the era of calamities-Chapter 90: Damn it, a count

Conrad had no doubt: he had been spotted.

Had he unconsciously given off a murderous intent?

Had something betrayed him?

Had he made too much noise?

He believed none of these explanations, and although he would have liked to understand how, he had no time to ask those questions: the calamity stood before him and his pride would not allow him to retreat.

Without switching off his invisibility, he grabbed the walkie-talkie and sent one last message before turning it off:

"I come , 24 minutes."

This would be understood as "I’m in the middle of a fight," and "24" signified his team number (although he was alone, candidates had been given numbers so they could be identified, and since each had a hiding place so Sirius would know where they were).

As soon as the message was sent, Conrad didn’t wait for a reply and drew his knife.

("He’s spotted me, certainly, but he can’t see me.")

Walking slowly, making no sound, he tried to get behind the calamity.

Nevertheless, even if Kai couldn’t see him, he felt the concentration of ether within Conrad, and he fixed his gaze on every step Conrad took.

"Damn it " cursed Conrad, realizing that his invisibility would be useless; he deactivated it and lunged at the calamity.

He aimed for the head, more precisely into one of the hollows he could see between two segments.

Conrad put all his strength and speed into that attack; determined to kill it in a single blow.

However, what happened shocked him.

The calamity seemed to see his attack as if it were in slow motion; Conrad understood this when he saw its eyes move toward the trajectory of his knife.

("It sees me but doesn’t intend to dodge; it underestimates me.")

Conrad didn’t hesitate and struck.

His knife hit true, reaching the calamity exactly where he aimed and yet, only his knife shattered into pieces, as if it had struck iron.

Then he heard nothing but a "tsk" from the calamity, before one of its legs slapped him and sent him flying to the ground.

"What the...?"

Conrad’s head spun.

How had a simple slap put him in this state?

Nevertheless, he had barely time to get up before the calamity was on him; its pincers clamped around his neck, and he instinctively knew it could kill him without any effort.

("This bitch must not be a minor, let alone a baron or a count; only that could explain this difference in brute strength.") thought Conrad.

---

Count Kai was skeptical.

("So these humans: creatures who think only of mating, with no modesty; what ugliness I have never seen anything so hideous.")

No sooner had he spotted the man than he heard him say that he was "come"

Curiosity piqued, he made sure not to kill him instantly so he could understand.

"Are you capable of mating by yourselves?"

Conrad paid no attention to the calamity’s words; his lips instead curling into:

"Fuck you."

Driving force into his legs, he passed them around the calamity’s neck, squeezing.

Unfortunately, it had no effect on Kai.

"You cannot understand what I say; in that case, die."

Kai tightened his pincers. Conrad screamed in pain as they sank into his flesh, threatening to sever his throat.

Conrad grabbed the pincers with his hands, trying to pry them off to no avail, and he realized.

("I’m going to die like this.")

And just at the moment he was about to give up, the hiss of a chain pierced the air, followed by a boom reaching his ears.

At the same instant, he felt someone pull him back as his eyes were momentarily blinded by the flash of the explosion, and when he opened them he saw someone he had not expected would come to his rescue.

"I might have preferred to die rather than be saved by him."

---

When Sirius heard that someone had engaged a calamity alone, he called Ronel and learned she was far from the area. Sirius hesitated for a moment: should he send several candidates to help? Then he realized he was the closest and decided to go himself.

And when he saw Conrad being mauled, he instinctively understood this calamity was not a baron.

Unable to let a candidate die, he used Stereos Chain to wrap one of Kai’s legs and Nephele Burst to make it implode, creating a smoke cloud and the perfect diversion to pull Conrad away.

Now he stood face to face with a count.

("There’s a first time for everything.")

---

Kai looked at the other human who had just arrived and his eyes filled with curiosity.

For although he knew little about humans, he had already heard of a group who wore black coats, and what he had heard about them was how dangerous they were.

("Those so-called rumors must be baseless; they have nothing special. His ether amount is barely a little higher than the other human’s, and I was told that for humans, the more ether they have, the stronger they are, so he must be as weak as the other human. How disappointing.")

"Human, where did you get that coat?" he asked Sirius.

Sirius saw no reason not to chat.

"I got it from my grandmother."

"Do you know any humans who wear a coat similar to yours?"

"No, but I know someone who ought to know."

"Where can I find them? I was told they are strong. Guide me to these black coats, and I will prolong your miserable life by a few moments."

Sirius adopted a sly, flattering tone.

"Yes, my lord, but can you also spare my friend?"

"No, this man, I will kill him here and now."

"That is... we need two people to find the other person; alone I cannot. And my lord will not be able to find his men in black coats?"

Kai was not the sharpest, and he saw nothing suspicious.

"Show me the way."

"Yes, my lord," replied Sirius, before approaching Conrad and offering him a hand.

Conrad wanted to refuse but thought of the calamity and resigned himself.

"What are you planning?" murmured Conrad as the three walked.

"Buying time," Sirius told him.

"Why?" Conrad was skeptical.

"Just play along for now, and when you get the chance, run; I’ll handle him."

"This guy is at least a count, you can’t do it. Let’s try instead to warn the others: if we team up, we’ll have a chance."

"Your idea is good, but we would be unable to coordinate by magic and the risk of getting in each other’s way and one of us dying is pretty high."

"Don’t tell me you hope there won’t be any deaths: this is a fucking war, of course deaths are inevitable."

Conrad couldn’t hold back his frustration and raised his voice involuntarily.

Kai, who had been listening to their conversation from the start, did nothing to stop their plotting.

"Show me where the black coats are, and afterward I will kill you for your offence."

"Yes, my lord." Sirius bowed before pointing toward a high cliff bordering the ocean.

"We will have to climb this cliff; after that we should be there."

Kai didn’t wait and, using his powerful legs, leapt several meters, then braced against the walls and did the same several times until he was above the cliff.

And when he arrived, he was surprised there was no one.

He turned to ask his humans, but all he saw were the two running.

"Band of insects, my patience has limits; die since you live only for that."

Kai jumped over the cliff, charging at Sirius.

Sirius, having anticipated it, had deployed Nephele Sense and felt the attack within a five-meter radius; he dodged before imploding the mist around him.

<< Nephele Burst >>

Unsurprisingly, it only served to push Kai back.

Sword in hand, Sirius sighed:

"This is going to be a hassle."