As soon as Aksai’s woodland clone used the soul-searching technique on the abductor, images and memories flooded his mind.
He focused on the recent ones first, quickly piecing together critical details about the flying ship: its design, aerial route, and resting spots.
Each detail added to his understanding of the vessel they were trapped on.
He then delved deeper into the abductor’s memories, uncovering information about the New Dawn organization and its members.
Aksai was surprised to learn that New Dawn had inside help when launching the abduction operation at Theo’s prestigious and heavily fortified school in the City of Rogalia. He saw the faces of the insiders within Theo’s school and made a mental note of their identity.
The memories also revealed more about New Dawn’s operations, including the locations of their hideouts and the identities of their secret members in Rogalia.
Armed with this newfound knowledge, Aksai decided to take a bold step.
He initiated the Soul Possession Technique, dominating the abductor’s will and soul. Though this takeover was temporary, it gave Aksai control over the abductor’s body.
Transforming himself into a wooden bead necklace around the unconscious abductor’s neck, Aksai felt like he was wearing another skin, or piloting a giant mecha from within a cockpit. The sensation of the temporary soul link was bizarre but manageable.
“So this is what it feels like to possess someone. interesting.”
Aksai raised his new hands, finding them to be the abductor’s. It was an odd feeling. He felt as if the body he was controlling was his and not his at the same time. Still, it wasn’t like he had a problem controlling the possessed vessel.
The aborigines of Acarnis were not fluent in Spirit cultivation. Their souls were indeed more powerful than regular Spirit cultivators. However, Aksai was a Spirit Refining Perfectionist. Thanks to the connection shared by the mind, body, and spirit, he was still a lot stronger than any average 1st realm Aether practitioner.
As such, Aksai managed to easily dominate the abductor’s soul. It also helped that the Blood Soul Lamp had been used on the man, making him even more defenseless against Aksai’s spiritual attack and eventual takeover.
“My original self really gave me useful trump cards. My job has become a whole lot easier thanks to these.”
Aksai clenched his fist and smiled, reassured that the soul-related technique given by the Old Ghost worked flawlessly.
Approaching the unconscious Theo, Aksai smiled softly. “I’ll save your life as thanks to you and your family for giving me a roof over my head for more than a year,” he murmured. He had decided to leave Theo to find better opportunities in Acarnis. However, he felt that he should help the boy one last time as a “thank you” for being a good host to him.
With a snap of his fingers, wood vines erupted around the possessed abductor’s body, slithering towards the unconscious Theo and coiling around him from head to toe. When they retracted, a wooden ring appeared on Theo’s right hand’s index finger, identical to what Aksai used to look like in his ring form.
This new wooden ring was practically useless to Theo, but Aksai knew the kid would cherish it, believing it was still the “cheat ability”. Aksai didn’t know what kind of achievements Theo would have in the future, but he wanted there to be a way for him to contact Theo or assume the role of the “cheat ability” in the future.
Satisfied with his preparations, Aksai turned his attention back to his surroundings, ready to navigate the next steps of their escape from the flying ship.
Aksai used the abductor’s hand to scan the exit sensor, causing the door to slide open with a faint whoosh. He walked out, the door sealing tightly behind him, and began to navigate the ship, mimicking the original owner’s mannerisms.
He nodded to the other abductors, exchanging friendly greetings and casual conversation, careful not to arouse suspicion.
Even though Aksai was focused on his goals, he considered himself to be a good guy, relatively speaking. He knew that any violent action aboard the flying ship would endanger the kids, so he waited for the perfect moment.
After several hours, the ship descended into a desolate area. The New Dawn members exited to stretch, refuel the ship with Aether crystals, and inspect its condition.
Aksai mingled with the abductors, biding his time. When they gathered around a campfire, he saw his opportunity.
Swoosh. Zoom. Erupt.
Aksai snapped his fingers, and wood vines erupted from the ground, moving with the speed and agility of serpents. At the ends of these vines were ice-element spears, their tips glistening with lethal intent.
The attack was swift and deadly. The wood vines’ unpredictable trajectories made it impossible for the abductors to react in time.
Ice spears pierced their bodies, their hearts were impaled before they could summon their Aether Wisps.
The attack was precise to a T. Plus, the surprise element added to it made it even more lethal and silent. Some continued their conversations, unaware of their fatal wounds until the first abductor released a blood-curdling shriek.
Aksai remained silent, his focus unwavering. He cast Spirit spells to handle the abductors who were not by the campfire. His movements were precise, each spell and strike hitting its mark. The toughest opponents tried to resist, but Aksai’s martial arts and Bronze Body Realm strength overwhelmed them.
Screams filled the air as the abductors realized their doom. One by one, they fell, their blood soaking into the ground. Aksai’s wood vines continued their deadly dance, the ice spears dripping with fresh blood.
“Why…?” one abductor gasped, clutching his chest before collapsing.
Another abductor, his eyes wide with fear, tried to summon his Aether Wisp, but a vine wrapped around his throat, choking off his life force.
“Traitor!” another screamed, only to be silenced by a spear through his heart at the exact time.
The forest echoed with their dying cries, a symphony of pain and murderous intent. Aksai moved like a specter among them, his actions methodical and relentless.
When the last abductor fell, silence reigned. The ground around the ship was a gruesome tableau of blood, organs, and bodies.
Aksai stood alone, his hands stained red, the wood vines slowly retracting. The ice spears dripped with the blood of his enemies.
He looked around, ensuring no one else was left standing. Then, with a satisfied nod, he turned his attention back to the ship. He went inside the ship and opened the door of the compartment that had the abducted kids in it. He then unlocked the AetherTech shackles that had sealed their Aether Wisps.
“Hm. This should be enough. I’m sure these kids would be able to call for help when they wake up. I should get going.”
Aksai murmured before exiting the ship once again.