Ex rank talent Awakening: 100\% Dodge rate-Chapter 156: CHALTER : HIDDEN FAMILY

"I'll give you just one last chance. Join us—or die."

"Cut the chatter, old man, and come at me if you're so eager to fight."

"Arrogant to the very end!" the old man snapped. "Fire Bullet!"

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Flames compressed into the shape of a bullet surged from his hands and shot toward Greg—only to pass harmlessly through him.

"Hmm?" The old man muttered, confused, but not yet alarmed. He assumed it was a defensive spell. Something Greg wouldn't be able to use too many times.

He began to cast more spells in rapid succession.

"Fire Lance! Fire Storm!"

Spell after spell—lances, waves, and storms of flame—rained down on Greg. But none of them had any effect. They either dissipated before reaching him or passed through his body as though he were a ghost.

"What… what is going on?" the old man stammered, finally realizing something was very wrong.

"Are you done, old man?" Greg asked coolly. "Now it's my turn. I have my own conditions for you—either you surrender and tell me everything I want to know, or you head to the underworld and wait for your grandkids and kids to join you… whenever they finally get the chance."

His tone was deathly cold, his eyes void of sympathy.

"Ridiculous! How dare you look down on me!" the old man roared, pouring everything into his most dangerous spells—spells that still had no effect.

"You made your choice," Greg said, his killing intent flooding the dome.

With a burst of speed, he closed the distance between them. The old man barely had time to react.

"Shield!" he shouted.

A barrier formed, but it was too late.

Greg's sword crashed through the shield like it was glass, cleaving through it without losing momentum.

"Urgh!" the old man groaned. A deep gash tore across his chest, blood pouring out rapidly. Death loomed close.

Greg walked toward the fallen man and placed his hand over the old man's head.

"Memory Search," he said, chanting in the ancient Dragon Tongue.

A sharp pain exploded in the old man's head as memories were forcefully extracted. He gritted his teeth, face contorted in agony. But with sheer will, he fought through the pain. His trembling hand reached into his pocket, pulling out a second orb.

With the last of his strength, he crushed it.

A spatial ripple tore through the dome, and before Greg could stop it, the old man vanished—teleported away.

"Tsk. I was just about to get to the interesting part," Greg muttered in frustration.

Still, what he had managed to extract was more than enough.

---

The memories gave Greg valuable insight.

The old man was part of a hidden family—a powerful group that had existed for centuries, ruling from the shadows, unknown to the world.

And they weren't the only ones.

Several such hidden families existed, scattered around the globe. They competed in secret, controlling aspects of the world behind the scenes.

The one the old man belonged to was the Mage Family, composed entirely of magic-users. They could cast spells with precision and power—but only with the help of a special ring worn on the index finger.

What shocked Greg the most was the existence of mythical beasts—beings thought to be legends. These creatures did exist, hidden and concealed from the world.

The Mage Family had captured one of the most powerful of them all—a dragon. It was locked away, heavily guarded, and visited frequently by the family head, who sought its knowledge.

Although the dragon was intelligent and ancient, it had long since surrendered to its fate. After enduring endless torture and punishment, it no longer resisted.

Greg had barely begun to probe deeper into the family's secrets before the old man's escape cut the process short.

---

The old man reappeared before the Mage Family's head. Blood still poured from his chest, staining his robes.

Despite the pain, he immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head in respect.

"And the task? Did you accomplish it?" the family head asked, his tone unreadable.

"Forgive me, my Lord. I… was unable to complete the mission."

"And why is that?"

"None of my attacks affected him. He was… unnaturally strong. He shattered my shield spell like it was nothing."

The family head was silent for a long moment. Then, with a nod, he lifted his hand.

"Very well. Rest for now. Another opportunity will come."

A golden light surrounded the old man as the family head cast a healing spell. The gash on his chest sealed rapidly, vanishing as though it had never been there.

The old man collapsed forward in relief, his breathing steadying.

Another opportunity would indeed come.