"Trina!"
Miguel saw the one he was looking for. She appeared different from before, her attire was nothing like that of an adventurer. It was more like that of a knight.
She stood in front of Miguel, preventing him from moving further. Little did she know, Miguel was precisely after her.
"There is no more reason to take any more lives. You've proven your point," said the maiden.
She took an offensive stance. Holding out her palm, she indicated the other to stop. Simultaneously, she clasped the sword at her waist. The lady was ready for a battle should Miguel want it.
The battlefield took an immediate pause. The mercenaries were too afraid to approach Miguel. On top of that, the adventurers guild members started to walk out. Only those who lived in Kryonite town knew the rivalry of the two guilds. It had once been supportive of each other but somehow the relationship dwindled. Now the adventurers and mercenaries view each other with hostility. Each guild working towards their own profits.
The mercenaries from the mercenary guild started to back up. They already received so many losses, now things weren't in their favor.
Miguel, who was the center of attention had no knowledge of the guilds rivalry, he did not hide his distasteful expression from the female knight either. He didn't wait, quickly, the heavy sword swung forth.
Miguel didn't have to think about the situation anymore. He was going to act cautiously but the mercenaries caused him to lose his patience. Now a redhead appeared in front of him, Miguel was ready to throw caution into the wind. Even if the whole town was after him, he was sure he'll survive to fight another day. Miguel was going to hit and run.
While the sword in Miguel's hand came forth, suddenly, someone pushed the redhead out of the blade's reach. Instead, a shield met Miguel's weapon head-on.
CLUNK!!!
Miguel used tremendous force to swing the sword, coupled with the thick heavy metal. It was not something anyone would easily defend against. The silhouette that held the shield flew back, bounced off the ground and amazingly flipped over to land on their feet. That person still stumbled and fell on the ground though.
"That's the vice-guild leader, you ass!" Shouted someone, it was obviously someone from the adventurers guild.
That vice-guild leader got onto her feet again. It surprised Miguel greatly. Not because she survived his strength, merely, she looked familiar.
The vice-guild leader looked no different from the other in a knight's attire. She appeared more mature in age and the visible scars showed her experience. Unlike the younger redhead, this one wore top tier adventurers gear and an adamantite tag hung at her chest.
The shield she used bent inwards from the direction of the impact and the impression left behind by the heavy sword could be clearly seen. One thing was sure though, that shield lost it's life in that previous encounter.
"We are all adventurers here... I'm the vice-guild leader, everyone knows me as Trina... None of those mercenary scoundrels will lay a hand on you, that I promise." Trina stated
"You're Trina?!"
Miguel shook. He was suspecting something outrageous ever since he came to Kryonite, all the hints were obvious. How would so many changes happen after a day?
Miguel stood there, trying to process what was happening. The vice-guild leader of the adventurers guild was Trina. It was evident that she worked endlessly for years to get that position, neither was she a young lady.
Miguel had a realisation.
"How many years have I been gone?" Miguel murmured. He turned to the younger redhead, "What's your name?"
He wasn't expecting a reply. Miguel didn't want to be here anymore. He desired to go back to his home. The place where his only family resided.
Miguel stayed calm. And although the truth was right before him. Miguel wanted to go back to the village he grew up in and confirm the obvious.
He turned to leave.
"Hey, you can't leave," said the young redhead. She tried to approach Miguel but halted at the sight of Trina falling to the floor again.
"Aunt Trina," she exclaimed. Running to the vice-guild leader. It seems that the impact Trina received was something that caused more damage below the surface.
In actuality, all the adventurers present had there lives affected by 'Life Gutter' and now they weren't at their peak in health even though they visibly appeared as normal. Miguel tried to walk away but the adventurers blocked his path.
"You can't do as you like, kid, and not receive punishment."
"Yeah, not only that, you hurt the vice-guild leader."
