*** Author's Notes ***
Hey there! Megusta here!
I think of rewriting previous chapter. After I read the few chapter before the end of the volume, I feel like the lore is getting convoluted.
But on the other hand, I am on the groove writing the second volume and I am afraid that I might lose focus again.
To my readers, tell me what you think. Should I rewrite or should I continue this Volume first?
Tell me your thoughts in the comment section!
Here's todays chapter! Enjoy!
***
"Didya hear that Gus? I think da old man is tryin ta sayin sometin." The man called Jes says as he starts to walk towards me.
"Seemlike it Jes." He replied to his buddy with a mock surprise in his face. "Hey old man! We already told ye ta scram. Don't make me hit ye. I dun wanna hit an old coot like ye. But if ye dun skedaddle, imam be forced ta smack yer scrawny ass." The man shouts.
Jes laughed and smacked his buddy in the back with his dirty palm. "Good one Gus. We both know dat ye like bashin old men's head." He chuckled.
"Hey. Dun sey dat ya twit. Yer ruinin da fun. It would've been worth a chuckle or two ta see the surprise and horror in his eyes when I bash his head in." Gus punched Jes' shoulder then turns back to me. "Oh well. Wadda ya sey old man? Wanna have sum of dis?"
"Haahhh." I sighed. "Stand back ladies. I will handle this." I told the women and they stepped back. These two are definitely low lives. Although they are both weak, they still have weapons. Better attack before they draw them. Just have to wait for an opening.
"Stand back he seys. Hahaha! Hey Gus. Da old man seem ta be taking ye lightly, ya mook." Jes mocks his friend.
Grimacing at his friends jest, Gus growled and shouts at him. "Wadda ya sey ye bastard?!" He pushed him.
This is it!
I quickly ran towards Gus and punched him in the face while he was distracted, knocking him back.
"Guahh! What the?!" Gus yelled and was about to run back to attack but I quickly front kicked him in the stomach, sending him stumbling back and hitting his head on a tree.
Tch! If only I have enough Ki, I would've ended him in one hit. But since I can't afford getting myself exhausted by depleting my middling Ki reserve, I would have to make do with just my raw physical strength, which is still in the level when I left Earth.
"Gus ya big dope!" Jes snarled as he began to regain his balance after getting pushed by his buddy and was about to draw his sword. "Ye will regret dat old man!" He then reached for the sword in his hip.
I quickly pushed his sword arm down, pushing his sword back to its sheath before punching him in the throat.
"Gach!" Tears welling up in his face as he grasp his throat, gasping for breath.
Knowing better than focus on a single opponent when outnumbered, I quickly turned around to see what Gus is doing. My senses seem to have weakened by leagues as I was almost taken by surprise by Gus' attack. Thankfully even when my back was still turned, I was still able to sense his strike even if it was only a half a meter before hitting me squarely in the head, an attach which would've resulted to my head becoming what a watermelon becomes when hit by a baseball bat.
I quickly duck under his club swing, stepped forward and grabbed his weapon hand before punching him in the gut, then a straight to the face.
Sensing another attack from behind, I side-stepped to avoid a sword attack that would've cleave my head into two. I grabbed Jes' hand before he could do another swing, twisted his hand till he let go of his weapon. I then pulled him towards me and punched him in the face multiple times, each punch drawing more blood from his broken nose and teeth.
"Guaahh!!! Ya.. Guh! Goddamn… Behhh… Stop!!!" Jes tries to talk but I don't stop pummeling his face.
"Damn ya! Take dis!" I hear Gus roar and I quickly turned around and saw his club about to fall upon my head. I will not be able to dodge in time and I certainly couldn't block it without getting severely injured. Thinking quickly, I parried and redirected the attack by put my hand to the side of his club and pushing it aside, letting it go pass me with a whoosh.
Wide eye in surprise by my defense, the man knew that he couldn't recover his weapon in time for another attack so he instead threw a punch which I easily dodged. I then grabbed his outstretched arm by the fist, and with my free hand, I hit his elbow with an open palm upper cut, resulting with a loud snap as his arm get broken.
"Aaaaarggghhh! Me arm!" Gus screams in pain while holding his broken arm. Face red in fury with tears streaming down his eyes, he grits his teeth as he looks at the bone jutting out his flesh.
