Billion Dollar Player

40  Chapter 40: Raven's Unyielding Path

The dark-haired boy known as Quinn stood frozen in place, his eyes wide with shock. Before he could react, he watched in horror as his left hand was abruptly severed, blood gushing from the wound.

His Domain, once a shield of protection, shattered under the onslaught of the Nameless Sword.

The devastating blow left him paralyzed with pain, and it took him a long while to find his voice, which emerged as a roar of agony.

In the depths of his torment, Quinn's body instinctively responded, and he lashed out with a powerful kick, propelling Raven backward. Raven felt as if his bones were cracked under the powerful kick.

Raven was sent hurtling through the entrance and crashed into the hallway, coughing up blood as he fell.

His HP plummeted in an instant, barely clinging to a mere one percent. With the old man's domain shattered, Elia, previously under his control, regained her freedom.

Instead of attacking Quinn, she rushed to Raven's side, recognizing the severity of his injuries. Her connection to him was profound, for he was her puppet master.

Julien and Yui hurried over to Quinn, who was bleeding profusely. Julien placed a hand on Quinn's shoulder, attempting to heal him.

Unfortunately, the loss of a severed arm in this world was nearly impossible to heal without a miraculous healing pill, a rarity impossible to find on the Beginner Island. The best Julien could do was stem the bleeding.

"Don't concern yourself with me! Capture that wretch and bring him back!" the old man sneered, his voice filled with determination.

Julien nodded, swiftly leaving the place to pursue Raven. Meanwhile, Yui remained with Quinn, offering her assistance.

As Julien stepped out into the hallway, he noticed a trail of blood drops leading to a wall crater. To his dismay, Raven and Elia were nowhere to be found; they had vanished.

Conflicted emotions coursed through Julien. He had brought them here to ensure their safety, but the situation had taken an unforeseen turn.

Now, he had to chase after those whose lives he had previously saved. If caught, Quinn was unlikely to show them mercy.

Regrettably, there was nothing more he could do at this moment. Time had slipped away, and he had to catch them, even if it went against his desires.

...

Leaving a trail of blood in their wake, Elia supported Raven as they covered a few meters.

Raven retrieved a recovery potion, hastily drinking it as his mind remained clouded and his vision blurred. The potion began to heal his wounds, gradually restoring his HP to full and halting the bleeding.

The labyrinthine hallways of the guild's base lay before them, an unfamiliar territory where getting lost was all too easy.

"Left," Raven whispered, freeing himself from Elia's grasp. He could now walk without needing anyone's help, albeit still staggering a little.

Leading the way this time, Raven relied on his memory of the route taken when Julien had brought him to this place. He had always harbored suspicions about their motives. Yet, he hadn't anticipated this situation.

This was the guild's stronghold, where members like Ayzel stayed. If possible, Raven wished to avoid confrontation with them, as the odds were stacked against him.

As they neared an intersection, Raven heard faint footsteps echoing in the distance.

He quickly retreated, concealing himself and Elia behind a nearby wall until the guild members passed. Once the coast was clear, they swiftly crossed the intersection, increasing their pace.

"Next time, refrain from attacking recklessly. Do you understand?" Raven reminded Elia, despite knowing that her understanding was limited. Elia, though not the most intelligent, was a conscious being capable of comprehension and learning.

Elia remained calm and collected, her instincts making her follow Raven without hesitation.

"Arash, stop! Stop this instant!" A powerful voice rang out from a distance, reaching Raven's ears as he sprinted forward.

The voice belonged to Julien, who was rapidly closing the gap between them. Despite the opportunity to strike from afar, Julien held back.

"Running away is impossible. It's futile. Surrender and I'll talk to the old man myself! Just apologize to him! It will at least save your life! Don't sacrifice yourself over nothing!"

Julien's voice grew louder as he narrowed the distance between them. However, Raven paid no heed.

"I have no interest in becoming someone's puppet! I will write my fate myself! I won't give this right to anyone else, not even the gods!" Raven retorted sharply.

As he continued his escape, he arrived at the entrance of the Maze—a treacherous labyrinth notorious for ensnaring those who ventured into it. Nightmare Beasts and other monsters lurked within its winding corridors.

Without a second thought, Raven plunged into the maze, undeterred.

"You fail to grasp the danger within that maze! The paths change when one wants to leave! Stop before it's too late! I'm trying to save your life!" Julien pleaded, extending his hand. Regrettably, Raven refused to halt.

"Stop! This is my final warning!" Julien exclaimed, raising his sword, which flickered to life with a vibrant red flame.

Raven gradually slowed his pace. He came to a stop, standing in the heart of the maze's passage. He turned to face Julien, his gaze devoid of emotion.

"Try to stop me! I won't even allow God to stop me in a place that I want to leave!" His words carried a resolute determination.

Julien sighed, the distance between him and Raven now spanning twenty meters.

"Things shouldn't have reached this point. I saw a reflection of myself in you. I sought to help you. But now... I am compelled to hurt you." Julien closed his eyes, preparing himself for what lay ahead.

The flames on his sword intensified, blazing with an even fiercer brilliance. "If possible, please forgive me for what I'm about to do next. However, your actions have forced my hand!"

Raven remained silent, yet the grip on his sword's hilt tightened, his resolve unyielding.

Upon entering the realm of Hellfire, he had a purpose. Initially, his objective centered on locating his

brother. However, over time, it transformed into exacting vengeance on his brother's behalf.

He would permit no obstacles on his path to vengeance, regardless of their origin. Even if the road was strewn with thorns, he was prepared to tread upon it, barefooted.