Chapter 21: Wild hunt III

The next of Aaron’s people soon followed, having caught up to their comrade’s trail. The criminal fired the heavy shotgun once again, and the other delinquent soon fell down as well.

Aaron gritted his teeth. That was a complication. Still, it wasn’t enough to make him sweat. It had simply ticked him off.

“It’s not over yet, you son of a bitch!!” he roared.

He signaled three more Phantoms to follow through, jumping up towards the railing above to take the Ripper down, approaching savagely from left and right.

It did not seem too bothered by them, however. In fact, it hadn’t even paid them any mind this time around. The thing crouched down for a moment, pressing the soles of its boots on the metal railing, and with a peculiar rustle of its knees, propelled itself four meters up with a single jump, landing on the fickle roof right above.

The black silhouette promptly fell down on its knees, shaking all over as it grasped at its lower joints, but forced itself to get back up again soon after, as more hostiles were approaching. The black-clad figure started running again, but much too late, as three of the delinquents had just reached the rooftop, blocking the way off. One had landed in front of it, the other two closing in from behind and cornering it.

Without looking back, it brought out eight minuscule throwing knives, four in each hand, and quickly hurled six of them behind toward the two Phantoms the moment they landed. Unable to properly react in time, they were hit by the projectiles in the blink of an eye.

The third one ran forward, aiming her fist at the criminal, but before the blow could connect, the figure swerved its body downwards and stabbed the remaining throwing knives right over her waist and chest, following it up with a jab which nearly tore the girl’s face in half.

The other two, weakened, soon tried to close the distance as well, but were quickly shot down by a small pair of handguns that’d filled its hands in the meantime.

More of them were coming. The dark, grinning figure ran toward one of the edges and charged up another jump, heading for the nearest building possible to resume the chase.

The remaining Phantoms hissed and cursed as they caught sight of him, further quickening their pace to try and keep up.

A moment later, they had moved past four buildings already, as the prowling creature finally stopped atop a fifth one, intending to catch its breath again. Too slow to move, however, they were quickly encircled by dozens of Phantoms from all sides of the roof before they could resume flight, hissing and taunting as they gleefully approached.

It really was about time. The other monsters salivated. They seemed more than ready to start a wild rampage in that roof.

However, nothing of the sort happened. They had suddenly chosen to halt instead, not moving a single inch closer to the criminal. It tightened its grip over the shotgun inside the long gig bag. Something was coming.

As if answering a prompt that could not be heard, the blood-thirsty delinquents backed down, bowed, and moved to the side, leaving a large empty space amid one of the edges of the broad roof.

A blinding silhouette, white as the moon, promptly emerged from the darkness beneath, landing on the concrete surface.

As her hands lifted from the floor and her legs slowly straightened up, she rose to face the devilish mask, glowing crimson eyes locking onto its chalky grin like the barrels of a gun. At last, her lips curled up and opened widely, revealing her feral tusks.

“Now, now… It was about time you finally showed up.” she spoke. “I’ve been waiting for a real long time now.”

Her soft voice spread through the air and reached everywhere, displaying a peculiarly lyrical, almost mesmerizing cadence. A stark contrast with her impossibly contorted face, slightly obscured by the hood over her head.

“So you’re the one who’s been playing with my old lackeys, trampling on my operations for the past few weeks, aren’t you? I was expecting someone a tad more… How should I put it? Imposing, maybe.”

The figure did not answer, it remained in place, quietly sizing the girl up. Regardless, she went on.

“I mean, I’ve dealt with some real garbage in this city before, but what the hell is this!? Skinny little douche with a big guitar on his back, whatever will we do!?”

Without warning, however, she would occasionally drop that rhythmic intonation and bring it back again for no seeming reason, bizarrely alternating between it and high-pitched, innocent-sounding little cracks, which further accentuated her deranged appearance.

You are reading story Crimson Phantom at novel35.com

“Might I suggest we speak out grievances first?” a monotone, artificial-sounding voice came out from beyond the ominous mask.

She’d heard something like it once before. It was a pretty heavy voice filter, though the figure’s words were still perceptible.

“Oh? He talks!” she laughed from under the long hood.

“There is a certain matter I would like to discuss with you lot, your leader in particular, that being the reason behind the previous ambushes.”

“Really, now? So you want to tell me all of this trouble has come about simply out of some communication hardship!? How quaint!!”

Before another answer was given, she’d broken into an hysterical fit of laughter, uncharacteristic even for her.

“Well, well, good old White Lady of the White Phantoms isn’t exactly on the yellow pages, is she?” they followed. “Do not blame me for your own lack of… let’s say, transparency, yes?”

“...Yellow pages? Is that some kind of joke?” she turned toward her subordinates. “ Anybody know what the hell are these ‘yellow pages’?”

No response. Only a few of them even dared shake their heads sideways.

“No one? Pity… Seems we’re dealing with an even bigger nutcase than I thought.”

“Shall we speak, then? Or is that too heavy of a demand to make?”

The girl sighed, shaking her own head sideways.

“Listen up, buddy: as of now you are a threat to my territory and I don’t have all night to deal with you. Plus, you’ve engaged us aggressively a few times before, and that’s enough for me to want your head. Any last words?”

As she readied her claws, impatient, she had the light impression of hearing a fat snort from up ahead, but ultimately paid it no mind.

“Please, save me the drama. All I need from you, princess, is a tiny bit of information regarding a fraction of your operations in this city, and the moment you grant it to me, I’ll be gone and out of your hair. Once again, I ask you, would you perhaps be willing to talk matters out?” proposed the black figure.

Much like time itself had stopped the moment its voice came out, it spoke with tranquility and patience it could not afford, as though it were a natural habit, to the point of letting the one busy hand out of its bag in order to ease movement.

“Rest assured, less than five percent of your gangsters I’ve come across have been harmed… beyond repair, so far, as a token of my own mercy and generosity towards you. So tell me, are you willing to hear out my request, in exchange for the time and peace of mind you’d be liable to lose in the future, should you refuse? Trust me, you’ll find it to be a rather attractive bargain.”

“... Is that so? Very well, then.” answered the pale girl. “Your last words have been said.”

“…Excuse me…?” it asked, flatly.

The White Lady raised one of her colorless hands, throwing forward a the palm.

“White Phantoms!?” she guilelessly sang. “Exterminate him!!”

You can find story with these keywords: Crimson Phantom, Read Crimson Phantom, Crimson Phantom novel, Crimson Phantom book, Crimson Phantom story, Crimson Phantom full, Crimson Phantom Latest Chapter