Charles quickly spat out the dust that had entered his mouth and threw Skyler off his body, a vein throbbing on his forehead. He was a 5-star Light, so he could have easily evaded the fire chains if only he had not been knocked off his feet!
"Are you crazy?!"
That was his question, but the question from the person with blue eyes staring at him was different.
"Are you okay?"
Charles was left speechless, and Skyler finally registered his words.
"Yeah, I am crazy! That’s why I saved you! Do you have a problem with that?"
He sensed another powerful attack and quickly moved in a different direction.
This time, he kicked Charles to send him away. He could have pushed him as well like any sane person would, but he just wanted to kick him since he was crazy.
Charles’s dark eyes trembled as he clenched his stomach with a groan. His cold voice finally cracked.
"You! Even my stepmother has never hit me so badly! Are you helping me or killing me?"
Skyler sprang to his feet and sneered.
"Of course. I am saving you."
His eyes finally locked onto the two figures who had walked out from the dust: a middle aged woman clad in red, her face covered in makeup, and a thin man with yellowed teeth who looked as if he hadn’t eaten in months.
"Who are you two? Why did you..."
Skyler pointed at Charles, who had also gotten to his feet and was glaring at him.
"...attack him? Did he offend you? Instead of fighting, how about you three talk?"
Dread laughed at his words. This kid was so naive. It would be so much fun to watch him break when Doc conducted inhumane experiments on him.
He shook his middle finger with a grin, revealing more of his yellowed teeth.
"Boy, we did not just attack him; we attacked you as well! Why? The answer is simple: because we are bad people here to kidnap you and the youth with you. So, how about this: you two come with us willingly, and we will make the trip painless."
Charles’s eyes widened. He quickly took in the entire appearance of the two individuals again and instinctively spoke.
"Villains!"
The woman in red, Scar, tilted her head in his direction with a raised brow.
"Quite Sharp. Aren’t we?"
Charles gritted his teeth. He couldn’t get captured by the villains! Not when he had already suffered enough in his life! His gaze traveled toward the college building. Alright, he just needed to create enough noise to attract the teachers nearby for help. As if reading his thoughts, Scar chuckled.
"No use, boy. This man next to me can manipulate the space element and has a skill that covers an area completely, so no one can hear what is happening inside. Therefore, no matter how much you scream, no one will come to help."
Skyler was the one who answered her.
"Then we will run to leave this area!"
He glanced toward Charles, and both of them ran off in different directions, only to discover that there was a barrier stopping them. Scar appeared behind Skyler.
"Oh, did I forget to mention... the skill used not just stops noises from going out of the covered area but also locks it completely?"
Skyler turned back. He noticed Charles battling the man with yellowed teeth, only to be sent flying away. He could tell that Charles wasn’t weak from the way he used Evol, yet he still lost so easily. Skyler was at the initial stage of 4-star, and he couldn’t sense Scar and Dread’s auras, so he knew the two were far stronger than him.
He raised his hand, not really in the mood to get beaten up black and blue.
"Actually, how about we negotiate—"
His words were interrupted when Scar attacked him with the familiar chains of fire.
He dodged the chains, but the flames caught his arm, scorching his sleeve and skin, causing him to hiss and curse.
"Shit! I really don’t like pain!"
Sweat rolled down his forehead as he quickly distanced himself from the woman.
A short distance away, Charles wiped the crimson blood clinging to his chin and lips and jumped to his feet before shouting.
"Let’s attack together!"
Skyler understood his words and swiftly channeled his Evol into his leg to enhance his speed and get closer to him. In no time, the two stood side by side.
Scar and Dread watched them with amusement dancing in their crinkled eyes. They stood at a short distance, waiting for the two boys’ next moves. They could easily capture them, knowing that Skyler was just at the initial stage of 4-star and Charles at 5-star, but they liked the sight of their prey struggling before they kidnapped them.
Skyler suddenly raised his voice with a reluctant expression on his grim face.
"I don’t want to reveal this. I really don’t..."
His words piqued everyone’s curiosity, and his face looked as if he truly didn’t want to share what he was about to.
Still, he finished his sentence.
"I don’t know why you want to kidnap me. But I’m actually the grandson of the current Queen. If you two harm me, know that the consequences won’t be good for you."
His voice was firm with no fluctuations. Charles’s lips fell open in silent shock.
Scar and Dread were astonished as well, but then the two burst into mock laughter, thinking he was bluffing to intimidate them. Why on earth would the Queen’s grandson be living in a small city instead of the Royal Palace if this kid was telling the truth?
Hearing them laugh, Charles took a step away from Skyler. Sure, this boy wasn’t sane in the head, and it wasn’t his fault. After all, who would believe his big claim? If he were truly the Queen’s grandson, many powerful guards would be protecting him instead of letting him roam around on his own.