Chapter 174: The Heartless that Died

Jake looked at the red blood that covered his hands. The past days haven't been peaceful. He was committed to living a life free from dangers, yet here he was killing for the sake of the one he loved.

There was no time to reminisce. A few more seconds and the door before him would open as the enemies would rush in.

Jake's heart was beating non-stop. He was reaching his limit. If he did a few more, he would collapse and fall unconscious. But this was the path he chose. The moment he attacked those men that were tailing Kristine, he knew he had no choice but to finish the task.

"Now!" Jake thought as he jumped forward. His head moved through the door and a small part of his head emerged on the other side.

His eyes could see through the other side. He saw the men trying to push through the door but was surprised at the resistance that they met. Jake didn't allow his remaining body to slip through matter but pushed against the wall. He has been training himself physically and because he was an experiment, his senses and strength were a bit stronger than normal men.

As such even these groups of strong men couldn't push through the door.

Jake threw the knife on his hand on the wall with expert precision and the knife ricocheted through the gap of the open door.

As it moved beyond the door, Jake used his right hand to pass through the door and caught the bouncing knife on the other side.

What followed next was a massacre.

Jake was stabbing his enemies by the vital parts and after killing a few, he moved forward and slipped through the door and continued his massacre.

In a matter of seconds, everyone was dead.

Jake stood there naked, like the clothes we wore remained on the other side of the door.

More men arrived on the other end of the hallway and saw Jake standing.

"It's him! Kill him!"

Jake ran forward and moved at incredible speed.

His steps were fast and it threw him forward standing a few inches before his enemies could even shoot him.

Jake swung his blades as fast as he could and decapitated the man who shouted.

Time was beginning to move slower and slower on Jake's perception. He knew he couldn't risk another second of that state so he was risking it all on these last seconds to kill them all.

The change in perception allowed him to see things clearly. And so with that, positioned himself properly to avoid being aimed at by the guns and started to hack the others swiftly.

As time slowed down, his strength and accuracy multiplied exponentially.

Less than three seconds passed and all the men who just arrived were killed. Jake wasn't stabbing and slashing as strong as he could, but would simply move and stab the opponents on vital parts.

"What exactly… am I?" Jake couldn't help but mumble as he stabbed the last man in the heart.

"The… Naked Assassin." The man answered before dying.

Jake then felt a strange pain occurring around him. He fell down and began to tremble.

"What's going… on?"

Suddenly, Kristine appeared on the other end. She had several wounds on her arm as she limped towards Jake.

"K?!" Jake forgot the pain for a second as the sight of Kristine caused him to worry.

"Jake! What are you doing?! I told you not to use that again! You're even thinner now!" Kristine cried in agony.

She stumbled over to where Jake laid.

Jake tried to get up but felt the sharp pain causing his muscles to contract.

"AHHH!" Jake screamed.

Kristine panicked and held on to Jake as she embraced him tightly.

Jake was struggling in the embrace of Kristine who could only pin Jake down on his lap.

"What's going on? This is all my fault! I'm sorry Jake! I'm sorry Jake!' Kristine cried.

Jake heard Kristine's cries and hated himself. He tried to fight back the pain and bear it. Soon, his wild movements disappeared as if he was calm.

"Your arm… You got hurt." Jake calmly said hiding all the pain he felt inside.

"What happened? I told you to stay in that room!" Jake reprimanded with a smile.

"And if I did, you'd be dead! There was another guy around this building. He was going to kill you back then. I… I…"

Jake understood at Kristine's stuttering words.

"You didn't K. I killed him. It was me. I'm the only killer around here." Jake smiled.

But Kristine's eyes were tearing up. She was holding back all the tears.

"I killed him, Jake. I had no choice. I killed him…" Kristine sobbed.

"There there… It's alright. Here. Take my hand. It will be alright." Jake smiled as he tried to lift up his hand.

Kristine froze.

"Jake… Jake… what happened to you?! What's wrong?" Kristine cried.

"What? Nothing's wrong. It's going to be alright." Jake comforted.

"Jake. I'm already holding your hand." Kristine wept loudly.

It was only then that Jake noticed his hand holding on to Kristine.

"Jake! Can you feel anything? Jake? Jake?" Kristine kept shouting.

