The Alchemist #4, page 26
“Die, Sokolov! Die!” Pyotr growled.
What the hell...
Two heartbeats later, I realized that I was stronger than him. Despite the demon’s formidable strength, I managed to gather my composure. I shoved him off, and he regained his footing, charging at me with renewed fury. He wrested the knife from my grasp, leaving me defenseless for a moment.
In an instant, I already tried my best at dodging all of his strikes, focusing and attempting to summon the balls once again.
“I’m so sick of this!” I howled.
The knife plunged into my stomach as Pyotr loomed over me, his red eyes burning with a venomous rage. Summoning every ounce of strength, I created a seal with my hand, channeling the blood from my wound into a powerful blast. The force of the alchemical attack pierced the demon through and through, sending him crashing backward.
Pyotr’s knife clattered to the ground, landing a few feet away. but I wasn’t going to pick up someone else’s weapon. I stood there for a few seconds, dazed, feeling my body go numb. Numerous cuts and blood alchemy had taken away too much of my strength.
Pyotr was badly cut, and a hole appeared in his body. Smoke hid him every now and then, buffeted by the wind. I heard gunshots. They were fired at me too, but the advanced protection that I had crafted for myself still worked.
As the demon struggled to rise, preparing for another attack, I launched the balls. They struck with precision: one collided with his temple, the other with his knee. The sickening crunch of bone accompanied Pyotr’s tumble to the ground.
Yet, the bastard still lived.
“Who the hell are you?” I growled, summoning the balls back to me.
“The one who will kill you, Sokolov,” he snarled through gritted teeth.
He struggled to rise, albeit slowly.
“I don’t think so.”
This time I threw one ball. It opened, releasing a thread. It was long enough to wrap around his body and press his arms to it. Pyotr twitched but only made it worse. I tightened the thread’s grip, ensuring that any further movement would cleave him in two.
“Edgar!” someone shouted. “We’re here to help!”
Indeed, reinforcements had arrived — they swiftly took control of the situation. But that was overshadowed by what I saw next. Pyotr continued to convulse under my alchemical hold, his face distorting grotesquely. Within moments, his features shifted to reveal a completely different visage — a young man glaring at me with a maddened grin, fully aware that he was cornered.
***
The Emperor met Rodion in a particularly secure place. In their world, there was always a risk that someone could overhear their conversations even in the Emperor’s office.
“We found where they keep the spider. Only one, but still.”
This was big news. A lot of effort was spent on uncovering Belogrudovs’ plans, confirming that they were the ones keeping the spider monsters.
“We’re currently surveying the area. The plan will be finalized soon,” Rodion continued.
“Well done,” the Emperor said, his approval evident. “You’ve performed admirably. Perhaps we’ll avoid war after all.”
“I doubt that, sir,” Rodion replied candidly. “Our foreign friends are channeling their funds too aggressively.”
“That’s also true.” The Emperor’s mood darkened.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. The two men turned around in unison. When it opened, Rodion’s assistant appeared on the threshold. The fact that he decided to disturb the meeting meant that there was an emergency.
“Sokolov was attacked,” the assistant reported, his voice laden with hesitation. “And… something very unusual happened.”
“Be more specific,” Rodion demanded, his tone edged with urgency.
“Sokolov claims he was assaulted by a man capable of altering his appearance,” the assistant said, struggling to convey the gravity of the situation.
So Olga was right? New types of gifted, like Edgar himself, are emerging… the Emperor thought, knitting his brows.
“Investigate this matter thoroughly and report back to me immediately,” the Emperor commanded, his gaze shifting to Rodion.
***
Canis stood calmly among the trees, watching the chaos unfold before him. He didn’t need any devices to see the details even at an impressive distance.
When he had been assigned his new role, it came with the expectation of dealing with those responsible for the death of the previous Sword. Through simple logic, Canis had narrowed down the list of suspects. The sword had been more than just a figurehead; he was a primary force, a deterrent, and an advocate for interests spanning the globe. His mere presence was enough to instill dread among the most formidable aristocrats, who were suddenly made aware of far greater threats. The audacity and skill required to track down and eliminate such a figure was both bold and, in a twisted way, admirable.
Given that the former Sword had been engaged with the Russian Empire at the time of his demise, it was only logical to begin the investigation with their Emperor. And at the same time, continue destabilizing the country and ensuring its subsequent collapse.
Canis avoided direct combat. His pride wasn’t a burden he carried; he understood that if one Sword could be taken down, no one could guarantee that he wouldn’t face the same fate. And Canis had not become one with his beast power. Yet... He was promised full ascension once the guilty were punished. So far, he had only been given access to partial ascension. The Sword could not be weak. Strength was part of his duties.
