CLANG!
Michael materialized a body-sized wooden shield, framed with iron. On its front, the kingdom's emblem was embedded with copper.
It landed on his limp body, covering his entire shape.
The goblins bashed the shield repeatedly, not thinking of flipping it over despite no one holding it in place.
Michael used the time to gulp down another pill.
Crack—Crack—Crack!
"AHHH!" Michael screamed in pain. His bone re-attached, muscles weaved, ligaments connected, and skin stretched, sewed back together.
Although it fixed in less than a minute, it felt like an eternity for him. It felt like he was in the scorching flames of hell—his insides burned as his body restored back to how it was.
"Ack!" He coughed out blood and saliva. Holding his chest in pain as he huffed and puffed. The process of mending felt worse than the injuries themselves. Even now his body still felt like it was broken despite it already being healed.
But his anger made him hang on during the healing process.
"Seven..!" Michael called out hoarsely.
He had broken down from the mind-shattering pain and innately blamed the Seven—making it his goal for revenge at that moment, making him grit his teeth through the suffering.
Although it was again, misdirected anger. He didn't even know what a 'Seven' is. Nor did he know if it was really the cause of his misfortune. Deep down, he just wanted something to blame.
Right now, he was like a wild beast, growling at its own reflection.
But if it weren't for that hate, he may have already passed out and killed…
Salivating and profusely sweating, he curled up. The banging got louder and louder, with the wood slowly but surely breaking apart.
His bloodshot eyes shone a deadly glint.
Still trembling, he grabbed his shield and stood up. Shuddering.
"KEKEKE!" The goblins laughed at him seeing his bloody figure and shaking body.
But he paid no heed to the mocking chuckles as he balanced himself.
He rooted his quavering feet and shield on the ground and held onto it to support his body.
He tried materializing another weapon but realized he had no more. He clicked his tongue in annoyance but didn't complain and instead charged at the goblins, bashing his shield.
However, his attempt was easily dodged as the goblins got behind his back and-
Thud!
It…kicked him?
Michael turned around to see the goblin who hit him move his fingers, giving him a beckoning sign with its index finger. Expressing, 'Come here' with a smug face, adding fuel to the fire noticing Michael's shocked and enraged appearance.
Instead of finishing him off, the goblin taunted...
"Don't fuck with me!" Michael yelled, charging again recklessly. His eyes turning blank—he can no longer rationalize. He was moving purely from emotions not thinking of the consequences.
Swoosh—Thud!
Michael's attack was easily dodged again. But this time, getting kicked twice by two goblins. The combined strength of the blow made him plunge into the ground, eating the dirt.
"Kekeke!" They all laughed at him. Playing with him seeing his desperation.
Michael bit his lips hearing the laughter of the goblins. He clutched the soil in shame. Remembering a scene just like this, blood trickled down his chin coming from his mouth—blood from his lips...
He stood up and raised his shield, charging. He arched his back and swung it downwards, using its pointy edge on the bottom as a weapon.
Swoosh!
But it hit nothing...The goblins were nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, the surroundings were engulfed by darkness.
The space turned pitch-black and…
Humans…humans appeared and surrounded him. Laughing.
They were laughing at him.
He looked down and saw his old uniform, his body smaller and bruised and cut.
They pointed, then took pictures and ridiculed him. They all looked at him with contempt, wearing the same uniform—a brown blazer and a white shirt.
"N-No…" Michael covered his face.
"No! Stay away!" He cried out.
But the crowd didn't stop, ceasing only a minute later as they made way for a person—a person Michael could never forget.
It was a tall and muscular red-haired teen. He walked towards Michael and stood a few centimeters away from him.
Looking down on him, he smirked before kicking Michael on his solar plexus. "Gah!" Michael coughed saliva. Fear and tears formed in his eyes as he looked helplessly at the man.
He couldn't muster up strength—it was conditioned in his body. No matter how much he tried, his body shuddered as if the one in front of him was a superior being.
