Maximus was flying close to the ground, he is rushing to Black Rock city to get the spirit stones. He needed some for himself and also for Felix. After all he couldn't go back for almost 60 years, so he had to make sure Felix had everything she needed to be strong.
This time the journey was much more faster, Maximus didn't have to worry about leaving a trace, so he just went in a straight line. After 8 days of journey he finally got to Black Rock city.
Maximus suppressed his aura and went with the flow of people inside. When it was his turn the same guard, from last time shouted.
"Show your face and your ID"
People usually had ID from the Adventurer Guild, Clan, Sect or other such organization. Even the mortals who worked for them had one. Without one, it was extremely expensive to enter a city.
Maximus took three gold coins and gave the to the guard furtively.
When the guard saw the three gold coins in his hand he smiled and nodded to Maximus.
"You can go in, just don't cause any trouble!"
Maximus went straight to the inn he was last time. He didn't notice last time but the name of the inn was Abdo.
"What a strange name" thought Maximus to himself.
He went it. Inside was very different from last time. The place was packed of people. Maximus was using a simple black clock to cover himself as he searched for a more hidden corned to sit.
"Did you hear, the Boss of the Hell Hounds broke trough and now is recruiting. I heard that four members of his team were slaughtered"
While passing between the tables Maximus overheard a man talking to his friend. He could't help but to think about the group of people who had ambushed him.
After sitting down Maximus waited for the boy who helped him last time. He just ordered some snacks and a bottle of wine.
While drinking Maximus started to listen to the surrounding conversation
"I heard that people from the Phoenix clan had come to our Black Rock city. Apparently they are looking for someone" said a middle-aged woman.
"I heard that too. I think they are looking for that guy who slaughtered all the Masters in the Dacian City. Apparently he uses the blood of Masters to cultivate." said a skinny old man, who was next to her.
"Do you think is the same guy who killed the four members of the Hell Hounds squad?" asked a young man.
"No, I don't think so. What I heard was that the members of the Hell Hounds were going for a mission and were ambushed by a group of 20 or 30 Saints." interjected a young girl.
Maximus who was listening on the side could't help but to chuckle "Using blood to cultivate? Those four were ambushed by 20 or 30 Saints. These people really do know how to invert right and wrong, white and black" he thought to himself.
"Sir would you like to order something else?"
"It's me" Maximus puled the robe slightly down and showed a little of his face.
The boy didn't even flinch when he saw that it was Maximus.
"If you want a full barrel of wine Sir then come with me" said the boy naturally.
Maximus praised him inside for his quick thinking.
On the back of the inn.
"Sir Maximus here is a ring, everything you need is inside. Also, I have some information from Lady Amica. The Phoenix clan sent a special unit just to look after you and they are getting closer to Collis village. The Hell Hounds Boss is also looking for you, but I think you already knew all that." said the boy.
Maximus nodded "Anything else?" he asked.
"Yes, there is also information that the Benford clan is looking for you, but because they work more, stealthier not many know about this."
Maximus thought for a minute then said to the boy "Got it, if I need anymore information I will be back" but right before leaving he turned and asked "What is your name?"
"Everyone calls me Bill, but you can also call me Shadow" said the boy.
Maximus just nodded and left.
Bill stared at Maximus back as he left, then he shook his head and muttered to himself "What an interesting fella"
After leaving Black Rock city Maximus rushed to Collis village.
At this time inside Graystone house a young boy was playing with Felix.
"Grandpa do you think Felix will be as powerful as Master Maximus."
After Maximus became the local "sheriff" all the children, especially the boys, started following him around, calling him master and asking him to teach them to be powerful Martial Artists.
"Of course, with Maximus power he should be able to perform the Awekening Ceremony for Felix" Graystone noticed that his grandson had a look of jealousy in his eyes. Like
"William, my boy let grandpa tell you something. In the outside world, people like Maximus are very rare. When he came to our village he didn't act high and mighty like those people who have the power do. He respected our opinions , even if we are much weaker than him he never used his strength to intimidate us. Do you know why such a powerful and kind person chose our village to live?"
"No" responded William.
"It's because he wanted Felix to grow up with people like you and me. People who respect and protect each other, people who will never betray those close to them" said Graystone with a kind smile.
