Global Survival: I Have Endless Skeletons

Chapter 321: A Walking Disaster

Thoren merely stared at her for a second before slowly shaking his head.

"Let us talk about the Slave Trade Guild instead," he said calmly while changing the topic completely.

"I believe my grudge against them will never truly end until one side dies."

He relaxed his back against the wooden chair while maintaining his calm expression.

Solenne lightly creased her brow, though she chose not to dwell on how effortlessly Thoren had shifted the conversation.

"Have you encountered the Slave Trade Guild on the second floor already?" she asked cautiously, not expecting a positive response.

Although the Slave Trade Guild controlled several towns within the Scorched Outskirts, she honestly doubted Thoren would run into them so quickly.

Besides, who in their right mind would actively search for trouble immediately after arriving on the second floor?

"Indeed, I encountered them," Thoren replied casually. "Right now, they are most likely searching for me."

His tone remained calm and indifferent.

It was almost as if he were not discussing one of the most terrifying organizations within the entire Abyss. Yet, despite his relaxed attitude, Solenne’s expression immediately changed.

"What?" Her eyes widened with disbelief.

She had considered such a possibility impossible, yet now the young man before her was calmly confirming it.

Taking a slow breath, she asked with a faint tremor in her voice, "Did you provoke them first, or did they come after you?"

She desperately needed the answer.

Depending on his response, the situation surrounding her guild could become far more dangerous than expected.

The second floor was completely different from the first floor.

On the first floor, awakeners only needed to hunt mindless beasts and grow stronger steadily.

However, the second floor forced every awakener to complete deadly trials while surviving constant threats from beasts, Beastmen, and other humans.

Everything here was far more brutal and complicated.

At this moment, Solenne absolutely could not afford to become entangled within the dangerous waters surrounding the Slave Trade Guild.

Completely unaware of her inner thoughts, Thoren responded calmly.

"Of course, they came after me first," he answered with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I simply gave them exactly what they wanted."

"That matter already belongs to the past."

He straightened his back slightly before continuing.

"Tell me more about their operations within the Inner Region."

This was what truly mattered to him.

He had already crushed their forces within the Scorched Outskirts. Naturally, he understood the Slave Trade Guild would never quietly accept such humiliation.

Eventually, they would come searching for him.

However, before that day arrived, he fully intended to hunt them down one after another. They believed they could pursue him just like all their previous victims.

Unfortunately for them, they were completely mistaken.

He was not prey.

He, Thoren Starfall, was a predator.

Not merely an ordinary predator, but an apex predator standing at the top of the food chain.

Anyone foolish enough to underestimate him or overestimate themselves would eventually learn a painful lesson.

To every enemy from his past, present, and future, they would no longer see Thoren Starfall.

Instead, they would witness the Grim Reaper.

The harvester of souls.

Without realizing it, the aura surrounding his awakened soul slowly leaked into the room.

The atmosphere inside the chamber immediately grew heavy.

A suffocating pressure spread silently in every direction like an invisible ocean crushing everything beneath it.

Seated across from him, Solenne suddenly found herself gasping lightly for air while struggling to maintain her composure.

Her fingers tightened beneath the table instinctively.

"What in the world is this?" she cried inwardly.

"How can someone possess such a terrifying aura?"

Cold sweat slowly formed across her forehead and every instinct within her body screamed danger.

It felt as though some ancient monster had suddenly awakened within the small wooden room.

"W-Would you please retract your aura?" she finally asked through clenched teeth while desperately trying to preserve her dignity as a guild master.

Hmm?

Thoren blinked lightly before raising his head toward Solenne.

Only then did he notice the pale expression on her face along with the sweat hanging from her forehead.

"Oh."

A look of realization flashed through his eyes.

"I lost control of my soul aura for a moment." He thought.

Almost immediately, he restrained the leaking pressure completely and the terrifying atmosphere vanished instantly.

Gasp!

Solenne inhaled deeply before exhaling heavily through her nose. The sudden disappearance of the pressure made her entire body feel noticeably lighter.

Still, traces of fear lingered within her heart.

"What exactly was that?" she asked despite herself.

"That?" Thoren responded casually. "It is nothing important."

He brushed the matter aside effortlessly before continuing, "Now then, tell me about the Slave Trade Guild. After all, we are allies now, are we not?"

Solenne’s eyes twitched slightly.

Inwardly, she silently gritted her teeth.

Originally, she had hoped to recruit someone like Thoren into the Crimson Arc Guild. With his terrifying talent and strength, her guild would undoubtedly rise faster than every rival guild.

However, after learning more about the Grim Reaper, she completely changed her mind. Keeping such a walking disaster close to her guild might bring far more destruction than benefit.

Everywhere he went, chaos followed closely behind him.

At this point, she had already begun considering methods to distance her guild from him without making her intentions obvious.

Unfortunately for her, her previous harmless statement regarding an alliance had now returned to trap her completely.

Staring directly into Thoren’s deep blue eyes, Solenne forced herself to take a slow breath before revealing a strained but polite smile.

"Of course we are allies," she answered carefully. "As long as something remains within our capabilities, the Crimson Arc Guild will naturally assist you."

Even while smiling, her heart pounded violently within her chest.

Fear and anxiety slowly gnawed at her mind like invisible parasites.

For the first time in years, she genuinely felt as though she had boarded a dangerous pirate ship without knowing where it would sail.

"Good."

Thoren nodded lightly while a faint smile appeared across his face.

"I knew the Crimson Arc Guild would prove far more reliable than those other guilds."

His compliment sounded sincere enough, yet for some reason, Solenne felt absolutely no comfort hearing it.

"Now then," Thoren continued while straightening slightly within his chair, "tell me everything regarding the Slave Trade Guild."

"I want to know their hideouts, territories, influence, and important figures operating within the Inner Region."

His voice remained calm, but beneath that calmness rested undeniable coldness. It was the voice of someone preparing for war.