Suddenly, a roar could be heard from behind me. Sputtering blood from broken teeth, Jes yelled. "Ye bathard! Dieeeee!" He swung his sword, ready to cleave me in half from head to toe.
I charged forward at his attack and grabbed his hand mid swing. I then delivered a devastating knee to his balls which solicited an unholy scream from the bandit.
Turning around just in time to see Gus about to swing his club with his remaining good hand, the adrenaline from getting his arm broken must've taken effect as this swing seem to be faster than even his two handed swing. Fortunately, I was able to see his attack before it is too late and was able to side step. His missed attack unfortunately, or in my case fortunately, hit his friend in the leg instead, soliciting cracking sound and another hellish scream from the unlucky Jes.
"Ooops! Sorry Jes!" Gus apologized to his friend who is cursing him at the top of his lungs.
"Taking your eyes from your enemy." I told the guys before punching him square in the jaw. "Stupid move."
"Ugh! Why ye! Graaahhh!" Gus roared as he swings his club horizontally with force stronger than when he was uninjured. He must've forgotten that he have a broken arm as adrenaline numbed him from the pain.
If that's the case, I just need to remind him.
As I stepped back and making him miss, I quickly stepped forward and kicked his broken arm. Reminded of the pain, Gus screams and swung his club to keep me away. I just stepped back once more and kicked his broken arm again. This time, Gus is already crying in pain and tries to keep me at bay with another club swing. Dodging the attack once more, I kicked the injured arm harder that it deformed further, spurting more blood. The broken bone must've finally nicked an artery.
"Hueeh!" I heard a gasp coming from the direction where the women are, but I didn't bother looking.
I must focus on the enemy. If I give them even a little bit of an opening, it will be me who will be lying on the ground.
"Waaahhh!" Crying in pain, Gus stood up for a desperate attack. He is wildly swinging his fist, trying for a Hail Mary while crying.
I bobbed and weave, dodging his attacks with ease when with a thud, I felt my back against a tree. Seeing an opportunity, Gus stepped in for a haymaker. I side stepped, easily dodging his wide attack. I then stomped on his knees which also earned me a crisp snap as I broke Gus' leg and he fell down face first while screaming.
I then stomped on his head. *Crack*. Oh! Nice sound! I stomped once more. Then another. Then another. I continued to stomp on his head until there is blood pooling beneath my feet.
"Stahp! Pwease stahp! Yer killin 'im" I hear Jes yell.
I turned around towards my other opponent, revealing a pitiful scene. Who would've known that a man so arrogant just a few minutes earlier would find himself lying in the ground, sitting in a pool of his own urine? The poor sap is quivering in fear as he watch me walk towards in.
"P-pwease! S-spare us! We- we will never bother ye again!" Jes cries as he starts to crawl away, dragging his broken leg through the ground that is muddied by his own urine.
"You despicable scums come here and tried to kill me. Worst of all you threaten and gaze at the girls with your pervy eyes. Now you beg for mercy?" I stalk the man as he tries to get away.
"S-sowwy! I-I'm s-sowwy! We w-will not b-bother ye an-nymore! Pwease! Spare me!" He pleads.
Kicking his hands from under him, Jes stumbled and plants his face in the muddy ground. As he tries to push himself off the piss drenched mud, I stepped on his head and pressed it against the ground. "You bastard. If the tables have been turned and you defeated me, will you grant mercy and leave the girls behind if they plead with you?" A memory of my past flashes in my mind and I feel my anger bubble inside me. Pressing his head harder till he flails his hand as he begins to drown in his own piss. "No! You scums don't deserve mercy! If I let you live, you will to continue to trample everyone and everything that can't protect themselves! Better kill you now and rid the world of bastards like you!" He continued to struggle, but every second that pass, his feeble attempt slowly becomes weaker and weaker.
I then felt someone tug on my arm. Thinking that it was an attack, I quickly turned around, ready to defend myself. About to swing my fist at the unknown assailant, I quickly stopped as I recognize who it was. Eyes closed with her hand before her face as if it will be able to stop a punch, I recognized the woman as Lilya.
Only a few steps behind her sister, Miya quickly ran and placed her body between me and her sister. "Stop!" She yells.
