Bastards Ascension: A Playground of Gods
Chapter 78: Relentless Hate

Chapter 78: Relentless Hate

’A burnt leg. A burnt arm and a broken spine... Yeah, I’m certain none of them will be running anywhere.... I’ll get back to them’ Kieran thought studying the three bodies he had incapacitated.

They were still very much alive.

But let’s just say, Kieran had done a few modifications on their bodies.

"Don’t worry I’ll come back for you " Kieran said to Frank before loosing his grip.

Frank gasped for air as Kieran released him.

The air filled his lungs... And for a moment, it felt as though he had been given a second chance at life.

But he knew it was far from it.

The tormentor had yet to go.

And was still waiting in front of him.

Frank’s eyes shook with fear as he looked at Kieran.

Unbelief written all over his face.

Never in his life would he have thought that they would be so much difference between the two of them after Kieran’s supposed death.

’How does someone die only to become stronger?! What happened in that realm?’ Frank thought staring at the back of Kieran’s battle suit.

The tension in the air was palpable.... And Kieran could definitely feel it.

It wasn’t just about him, his teammates were also in trouble.

Natasha, Stan and Henry, the three stood petrified.

Almost as though they had seen a ghost.

Sweat already dripping from their face.

To them, these elves were even fat more trouble than the beast they had faced earlier.

And Kieran could see the fear hidden behind their gazes.

’This is really going to be difficult....’ Kieran thought with a sigh as he glanced back at the monkey.

Then shifted his gaze to Stan, who was visibly shaking with fear.

"Stan, enter the cave and leave the trail, tell the people outside that we are facing a C-ranked realm with elves." Kieran said calmly, walking up the front of the group.

"A-alright" Stan stuttered as he made his way to the cave entrance, with his eyes behind his head.

One of the elves raised his bow to shot, but Kieran quickly fired a ball of flames at the figure.

’This human’ The elf hissed as he jumped away from the tree where he was standing, dodging Kieran’s blast.

"Go now." Kieran added, seeing the shivering Stan standing behind him.

Stan didn’t think as he ran ahead.

Entering the cave.

Without wasting any time all the monkeys picked up their own stones and the two Elves readied their bow.

Kieran turned to look at Nasha and Henry.

"Try your best not to get injured" Kieran ordered.

"We never planned to." Natasha said raising her blade up in front of her.

Henry took a deep breath.

A soft glow shone on his hands as two shotguns appeared.

"I think you two should try and focus on the monkeys and the hawk... I’ll focus on the elves and the bear." Kieran said.

"Sure." Natasha said facing the monkeys.

She didn’t know the depth of Kieran’s strength, but she could tell he as really strong.

"Both of you make a good pair, so I believe you’ll be able to last long enough for me to finish up the two Elves." Kieran said calmly.

"Finish up the two Elves?" Natasha asked raising a brow.

"Yes" Kieran said confidently as he stepped forward.

The elf sneered at Kieran’s words but didn’t bother replying. Instead, he yanked out three arrows in one fluid motion and let them fly.

Ting!

The bow thrummed as the arrows shot out like streaks of silver lightning.

Kieran reacted instantly. His hand flew to the hilt, pulling his blade free from the metallic holster in a smooth arc.

’The blade won’t activate unless I channel Aetheris into it,’ he reminded himself, cutting the flow of energy completely.

No time to waste. The arrows were almost on him.

With a swift motion, the blade sang through the air—slash, slash, slash!—splitting all three arrows like they were nothing more than dry twigs.

Before the fragments even hit the ground, Kieran launched himself forward, blasting off the earth and streaking straight toward the tree where the elf perched.

"Idiot," the elf mocked, leaping backward to another branch. His hands blurred through a series of intricate signs, his fingers weaving like a puppeteer tugging strings.

Kieran’s sharp eyes caught it immediately.

’Hand signs... he’s using them to control his beast,’ he thought, his mind calm even in midair. Faint strands of glowing mana trailed from the elf to the hulking figure below—the beast’s movements syncing with every flick of his master’s fingers.

Kieran didn’t even flinch. He had already predicted the attack.

