Turning
chapter-667

"The ability to make himself invisible, huh?" pondered Yuder, his eyes narrowing. As he gazed towards Kishiar, the latter met his gaze with a solemn expression.

There were various types of stealth abilities. Most commonly, they involved remaining motionless in shadows or amidst the terrain, briefly concealing one's form. The kind that allowed movement while hidden was exceedingly rare. Even rarer were those abilities that enabled attacking while unseen, requiring extensive training to be practically useful in combat.

Among these were Nahan's illusion abilities, which blurred the observer's perception, and Gakane's skill to hide within his shadow clones.

"A capability to become completely invisible and launch unseen attacks, you say," Yuder mused. "That must be a form of stealth. A rare ability indeed."

An adept practitioner of stealth could erase not only their presence but also anything they touched, including weapons, clothing, and even their presence. This made them capable of deadly attacks with minimal effort, standing as the pinnacle of stealth abilities.

‘I hadn't thought such a talent existed at this time yet... but it appears I was mistaken.’

The manager admitted to knowing only of the ability, with no knowledge of the wielder's name or appearance. Prodded for more information, he finally recalled a crucial detail amid tears and sobs.

"Nobody knows when and where that Awakener appears, only emerging when needed... Rumors suggested he might even be among us. I, too, believe it likely, given the boss' nature..."

"Are you saying this Awakener works among you, only revealing his power in dire situations?" Yuder inquired.

"Yes, exactly," the manager affirmed, tearfully insisting his limited encounters with the Awakener were genuine, despite his broken speech.

Yuder and Kishiar exchanged glances once more.

‘There's a possibility... I can't recognize every Awakener on sight. If he blended in with the Nukijo gang without using his powers, it's understandable I wouldn't know,’ Yuder thought.

Until now, those they had encountered and defeated were all non-Awakeners.

According to Elpkins, the stealthy Awakener had appeared among the audience, particularly near the esteemed guests. This suggested he was assigned to protect important spectators and only acted when necessary.

‘Such an individual is most effective as a hidden asset rather than an overt force. It makes managing the fighting arena easier and keeps the subordinates alert. They've thought this through,’ Yuder noted.

Yet, there was still a way to deduce his identity.

Breaking his silence, Yuder spoke again. "Do you know when this Awakener first appeared? If not, when did you first see him?"

"It was after this underground second-floor arena was completed. The first time an escape attempt was made, that's when I saw him. That much is certain."

"Are the guards in the audience always the same people during these fights?"

"Indeed? Ah... Yes. We occasionally rotate the guards, but the boss prefers using proven ones in such places..." the manager hesitantly began.

"No need to share his opinions," Yuder interjected sharply, stepping firmly on the manager's hand. As the hand seemed to sink into the ground, the manager screamed and writhed in agony. Despite his struggles, the ground engulfed his hand like a swamp, drawing more of him in.

"Tell me everything you know about those guarding the VIP seats."

"I'll tell you, just please, release my hand!"

"I believe I said answers first."

"Aah!"

Only after a harsh retribution for his stupidity did the manager stammer out a coherent response.

"The guests in the VIP seats are quite particular about faces... So, the same few always get assigned... Today, it was definitely Regina, Jagg, Vic, Kess, Persaila, and...!"

There were about 100 seats in the VIP section. The manager mentioned approximately ten guards.

"Were all the ones you named working there since the second floor was first established?"

"Not all of them... Some have been there since the beginning, others were added a few months ago..."

The manager spewed out everything he could remember about the guards in the VIP section. At this point, he couldn't even think why he was being questioned so; all he desired was to escape the clutches of this devilish man.

Though the information was somewhat disorganized, Yuder wasn't particularly concerned. He had someone by his side capable of making sense of even such scattered details.

"It seems we've extracted everything of use."

"So, now that I've told you everything, can you please... release my hand?"

"Very well. I'll let you go."

Hope flickered in the manager's eyes at Yuder's cool agreement. However, the next moment brought a swift kick to his face.

"Never said I'd let you go while you were conscious."

Leaving the now unconscious manager behind, Yuder turned to Kishiar. The latter, who had been watching Yuder extract information with a smile, spoke up.

"If the stealthy one is guarding the VIP seats, then he must be among those who joined when this second floor was established. According to the manager, there are three such individuals. We'll soon find out which one is the Awakener."

"The Awakener might possess more than mere stealth abilities, perhaps even true invisibility. Be cautious if it comes to a fight."

Yuder then left the warehouse, using the information extracted from the manager to navigate effortlessly to a small armory near the waiting rooms. This place housed weapons loaned to participants without their own.

Among these, Yuder's sword lay abandoned.

‘The manager mentioned that Nukijo only cared for the jewels inlaid in the weapons, neglecting the swords themselves. Fortunately, I retrieved it before they could discard it.’

Had the Nukijo gang had any discernment, they would have realized that the most valuable part of this sword wasn't the red gem but the sheath itself. Plain and unadorned, the sheath was crafted from materials formidable enough to be used as a weapon in its own right.

Yuder, having retrieved his sword, did not initially worry about its potential loss, but once it was secured at his waist, a sense of reassurance washed over him.

‘I shall make them pay dearly for daring to take my sword,’ he vowed silently.

The weapon storage was close to the fighting stage. The distant clamor of voices suggested the audience was steadily filling the seats.

It would likely take some time before they discovered what had transpired behind the stage.

"So, what's next... the waiting room?" Kishiar, who had helped Yuder dust off his sword, asked with a sly smile.

"Yes."

"I suppose I should pick a weapon for myself as well."

Kishiar surveyed the area and picked up an old, rusty sword from the ground. It was so corroded and notched it could have been mistaken for a club, but in his hands, it might as well have been the finest weapon, unbreakable by anyone in the world.

"Will that suffice?" Yuder inquired.

"Yes, this weight is just fine. It's perfect for what I have in mind."

Swinging the sword lightly a few times, it cut through the air with a fearsome sound, quickly fading away. They then headed towards the waiting room, which remained oblivious to the events that had unfolded.

Meanwhile, Nukijo was receiving an unusual report from a subordinate.

"What? The Southern Army of the Empire has entered Charloin? What are you talking about? Their main force is in Lakota, not Charloin."