Ashamed of almost hitting my savior, I slowly lower my hand and backed away. "S-sorry. I didn't mean to." I stutter.
"Get away from her! Don't you dare hurt my sister!" Miya then put her arms around Lilya and hugged her.
Opening her eyes from the sudden hug, Lilya first look at her sister, then at me. Not blinking once, the woman begins to cry.
I feel guilty at my blunder and slowly walk towards them. "I-I am sorry. I was just surprised. I am fighting the bandits and everything went crazy. I-"
"Don't take another step towards us you… You brute!" Miya shouts at me. Her fierce gaze not leaving me as she tries to protect and comfort her sister. "We shouldn't have saved you, you ungrateful bastard! Come Lilya, let's go home." While hugging her sister, she slowly leads her away. "Don't you dare follow us! You--- you--- you bastard!" She screams at me.
Watching the two women walk away. My gaze fell on the ground as the welling feeling of remorse fills my chest. What am I thinking?! Attempting to harm other people is one thing. But almost harming the ones who saved your life? I am worse than these scums… What if I did hit her? Would she be okay? No… She would've been severely injured. I should've stayed cool. I shouldn't have gone wild. These enemies were weak that I could've defeated them easily with well-placed shots with help of some Ki, not even needing Amplification, a simple Shell will do. But no. I subconsciously pulled my punches. Making the fight last longer than it should to enjoy the fight. I am fully immersed in violence that I forgot why I am fighting. I was fighting to protect my saviors, not to kill these scums.
I am such a fool.
Leaning against a tree, my body slowly slides down until I am sitting in the ground. My eyes gaze out at nowhere as my mind wanders. Then suddenly, my train of thought was interrupted when I heard a cough. My eyes wanders around to see where it is coming from until it fall upon the body of the bandit whose face is planted in the piss mud.
"Cough… cough…" Jes coughed as he push his face off the mud.
I leaned on the tree as I slowly stand up. Walking towards the body of Jes, I muttered. "I am surprised that you're still alive. I really thought that I have killed you." I said as I kneeled in front of him.
Finally been able to push himself up, he coughed out the dirt out of his mouth and gasped for air. After a few seconds, he then plopped to his back. Slowly opening his eyes, his eyes widen in fear and he scrambled to try and run away, only to scream in pain from his broken leg and fall to the ground once more.
Crawling away with all his might, Jes pleaded. "P-pwease! N-no more! No more!" He cried.
My eyes fall upon the unmoving body of Gus. The ground beneath him turned into mud from his blood. No doubt he is dead. I killed him not because I am defending myself. I killed him because I wanted to.
Miya was right. I am a brute.
Just because I have more power than my enemies, I became no better than those who tormented me when I was in high school.
Master was right. Power without purpose is just violence. Then…
What is my purpose?
My eyes turned towards the crawling figure of Jes once more. I walked towards him once more and he screamed in terror. I continued to walk after him until he backs himself against a tree, unable to crawl away anymore, he closed his tear filled eyes and covered his face with his hands. Looking down on him, I whispered. "Go…"
"W-wha?" He muttered as his eyes widen in surprise, unable to believe what he just heard.
"I said go! Don't show your face anywhere near me again!" I told him. "But remember what happened here. If I find you doing shit like this again, next time, I will not be merciful."
"Y-yesh! Thank ye!" He cries as he bows his head.
"Don't thank me… Just go!" I shouts at him.
Surprised by my loud voice, the injured Jes suddenly stood up before wobbling away as fast as he can. Watching his silhouette disappear in the dark forest, I started to slowly walk towards the direction of the river where the two sisters found me.
Maybe there, I will be able to clear my mind. Who knows, I might also find what I want to do with my life here.
**
After about 10 minutes, I was finally able to calm myself down. I hated bandits. They are brutes who threaten us with violence in order to extort our hard earned crops from us. What is worse, they threaten to do bad things to me and my sister. I know I shouldn't sympathize with those brutes, but my heart just couldn't take watching Mr. Cloud beat those bandits near brink of death. The somewhat weird but also kind and soft spoken man who bravely fought against two armed men who aims for his life while he himself is unarmed, just to defend both me and my sister. That is why against my sisters' plea, I went to stop him. I feel my heart about to jump out of my chest as I slowly walks toward Mr. Cloud. I continued to fill my head of the image of the kind Mr. Cloud as I was about to tug on his elbow.