As he delved deeper into the secrets surrounding the Russian Emperor, Canis’s suspicions grew. Whispers spoke of the Emperor’s acquisition of meteorite iron and the fortification of strategic sites. Most notably, the Emperor had shrouded his family in layers of secrecy. The recent defeat of Atamanov was peculiar — Canis had assessed this man’s chances as slim, yet the swiftness of Atamanov’s fall was troubling. The Medvedevs had ensnared him with a trap that appeared trivial at first glance, but Canis sensed a deeper, more sinister plot.
So he became interested in the minor aristocrat who caught the eye of the younger princess. That was how he learned that this Sokolov had spent a year and a half in the Korshunovs’ laboratory — a name that rang a bell.
Finding the heir, Roman Korshunov, wasn’t difficult. Having studied his affairs, Canis concluded that the boy was promising. Having become an outcast, he didn’t break down, was able to start a business, strengthen himself, and was now in a position of relative strength.
But the most interesting revelation came when Canis found their laboratory. There was more to Korshunov than it seemed at first glance. Publicly, he maintained a facade of tranquility, but beneath the surface, he was involved in matters far more complex and secretive. The extent of his activities, and how he had managed to evade the Emperor’s scrutiny and stay alive, was curious but not compelling enough to warrant further investigation at the expense of his own time and energy. The idea that the Emperor was just being noble struck Canis as amusingly naive.
A request for information led Canis to the case of the late Korshunov Sr., Roman’s father. It was here that the plot thickened. The Korshunovs’ work on enhancing demons had been funded by their order, but the projects were deemed lost when the family fell from grace and was subsequently plundered. This narrative clashed with what Canis had observed. It became evident that the elder Korshunov had given his secret inventions to his son, concealing them from their masters — a maneuver worthy of admiration. The organization had evidently overlooked this, and the Sword responsible for the oversight was now gone.
As the Belogrudovs prepared for their coup, Canis kept a vigilant watch and devised additional plans. Patience yielded insights, such as discovering Korshunov’s paternal half-brother — a man capable of altering his appearance — who was keeping a close watch on Sokolov and seemed to be plotting against him.
In the end, Canis met with Yaroslav in person and offered him funding, in exchange for information. Although Yaroslav didn’t know much, what he shared was enough to deepen Canis’s suspicions. Somehow, this seemingly weak demon had managed to hold his own against the formidable Korshunov in their fight.
From his vantage point, Canis watched with detached interest as bullets failed to penetrate Sokolov’s defenses, as an invisible force scattered his adversaries, and as grenades hung suspended three feet away from him. It became evident that the fight was under the scrutiny of the Emperor’s men, who arrived with a combat squad about twenty seconds into the skirmish.
Seeing that Yaroslav had been captured, Canis grimaced. He took out his rifle to explode the head of the hapless young demon through a small portal right next to his head, but he failed to open the spatial window. Straining, he tried to turn to his gift again, but nothing happened. Something was blocking his abilities.
Meanwhile, Yaroslav was seized, and a few seconds later unceremoniously thrown into a different portal. Surprised by this, Canis tried to open the passage again, and it worked. As if someone had lifted the blockage.
“That was unexpected,” he muttered.
The plan was to check who this Sokolov was. The fact that the Emperor’s men would now find out about the shapeshifting wasn’t part of the plan. But perhaps Canis learned something important in return.
***
Roman Korshunov went up to his office. At home, he felt relaxed. Despite the chaos enveloping the country, things were going well. The Emperor had no time for him.
When Roman saw that an unfamiliar man was already sitting in the office, he froze.
“Who are you?” Roman’s voice was hoarse, his throat suddenly dry.
“A potential friend,” the stranger smiled. “You can call me Canis. There is little time, so we will do without exchanging pleasantries.”
“Little time for what?”
“For you to pack your things and come with me.”
“And why would I do that?” The conversation seemed absurd. But the beast inside Roman felt that he was facing a formidable opponent. And therefore, it was better to listen to what he had to say.
“About ten minutes ago.” The man looked at his watch. “Your brother attacked Sokolov and tried to kill him. It didn’t work. The Emperor’s men showed up and took him to their dungeons. We have a narrow window before they identify him and send a team after you. Once they do, there will be no way out.”
The gravity of the words struck Roman like a falling guillotine. He felt his chest tighten as the enormity of the situation pressed upon him. All his meticulous plans and efforts seemed to vanish in an instant.
“Who are you and why did you come?” he asked, not wanting to believe the stranger.
“I worked with your father. It’s a shame he died.”
Roman’s mind raced. If Yaroslav had indeed attacked Sokolov, it would all be over. Edgar’s recollections of their confrontation would soon surface, and his silence would be a luxury they no longer had.
It was a matter of seconds, not minutes.
“My sister...”
“You can bring her along,” Canis agreed easily. “I am providing you with refuge. No one will find you.”
Canis didn’t mention that Roman was merely a contingency plan.