The ground trembled as the beast—a massive bear—lunged upward, its jaws wide and claws flashing like steel blades.

Still suspended in midair, Kieran’s expression stayed cold, almost bored.

A flicker of golden light bloomed before Kieran, swelling into a pulsing orb of fire.

The bear roared, claws slashing toward his chest.

Kieran twisted his wrist, turning the blade so the flat side faced the flames. Then, with every ounce of force he could muster, he struck the fireball like a battering ram, launching it forward like a blazing comet.

The bear swung its claws, trying to tear the fiery mass apart—but as its paws neared the glowing blast, the heat hit. Scorching. Suffocating. Instinct made it recoil, but it was too late.

BOOM!

The fireball slammed into the beast mid-leap, detonating in a thunderous explosion that lit the forest in molten gold. Heat rolled out in waves, scorching leaves, and shaking the branches where the elf crouched.

The bear’s howl ripped through the night—a guttural scream of fury and pain—before its massive frame was hurled backward like a rag doll, crashing into the earth with a bone-crunching thud. Flames clung to its fur, hissing and spitting as they burned.

Kieran landed softly, smoke curling around his silhouette. His dark eyes glimmered in the firelight as he lifted his head, gaze locking on the elf.

"You’re next," he said—calm, almost too calm.

The elf’s smug grin faltered. His pointed ears twitched; every instinct screamed that this human wasn’t just strong—he was lethal.

"You arrogant worm!" the elf spat, hands flashing through intricate signs.

The bear roared again. Blue light flared over its body, sealing wounds as if time rewound itself. Its muscles swelled, veins glowing an eerie green, eyes blazing with unnatural rage.

"Regen and Berserk... huh?" Kieran muttered, recognizing the buffs instantly. "Clever... but not clever enough."

He flicked his wrist. In an instant, several golden fireballs ignited around him, orbiting like miniature suns.

But before he could release them, something caught his senses—fast and heavy.

A hail of stones.

They sliced through the air toward him like cannonballs.

Kieran’s eyes narrowed. With a blur of movement, his blade flashed, cutting the stones apart midair. Sparks flew as steel met rock in rapid succession.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

No time to breathe—more arrows followed, whistling toward him at terrifying speed. Two more elves had joined the fight, their bows glowing with mana.

Kieran’s jaw tightened in annoyance. Then he saw it—dozens of tiny shapes in the treetops. Monkeys. Furry little bastards pelting him with stones like deranged slingshot masters.

And worse... their numbers had multiplied.

"You think throwing me to those two will get rid of me?" one of the monkeys sneered, mocking him with a toothy grin before splitting into a perfect clone.

Kieran’s teeth clenched. This was turning into a damn circus.

Then—pain.

Sharp. Burning.

An arrow tore through the chaos and slammed into his right shoulder, the force almost knocking him back.

He staggered, a strangled grunt escaping his lips. Warm blood trickled down his arm, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his blade.

’Damn it... it hit my sword arm.’

His muscles screamed in protest as he tried to lift the blade again. The limb felt heavy. Useless.

And still, the enemies closed in.

’It’s been a while since I felt pain like this... Damn that monkey,’ Kieran thought, his crimson gaze locking on the smirking beast perched high on a branch.

The monkeys weren’t strong, but their intelligence made them dangerous. Perfect distractions. Perfect bait. Kieran could tell—they were keeping him occupied while the elves and their beast waited for an opening.

A quick glance to the side told him things weren’t much better for the others. Henry fired desperately at the multiplying monkeys, but for every one he dropped, two more seemed to take its place. Natasha fought tooth and nail to keep the hawk at bay, her movements sharp but slowing.

Kieran didn’t have time to watch. His instincts screamed. Two arrows streaked toward him, slicing through the air with deadly precision.

He gritted his teeth and swung his blade up, his injured arm screaming in protest as steel met shaft. Clang! Clang! The impact rattled through his bones.

Then—light. Flickering at the edge of his vision.

Flames.

Not his.

Coming straight for him.

"Die! Die already, you bastard!"

That voice. Familiar. Hateful.

Kieran’s head snapped toward it, and his eyes burned red with fury.

"Frank!"