Reading the text, Michael remembered a bitter memory. A memory where he had to fend off others and stay away from trouble. Hearing this triggered him after how hard he fought; how hard he was beaten.
But alas, it was just misdirected anger. No matter how much he cursed, it had already happened. The period in his life that felt like hell. Which made him realize, he was reliving that nightmare again.
The nightmare he forcibly forgets. With marks proving its existence littered around his arms…his body, hidden beneath; scars.
Suppressing his frustrations, he took a deep breath to calm himself, and to his surprise…felt easier? His eyes widened in surprise as his anger flowed out like water.
He felt tranquil and relaxed as if nothing happened.
Taking a deep breath once more, he held his chin in thought; "Is this because of that skill? Then it might be a passive skill." He deduced.
To further add to his claims, he tried remembering more unpleasant memories to see, or rather, feel it in action. Though it didn't work.
Laying back, he sighed. "This…is my life now, huh?"
"Risking my life for others, that hasn't even crossed my mind."
"Why? Why was I chosen? And it's not like I'm special either," He asked the gods above. But nothing. Only the rattling of the carriage and the ambient air were heard.
Sighing again, he checked his ring.
[ Adamantite Storage Ring (Small) {Full} ]
'Huh? Small?!' Michael's brows furrowed.
Seeing the anomaly, he quickly checked the rings of Zack and Chase;
[ Adamantite Storage Ring (Medium) {Full} ]
[ Titanium Storage Ring (Medium) {98%} ]
But before he could once again complain about his unreasonable bad luck, the carriage trembled as it abruptly stopped. The sudden halt shook everyone awake.
"Miss! Enemies!" The front coachman called out in fear.
Swoosh!
An arrow flew and hit a man beside the driver straight in the head, killing him instantly. The body flopped towards the coachman and blood spurted out of the corpse's head.
Looking it straight in the eyes as blood gushed from its every crevice, the man shrieked and backed off. "AHHH!"
Moving back too much, he slipped and fell from the carriage.
Before he could even realize he dropped, an iron spear propelled towards his throat. His life flashed before his eyes.
Clank!
Celine emerged from the shadows and parried the shot, stopping the spear right in its tracks as she locked it in place using her daggers in an X-shape. But the bandit was able to unlatch his weapon with ease.
"What?!" The spearman surprised to see his attack blocked, quickly retreated.
Gazing at the group in front of her, she uttered in a low and abhorrent tone; "Bandits…"
They were ambushed in a canyon, surrounded from all directions by a platoon of brigands. The worst place to be cornered. Michael who was daydreaming didn't notice they had taken a turn towards one of the mountain ranges.
The spearman charged again. He spun his spear whilst running before pointing and propelling it towards Celine.
Clang! Thump!
What seemed like one thrust became two! Upon closing in, the spearman accelerated and went for another attack after the first attempt got blocked. But Celine had anticipated it.
Quickly, she rushed forward to hit the spear first. The man couldn't react to her tremendous speed and was blown away along with his weapon.
Unbalanced, the spearman was forced to back off again to regain his composure. Still having fight in his eyes. But unbeknownst to him, she used her hands to blow away him and his weapon; even before they started, he had no chance…
Seeing their leader pushed back, the bandits were about to attack but were halted by the spearman,
"Stand back, I'll handle this myself."
Finally standing still, Celine was able to get a good look against this buffoon who dared to attack a kingdom's emissary. Although it was her fault for taking an unofficial carriage having no royal emblem.
The man wore full black leather armor layered with metal plates and chainmail. His fierce battles and experiences were reflected from its countless scratches. While an iron mouthpiece hid his identity coupled with a red bandana on his head, tying his long brown hair.
He looked around 5'11 in height, but with a wingspan far larger than his size would imply. Not to mention his muscles and extremely toned body apparent from his limbs.
Just from afar, one could tell he was the leader of the gang.
