fellow’s eyesight?

This was not the time for such thoughts. Time was not on their side. Miller shook these thoughts out of his head.

"Alright. Let’s proceed as you’ve said." Miller nodded.

Five large liquid poison vials appeared before him.

They were greenish in color.

"How long does it take for their effects to wear off?" Aiden asked.

"50 seconds," Miller said.

"Alright." Aiden nodded.

His gaze narrowed towards the horde commanders:

The lightning fox, a mountainous-looking mouse, a ginormous lizard... and others.

They all looked overbearing and terrifying.

They were advancing towards the base. Trees tore apart in their wake. The environment around them shook.

"They are advancing," Aiden informed Miller.

Several blobs of his blood appeared before him.

The blobs of blood transformed into 13 crimson arrows.

Aiden opened the lid of the five vials containing the illusion-based poisons.

The crimson arrows fell into the poisons in the large barrel-sized poison vials.

After being soaked with enough of the poisons, the crimson arrows floated out of the vials.

The thirteen crimson arrows shot towards the horizon with extreme speed.

Everyone at the outpost was watching what was happening through their coms.

None of them knew if this plan would work. But their captain trusted Aiden Vhorn enough to let him try this method.

Also, doubting the crimson reaper earlier had come to slap them in the face. He had singlehandedly slaughtered every beast in the outpost. They were hoping that his absurd plan would work.

Eventually, their coms could no longer trace the crimson arrows. It was out of the surveillance range of the base.

Miller’s heart pounded. If Aiden Vhorn’s plan didn’t work, they’d all die.