"So, aren't you going to kill him?", The ogre-like red haired man said after clapping his hands while revealing himself along with several other mercenaries clad in red armor. He completely disregarded the fact that I currently had my rapier pierced right through Randy's throat right now. Since it was a really thin blade, the wound itself didn't leak much blood after the initial puncture.
"Now why would I kill him?", I decided to ask. "The battle is already over.".
"You're on the battlefield, lad. There are no buts in a life or death battle. We Jaegers take pride in falling in battle, even if its our own kin.", The ogre-like man said cruelly. "If you decide to let Randolph live now, it very well may bring him shame of his own."
"And if I refuse?"
Hearing me persist in asking that, the ogre-like man revealed a grin. Without warning, he drew out his giant battle-axe, revealing an imposing aura. Slowly, he walked straight toward to me, before he raised his war axe right before my very eyes. It was as if I was now staring death into the face. He spoke out in a firm tone.
"Then are you willing to take Randolph's place and perish by my axe?", the ogre-like man said. After he did a cold air swept our surroundings, despite my villa still set ablaze. A tense moment like this passed in silence, but I didn't back down.
Unfortunately this cold air only lasted for a moment before another figure showed himself beside the several mercenaries clad in red armor. Following it was a sigh from who appeared to be a priest wielding a staff, garbed in a fancy and vibrant robe.
"Didn't I tell you to leave the vessel intact and unarmed, you stupid pea-brain war god.", the voice said, coming from none other than the High Priest himself. I took this time to quickly retract my rapier, causing Randolph to yell out in pain once more. At the same time, I kicked his body away, letting it flail onto the rubble further away.
Seeing this earned another laugh from the war god, who was none other than Sigmund Orlando. Just by being next to him I could feel my skin crawling around. The Gamer System remained silent, but if it reacted, it would sound off loud alarms in my head, telling me to get the f--- out of there. He was that strong. It took all of the SSS to take him down during the azure tree event. And right now, he was drawing his weapon right before me.
"Though I guess the unharmed part is definitely out of the question. You can expect that to be deducted from your pay afterward.", the High Priest retorted Sigmund.
"Haha! All in a day's worth of mira. Randolph was able to go through such a battle, so I'll overlook it.", Sigmund said, slowly pulling is war axe away, placing it back on his shoulder as if its weight meant nothing. As he did, I suddenly felt pain wrack over my body, likely the recoil I had during the fight with Randy. I checked my own health, and it was already below thirty percent. I guess this battle really did a number on me. Randolph Orlando was no joke.
"Kuh...", I groaned, only to cough out some blood. I ended up falling onto one of my knees. However, going back a moment ago when I kicked Randy away, I activated a bit of my mana, triggering my Blood Magic. Since the High Priest was not within sight during that time, as Randy flew onto the ground further away, the wound over both his throat and his right eye closed slowly. The amount of blood he lost was great, but his life was still intact.
I had one last look at the massive figure who didn't seem to be human before I felt my remaining strength leave my body. Plop. I fell face forward, letting my consciousness escape me. Seeing me no longer conscious, one of the nearby Red Constellation jaegers quickly ran up beside me only to kneel down to check my pulse. The other member did the same thing, except at Randy's side.
"Boss! The package is still alive and breathing, but will require some medical treatment. He underwent a rather hefty dose of blood loss during that battle.", the Jaeger quickly concluded.
"Captain Randolph is experiencing a similar effect. However, boss, you might want to come have a look at this...", the other Jaeger said, which drew Sigmund's attention.
"Oh? Randolph is still alive, even after that?", Sigmund asked, interested. He then slowly walked up to Randy's unconscious body.
"Yes. The wounds....it's like they never happened. This is strange, even for me.", the Jaeger answered Sigmund.
"Did the lad cast some high form of healing arts or something? Did he feel pity for his enemy?", Sigmund asked, checking over Randy. Even he found the pierced throat and the closed eye's wounds now healed. One could still see a scar over them though.
"No, boss. No combat orbment has been located within the vicinity. This is why we found this strange.", the Jaeger explained.
"Hoh?", a third voice asked, coming from the High Priest. He then looked down at me, only to reveal a smile. "You are becoming more interesting as time passes. You will definitely serve a good vessel for My Lady. It is a shame we couldn't find you sooner.", the High Priest said, revealing a creepy smile. This also drew interest from Sigmund.
"So even someone like you serves another, eh?", Sigmund couldn't help but ask.
"But of course I do. I am merely a servant to the True One.", the High Priest answered.
"Haha, I always forget that you cultists deny the existence of the Goddess, but that ain't our problem. If the job pays well, we can do it.", Sigmund replied, letting out another laugh.
After he laughed, Sigmund approached my unconscious body and lifted it up with ease. He slung my body over his shoulder.
"And with that, the package has been retrieved and our contract fulfilled.", Sigmund said, revealing a grin.
"Yeah, yeah. Just make sure its still intact by the time I head back to my lodge.", the High Priest complained again. As he did, he walked up to me, only to do a tap of his staff, letting it glow. He did a light chant, and a blue light swirled over my body, which started to heal my wounds. He didn't heal it all the way, just the ones that would save me from putting my life in danger.
"Boss, what should we do with Captain Randolph?", one of the nearby Jaegers asked.