Adventurers that followed Trina out the guild started to voice their remarks. While some who were there from the beginning witnessed Miguel's prowess, those that spoke up were not present at that time. Seeing the dead bodies as well as the current condition of their leader, they believed that it must be the work of some kind of potion. Maybe a blessing from the Gods. But mostly, seeing Miguel with his copper tag. They thought the brawl was originally something between their guild's members and the rivals that came to their doorstep.
Of course, not everyone was blind and hot headed. Those who saw the situation wasn't right, merely stood as bystanders.
Miguel ignored his audience. Being more concerned about his sister's welfare was of more importance. He tried to leave but an adventurer got directly in his face.
"Don't think about running a-"
The adventurer didn't even complete his sentence. A hand clamped onto his face.
"AHHH!"
The victim screamed. A powerful force was pressing against his head. He was feeling that his head was going to explode.
Another adventurer tried to step in. However, he stopped. Rather, it was better to say that he couldn't move. He wasn't the only one who was stuck in position as if frozen. Everyone around was affected by the same condition.
"It seems like I woke up in time for the party"
Eerie violet started shine on the wrist of Miguel, it was barely noticeable during the day. Then an creepy voice emanated from it.
"KUAKAKAKA!!!"
A sinister laughter caught everyone off guard, followed by the frame of a humanoid silhouette appearing from nowhere.
Before the audience, a transparent figure in a tuxedo came into being. It raised a hand that looked skinless and without flesh. That boney hand held onto the bowl shaped hat on the ghost's head. Tipping it off and giving a slight bow, the apparition spoke.
"Greetings, mortals! Call me Jacob, J for short. I'm here to participate in today's activities."
The words of Jacob sent shivers down the spine of the people present. None of them could move, all of this was done under the effect of the poltergeist power the purple phantom wielded.
Ghost Lich Jacob straightened up, returning the hat to his head. His face was revealed to those ahead of him, sending them a psychological trauma.
"Kuakakaka!" Jacob's skull face cackled again. If skulls could make facial expressions, he'd be showing a sinister smirk.
The apparition waved his hand over the area where the remains of the dead lay, a spell that only he was familiar with was cast and soon the dead bodies started to show movement.
"What are you doing?" Miguel asked, standing in place while the adventurer clasped in his hand had passed out.
"Nothing much. Making a collection."
All the chopped bodies started moving, upper torsos used their arms to drag themselves to where Miguel stood while lower bodies tried to get to their feet. A few struggled to get into walking position while most couldn't find their balance, because of that, the half bodies had to crawl on the ground.
Each and every piece of corpse slowly came forth, nearing Miguel who was feeling creeped out at the sight.
It was a nasty sight to behold. The whole body was the first kill Miguel made. It was the first to arrive with the knife stabbed to its face.
"Take it in, we need those," said Jacob nonchalantly.
Miguel didn't think much and let go of the weapon in his possession, he felt lucky to have Jacob act now. Otherwise Miguel would need to put in more effort to escape this crowd. He sucked the undead into the 'Ring of the Dead' and proceeded to store all the other non living material.
Jacob came over beside Miguel and inserted his transparent bone hand into the head of the adventurer that Miguel held.
After a few seconds to minute the adventurer died. Miguel felt the guys life force come to an end. Knowing what to do, Miguel stored that body as well. He then picked up his heavy sword that he let go a few moments ago.
Ready to leave, Miguel stepped away. Only a step or two did Miguel make before he stopped and turned back. He looked back at Trina and the other redhead who was immobile in the range of the poltergeist effect. Miguel pointed at them with his index.
"I haven't forgotten you, Trina! I didn't climb out of the cursed ravine to see your successes. When I come back I'll give you what you deserve."
Miguel turned away after speaking then he remembered something, he scanned the area with 'Life Gutter' but the person he was looking for wasn't present.
Miguel said, "So Felicia disappeared. I'm not surprised."
Turning away from the scene Miguel left.