And then…
All of a sudden, Mr. Cloud turned around. His face full of wrath as he raise his fist to hit me. The thought of experiencing the same pain the bandits have experienced under Mr. Cloud's fist filled my head as I froze in place and closed my eyes. Waiting to feel the pain in dread.
Then a second passed. Then another. Still I felt no pain. Have I been knocked out by his fist? Will I be all right when I wake up or will there be a head splitting pain like when I bumped my head on our fence when I was playing tag with my sister Miya?
Then, piercing the dark, I heard the voice of Miya. When I opened my eyes, I gazed around. I can see my surrounding, but everything felt so surreal. Mr. Cloud was there, lowering his head as my sister scolds him. Then… Then my tears started to fall. My sister held me in her arms, but still… I still couldn't stop crying. Mr. Cloud tried to apologize, but my sister continued to shout at him. I tried to stop her, but I couldn't feel any strength in my limbs. I try to say something but only sobs comes out of my mouth. I know Miya is only trying to protect me, but seeing the face of Mr. Cloud, the one who saved us from harm look so dejected…
I just…
Fighting the urge to cry once more, I bit my lips and dried my eyes. Seeing me do this, and knowing what it means, my sister put her arms around me once more.
"Hush now. Don't worry Lilya. Sister is here." She puts her hand on my head as she hugs me. "No one will ever harm you. I swear on my life. I will let nothing harm you."
Feeling like crying once more, I fought it with all my might until I calmed down. Gently pushing my sister away from me, I try to find my voice. "W-we should go back."
"Go back? Yes little Lilya. We are going back home. Don't worry. I know the way back home even in the dark. Just stay near me my sweet little sister." She attempts to hug me once more.
Stepping back to avoid her hug, I cleared up what I meant. "No. Not home." I shook my head. "We need to go back to Mr. Cloud."
Frowning at what I said, my sister asked me. "Why? We saved him after he drowned and how did he repay our kindness? He almost hit you Lilya. Let's just forget him and go home." She says as she tries to reach for my hand.
"No… That's not it." I pull my hand away from her. "He saved us big sister. Those bandits would've done bad things to us and he jumped to our defense without a second thought. If he's not there---"
"If he's not there, then we would already be home before those bandits arrive. If we didn't took time to care for him then none of this would've happened." Miya argues. "You're still clearly shaken from the incident. Let's go home so you could take a rest. Come Lilya." She beckons me.
"No!" I pulled away from her again. "Mr. Cloud risked his life to save us! He was clearly jumpy from fighting with his life on the line when I tugged on his elbow. It was my fault. I should've known better than startling a man while he fights. It is not his fault."
Sister Miya looks unconvinced. "You saw him… He enjoys the fight! What if he hit you?"
"Well he didn't. He saw me and he stopped! That is indication enough that he will not hurt me. I was just shocked from the experience that I cried. It is not his fault sister. Please don't blame him." I look her straight in the eyes as I reasoned with her.
Few seconds pass and we still look each other in the eyes. If she will not budge, then so will I. I will not condemn a man for my own mistake. After a minute has passed, my sister finally relented and sighed.
"Even though you are stubborn, you are still my sister." Sister sighed. "Okay. We'll do it your way. It is already dark and we probably need someone strong who can defend us as we go home."
"Really Elder sister?" I asked in delight.
"Yeah. Why couldn't you call me elder sister when you don't need anything from me?" My sister chuckled.
"It is because I don't want you to feel old." I teased her.
"I am not old. I am just 22 years old you know. We are only 3 years apart you cheeky girl." She pinched my cheeks as she pretends to be offended.
I chuckled as I pull her hands away from my cheeks. "Ouch!" I said as I rub my cheeks. I then started to run. "Let's hurry before Mr. Cloud goes away!" I yelled at my sister.
"Don't run! You might trip!" She yells as she runs after me.
Wait for us Mr. Cloud. Please don't go. I prayed day and night to the Goddess Luna for a savior, then there you are. I finally found you and I will not let you get away…