But at this moment, Jake had a strange sensation. He felt that he was getting sleepier and sleepier.

Jake composed himself,

"K. You have to get out of here. I killed them so fast that they wouldn't have had the opportunity to contact whoever their bosses are. I already destroyed most of the CCTV cameras in this building. They shouldn't be able to find you."

"What are you saying?!" Kristine cried all the more.

"K. I don't have much time. You have to escape. In the pocket of my shirt is some cash. I managed to steal a bundle. That should be enough to get you out of here. Go back to Pangea. You've got fans all around the world. Chances are people who will try to get you back to Pangea. You should have more fans like me… who'd be willing to die for you? With your connections with Seeker Carlean, I'm sure General Harker would protect you."

"I told you that your magic wouldn't be enough! Why do you keep giving yourself out like that for me?!" Kristine cried.

"I've lived a very selfish life. At least, in my last moments… I won't be selfish." Jake laughed.

"I really was a fool, huh? I thought because I had this ability I'd be able to save you. But the more I learned of the people who are trying to get you… the more I wanted to save you… Who knew? Maybe at the end of it all… you'd fall for me. I know you think it's fake because your famous and very beautiful. But I really love you, you know?" Jake laughed as he spoke.

"I know your feelings are real! It has to be! You gave everything to me! Jake. So please, don't die. I'll give everything to you too! Please! Please! Live!"

Jake smiled as his vision turned dark.

"I told you that I'd rather live with a broken heart than have a pieced up heart with a dead body. I… take it all back. Those words you said… It… it... gave me life." Jake smiled and then he fainted.

Kristine glanced at the unconscious body of Jake.

Kristine checked Jake's pulse.

"It's finally over." Kristine sighed silently.

She continued to act weak and tried to carry Jake's body as she limped.

"Do I really have to do this?" Kristine frowned as he spoke in a different frequency.

"Of course you have too. Seeker's tale of that time he was unconscious in his future. He still found a way to remember it all. We can't risk it. His Unlocking is very diverse. It's as if it's a mutation. I know for certain that he isn't a Selective Unlocked. His path is just different. His body grew stronger before his brain did."

"And you said this was something that is related to what Seeker just found out in China?"

"Yes. Anyways hurry over here, so I can tell you all about it." Arthur coldly ordered.

Kristine continued to struggle and limp as he carried Jake's unconscious body.

"He went a little crazy back there. Several of the cameras that should be connected to those confirmed Aragarians caught how he killed those men back there."

"It's perfect. Don't worry. He will be dubbed as the Naked Assassin."

"Wouldn't that draw more attention?"

"It won't. He Who Threads in the Council of the Wicked did the same thing and even revealed his face. Don't say his name." Arthur reminded.

Kristine was able to stop herself from saying Lowengren's name.

"You're being too paranoid. Like this conversation could ever get recorded."

"You're not supposed to say that. Hurry and meet them." Arthur disconnected.

Kristine continued her act of limping and carrying Jake out of the building and finally reached the safe route which would be protected from most technologies.

New Great Britain Admiral Ramsden stood and glanced at the woman.

"Is this him?"

"Yes. This is the experiment." Kristine spoke with a voice that was vastly different from hers.

"Can you do something about that Russian accent? I haven't heard accents in twenty years. It's annoying."

"I like it. Shut up and pay me."

"You have to wait. The EMP will be unloaded. I hope that this act of mine will show my sincerity in joining that Organization." Ramsden gave a cold laugh.

"The Lost Primordial will be pleased to hear that. Have you arranged our exit?"

"In a few seconds, Australia's EMP will explode."

"Australian EMP?"

"I managed to acquire one during my attack back then."

"So it was this. You were trying to get those weapons. Impressive Admiral. This will create more strain between New Great Britain and Australia."

"The WGP will be forced to act soon. I only ask you to save me a Rule for my loyalty."

"A Rule? Quite greedy of you. But I'm sure we can arrange that."

BOOM!

A powerful explosion could be heard from afar.

Suddenly, the lights around the city and all electrical devices went haywire and some were even destroyed because of the Enigmatic Magnetic Pulse that was sent out by the bomb.

"Right on queue. Shall we? Comrade?" Ramsden imitated a Russian accent.

