"Who? Who killed him?!" Nick barked, his voice tight and harsh as he pivoted on the balls of his feet, eyes darting from shadow to shadow, trying desperately to pierce the forest's green veil for any trace of an attacker. His face darkened with a furious rage, jaw clenched so hard a muscle twitched in his cheek.
Meanwhile, Blake dropped into a crouch beside Astor's lifeless body, fingers swiftly checking for any lingering pulse even though it was obvious the man was long gone. His brow furrowed as he inspected the clean cut at Astor's neck and the faint traces of soul force still lingering in the air like a fading afterimage.
"Be careful, Nick," Blake murmured grimly, rising back to his feet, his face a mask of grim calculation. "I think there's another party in the Berserk Lightning Region besides us and those from the Great Ruler Empire."