But he soon snapped out of it as he remembered the hell he went through—remembering the lives he took. His brows furrowed as his eyes shone killing intent. He's different now.
"AHHG!" His face scowled. He raised his shield again and bashed it at him.
Thwack!
The man easily dodged and punched his back.
"Hng!" Michael grunted. He quickly turned around with his shield and slammed it from the side.
But the man blocked it with his left arm, punching him on the stomach after. "Agh!" Michael puked from impact.
"How?" Michael dropped down to his knees. He was now stronger...He even killed! So why? Why was he on the ground and not him?
The man only grinned before continuing...
He brought Michael up, holding and laying his right arm on his shoulder.
Michael's body knew what was to come and subconsciously raised his left arm above his stomach.
But his block was easily shoved away and...
Plak!
Flat!
Klawp!
He was punched on the stomach repeatedly. Each blow raised his body.
"NHG!" Michael tried holding back his moans of pain but ultimately failed as he yelped and puked blood. His vision turned hazy, the flickers of light—phones taking pictures of him the only thing he was able to discern.
After a few minutes, the man finally released his grip and Michael dropped down to the ground limp.
However, it wasn't done yet. It was far from over.
Then, two teens appeared behind the man. It was his friends that Michael knew all too well.
Like the red-haired man, this brunette slut and the blue-haired bastard were people he could never forget no matter how hard he tried.
They spat before raising him again, locking his hands from behind as the red-haired man continued.
Thud! Thud! Plak! Thwack!
"Please…" Michael started pleading but they feigned ignorance.
Thak!
…
…
'Nothing has changed…'
'Even after all these years, these bastards just can't leave me alone…'
'Please, somebody help me!'
…
'Who am I kidding? Even the gods had forsaken me.'
Michael's body started smoking...
'Will it be always like this? Always running?'
In synch with his darkening expression.
'What did I do to deserve this?'
'No, I didn't.'
'I didn't deserve any of this…so why?'
'WHY AM I SUFFERING?!'
Troinkk!
[ Animosity devours you ]
[ A toxic accumulation brews… ]
[ Congratulations…You have formed the skill, ( Rage ) ]
"Rage?" He looked at the messages with dead and fear-struck eyes—eyes stuck in the past.
The smoke he emitted suddenly turned into orange mist…
Information of the skill directly downloaded into his mind…
And as if second nature, he controlled it flawlessly—he broke free from the shackles as the transparent orange aura exploded before covering his body like armor.
"Agh!" Both the bastard and slut fell down.
His face looked stoic despite the pain he was in earlier—despite tears flowing down his face.
But his anger still reflected from the bulging vein on his forehead. He was in so much anger…it didn't show in his face anymore.
"What the fuck?!" The red-haired man exclaimed.
Thoughts, memories, bottled-up emotions burst out at that instance. Blowing away the crowd.
He couldn't explain what he was feeling. He was just extremely angry because of those who had wronged him.
He can think, but at the same time, couldn't.
He raised his right hand and concentrated his energy there…
A sword formed. A sword made of the orange energy.
With no hesitation, he cut down the three in a heartbeat. He slashed all around like a maniac. Slicing, thrusting, stabbing. There wasn't even anyone there anymore!
Until a few minutes later...
Clang!
He was finally stopped. A person blocked his onslaught with his blade.
"Enough." It ordered.
"!" Hearing the voice, Michael's head cleared and the dark surroundings dissipated along with his deadly energy. He was now back to the forest.
He looked around him to see a bloody mess. However, the towering person right in front of him caught his gaze.
"Sir-"
"Calm down, it's over." Duke suddenly hugged and patted his back. "I'm sorry." He uttered filled with guilt.
Michael's eyes widened before furrowing. Just from the apology Michael could discern that this was on purpose.
He should have been angry for only appearing now—for letting them experience hell whilst he was away who knows where.
But the moment he heard those words, he broke down crying…
"Wahh!"
It was too much for a teen to undergo.
Crack!
Regardless, another moral shackle snapped…
The damage has been done.