The Evolution of the Void God: King of Cosmic Monsters

Chapter 6: The Void That Makes Them Kneel

Ares’s shrill screams slowly subsided, replaced by sickening sobs and ragged gasps. In the narrow alley now scorched by the black aura, the atmosphere had transformed into a mass grave for the pride of elite Hunters.

Korg, the muscular guard, lay limp with skin that appeared shrivelled. His mana had been completely drained by the energy threads of the Void Insect. Meanwhile, the other two guards could only cower in the corner, not daring to lift their heads, let alone their weapons. They felt as though a mountain were pressing down on their shoulders every time the Void Insect flapped its wings.

[Passive Skill Active: Void Pressure.]

[Targets within range experience 'Fear' and 'Mana Paralysis'.]

Jaden stepped forward, his boots treading through Ares’s cooling pool of blood. On his shoulder, the First Void Insect—a pitch-black creature with cold amethyst eyes—emitted a low-frequency hum that pained the ears.

"P-please... Jaden... don't kill me..." Ares crawled backward, dragging his trembling body. His handsome face was now ruined, one ear missing, and his eyes were filled with pure terror. "My father... he’ll give you anything. You want to be a B-Grade Hunter? I can arrange it! You want a mansion? I’ll give it to you!"

Jaden stopped right in front of Ares. He looked down at the man who, ten minutes ago, had been stepping on his head and squeezing his caterpillar with a triumphant laugh.

"How amusing," Jaden said, his voice sounding like the scraping of cold metal. "A moment ago, you said I was filth under your boot. You said my hope was a disease. Now, you’re offering the cure for that disease?"

"I was wrong! I was only... I was only joking!" Ares tried to force a smile through his tears, a truly repulsive sight.

Jaden leaned down slowly. "You weren't joking when you wanted to dissolve my friend in acid, Ares."

Suddenly, the Void Insect on Jaden’s shoulder flew low, landing right in front of Ares’s face. Its razor-sharp wings were only a millimetre from Ares’s remaining eye. A thick scent of death emanated from the insect’s body, causing Ares to retch as his nerves couldn't withstand the pressure.

"Geryon... Geryon, save me!" Ares screamed for his wolf.

However, the Silver Wolf—the Rank C predator that was usually so arrogant—was now completely mentally broken. The creature prostrated itself on the ground, hiding its head between its front paws, whimpering like a newborn pup. In the presence of the Void Insect, the monster hierarchy had been overturned. A creature of the void knew no human caste; it knew only prey.

"Your wolf is smarter than you, Ares. He knows when to surrender," Jaden whispered.

Jaden then reached out for Ares’s expensive collar and yanked him up until the man stood on wobbling knees. With his left hand, Jaden gripped Ares’s throat, while his right hand was pulled back.

SLAP!

The sound of the slap echoed loudly through the alley, louder than the previous mana explosion. Ares’s left cheek instantly turned blue and swelled.

SLAP!

A second slap landed on the right cheek. This time, several of Ares’s teeth were dislodged and sent flying onto the asphalt.

"This is for every time you called me trash," Jaden said coldly.

SLAP!

"This is for every step you took while insulting my caterpillar."

SLAP!

"And this... because you thought your money could buy my life!"

Each of Jaden’s slaps contained a small amount of Void energy that damaged Ares’s sensory nerves. The pain was ten times more intense than an ordinary slap. Ares couldn't pass out; the Void energy forced him to remain conscious so he could feel every inch of his suffering.

Ares hung limp in Jaden’s grip, his face no longer resembling a human's. He was the true image of the void—void of dignity, void of power.

"You wanted me to kneel, didn't you?" Jaden released his grip.

Ares fell with a thud to the ground. Jaden stepped on his shoulder, forcing Ares’s face into the dust mingled with his own blood. The exact same position Jaden had occupied moments ago.

"Now, tell me, Young Master Ares... who is under the boot now?"

Ares could only utter incoherent groans. Tears and dust covered his ruined face. His guards, witnessing the scene, were frozen in place. They were the living witnesses to the fall of a noble Hunter at the hands of a man they had considered "dead" ten minutes prior.

[Status Achieved: Absolute Dominance.]

[Hidden Reputation Increased: The Merciless Beastmaster.]

[Warning! Red Light Sect Tracking Signal is locking onto these coordinates.]

[Time Remaining Before Reinforcements Arrive: 180 seconds.]

Jaden looked up at the sky, which was beginning to turn red. He knew that although he had won this battle, he had triggered a much larger war. Destroying the son of a Red Light Sect elder meant he would never be able to live in peace in this city again.

"Blackie," Jaden called to his insect.

The Void Insect flew back to his shoulder, emitting a buzz that seemed to ask: Shall we finish off the rest?

Jaden looked at the terrified guards. He could have killed them all. His Void Insect was hungry, and their mana would have made fine nourishment. However, Jaden still maintained a sliver of control. If he slaughtered everyone here, he would simply become a brainless monster.

"Go," Jaden said to the guards. "Take your precious master. Tell his father... that Jaden Grey is no longer crawling in the gutter. Tell them to prepare coffins if they intend to hunt me."

The guards didn't need to be told twice. They scrambled to pick up Ares’s broken body and dragged him away as fast as they could, even leaving behind their silver wolf, which was still trembling on the ground.

Jaden stood alone in the now silent alley. The purple power enveloping his body slowly faded, leaving behind an immense exhaustion. He stared at his trembling palm.

"This world really is mad, isn't it?" Jaden whispered to his insect. "I used to want to be accepted. Now, I only want to destroy whatever stands in my way."

His Void Insect rubbed its antenna against Jaden’s ear, providing a strange sense of calm.

[New Mission Unlocked: Escape from the Red Light.]

[Objective: Exit District 13 before the city gates are closed.]

[Reward: Passive Evolution Level Increase.]

Jaden picked up his dropped, blunt dagger, wiped the dust from it, and sheathed it. He looked toward the city’s outer gates, where the toxic forests and lawless zones lay. That was a place of death for ordinary Hunters, but for Jaden, it was the only place where he could grow without being stepped on.

"Come on, little one. Our journey has only just begun."

Jaden ran through the shadows of the buildings, vanishing just as the roar of the Red Light Sect’s combat vehicle sirens could be heard approaching from the distance.