After leaving the city, Erika and Cole ran in a random direction as fast as they could. They could follow the plan later, but first, they had to lose the people watching them from afar.
After they left, someone wearing a black cloak near the city entrance pulled out a Communication Talisman.
"We have confirmed the bounty's location. The targets just ran out of Ariodon City and are heading south. They are at the 9th Stage of the Core Formation Realm, but their combat ability is average. I haven't spotted any kind of protector, and they don't seem to be part of any Sect."
Soon, the cloaked man heard a voice from the other side of the Communication Talisman.
"Understood. Thank you for the information. If I can capture them, I'll split the rewards with you as per our agreement."
The cloaked man trembled in excitement as even though he would only get a portion of the rewards, that was still enough to save countless years' worth of effort.
"I'll keep you updated in case there's a change," He said.
"Do as you like."
***
Cole and Erika ran for about half an hour before they stopped feeling invasive gazes on them.
"Haaaa... Did we lose them?"
Erika asked her husband just to confirm.
Cole nodded, "I believe so, but I fear this is only the beginning."
Erika tilted her head, not quite understanding what Cole was saying. Cole noticed this, and his expression turned serious.
"Didn't you feel like there were too many eyes focused on weaklings like us?"
Erika nodded but became puzzled why he brought this up. She looked at her husband, questioning him with her eyes.
Cole continued, "How much of a bounty is on our heads for all those people to look for us?"
Erika's expression changed, and she immediately came to the same conclusion as Cole. Just based on how many people were watching them in some random city, it could be said that their bounty wasn't low.
If that's the case, their heads might attract stronger Unorthodox Faction members!
"Damn! What the hell did we do for these people to chase us so relentlessly?!" Erika cursed.
Cole smiled bitterly as he had the same thoughts as his wife.
Suddenly, the atmosphere around them changed. Their senses picked up dozens of auras converging on them from all sides. They could even feel someone much more powerful than them in the distance, just watching.
Erika's heart dropped into the depths of her stomach at this sight. She couldn't believe they couldn't even reach the next city before being surrounded.
Cole walked up to his wife and gently held her hand.
Erika looked at her husband's face and noticed no traces of panic, despair, or rage. He just had a look of melancholic resignation. He had the face of a man about to be deployed into a war he knew he'd lose. Still, in the depths of his eyes was an unyielding fighting spirit that refused to be burnt out, even in the direst of situations.
His expression said more than a thousand words ever could, and it made Erika's heart twist in pain. She knew that this might be the last time she'll get to see her husband, but instead of crying or complaining, she just tightly held Cole's hands and stared into his eyes.
The two stared into each other's eyes, conveying all they needed to say to each other. However, they couldn't stay like this forever, as enemies were still closing in on them.
After a few moments, Cole opened his mouth.
"It seems there's nowhere to run." He said, his tone calm and gentle like a morning breeze.
Erika's expression mellowed, and a sad smile appeared on her face.
"It seems that way."
Erika forced back the tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks and steadied herself.
"Fight to the bitter end?"
Cole asked as he took out his sword.
"Fight to the bitter end," Erika nodded, doing the same thing.
They stood there in silence, waiting for the enemies to approach, and after about ten seconds, they were within sight.
"I don't know what will happen to us after this, but I doubt I'll get another chance to say this. I love you, Erika. The life we lived was the best life a man like me could've asked for. We endured pain and suffering together, raised a wonderful daughter, and spent our final years doing what we loved. If I could do it all over again, I would do so without hesitation."
Cole's eyes became red as he said this, but his expression never changed. He couldn't afford to show weakness here. Not in front of his wife.
Erika, however, couldn't prevent the tears from falling down her face just like raindrops fell from the sky. She bit her lip while her hands tightened around her sword, but she pushed back her emotions one last time as she knew that this was the only chance she'd get to say what she wanted to her husband.
"I-I love you too, Cole, more than I ever thought possible. Marrying and having a child with you was the best thing to ever happen in my life... A-Although the time we spent on this earth was short, I believe we experienced more happiness than anyone, and isn't that what life is all about? I have no regrets in this life and am more than willing to spend my final moments with you, my love."
A single tear ran down Cole's eye, but now wasn't the time to become emotional as the enemies were now within range.
However, before he attacked, he still had one last thing to say to his wife.
"May we meet again in our next life, Erika Zaria."
".....M-May we meet again in our next life, Cole Zaria."
*BOOOOOOM!!*
Erika and Cole shot out toward their enemies with overwhelming power. Now wasn't the time to hold back, as this may very well be their last fight, and they refused to die a dog's death!
If they could bring down just one more of these bastards with them, they could give a little more meaning to their deaths.
*CLANG!!**CLANG!!**CLANG!!**CLANG!!**CLANG!!*
*BOOM!**BOOM!**BOOM!**BOOM!**BOOM!**BOOM!*
They clashed with the Unorthodox Faction members with nothing held back.
"AAHHH! FUCK! WE'VE BEEN TRICKED!"
'Heaven-Smiting Sword!'
"WHY ARE THEY SO STRONG?!"
'Triple Draws.'
"Dammit! That bastard, Vahn, is using us as fodder!!"
'Light Canon!'
"Vahn!! May you experience eternal suffering!! AHHH-!!"
'Flame Swords.'
Screams rang out as Cole and Erika tore through their enemies. The earth shook, and craters and cracks formed in the ground all around them. Blood and guts pooled under them, staining the earth red.
Cole and Erika learned early on that their opponents were trying to capture rather than kill them. They didn't question why this was and merely took advantage of it.
This handicap, coupled with the fact that not only did their opponents have lower cultivation, but those from the Unorthodox Faction were comparatively weaker than those who weren't allowed, allowed Cole and Erika to kill them as fast as possible.
Cole and Erika didn't care about their lives; they knew those were already forfeited and just fought with all their power to take down as many people as possible.
However, unknowingly, this resolve stimulated their potential as they felt their Qi control, battle sense, and strength had all risen considerably.
They repeatedly used all their strongest techniques, swung with all their might, and traded blows on more than one occasion just to kill the enemy in the shortest possible time.
Because of that, it only took them a little over 10 minutes to clear out all the people from the Unorthodox Faction.
They stood in the middle of all the dead bodies, bloodied and bruised, panting like there was no tomorrow, but they stood their ground.
They knew they weren't out of the woods yet as in the air hovered the real boss of this battle. Someone they had no confidence in beating.
*Swoosh!*
Before they could even prepare, the man floating in the air appeared before them.
"I must commend you. I didn't think that nobodies like you could kill so many people in such a short amount of time, but I guess the old saying is true, 'Even a cornered rat would attack back.'."
Cole and Erika looked up and saw a tall red-headed man hovering above them with a slight smile.
"Why... are you doing this?"
Erika asked, but the man just shrugged.
"I don't know. I'm just following orders."
Erika lowered her head and faintly glanced at Cole while doing so. The latter understood what she was trying to convey.
Just as he was about to burn his Blood Essence, the guy in the sky frowned.
*Vwoom!*
An overbearing pressure descended upon Erika and Cole, breaking numerous bones and forcing them to the ground.
"Now, now, don't do that. I have no intention of fighting you to the death. I'll lose my head if I harm you too much or even kill you! So, just stay there obediently."
With a flash, the man appeared behind them and karate-chopped them in the back of the neck, knocking them out.
He then picked up their limp bodies like a sack of potatoes with a massive grin on his face.
'Hehehe~ Now, that juicy reward is all mine!'
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