I was completely at a lost of what to do. Everything happened like a flash and Tok was gone before I knew it.
Let's first calm down. I need to think, why is this happening.
Was their target Tok? Unlikely. He's just a kid and an orphan, there's very little reason to do so. Then, the reason they took Tok is... Nasha!
If my speculation is correct, Nasha was someone with quite the influence and her strength seemed to be respected. Everyone that knew here was in someway scared of her and so they can't take her by force. By using the children, they can easily blackmail her.
By why now? There's plenty of opportunities to capture us when we were in the forest. Perhaps it's because she isn't here? Is she so powerful that they need to be so wary of?
All the dots were connected in my mind, revealing the story of why. But then... what next? What can I do?
"Tok!"
Hubris sprinted forward, running to where the enemies escaped. With barely enough strength, I stop Hubris before the barrier.
"STOP! STOP YOU IDIOT!"
Hearing my voice, Hubris snapped out of his panicked state. He looked nervous and shocked.
"We- we need to stop them!"
Ha!
I scoffed silently in my mind.
"And? How are you going to do that? Do you want to get captured too?"
Hubris was taken aback, he looks surprised as if the thought never entered his mind. My voice got colder, feeling disgusted.
"What can you do to help him?"
Hic!
Ah. I have done it. Hubris was crying in front of me. Am I stupid? What am I doing at this time?
'You know you hate him.'
'You wanted this.'
'You wanted him to suffer.'
A horse voice called out. It was my voice. It was my brother's voice. It was my father's voice.
They drag me down, making my head hurts even more.
The helplessness, the stress and the despair gathered into a well, drowning me in.
Stop it! I didn't wanted this! I wanted to get along too! Why...
"Ken...hic..."
"Please.. hic... if you can save Tok. Please.."
So he said. Hubris was begging me, tears falling from his eyes. His head blocked the sun and his bright orange eye shone even more intensely.
I see. That's why I hate him. We are too similar.
'K.'
I called in my mind. No one answered.
'K. You are there, I know you are.'
'Help me.'
'Please help me.'
A snarky voice answered back.
[Yo.]
'I need your help.'
[I can tell. Hmm~ tell me why I should.]
I knew he was watching. He has been doing so every since we met. It was clear from the connection to my soul.
'I'll own you one.'
[You better be. Alright, I'll give you enough power to bring him back.]
'Thanks K.'
[You take debt too easily man. Well it works for me though.]
I ignored his nonsense and look back at Hubris. He was no longer crying, only sobbing slightly. Despite his size, he wasn't tough at all.
"Hubris." I said gently.
"Take care of the others for me. I'll bring Tok back, I promise."
"Ken..?"
I turned back and face the direction the enemies headed at. Taking a deep breath, I calm wildly beating my heart.
'I'm ready.'
[You got 1 minute.]
I could feel the immense power surging from my soul. The power flowed through my veins, etching itself in every corner of my body. Powers followed my breath and entered my eyes.
3. There were 3 souls hidden nearby. I could see them through the trees, the dirt as the bushes. It was as if my eyes were a pair of heat vision goggles but for souls.
Putting power in my legs, I leaped towards the nearest enemy. Arriving in less than a second, I punch his face before jumping to his comrades nearby.
Repeating the same action, I took out the 3 with 4 seconds. I look towards the north where I can see a dark purple and a bright blue one soul along with 2 more. I could feel it was them.
The distance is about 2.4 km. I put more power into my legs and dash forward.
5 seconds... 7 seconds... 9 seconds...
I reached their spot at 11 seconds. 42 seconds left. Only the leader has noticed my arrival.
Quickly taking advantage of my quick arrival, I gathered power in my arms and punch at the nearest enemy. An explosion occurred, blowing of their head.
Adrenaline was rushing to my head. I couldn't care less about the weight of my actions and focus solely on saving Tok. 38 seconds left.
The green soul enemy erected a barrier covering him and the rest and another barrier covering me.
Covered by the barrier, I feel my power wavered as if suppressed by something. But it didn't matter.
I broke the barrier covering me in 2 punches and the one covering them in 4.
32 seconds left. The robed figure seemed to panic, groveling to the ground. Are they begging? Praying? Didn't matter.
My fist headed to the enemy, their body burst like a balloon. Next was their leader.
He seemed shock at something. I could vaguely hear him say something about the red king.
I look at Tok in his arm. If I attack the head, he won't be harmed.
27 seconds left, plenty of time. The leader makes up his mind and toss Tok away, summoning a large purple scythe. A purple mist covered it's tip.
Slashing and punching. The exchange lasted for 6 seconds. Strange purple flower bloomed on my body but soon withered away. The purple scythe broke like a piece of glassware.
20 seconds left. I could feel strength slowly leaving my body. The leader, half his body gone, bowed down. Blowing his head of, I ran and pick up Tok unconscious body.
Covering him in a red barrier, I ran as fast as I can back. The speed was evidently slower.
4 seconds left. I could feel something blocking the path. Another barrier? Using one hand, I tear the barrier open like a piece of paper.
I put Tok before Hubris, the red barrier was now gone.
1 seconds left.
[And... times up!]
My body stopped. Countless wound open up in my body. My bones were crushed and my heart was no longer beating. A layer of red covered me.
I fainted from the shock, falling in a pool of blood.