Chapter 22: Massacre! He Is the Grim Reaper!
Lee Guoan, the Deputy Director, was about to object, but Alex raised a hand to stop him. "Deputy Director, leave it to me."
Alex walked up to the scarred prisoner, Borg, who was still kneeling but glaring defiantly. "You said you wanted to fight me fair and square?"
"Yeah! What, scared?" Borg sneered, spitting on the ground. "If you don't dare, you aren't a man!"
In Borg's mind, provoking a hot-headed kid was his best chance. Even if he died, dragging a prodigy down with him or at least humiliating him would be a win.
Alex nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth curling into a chilling smile. "Good. Good. Good!"
Black mist swirled in his hand, condensing into the Death Scythe. The temperature around them seemed to drop.
"You think you deserve to be called a man? You dare talk about 'fair and square'?" Alex's voice turned icy. "Then why did you ambush and rape those students on rainy nights? Was that fair?"
Before Borg could retort, two streaks of dark light flashed.
Shhhk! Shhhk!
Both of Borg's arms flew into the air, severed cleanly at the shoulders. Blood sprayed like fountains.
"Arghhh!! You... you have no honor!" Borg screamed, losing his balance and face-planting into the dirt, writhing in agony.
Alex stepped forward and stomped on Borg's face, grinding his boot into the dirt. "Scum like you talking about honor? Go to hell."
With a casual wave of his arm, the scythe descended. Borg's head rolled away.
Alex hated nothing more than those who preyed on the innocent, especially young girls in the prime of their lives.
[Tier 1, Rank 9 Criminal killed. Slaughter Points +120.]
In the distance, Cyrus Xander watched the scene, feeling a bit speechless.
Didn't he say he wanted to overcome a psychological barrier to killing?
This doesn't look like overcoming a barrier. This looks like the Grim Reaper harvesting souls, cold and emotionless.
Cyrus's gaze then fell on the Death Scythe, which was emitting dark energy. He fell into deep thought.
Could that be... a Companion Spirit Weapon?
Alex stretched his neck, cracking his knuckles. Just as he prepared to continue his slaughter, a black luxury sedan sped toward the execution ground, screeching to a halt nearby.
The door opened. A young woman with an air of arrogance and a white-haired old man stepped out.
The old man, Elder Vance (no relation to the main Vance family, just a common surname in the region, perhaps distant cousins), bowed respectfully to Cyrus. "City Lord Cyrus."
"Mhm. Is the Vance branch family here to watch the execution too?" Cyrus nodded slightly.
"Yes. My Young Miss awakened her ability this year. The Master wanted her to come here to kill a few prisoners to overcome her fear before hunting beasts," Elder Vance explained.
Cyrus nodded, his gaze landing on the young woman behind the elder. "This must be Miss Lyra?"
Lyra Vance smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Greetings, City Lord."
"Good, good. However, Miss Lyra, you're a step late. All the prisoners here have been handed over to Alex to dispose of."
A flash of displeasure crossed Lyra's eyes. She looked at Alex, who was preparing to strike again, and a surge of jealousy rose in her heart.
Alex again...
If it weren't for him and Elara, she would have been the center of attention at Riverdale High! She was the second most beautiful girl, after all!
But because of their drama, her spotlight had been stolen.
She was the daughter of a prominent branch of the Vance family, and she had awakened a B-Rank Ability! Why should she be overshadowed by a commoner orphan?
"Alex, why are you here?" Lyra walked forward, her voice sharp.
Alex, about to swing his scythe, heard the voice and turned around. Seeing a somewhat familiar face, he searched his memory. Isn't this Lyra from school?
He knew nothing about her and had no good impression of her.
"What else would I be doing here? Killing people, obviously."
Alex responded indifferently. He turned back and swung his scythe. Another head rolled.
[Tier 1, Rank 5 Criminal killed. Slaughter Points +40.]
Lyra clenched her fists, anger bubbling up.
At school, her popularity was stolen by Alex and Elara. Now, Alex was stealing her execution targets... stealing her moment to shine!
It was infuriating!
