Angel Monarch
Chapter 443 443: Artificially Equalized

Henry rushed through the forest following the bullet Michael shot. The slender pink rapier glowed in the darkness, illuminating his surroundings.

The weapon felt strange. Henry couldn't explain it, but the rapier felt alive and restless. There was a lot he didn't understand; he just hoped the weapon's consciousness wouldn't cause issues in the upcoming fight.

His steps stayed firm, but deep down, he felt terrified. The best instructors taught him how to fight, but he never participated in combat.

The thought made him excited and fearful. However, his confidence and pride shut off any second guess attempts.

He had decided on Evolution years ago, and now with Vicky as his girlfriend, he didn't want to stay behind in power. He wanted to be her equal, so they could help each other throughout their lives together.

A smile grew on his lips as he imagined standing beside Vicky as a powerful Evolved. The picture calmed his nerves and steeled his will.

There was no point in fearing the inevitable future. Instead, he ran faster towards the fight at the end of the bullet's path.

After about ten minutes of running, Henry realized that even Michael's revolver wasn't a simple gun. No bullet could travel so far without losing momentum or hitting a tree.

This meant either the bullet could curve or, more likely, his prey wouldn't just wait around to be killed.

"So, I need to track it before the fight. Well, Michael said he'll just equalize the fight."

Henry continued following the bullet's trajectory, but much slower. He paid attention to his surroundings too, so after another five minutes, he found the first clue… Blood drops and tracks leading away from the initial trajectory!

His face turned somber as he tracked his prey. The blood must've come from the bullet wound. However, judging by the tracks, the beast didn't suffer any actual injuries, only superficial ones.

There was something strange about its steps along the muddy ground. His prey seemed to have some footwear on its humanoid feet, which meant he wasn't hunting a beast at all, but something akin to humans!

As this thought crossed Henry's mind, he heard steps move through the heavy foliage dozens of meters away. The forest was especially silent, so every slight movement's noise echoed around.

The Prince raised his weapon and crouched down in a large bush. The rapier must've noticed his attempt at stealth. The pink glow of its blade transferred to Henry's eyes, so he could still see through the dark, but it didn't illuminate the surroundings.

The footsteps moved towards him as if his prey knew where Henry hid. Sticks broke under boots, and the sound of heavy breathing echoed.

"I know you're here… I can smell you!… What did you do to me?! What did you shoot me with!… I feel so weak… I'll kill you either way, but if you tell me, I'll make your death quick!"

Henry caught a glimpse of a tall humanoid creature moving between bushes and trees. It had feminine body proportions, but she also looked muscular wearing nothing but a tank top, trousers and military boots.

She also carried something similar to an overly large metal wrench. Her pupilless eyes pierced through the darkness, while she made angry growling noises.

The woman looked like a mix between human and animal. She carried the face of a curvy, muscular woman with an above-average face, yet her mannerisms revealed the beast's actual nature.

He waited for the moment to strike. The beast came closer to his bush, still not noticing Henry's presence.

The rapier vibrated in his palm, raring to take action. He smiled at the weapon's bloodthirstiness, but continued waiting. Only when she stood a few steps away did Henry move.

The bush trembled as he jumped out, aiming the rapier straight at the beast's heart. However, just when his thrust would've connected, all his muscles suddenly froze.

His eyes widened in terror as the beastly woman turned around, grinning. She reached out and ran a nail along Henry's cheek, drawing a bloody line.

"There you are! Oh, much younger than I expected, but at least your blood tastes nice!" She said while licking Henry's blood off her finger.

The Prince desperately tried to move, yet his entire body felt frozen in time. His feet weren't even touching the ground, but gravity didn't seem eager to take hold of him.

"And what's this cute weapon in your hand? Did you plan on killing me with this toothpick?"

Her mocking seemed to offend the rapier's consciousness. Henry felt the blade vibrate, which meant that whatever ability his prey used didn't affect the pink weapon.

The vibrations grew stronger until the Prince felt them throughout his body. He began regaining control, which caused the woman's grin to turn into a frown.