"Apply some first aid and send Randolph back to our home base. Should he ask later, we'll call this match a draw.", Sigmund answered. "At least this will make hell of a story to tell little Shirley later. Despite being a brat who was just born, she is already a bundle of energy, gaha!", Sigmund said, letting out a guffaw.
""Ja!"", the Red Constellation Jaegers acknowledged their leader, letting out a yell in unison.
With that concluded, they left what remained of the Osborne Villa, which was now mostly burnt to a crisp. The higher floors no longer were seen, it was essentially collapsed into itself. Kasia's remains was slowly getting buried into the rubble. The few secret agents around the house have long since bled out, mostly having their orbal pistols either broken or slashes in half. The Red Constellation killed everyone on sight. Large puffs of smoke continued to trail into the starry skies above as the darkness of the night continued on...
Meanwhile, further into the Eisengard Range...
A lone figure clad in a military garb of high rank could be seen quickly darting through the mountainous region. A look of exhaustion appeared in his eyes, but he still had enough energy to carry a little figure who was currently unconscious in his embrace, a black haired child seemingly around five years old.
He had wondered where he kept getting this excess energy from. Well, no, that wasn't correct. This man very well knew where this newfound energy lay. He kept letting it swirl inside of him. As a result, he found his stamina pushing him through the long, long night. It wasn't just that, he found his speed increasing as more time went on, along with the wounds that once dressed his body to be closed up. From the outside, it was as if only his uniform remained a wreck.
"Huff...Huff...", the man said, continuing to run past trees, plains, and eventually stone and rock, which eventually led him further up into the Eisengard Range. He had long blown by the Schwarz Drache Barrier, and completely blew by the industrious city of Roer onto the right. This man stayed hidden, out of sight to any human or monster that may have crossed his path.
Several long hours have passed like this, and dawn was soon approaching. He had already reached the past the Spina Byroad, and soon found himself treading into piles of snow. But neither the cold nor the snow kept this military man from treading. He didn't know when, but he soon found himself in a small town way up north. Despite the look of exhaustion, a smile appeared on his face. He also looked at the unconscious child currently wrapped tightly in a warm blanket. That was all he could find before he began this long trek.
He thought it would take several days, but perhaps it was this unlimited energy he was currently feeling, he felt never better. But at the same time, he wanted to curse this newfound energy, as it was the source of the animosity he was currently dealing with in his life. All which led to the culmination of his home getting burnt into pieces, and his family torn apart.
All he could do now was tread through the city, slowly arriving in front of a large mansion.
"I've finally arrived...", The man uttered. Sure, he did receive that odd look from a couple of the villagers but since dawn was still approaching, there were not that many people out and about. Still, he took the time to ring the doorbell, which a dull sound echoed through the large mansion.
"Yes, I'll be there in just a minute!", a voice of a female said, reaching his ears. One would think a maid or butler would answer the door considering this mansion was fairy big in size, but once the man heard the door click, a dark blue haired woman revealed herself after opening the door.
"This is the Schwarzer Barony mansion. What can I do for you today...?", the woman began to say, only to immediately be greeted by a large shadow. This prompted to look up, only to see a man who was none other than Giliath Osborne. Seeing Giliath standing before her, it took a good moment to register it, but she then saw how badly his military garb was currently torn. Not to mention the child he currently had wrapped in his embrace.
"G-General Giliath!? Oh Aidios, what on earth happened to you!?", the dark haired woman exclaimed in worry.
"I am afraid I cannot say, sister Lucia. Please, I can rely on no other right now. In my time of need, please let me see brother Teo.", Giliath explained. Despite being in front of a Barony, he addressed them with a familial love. Once upon a time, due to Giliath suffering an avalanche in his early years which caused the death of his parents, he was adopted into this very same Barony, albeit only for a little while. Still, it allowed him to grow close to the woman he was currently looking at, as well as the Baron of this home, Teo Schwarzer.
"R-Right away. I will quickly take you to see my husband.", Lucia said in a panic. The three immediately went up to the second floor, arriving at Teo's main office. "Dear, you've got a guest.", Lucia continued to say after knocking on the door.
"Oh? A guest this early?", A voice of a man said, only to come from within the office. It didn't take long before the door opened, only to reveal a middle aged man with spiky blond hair. He was currently wearing a blue shirt underneath an ornate brown waistcoat and black pants. Even his eyes turned wide seeing Giliath and his current appearance.
'...Brother Giliath!? You've looked like you've came right out of Gehenna!", Teo also exclaimed.
"While it is nice to see you two again, as much as it pains me, I cannot remain here for long. Brother Teo, I implore you to look after this child in my stead.", Giliath quickly said, presenting Rean to Lucia and Teo. "The moment you take this child as yours, I will cut off all ties with you two. Even if it was just for a short time, I appreciate everything the two of you have done for me.", Giliath said, revealing a smile.
"General Giliath...", Lucia tried to say, slowly letting tears form in her eyes.
"...I understand. We will take this child under our wing.", Teo answered, seeing Giliath serious. He slowly approached him, only to take the child in his arms. "Does he have a name?", Teo asked.
"Yes. This child's name is Rean.", Giliath answered. "From this moment forth, he will go as Rean Schwarzer.", Giliath declared.
Vol 1 Fin.
*
Keep dropping those power stones!