Fletcher uttered those three words in a soft voice, but it was loud enough for the old man to hear.
The old man’s gaze naturally fell upon Fletcher as he heard this. After a moment of contemplation, he raised a hand to stroke his long beard and said with satisfaction, “Good, very good!” He burst into a hearty laugh.
His laughter rang out and once again echoed throughout the Atkinson family estate. It drew some curious onlookers who scrambled up the walls to check out what happened.
The next moment, the old man leaped from the roof which towered sixteen or seventeen meters high. He moved with a blend of agility and elegance, descending like a celestial being!
He didn’t fall straight to the ground from above; instead, he skillfully stepped on the falling tiles in mid-air to secure a safe descent. But his incredible speed left the crowd no way to catch his movements. The crowd was left dumbfounded, and many exclaimed in disbelief, “Shit! Is he in a harness? Or can he actually fly?”
“He’s flying! There’s truly someone who can fly!”
It’s a rare opportunity to witness someone flying! A lot of onlookers eagerly whipped out their phones to capture the spectacle. However, by the time they managed to turn on their cameras, the old man had already touched down. He was so fast that the phones couldn’t catch a single frame.
He landed over ten meters away from Fletcher. The once smooth ground now bore deep impressions from his feet, with cracks spreading out like a spiderweb. Just imagine how immense the force he used is!
He locked eyes with Fletcher, sizing him up intently. After a thorough appraisal, he asked, “So, you are the Firefist, one of the Zodiac Generals?”
Being called Firefist boosted Fletcher’s self-assurance considerably, and he instantly felt a rise in his standing. It had been ages since anyone had referred to him by that name. It’s a title he cherished as a mark of honor, a symbol of his everlasting glory. Subconsciously, Fletcher straightened his back. He locked his intense gaze on the elder and replied, “Yes, I am Firefist, one of the Zodiac Generals!”
As he spoke, he felt a profound surge of confidence and energy within himself!
“And you are the one who wants to challenge me?” Fletcher put his hand behind his back. He appeared confident as if everything that followed was under his control. Despite their age difference, Fletcher seemed far more composed than the old man.
The old man shook his head. He had a smug smirk on his face. “No, I’m not here to challenge you. I’m here to kill you.”
The crowd erupted into chaos. Exclaims and murmurs rose and fell. Many people marveled in hearts, “Who is this guy? How can he dare to threaten Fletcher like that?”
The relaxed look Fletcher had moments ago vanished from his face. He couldn’t help giving the old man a long searching look again. The old man clearly had come prepared; otherwise, he wouldn’t have opted for such a high-profile appearance on the roof.
The old man quietly appeared without alarming anyone and stirred up such a ruckus. It seemed he was indeed a tough guy to handle!
Soon, two groups sprang out from the side wings of the estate-six in each group, totaling twelve. With astonishing speed, they surrounded the old man and all whipped out a long knife.
Clad in golden armor and wielding white gleaming blades, the twelve men exuded an impressive aura that set them apart. The old man scanned them, and a slight twitch of surprise crossed his lips.
“Twelve Golden Armored Guardians!” he muttered.
Fletcher narrowed his eyes into slits and grinned slightly. “You’ve got a keen eye! Seem like you know a thing or two about the Twelve Golden Armored Guardians!”
Twelve Golden Armored Guardians were the most formidable force under Fletcher on Battlefield. They were renowned for their bravery, and they were skillful in striking a balance between offense and defense. Most importantly, their teamwork was exceptionally seamless. Of course, the twelve men standing here were not the famed Golden Armored Guardians of Battlefield, but a unit Fletcher had trained himself upon returning to the Atkinson family.
The old man stared at Fletcher and said, “I do get a keen eye, and I can see the pathetic end of your useless followers if you don’t tell them to fuck off now! I have no desire to take innocent lives; I’m here today solely to end your life.”
Hearing this, the twelve men immediately aligned their blades horizontally, swirling around the old man like a fierce cyclone. They formed a tight circle, with the old man at the center. The old man was like the apex of a cone, utterly minor in contrast to them. Thus, the twelve men who previously had a weaker presence now erupted into an aura of dominance!
The old man remained calm and composed as he said, “What does this mean? Are you truly so eager to meet your death?”
“You wanna challenge me? Let’s see if you have what it takes!” Fletcher announced, enunciating each word.
The old man gave a slight nod. “Very well, then I’ll grant you your wish and kill these worthless fools.”
The old man moved, so fast that his figure lingered as a blur, yet in an instant, he was right back where he stood. While others might have missed the action, Fletcher clearly caught his every move. The old man had just attempted to strike one of the twelve, but they were now a united front, making it impossible for him to break through!
The circle formed by the twelve grew tighter, and their blades inched closer and closer to the old man.
The old man was not frightened by the looming danger. He fixed his piercing gaze on the twelve! Finally, he started to fight back!
He appeared before one of the twelve men at lightning speed. The guardian was caught completely off guard, and before he could react, the old man had gripped his throat with deadly precision. There was a sickening crack of bone breaking. Then the guardian’s head drooped limply, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. Moments later, he slumped lifelessly to the ground.
The old man showed no mercy. It was clear he had come here with the intent to murder, rather than to challenge.
Taking the first guardian’s life, the old man stared at Fletcher, eyes blazing with a taunting smug. He’s provoking Fletcher!
With one of the Twelve Golden Armored Guardians down, their defense was set to crumble! Though boiling with rage, Fletcher could only watch as the other guardians fell one by one.
In quick succession, the second and third guardians collapsed, and within mere minutes, all of the twelve lay on the ground. Their throats were all pierced by a single finger, and they died before they even hit the floor.
As he finished off the last person, his provocative gaze still remained fixed on Fletcher.
A chill swept over the crowd after they witnessed all the twelve being killed, and many broke into a cold sweat. This was murder, right before them, before a host of influential figures! Did the old man even care about the law?!
But who cared about the law now? Who wouldn’t tremble at such a horrifying spectacle of violence?
Panic erupted as people scrambled to escape! Fear consumed them- they saw the dead bodies! Not everyone could bear to witness such brutality. They might have been driven by the curiosity to see who dared to challenge the head of the Atkinson family. Yet they wouldn’t risk their lives to do it. Who wouldn’t be afraid to see so many dead bodies, after all?
Everyone feared becoming the next casualty. They might not be the target of the old man, but what if they’re hurt by mistake? As a result, at least half of the onlookers fled in terror! The vendors, upon hearing about the deaths, pushed their carts aside and raced away for their lives!
Curiosity faded into insignificance beside the overwhelming dread of death!