Uncertain of the stranger’s full intentions, Roman pushed aside his doubts and hurried to the safe. He retrieved a prepared backpack and rushed out of the office to find his sister.
“What’s happening?” Camilla asked, concerned.
“We need to leave,” Roman replied urgently.
“If you don’t believe me,” Canis followed, causing Camilla to shudder, “teleport closer to the forest, from where the house is still visible. You’ll see the Emperor’s people who will block your teleportation abilities pretty soon.”
Roman froze, thinking about what he just heard.
It wasn’t the Emperor’s people who could do that. Damn Sokolov, aligning with the Emperor!
“Teleport? I’m not a Walker,” Roman said, not ready to reveal his secrets to a stranger even in such a precarious situation.
“I know who you are,” Canis hissed. “But, if you prefer, I can do it myself.”
In an instant, they were transported far from the house. The chosen location was ideal: the house was still visible, yet concealed enough so that the neighbors couldn’t see who was standing there. A minute later, Roman saw a squad enter his home. The maid attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended.
There was no doubt. The bridges were burned.
“Let’s go,” Roman said.
There was nothing more for him to do here.
END OF BOOK 4
Thank you for reading!
I hope you enjoyed it. I plan to publish book 5 very soon, on January 7. It is already available for pre-order.
The time has come for Ed to shake the foundations of the universe... Or maybe not!
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If you don’t know what to read in the next months, I highly recommend these four series:
The Healer (A Portal Progression Fantasy Series) by Roman Romanovich (that is me)
He was born into a world where wars were long forgotten, where people lived justly, watched over by the Gods, and life went on as it should, until an enemy from beyond came. The one they called the God of Death.
A world that had forgotten what violence was didn’t know how to defend itself. City after city fell. Earth became a lifeless wasteland as the undead army swelled and crushed the humans like ants underneath its boot.
It all ended at the last stronghold. Forgoing all hope for salvation, a handful of desperate humans realized that the only thing left was revenge.
Born into a family of adepts, he was orphaned by the war. Being one of the best in the art of healing and blessed by the Gods, he failed to complete his training and became a soldier instead, working his way up from a private to a commander.
Had he known that he’d command the last battalion of his world, he would’ve thought twice about his chosen path.
As the instrument of vengeance, he was wielded against the undead army.
He killed the Undead King and realized that there was much more at play here than he had originally thought. But before he could get to the bottom of it, he perished.
Only that wasn’t the end.
He woke up in another world, in another body, and was given a chance to start again.
Elor, the last defender of his world, would come after the God of Death for his revenge.
The Healer Book 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXJ44CHG
Book 3 will be coming to Amazon on December 17.
The Heavenly Throne (A LitRPG Wuxia Series) by Yuri Ajin
Heavenly Throne follows one of the greatest underground fighters of the 2010s, who has found himself in a world much different than his own. He had thought that he had nothing more to lose, but fate is a fickle and cruel mistress. Now, he must fight for his place in this new world as he advances on the path of martial arts and Force cultivation.
The Heavenly Throne 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0874S6C1S
There are already twelve books in this series, and Yuri will release book 13 very soon. I’m sure you will enjoy it.
Legend of Raven (A Wuxia Series) by Konstantin Zaitsev
Just yesterday, Ian Raven was a champion in Vale Tudo. His fighting spirit and the desire to win led him to the top of the fighting Olympus.
Having met death in battle, Ian made a deal with a mysterious entity wearing the mask of a demon, and found himself in a new body and a new world.
A world that lives by old traditions.
A world in which the law is the will of ruthless clans.
A world with disturbed balance.
A world hurling toward the abyss.
A world in which he will have to overcome countless obstacles to become a champion again, walking the path of the Rings of Power and changing his destiny.
The Raven will spread his wings again!
Legend of Raven 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BD2QBB3T
There are already six books in this series, and Konstantin will release book 7 on October 22. I hope you will enjoy this series as much as I do.
Reborn in the Old Empire (A Portal Progression Fantasy) by Victor Pylaev
It is the year 1967 in the magnificent and dreamy St. Petersburg. The world is ruled by the magic of aristocrats, the sounds of rock and roll are blasting even in the palace of Her Imperial Majesty, and Russian Volgas are successfully going up against American Pontiacs on the wide avenues at night.
Another frantic unauthorized race under the stars ends in tragedy. Doctors and healers, who have already announced the death of the sixteen-year-old Prince Alexander Gorchakov Jr., attribute his miraculous salvation to his suddenly awakened Gift.
But even ancestral magic cannot explain why his habits and tastes have completely changed overnight, nor where do strange dreams about places he has never visited come from. Alexander woke up a new man.
Will he find his place in the old world?
Reborn in the Old Empire Book 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XBZF2QC
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Roman Romanovich, The Alchemist #4
