Ash had packed up their camp and was getting ready to head out. They had spent enough time in this area and it was time to move.
There were monsters to slay, and daylight was burning. Ash looked at Grim who looked back at him, they nodded at one another in understanding as they headed deeper in the valley.
Mist danced around our protagonists as they moved, the sun had just begun to shine before sending down light rays of warmth.
The smaller animals like clay bellied rabbits, solar flies, or spear headed snakes observed the pair quietly. A steady calm flowed about as none of the surrounding beasts moved against the pair.
Grim flew slightly ahead of Ash and observed the sky and tree tops while Ash himself was responsible for the ground. After about twenty minutes of walking, the pair ran into some trouble. Surprisingly, it wasn't just beasts but some humans.
Unlike previous encounters, Ash was immediately discovered. A bunch of buff boys were slaying some monkeys, while some of them were beating a boy. The kid had a big head and little body. His frail arms and legs curled up desperately to protect his body.
"Stop kid, you come any closer and you're dead." Said one of the boys, curiously none of them wore shirts.
'They look like barbarians without the tattoos.'
Ash stopped but conveyed to Grim that they need to stay alert. Grim moved back a bit and then sat on Ash's shoulder.
The boys beating the frail looking kid stopped for a moment to look at Ash, but then went back to beating the frail kid. The boy taking the beating however, directed an inconspicuous gaze to Ash. One filled with calculation and intelligence. Nobody caught the glance as the boy maintained a fearful expression as he was being kicked.
Ash wasn't liking his odds against this group and less so the bullying of someone clearly weaker than them. The four boys fighting the monkeys had slain the last one. They quickly turned their attention to Ash. They only used their bodies, and he didn't see their beasts in sight.
The four boys looked at Ash's hunter attire and realized he was without status and a group. Their gaze now held malice, the type that predators held towards prey. " Give me all your shit kid and we will only beat you lightly," one of them said.
Ash screamed some profanities internally. This is why humans were worse than beasts, they wanted to rob him and still beat him afterwards. Ash was about to retreat when he heard the kid getting bullied speak. "Wait, what if we used him for the plan?"
The three boys that were by the frail kid proceeded to dish out some more kicks to shut him up. His words seemed to have made a light bulb go off in their heads, however.
Ash was about to run when two of the boys flashed and appeared behind him. "Damn it, they have movement techniques. I won't be able to run and seeing how easily they killed those monkeys, they most likely have better stats.
There are too many to fight off, I should hear what they have to say and plan an escape accordingly." Ash calmed Grim through their link and proceeded to ask the barbarian boys what they wanted.
All of the boys smiled when he asked but Ash immediately felt something off. " You are going to go into a cave and lead a monster out of it's nest.
Once you do your job we will set you free. One of them threw a talisman at Ash, he was about to dodge when the two boys behind him moved like the wind and appeared on either side of him.
Locking him down in an iron grip, he couldn't move. The talisman hit his chest and disappeared. Grim flew up fast, ready to attack but Ash told him to stop.
Ash saw the look in the other two boys that had not acted and even the three who surrounded the frail boy. They waiting for him to make a move in order to beat on him, and he would have no chance of retaliation.
He didn't know what that talisman was but proceeded to find out a moment later. A shocking current traveled through his body dropping him to the ground. Cold sweat now running down Ash back.
"You do what we say and we'll stop the talisman effects once our mission is complete. You disobey and we electrocute you to death, said one of the boys."
"Just like that shit goes south, "thought Ash.