"Too soon…" The woman followed and no longer walked limply but carried herself in an elegant and seductive manner.

"Stanis. You know your mission. Complete it."

"Yes, Admiral." The soldier saluted as he went his way.

Ramsden and Kristine entered an armored car that disappeared in the darkness of the city.

The soldier that remained was sprinting.

Suddenly, he extended his palm and placed it on his ear.

"Link me to Pioneer Flantter! I have information about the Organization that attacked China!" He spoke trying to contain his excitement. His eyes soon turned arrogant the further and further he walked.

Meanwhile, the armored car did not travel far but went to a secret portion of the street that had a secret underground entrance.

Kristine and Ramsden finally walked out.

"That was the Planted?" Kristine asked.

"Yes. Young Master Arthur really played a good one on him. A series of events that made him naturally rise up to become one of my trusted men. In truth, Young Master just placed him on the right place, at the right time. Three months later, from a normal officer, he is now one of the most feared men in my army. At least… that's what he thinks."

"I think Lowengren influenced Arthur too much." Kristine sighed.

"Brilliant acting, I must say."

"Not really. With that technique that Arthur asked Seeker to teach me, it's really easy. I can push my emotions to truly feel things on certain occasions. I feel really bad about doing this. Jake's genuinely in love with me!"

"Ugh. Then I hope you'd be comfortable with the next plans he wants us to do."

"Us?"

"Enough of that for now." Arthur walked in and began to resume mumbling random words, terms and numbers.

"Arthy. You're exerting yourself too much again! Stop that! You know you could faint in doing that!"

Arthur stopped mumbling.

"Our plans have changed. It's a good thing I've prepared for any drastic changes in Seeker's personality. But it seemed there were more surprises. So our plans will shift slightly once more."

"So you were right? Seeker developed a split personality?"

"It's more than that. The specific explanation is that the soul of his future self has now managed to take partial control over Seeker. My estimates were only up to Seeker having some form of schizophrenia but knowing that there are two brains in his head is even better."

"Where are we headed this time?"

"Our invasions will follow to the South. Ramsden, prepare the extraction of the Twelve Disciples in Australia. We will be sending those twelve back to their homeland once the battle of the Kraken is over. We have to establish a foothold on the nations that currently occupy Israel. Specifically, to the lands beyond the Jordan from Israel."

"I understand."

"Also prepare to launch an attack on the European Nations. This is just in case Lowengren's actions are too chaotic. Someone blackmailed him and Alean. Seeker gave them the green light. They are currently with a Fleet Admiral of an Atlantis. If we manage to make her our ally, then it would be very advantageous in our plans regarding the WGP. We have changed our plans from exterminating the WGP to simply destroying them."

"Erm… What's the difference?"

"Destroying them is simply killing about 70-80% of them. Exterminating is a total commitment to killing all 100%."

Kristine couldn't help but sigh.

"Kristine. We have to pick up the speed of our experiments. I will have to focus on this one. My next plans will push you to the limits of what you can do."

"Even if I'm an Unlocked?"

"Yes. I'll explain later. For now, the basics are, that there is the existence of an Aragarian betrayer who must be at least at the level of a Principal or greater. Going by his title as the Lost Primordial, and how the Aragarians named their ranks, it's most likely that the Primordial stands higher than the Principal."

"A betrayer? How sure are we that he is an ally?"

"He created the Unlocking. And we are all fruits of this science he planted on Earth a hundred years ago. Nogard Meng is among those who were given a mission by this Aragarian. We will now refer to him as the Progenitor."

Ramsden and Kristine were silent as the surprise robbed them of their own thought.

"But this Progenitor knew how powerful the Aragarian's are. And he was more cautious than we are. In fact, in terms of cautious preparations, we would be like a child before him. All powerful Families on all prominent nations will become subject to our consideration. Among the might Families of this world, could be a hidden ally. Progenitor arranged that these allies will not, and should not communicate with each other. I'll send you more details about the traits that they might have. I'll also give you the instructions on your next assignments on what to do with Jake."

"You're leaving?" Kristine was surprised.

"Yes."

Kristine sighed and gave Arthur a light smile.

"Where are you headed off to? It's her isn't it?" Kristine smiled.

"Yes. Ramsden. Revive your old connections to the Underworld. I need to go to Egypt."