My Name Is Ryan Russ

Chapter 12: My Name is Ryan Russ

Monger felt as if an invisible iron fist had slammed into his chest, all 27 of his ribs cracking simultaneously.

"Psykana?!" Monger blinked in surprise.

But he quickly regained his composure, enduring the pain as he swung the dagger, still slick with corrupted blood, in his hand.

Bubbling blood splattered from the dagger, flying towards the man with the stern expression.

However, the man's figure suddenly vanished from his spot. The blood missed, splashing onto a nearby pipe.

The metal pipe was instantly pockmarked by the corrosive liquid, emitting wisps of white smoke.

The man reappeared behind Monger.

Monger bit his tongue, his mouth instantly filling with blood.

He spun around fiercely, spitting a mouthful of blood at the man.

The mechanical hand above the man's head turned into a palm.

In an instant, an invisible wall seemed to materialize before the man, blocking the corrosive blood.

"Where did such a powerful psykana emerge from in the Lower Hive?" Monger questioned in a low voice.

The man, however, remained silent, only for the cap on his head to point towards Monger again.

Monger scrambled to roll away, only to see a half-meter-wide pit open up on the ground beside him.

It looked as if it had been created by an invisible, heavy hammer.

Monger's eyes welled up with blood. He realized the opponent's strength was immense.

He spat out the little blood in his mouth, moistening his lips.

"Defile my blood, let the flies dance."

"Itch unbearable, feed the maggots with blood."

Monger softly chanted a few short phrases. The blood flowing on the ground began to foam, and it seemed as if tiny maggots were writhing within it.

"Wait, Monger, stop!"

Malkit's reprimand rang out as he stepped between the stern-faced man and Monger.

"We mean no harm!" Malkit said to the man before him.

Zhou Yun looked at the hooded man with the cold face, then glanced at Monger, who was tightly gripping his blood-stained dagger.

Seriously? You call this 'no harm'?

I haven't even done anything, and this guy with the dagger is attacking me like it's an emergency.

What? Does my handsome face look that scary?

Do you have a problem with my Lion-like face, full of justice?

And whose blood is corrosive?

Zhou Yun glanced at the sizzling blood on the ground. If this blood landed on someone, it would take off at least a layer of skin.

These two are definitely heretics.

"My name is Malkit, and this is my brother, Monger. We are... Scavengers. Yes, Scavengers."

Noticing the deep distrust in Zhou Yun's eyes, the tall, hooded man calling himself Malkit quickly explained:

"We came here looking for anything valuable. Monger must have mistaken you for a patrolling gang member and attacked you suddenly."

"I apologize on his behalf."

"Brother." Monger looked up, clearly displeased.

But Malkit shook his head fiercely at him.

So he mistook me for a gang member. Zhou Yun eyed the two with suspicion.

He remembered the Emperor Tarot card drawn by the winged figure in the white light earlier.

But it was better to let sleeping dogs lie. Zhou Yun waved his hand, signaling that the matter was settled.

The thing on his head, although it granted him powerful psychic abilities, also consumed a tremendous amount of energy.

If a fight broke out, who knew what kind of Nurgle magic these two hooded men might pull out?

"Sir, you seem to be a psykana?" Malkit called out to Zhou Yun, who was turning to leave.

Zhou Yun glanced at Malkit, not answering his question.

He had no desire to waste time on them, not just because of the danger.

Old Sector Eight was a large district of the former Upper Hive, vast in size and with a labyrinthine internal structure.

Moreover, there were many patrolling gang members around. Finding the PDF encampment within would not be easy.

He didn't want to waste any time.

"No, I mean no harm."

Malkit chuckled and said in a gentle tone:

"I just want to say, we're probably all unwelcome here."

"Why don't we cooperate?"

He patted Monger on the back and said, "As you saw, our brothers' blood is corrosive. I have similar abilities; we used this to corrode a hole in the ground and dig our way down."

"And you? How did you do it? Your psychic abilities seem to allow you to use Instant Movement."

Malkit paused, then pointed to the ground:

"We found a PDF outpost below, covered by a lot of rubble. No one can get in."

"But your Instant Movement ability, perhaps. Can it take us inside?"

"..." Zhou Yun stopped and looked at Malkit, "You said a PDF outpost?"

"Of course, we can cooperate—"

Before Malkit could finish, Zhou Yun shook his head and turned to leave again.

"Wait."

Malkit tried to call Zhou Yun back again:

"Rather than lies, schemes, and deception, I trust tradition, inevitability, and familial love more."

"I wasn't lying just now. I can take you to see the location of that PDF garrison."

Zhou Yun frowned slightly.

Indeed, these two were clearly heretics.

But heretics were not all the same. Cults that worshipped the Changer of Ways often favored lies and deception.

However, heretics who worshipped Grandfather would sometimes be sincere, simple, and display familial trust.

Although followers of Grandfather were still dangerous, at least the chance of them lying was far lower than followers of that Changer of Ways.

With the Instant Movement and Ring of Passage granted by the Psykana Cap on his head, even if there was danger, his chances of escape were still very high.

And...

Zhou Yun remembered the omen from that Emperor Tarot card. A cooperation that required patience and communication.

The Emperor Tarot was said to be connected to the will of The Emperor himself.

"The Emperor, you're making me cooperate with heretics. Don't blame me."

Zhou Yun muttered under his breath.

"I can help you enter the PDF garrison."

He glanced back at the two behind him and said with some wariness, "Take me there."

"I'm glad we can trust each other," Malkit said in a soft voice. "Please believe me, everything we do is for the benefit of everyone."

"I'm not interested in what you want to do, and I guess you're not interested in the weapons in the PDF warehouse either."

Zhou Yun shook his head and said to Malkit, "You take what you want, I'll take the weapons. It's that simple."

"Of course."

Malkit smiled gently, his temper so good it was chilling.

"As a symbol of mutual trust, may I know your name?"

"...Name?" Zhou Yun frowned.

"Yes, your name," Malkit smiled. "As collaborators, we should at least know each other's names."

Zhou Yun nodded and said, "Alright."

"You can call me... Ryan Russ."