Brandishing his skull-flagged spear, he took on a fighting stance and stared his opponent in the eyes. But after seeing his foe clearly, he laughed; "Oh, it was just a sissy."
However, instead of getting riled up, she calmly sheathed back her daggers and clapped, "Okay students, here in front of us is an incredible opportunity." She turned around.
Removing her cloak, she added. "Everyone, please come out. We'll have our first lesson."
The rest of the bandits who were distanced finally saw her and drooled at the sight. "What a jackpot!" They all thought, thinking of indecent acts of what they would do if they catch her.
But Celine paid no heed to the stares that would normally enrage her and simply continued, "Especially so that we have many practice dummies, not using them would only contribute to world pollution." She smiled sadistically.
Hearing her remark, a vein popped up on the spearman's forehead. "How dare you belittle the great Elijah and his dark knights!" He shouted as he began to charge, dashing in a meandering manner.
"YARGH!" He grunted as he thrusted his spear but was evaded. Not wasting a second, he followed up with a barrage of strikes. But Celine effortlessly dodged all attacks even with her back against the person.
Elijah sped up, making the strikes almost invisible to the naked eye. While also planting his feet on the ground firmly to add more power.
However, Celine remained unfazed as she kept up with the acceleration easily.
Fed up, he let his guards down and went all out. His attacks becoming more viscous and lethal every second. At one point even started twisting and turning like snakes.
But in spite of all that, she didn't bat an eye.
The demonstrated strength should have been enough to state their skill gap, yet even so, Elijah kept on thrusting and slicing.
Suddenly, Elijah was blown away again, but this time further and higher. Sent flying, he was caught by his men, saving him from falling to his death.
Humiliated and fuming with anger, he ordered. "GET THEM!" Finally swallowing his pride and using his men.
Upon the signal, the restless brigands charged into battle.
Along with his platoon, he stood up and followed as flames started engulfing him. After dissipating, an orange blaze covered his body like armor made of magic, With red blazing eyes to match the look.
[ Flame Wrath ]
With arrogance, he yelled, "Plunder my men! Tonight we shall have a feast! Accompanied by a breath-taking beauty!"
With a wide, sinister grin, Celine continued. "For today's class, I will have each and one of you get your first human kills."
In sync with her words, blood suddenly splattered from all directions.
One by one the thieves exploded. Guts and organs were scattered all around.
Dismembered body parts dropped to the ground like rain.
While the blood flowed downstream, past the envoy, past the path they once were;
Today, the green plains shall be painted bright red by the blood of the damned.
Behind Celine, stood a towering shadow; "I won't let you." Wielding a tainted long sword.
Duke uttered, covered with blood.
"I wasn't planning to anyway." She laughed. "But I guess this was enough,"
Celine said followed by a maniacal chuckle.
The flaming spearman froze seeing the slaughter. Sweating profusely, he tried running away. The difference in strength finally sunk in, but it was too late;
He felt a stinging pain in his chest.
Looking down wearily, he saw the problem; a hole bore through his chest.
As the blood gushed out of his torso, the glint in his eyes faded. Breathing his last, he first kneeled before dropping down to the cold ground.
Seeing the literal bloodbath, everyone but Michael puked.
He didn't know whether it was because he had already killed someone that he was undisturbed. No, he was. No human could stay calm under these conditions.
Even though you know they're evil, you won't help but shudder to see your own kin torn to pieces; you will feel it on an instinctual level.
But it didn't affect him as much.
At that moment, the only thought that came to his mind was, "Holy fuck."
Duke, the second general specializing in strength, was able to cut down every single enemy in a second.
If he was that fast…
Then how strong is the first general, Celine Fantasi?
The reveal of strength made him wonder…"Just how will I be able to survive in a world like this?"
"What do you mean?" Duke asked.
"Did you really think I would let them kill already? Well, I would, but they won't be able to."
"So I went for the second best option, blood."