William didn't say anything, but one could see that he was very proud to be a member of the Collis village.
BOOOOM
"LISTEN UP, WE KNOW THAT A YOUNG MAN WITH A BABY GIRL MOVED HERE ABOUT FIVE OR EIGHT MONTHS AGO, TELL US WHERE THEY ARE AND NOT ONLY WE WILL LET YOU LIVE WE ALSO WILL REWARD YOU. I SWEAR ON THE HONOR OF THE BENFORD CLAN!!"
Suddenly there was a loud shout from outside. Graystone turned to William and said "Take Felix and rune and hide into the mines, don't let them find her."
"But gramp.."
"I said go. These are bad people, remember we may be weak but the people of the Collis village always protect each other even at the cost of our life." said Graystone
All the villagers when they heard the shout knew the situation was bad, so they told the children to hide in the mines. After all they knew that in the eyes of those experts those children were even less than ants.
Graystone rushed to the man that shouted and bowed.
"Great Lords this lowly one is named Graystone the chief of this..."
"I don't care who you are" said the man. His voice was cold and emotionless, and very unpleasant to hear, it was like two pieces of metal grinding. He was wearing a black clock that covered even his face.
"The young man and the baby where are they hiding?" asked the man again.
"Sir there hasn't been an outsider in this village in more than 10 years" said Graystone.
"Ok then!"
But before Graystone could breathe in relief a metal pike 1meter long and 50 cm in diameter stabbed him in the middle of the chest.
William was hiding in a far away corner, but he saw everything, he wanted to rush there but when he looked at Felix in his arms he just bit his lips until they were bleeding and rushed to the mine. His eyes were full of tears, but he knew that he could waste his grandfather sacrifice.
"Now, who will tell me the truth?" asked the same man again.
But none of the villagers took even half a step.
"Well I guess he wasn't here after all. Let's go to the next place. Number 8, kill them all then join us"
One of the people who was behind this man bowed and said "Yes Captain."
After they all left number 8 started to kill. It must be said that this man enjoyed killing he liked to play with his victims before killing them.
"Now lets go after the little ones" said number 8 after finishing Bill and Roxy.
"You... did...this...?"
Number 8 was startled he didn't know when but a young man appeared behind him. When number 8 saw his appearance he almost shouted
"It's you, how lucky...."
But Maximus didn't even let him finish, he rushed at such a fast speed that N. 8 didn't even react before having one of his arms ripped off.
"Ah... Ahhh... AHHHHH!!!!" N.8 now knew that he wasn't a match for Maximus, so he tried to run.
But Maximus didn't want to waste anymore time so this time he directly ripped N. 8 heart from his chest.
N. 8 eyes were wide open as he looked at this young man who holding his crushed hearth in his right hand "y..you wi.. will pa ....for..." but he couldn't even finish what he wanted to say before dying.
Maximus ignored the man and rushed from one house to the other. He was relived because he didn't see any children corpses on the way.
"Mas.. Master Maximus"
William who was hiding all this time came to see what the situation was. He told all the other to stay hidden in the mines.
"William what..." Maximus wanted to ask what happened but William started crying.
"They are all dead... They...killed grandpa and then all..." Tears streamed down William's cheeks.
"I am sorry William" Maximus felt like his heart was being squeezed.
"NO! It's those bad people. They were the one who killed them all. One day I will make them pay"
William keeled down."I BEG YOU LORD MAXIMUS PLEASE HELP ME GET STRONGER!!!"
"William rise, now is not the time..."
"NO! I need your help I beg you please. Even when dying my grandpa didn't tell them about Felix, even after dying one after another NO ONE I THE VILLAGE SAID ANYTHING PLEASE HELP ME, HELP US"
Maximus looked at William and then said "Go and call the other we need to leave immediately"
"But Lord Ma...."
"You can call me Master, now move faster" said Maximus.
"Yes Master!"shouted William.
Maximus didn't know if it was the guilt or if he saw himself in William, but he ended up accepting him as his disciple.
"After finding a good place to hide I will make sure to avenge you all. Don't worry I look after your children" Maximus bowed to the village who was now full of corpses.
This time he didn't have any doubt in his hearth even if its an entire city he will kill all in it.
"There is no other way..." said Maximus silently to himself.