As the last bits of light disappeared into the night's sky, Zane was standing in front of the stronghold all by himself, scouting out his prey. The stronghold has actual walls that were just tall enough to prevent people from easily climbing over as blocking vision from their vantage point and the only entrance to it was a large wooden gate. The soldiers around it were patroling each part of the stronghold at all times rendering ambushes ineffective.
The darkness alongside with his black cloak camouflaged himself well enough to be perfectly safe.
From what Zane could see, this stronghold's defense was stricter than the rest. It obviously made sense why this would be more guarded than the rest since it was where the Underworld Envoy was staying but this seems to be a little too secure.
Zane dashed back to where the rest of the soldiers were hiding.
He spoke in a low but audible voice, "It's too secured, the enemy should be more skilled than the other ones and there is that Underworld Envoy."
Gabe answered in a mocking tone, "So what? Let's just go in already. Either we kill them or we die, it's as simple as that."
Abel stomped his foot on the ground slightly quivering the area they were standing.
"Did you forget why we even came here, Gabe? It was to save the people they captured. Don't let anger cloud your judgment, revenge comes second."
Gabe glared at Abel, "Didn't you also want to kill every single one of them in the beginning?"
"I did but after some time I cleared my mind and decided to focus on saving them instead."
"When did that happen?"
"When I looked at Zane."
During this conversation, Zane listened in without making any sound nor any movements but when he heard Abel's thoughts he couldn't help but smile under his cloak. During these past attacks, all Zane did was to act as an overseer instead of going in battle.
He stood above everyone else seeing if there was anyone who was captured being held captive but to no avail. Although he was looking at everyone slaughter for vengeance, he didn't realize Abel calmed his mind, this was a good thing.
After a while, Zane once again spoke, "It's now or never."
Abel wanted to say something but stopped himself, this was the only chance they could catch them by surprise since there is the chance that they might realize they are already all dead.
Zane gathered everyone together and informed them of the plan.
Split into groups, each side is taken care of by a group led by Gabe and Abel. Except for this time, Zane isn't going to just stand by the side but instead go straight for the Underworld Envoy.
After organizing their formations, there was one signal that will start everything off.
Zane was alone on one side, in front of the gates of this stronghold. Under the cover of darkness and his specialized cloak, he still remained undetected. He reinforced his body with mana causing a blue hue to hover around him causing the guards in front to be a little suspicious.
He took out his sword and converged the mana he had gathered into in and forced it to grow. The guards could now see Zane as clear as day due to the condensation of mana around him. They were now yelling and informing each other about the intruders.
Zane took a step forward and with his now gigantic sword slashed the front gates apart with one slice completely demolishing it to pieces.
At that exact moment, the soldiers that were around brought out their bows, crossbows, mages, and front line to meet Zane in front. Coincidentally, Abel came from behind Zane and bashed through the front line they just formed and directly went to the ranged attackers.
Their arrows and spells only slowed Abel down, the sheer amount of mana coursing through his body was terrifying and borderline suicide but for some reason, his body wasn't bearing the cost of it.
After Abel's initial attack there was still Zane who seemed to be more of a threat but when they looked back at where Zane was as he was now gone. Suddenly, there was a loud booming sound as a wall could be heard breaking down on the other side of the stronghold.
From that side, Gabe and the rest of the soldiers appeared and directly pushed through the weakened area as everyone went forward to stop Abel. From that single point, they rushed through everything and went straight for Abel attacking them from the back.
Zane diverged from the group as soon as he broke through the wall and glanced at where the most luxurious looking building was and went straight for it.
With everyone getting buffed, the enemy soldiers could only try to hold them back but couldn't stop the inevitable since their weapons were getting chipped and broken in half due to the difference in weapons.
Abel was fairing quite well but is now starting to run out of mana from his initial burst. Usually, from the amount of time this took, it wouldn't have even exhausted Abel at all but he followed Zane's tip so his body wouldn't be strained.
Everyone was running towards Abel as they were slashing through with extreme ease. Not a single person could fight back against them. When Gabe finally managed to get in range he instantly solely buffed Abel with his mana.
When Abel finally managed to stop exponentially losing mana due to Zane's tip, he now stopped defending and went on a killing spree while the rest of the soldiers were defending. Utilizing their unbelievably strong armor as they shields.
While everyone else was fighting, Zane finally reached the building that looked luxurious bashed open the door only to see someone he didn't expect. He knew who these two people were as they were the exactly two people who left when he ordered them to fight a tiger bare-handed.