"Alex, killing them while they're bound? What kind of skill is that?" Lyra scoffed loudly. "You, a dignified S-Rank Awakener, don't have the guts to fight them fair and square? Or are you just a coward?"
Lyra crossed her arms, a smug look on her face.
She was certain Alex wouldn't dare. He had only awakened three days ago. How could he fight these Tier 1 Rank 5 and 6 criminals without restraints?
Let him steal my prisoners! Let him steal my spotlight!
In a moment, he'll have to admit he's scared.
Thinking of this, the corners of her mouth curled up.
Alex paused, frowning. Is this girl brain-damaged?
I didn't provoke her. Why is she acting crazy?
Originally, Alex just wanted to finish quickly and leave. But now, he changed his mind.
Facing this kind of unreasonable person, the best counterattack was to show her that what she thought was impossible was child's play to him!
Alex lifted the Death Scythe. "Scared? What is there to be scared of?"
Lyra froze, surprise flashing in her eyes.
He actually agreed?
So easily provoked?
What a fool. Let these criminals teach him a lesson!
"Wow! Brother Alex is so brave~ Then show me a fair duel, okay~" Lyra said sarcastically, her tone dripping with fake sweetness.
Alex sneered. He pointed his scythe at the remaining prisoners.
He pointed at a man with chaotic hair sitting in the back—a Tier 1, Rank 9 criminal named Klaus, who had been silent the whole time.
"Except for him," Alex said, pointing at Klaus. Then he swept his scythe toward the others. "The rest of you... come at me together!"
Fighting one is boring. I want to fight ten!
Being arrogant without strength is stupidity.
Being arrogant with strength? That's true dominance!
Klaus, the Rank 9 criminal, merely glanced up at Alex, then closed his eyes again, uninterested.
But the other prisoners—about twelve of them, ranging from Rank 4 to Rank 6—began to rub their fists, eager to vent their anger.
In their eyes, Alex was an arrogant idiot who didn't know the height of the sky. Provoked by a woman into fighting a mob? He was asking for death!
The Bureau agents guarding the prisoners looked anxious, turning to Deputy Director Lee for orders.
Lee looked at Cyrus, troubled. "City Lord, this...?"
Cyrus was silent for a moment before speaking. "Do as Alex says."
It was obvious that the little girl was trying to embarrass Alex.
But Cyrus believed in him. If that scythe really was a Spirit Weapon, these prisoners stood no chance.
Lee nodded and shouted the order: "Unbind them!"
Lyra was thrilled. She had only wanted to provoke him, but she didn't expect such a huge reaction!
This is great. Alex is going to get pummeled into the ground. Just thinking about it makes me happy!
She quickly pulled out her phone, ready to record the scene. She wanted the whole school to see how pathetic Alex looked!
"Kid, getting to beat you up before we die? We earned a profit! Boys, get him!"
With a roar, the group of twelve prisoners charged at Alex simultaneously.
Alex stood his ground, his figure straight as a pine, his eyes devoid of fear.
Just as the prisoners reached him, the Death Scythe in his hand swung violently!
Shhhk! Shhhk! Shhhk!
A series of dull sounds echoed. The three prisoners in the front were sliced in half at the waist instantly!
Slaughter Points flooded into Alex's system like a tide.
Seeing this, the remaining prisoners panicked, terror filling their faces.
What kind of weapon is that? It cuts through flesh and bone like tofu!
"Damn it! Go all out!"
One prisoner gritted his teeth and shouted, summoning a blade of wind in his hand.
But in the next second, a giant, pitch-black Shadow Claw appeared in the sky. Carrying majestic pressure, it slammed the man into the ground, turning him into meat paste instantly...
In a matter of seconds, the group of twelve was reduced to less than five.
"He! He's a demon! He's the Grim Reaper!! Run!"
The remaining prisoners screamed in horror, turning to flee in all directions.
We thought Alex was a clown! It turns out he's death incarnate!!
The corner of Alex's mouth hooked into a cruel smile. His black trench coat (which he had worn for the occasion) fluttered in the wind. His voice sounded like a judgment from hell:
"Run? Do you think you can escape?"