"How are you doing that?! That should've frozen you in time forever!… Ah, this damn weakening! I feel so pathetic!… Whatever, then we'll do this the old-fashioned way!"

She raised the giant wrench and brought it down on Henry with such strength that the nearby trees broke into small fragments. It also sent out a shockwave that went on for a few hundred meters.

By all logic, a regular human like Henry should've been dead, however…

As the dust settled, Henry stood at the bottom of the crater, unharmed. The pink rapier continued to vibrate. While holding the weapon, the Prince felt a strange sensation; he felt Untouchable!

"That's impossible! How did you survive such a devastating blow!? What the fuck is happening! Die already!"

The wrench glowed in the beast's hand, and she plunged it into the ground. It had enough power to send out a shockwave, but instead it made a giant hole below Henry's feet.

He looked down in confusion, wondering why he wasn't falling to his death. The rapier's vibration changed with the disappearance of the ground, and somehow it made him stand on literal air.

His dark blue eyes moved and met the beast woman's. They both looked shocked, neither understanding what was happening.

Henry took one step, but nothing changed; he continued floating. The air didn't feel solid under his feet, yet he didn't fall to his death.

The Prince took one gingerly step after another, waiting for gravity to take hold and plunge him down. However, nothing like that happened, and soon he reached the hole's edge unharmed.

When he wasn't above the hole, the rapier's vibrations went back to normal… Whatever that meant at this point…

The beastly woman became even angrier. Her pupilless eyes stared at Henry, full of contempt, as if he had caused all this on his own.

She raised the wrench and attempted to hit the Prince. There wasn't as much strength in the blow, so she could continue pounding him until he died!

The rapier's vibration stopped upon feeling Henry's intent. He raised the sword and deflected the wrench, then stepped closer and punched the woman, sending her reeling.

"You little…"

Before she could've said anything else, Henry stabbed forward. He nearly reached the woman's ample chest, but his movements froze again.

While cursing under her breath, the beast stepped forward and tried hitting Henry with the enormous wrench. However, the rapier began vibrating again, at a frequency different from usual.

The frozen state disappeared, but he couldn't evade the wrench… Or at least he shouldn't have…

The wrench moved through the air horizontally, aimed at his chest. The vibrations intensified just before it could've made contact.

Henry closed his eyes, prepared for the pain, but it never arrived. The wrench didn't even touch his skin… It simply passed through his body, like he was made of air!

The beastly woman felt stunned. She simply couldn't understand how her blow missed again, but Henry didn't let the opportunity slide this time.

The rapier's vibrations stopped as he stepped forward and stabbed the weapon into the woman's eye. He then pulled it out and with a quick, clean slash, he cut off her head.

Just like that, with no fanfare or arduous battle, his prey fell to the ground, dead.

Blood dripped from the pink rapier onto the upturned ground below. Henry took deep breaths, calming his fast-beating heart.

"Oh, you took your time. If the battle had lasted ten more seconds, you wouldn't have made it!"

Veronica walked out of nowhere, staring at the dead woman with an emotionless gaze. She reached out her hand while glancing between the Prince and her lent rapier.

"I suggest you give the sword to me before you lose your form. Also, I would hurry up with the Evolution if I were in your shoes or you might end up as a formless puddle!"

Henry stared at the mysterious woman in confusion, then he collapsed forward, as if his legs had disappeared. Confused, he glanced back and, to his utter horror, his legs indeed melted!

"What the…"

Before he could've said anything else, Veronica tossed the beastly woman's head to him.

"Evolve or die in the next few seconds. I'll explain everything once you wake up!"

Lots of thoughts ran through Henry's head, but seeing that the melting began spreading from his legs onto his torso, he didn't want to chance dying right at the finish line!

Nearby, Veronica grabbed the rapier, then took out the round pink object. A small click echoed, and the weapon vanished from her hand.

The melting nearly reached Henry's chest when he grasped the beastly woman's head, and the long-awaited question popped up in his head.

'Do you wish to Evolve?'