Chapter 149: Brothers on the Mountain
The wind howled atop the great mountain, whispering secrets between the trees as two shadowed figures stood amidst the clouds. The sky above was overcast, and the sun fought to shine through a curtain of cold mist.
As the breeze parted the swaying trees, their faces came into view—Huey the Second, draped in his long, dark coat, and beside him stood the bloodthirsty silhouette of Silas Moraku, his one-eyed gaze fixed ahead, his monstrous aura seething just beneath the surface.
Huey stared down the ridge. "You called him 'Brother,' didn't you?" Silas asked with a faint, mocking grin.
"That's right," Huey answered calmly. "Varion himself is my brother. Flesh and blood."
Silas scoffed lightly. "Surprising… one of The strongest hunter in all of SUHA… is your brother?"
Huey nodded. "He is indeed strong—and the current holder of the Fourth Yggdrasil Piece." He turned his sharp eyes to Silas. "Shall we?"
Silas smirked, stepping forward. "On your mark… My Lord."
Huey's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then… let's go."
Down the mountain slope, Sir Varion stood tall, dressed in his flowing combat gi, white chalk lines trailing faintly along his sleeves. Solomon stood at his side, silent and unwavering.
From behind them, Sakamoto approached, sensing the shift in air pressure. "What's going on?" he asked, eyes scanning the treeline.
Sir Varion didn't turn. "Training is over, my Prince. We have company—strong ones. I can feel it."
Sakamoto blinked. "Company…?"
"My brother is here," Varion said calmly.
"Your brother?" Sakamoto echoed, confused.
Before anyone could respond, a shimmering white line suddenly lit up beneath varion feet.
FZZZTTT!
A single glowing slash cracked across the mountain—a straight, divine strike that cleaved the very peak in two. Trees split. Rocks screamed. The mountain roared as if it were alive, divided perfectly in half by a single motion.
The origin was obvious Varion had struck, and where the glowing line ended, Huey and Silas stood, unmoved… but not untouched.
Both enemies leapt down the collapsing ridge just before it exploded in rubble, landing gracefully on the lower plateau before their opponents.
Huey brushed dust off his coat. "Always trying to be flashy, Varion… That's what I've always hated about you."
Sir Varion stepped forward, calm and composed. "And you've finally decided to show your face, Huey."
Huey let out a tired sigh. "It would've been great to avoid confrontation. But we both know that's no longer an option. Hand over the Yggdrasil piece, and we can end this without further bloodshed."
Varion narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by further bloodshed?"
Huey chuckled darkly. "Ah… so you're unaware. Seems SUHA hid that little detail from you."
"If they did," Varion said coolly, "I'm sure they had their reasons."
Huey's expression hardened. "Silas. You know the plan."
Without a word, Silas vanished, his body flickering out of existence in a crimson blur.
"Solomon," Varion commanded. "Intercept."
"Yes, boss."
Solomon disappeared in the same instant, giving chase.
Huey turned back to Varion, eyeing the boy behind him. "Oh the hybrid boy??"
"He's my student," Varion replied with pride. "And I've just made him stronger."
Huey smirked. "Funny. I've got a student too—Draven. Though he's away for now, I've made him stronger as well."
He stepped forward, the tension growing. "Maybe one day, they'll spar. See who the better teacher is, brother."
Varion's gaze sharpened. "If that day comes… so be it. But today, I put an end to this madness you've brought upon this world ."
Huey's hands lit up—two glowing cross symbols appeared across each palm like divine brands.
Sir Varion cracked his neck. "Prince Saka… today, you will witness real combat. Etch every detail into your mind."
BOOOOM!
The ground beneath Varion exploded with a shockwave. Wind and force blew Sakamoto back several meters. In a blink, Varion was right in front of Huey, his hand already driving forward.
Huey's eyes widened. "He's fast—!"
Tap!
He already closed the distance between them, Two fingers touched Huey's chest, precisely below the sternum. "Aikido: Shotokan."
Varion coiled his fingers like he was unlocking a seal—click—then snapped them forward, piercing Huey's torso with stunning force.
CRACK!
The air fractured, and Huey's body shot backward, skidding violently across the rocky field before colliding with a distant mountain wall, which shattered on impact, spiderwebs forming in the rock.
But Varion didn't stop.
Before Huey could even groan to register what had happened , Varion appeared in front of him again. "Ippon-nukite." He screamed
One-finger spear. A lethal technique.
With perfect form, he thrust his hand forward—boom!
The strike impaled Huey's heart, the mountain behind them exploding as Huey's body was launched through it, slamming into boulders, trees, and dirt, his limbs flailing like a ragdoll until he finally came to a crumbling stop.
Blood sprayed. Huey gasped as his heart ceased beating. His chest caved in. His limbs shook. He coughed violently, red streaming down his chin and pooling on the ground.
Sakamoto watched in awe from a distance. "W-What kind of technique is that…? He's so fast… so precise…" He clenched his fists in admiration. "That's why they say he's the strongest in SUHA… He's incredible."
Sir Varion stepped through the cratered path Huey had carved. His voice was firm but cold. "You probably can't remember the last time someone came this close to killing you, can you… Huey of the Crane Bloodline."
Huey groaned as Varion continued. "Though you're from another father… we share the same mother. That's why I called you brother. And this is how you repay that blood…? By abandoning the principles of our family?" He clenched his fists. "You bastard."
That word—bastard—rang in Huey's head like a thunderclap.
FLASHBACK
A young Huey sat alone in a quiet room, eating cold rice in silence. In the next room, children laughed around a long table filled with hot food and warm faces. One boy sneered.
"My mom said kids like that… are called bastards."
They all laughed.
Huey, red with rage, grabbed a wooden plank and rushed toward them—but before he could strike, a woman grabbed his hand and slapped it away.
"Don't you dare!"
He was thrown in a corner. Alone. Crying. The laughter of the children echoed in his ears, all he could hear was the single word BASTARD
BACK TO PRESENT
Huey's body shuddered as memories surged. His rage ignited.
FWOOM!
The cross-symbols on his palms flared bright red, sending pulses through his arms. His heart beat once—then again. His body began to heal unnaturally. He pressed his hands into the ground, thud, and stared up at Varion, eyes glowing.
From the cracked earth, black rods erupted violently, spinning like spears toward Varion.
Varion leapt back, landing in a crouch as the rods hovered in the air like floating daggers.
"You had your chance, Varion," Huey spat, blood dripping from his mouth. "And you failed to take it."
Meanwhile – Greenland HQ
Inside SUHA headquarters in the icy expanse of Greenland, a trembling officer ran into a grand chamber.
"Sir Varion has engaged in battle—confirmation just came in!"
Minister Tenzy, seated by a glowing map table, stood slowly. "The Fourth Yggdrasil Piece… it's right there, in that mountain…"
He folded his hands. "Let's hope… for the best."
Elsewhere – The Iced Forest
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Through a forest of frozen trees, Silas Moraku weaved like a shadow, his cleaver gripped tight, his one bloodied eye locked forward.
Behind him, giving relentless chase, was Solomon, his katana drawn, slicing past branches as his wolf-like companion emerged beside him like a ghost.
The hunt had begun.
TO BE CONTINUED…