They were tied by their legs and hung upside down with a note attached to their bodies. The note was stuck on each one of their arms with a knife. Their eyes were closed and there was a rotten smell coming from their bodies.
The note said, "These two were more than happy to tell me what you were planning. If you want to find me, I am where the king is. From the slaughter you've done up to now even killing Haze, show me why the True Underworld King favors you."
Zane felt something was extremely wrong here, if that Underworld Envoy knew that he was slaughtering his people then why didn't he do anything? The fact that it was even one of his own subordinates that was killed yet he did nothing was also extremely suspicious.
While he was deep in thought, he could hear that there were no more voices that could be heard outside. Everything that could be killed is already dead. He could hear his soldier's footsteps from behind him only to arrive at the same shocked expression Zane had.
Abel who was covered in blood asked, "Why are they here?"
Zane took out another note and this time read it out loud, "If you want to save your people then come and get me."
Gabe then laughed out loud almost maniacally.
Zane ignored Gabe's laughter but Abel didn't, there was suspicion looming over Abel's mind but didn't dare confirm it.
A soldier asked Zane, "What do we do now?"
Zane got out of the building and looked over the corpses of his enemies and just sat down.
"Right now, we rest."
"But we aren't tired at all right now! We can still keep going-" While he was talking, Zane stopped supplying Gabe mana and every one of them simultaneously collapsed on the ground, Abel and Gave were no exception.
"I told you, we should rest right now. Tomorrow is the day it finally ends. You will need the energy. If you're hungry they should have rations here. I'll keep watch tonight."
After a few minutes of struggling out of their armor, they finally got out and went to find some food before going to bed. The initial rush had them going for the day but now they could feel the effects of their bodies not eating food for the entire day while doing all these strenuous things.
After eating their rations, they all went to sleep except for Abel and Zane.
Abel limped over to Zane and started a conversation. Abe sat down beside Zane and laid his back on the ground.
"How old are you?"
"Right now, I am fourteen."
"Then how are you so mature?"
"I don't know. I guess I have to be."
"How's your-"
"Just stop for a moment."
Abel stopped and just looked at Zane. Abel wasn't offended since he wanted to hear what Zane wanted to say.
"I have this friend, we asked each other questions turn by turn. I'd rather have that than only being questioned.
"Fair enough, you ask first."
"What were you doing before all this?"
"I had no one really, just a few friends but I grew out of. I do odd jobs here and there to get enough food to survive.
"What about you?"
"I was in school doing mundane things but I train with another friend afterward. He taught me everything I know and we trust each other."
"What do you plan on doing right after this?"
"To be perfectly honest, I don't know. I guess I'll stay with the group make become mercenaries. I don't know how many will be left but at least we trust each other and that's enough.
"How about you Zane? You got a girl?"
Zane slightly turned red at this but thanks to the black cloak he had, Abel didn't notice it.
"I got confessed to but I didn't realize it until a few weeks later. Right now, I don't really like anyone but I do have a friend that I trust."
Abel laughed out but didn't comment on it.
"I know it might be out of bounds and you don't have to answer but what's your trait? No one here has one and seeing that you are an Underworld Envoy, it only makes sense."
"Oh, that? It's fine, although I do have a trait I can't even use it right now since it only works on other traits."
"It's interesting how strong you are even though you don't use your trait."
"I am using an apparently unfair mana technique but it's the only technique I know so I can't do anything about it. I did teach you the same technique but only the basics."
"That's why I got so strong, I heard people needed months to get the basics down on a mana technique but I guess it's just that the mana technique was strong."
"Any way you seem close to Gabe, what your relationship with him right now?"
"I see him as a son, he's reckless but knew what was right. At least before all this. He's falling apart and I don't know what to do, his personality changed overnight and I have to get him on the right path.
"Can you help me, Zane?"
"I'll see what I can do."
Zane stood up and reached out his hand to Abel. Looking it without context, a young man barely half the size of Abel was reaching out his hand to lift him up was an odd scene, especially when that young man pulled Abel so hard that he was almost flown across the ground.
"The moon is at its peak, you should get some rest. You got battered pretty hard in the end, you need the sleep."
Abel didn't say anything else and just went away and looked around for a bit before settling down near a group. He mumbled a few words before he closed his eyes. He had a smile on his face before sleeping so one could tell that he achieved what he wanted.