Chapter 52
Lucius had spent months exploring the remote mountain forests of this village alongside his partner, Benedict. The organization had dispatched them to this location based on information from a note that suggested something valuable was hidden there.
Despite their persistent search, Lucius and Benedict had grown increasingly frustrated and their expedition seemed to be heading towards failure. It was likely that if they continued to find nothing of significance within the next few months, the organization would reassign them to other productive tasks.
However, fate had a different plan. On this particular day, Lucius and his partner stumbled upon a slightly higher concentration of mana in the area, though it wasn't entirely clear. Lucius wasted no time in notifying the organization, eager to demonstrate their progress.
After all, who wouldn't want a bonus when serving as a subordinate?
Just as the two coworkers were celebrating their modest yet satisfying discovery, they both suddenly heard an unfamiliar sound resembling an explosion in the distance. Intrigued, they approached cautiously, trying not to make their presence known.
To their astonishment, they witnessed a remarkable display of combat skills by ordinary individuals amid the wilderness. What struck them, even more, was the apparent disadvantageous condition of the other party involved.
The dog accompanying the stranger was a seemingly unsuitable choice for hunting—a yellow sheepdog—yet it showcased exceptional abilities, proving the adage "Don't judge a book by its cover."
Adding to the intrigue was the dog's owner, a person with only one hand, who managed to wield a gun with remarkable stability and precision.
A firearm, typically designed for effective use by a two-handed individual, seemed almost inconsequential when wielded by this particular person. The one-handed marksmanship of the individual surpassed even the two-handed proficiency of regular soldiers.
The two observers concluded that the person before them was an unassuming individual with an extraordinary level of skill and professionalism in combat.
Their thoughts naturally gravitated toward inviting this individual to join their organization. Recognizing the potential value the newcomer could bring to the organization, Benedict and Lucius pondered the prospect of gaining significant recognition for recruiting such talent.
However, just as they were contemplating extending their invitation, an unfamiliar sensation enveloped them both effortlessly.
Although not physically visible, their heightened awareness allowed them to perceive this occurrence.
The initially relaxed mental states of Lucius and Benedict gradually shifted, now tensing in response to this strange phenomenon.
They observed the frozen reaction of the other individual, quickly realizing that their presence had been detected. At that moment, Lucius and Benedict comprehended that the person before them was far from ordinary.
"Hahahah, indeed, who with ordinary abilities could achieve such feats!" Lucius exclaimed, recalling Alex's impressive skills.
Upon noticing the gradual appearance of the two familiar figures, Alex's wariness grew, prompting him to inquire cautiously, "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Calm down, friend. We mean no harm; we were intrigued by the commotion," Lucius responded reassuringly.
"We intended to offer assistance. Little did we know that our friend here is so formidable, single-handedly dispatching wolves with just an unassuming sheepdog," Benedict added.
"Alright, gentlemen, no need to worry. I'm safe now," Alex replied, his tension easing.
"Indeed, in that case, we won't disturb you any longer," Lucius affirmed, exchanging nods with Benedict before the two departed.
Observing their departure, Alex paused momentarily before refocusing his attention on the battlefield. Approaching Jamu, he administered a small amount of the dew of life to rejuvenate the dog, although not to its fullest vitality.
Alex, recognizing his fatigue, also partook in the dew of life to restore his physical condition. After tending to Jamu's wounds using whatever makeshift materials were available, he commenced the task of gathering the unconscious wolves.
Despite their seemingly lifeless states, these once-aggressive predators were not deceased; merely rendered unconscious by Alex's precise strikes. With remarkable ease, Alex carried each wolf, demonstrating no sign of strain even as he held a dozen of them simultaneously.
In this fashion, accompanied by the still-recovering Jamu, Alex strolled out of the forest, his demeanor unaffected by the weight of his unusual cargo.
It took a considerable amount of time for Alex to traverse the forest burdened with the weight of the wolves' bodies. By the time he had reached the halfway point, the sky was already tinged with shades of red. Taking a brief respite, Alex regained his energy before resuming his journey.
As Alex prepared to continue with the wolves' bodies still in his care, Jamu's ears perked up, alerting Alex to an impending threat. A wry smile touched Alex's lips as he inwardly acknowledged the inevitability of a confrontation.
As if confirming his intuition, a swiftly thrown dagger narrowly missed Alex, whizzing past his form. Reacting instinctively to the danger, Alex swiftly ducked and evaded the projectile. In an almost seamless sequence, another threat emerged – a longsword arcing toward Alex's front.
Reacting with split-second precision, Alex swiftly retrieved the rifle slung across his body and expertly employed it to parry the oncoming sword strike.
Clang!
The clash of metal resounded sharply, followed by Alex exerting force to push the opponent's sword away using the barrel of his gun. This sudden maneuver forced the assailant to stumble backward, creating some distance between them as Alex also stepped back cautiously.
In this momentary reprieve, Alex managed to discern the identity of his attacker. "Why are you attacking me? Don't we share common interests?" Alex questioned, perplexed by the aggression.
"Hahahah, do you need to ask?" Licuius came with the mocking response.
Initially, Lucius had contemplated recruiting Alex into their organization, recognizing the potential high rewards he could reap from someone of such extraordinary skill. However, a swift change of heart led Lucius to abandon the notion. He believed that someone possessing such remarkable abilities must undoubtedly have valuable treasures.
After some rapid consideration, Lucius signaled to Benedict to join him in pursuing Alex.
Even if Alex didn't possess valuable treasures on his person, Lucius surmised that he might have concealed them in his abode. Before venturing into this area, Lucius had assessed the surroundings of the village and found nothing suspicious or overtly conspicuous. With this thought in mind, he decided to swiftly confront Alex to dispel any lingering concerns.
"Hehe, it's quite evident we're interested in what you own!" Lucius shouted menacingly as his sword arced toward Alex.
Alex acted without hesitation, training his aim on his opponent.
A resounding clash reverberated through the air as the opposing sword stroke was thwarted by the gunshot Alex had expertly fired.
Benedict and Lucius, observing this turn of events, were momentarily taken aback by the unexpected defense.
Amid the commotion, Alex skillfully redirected his aim toward Benedict, who managed to evade the shot but suffered an injury to his chest.
Witnessing this, Lucius's eyes narrowed in response. With a determined resolve, he unleashed a powerful slash aimed squarely at Alex.
Alex quickly reverted to his shooting stance.
Lucius, observing Alex's poised demeanor, sneered arrogantly. "Do you believe you can repeat the same feat?"
With a flourish, Lucius's sword began to dance in the air, akin to a snake in pursuit of its prey.
Undeterred, Alex calmly squeezed the trigger of his firearm.
A sharp report echoed as the bullet whizzed past, narrowly missing Lucius's sword.
Lucius's smirk seemed to convey a message of vindication, but his satisfaction was short-lived. Abruptly, a familiar and pitiful scream pierced the air.
"Arghhhhh!"
Taken aback by the anguished cry, Lucius's confidence wavered. His focus on striking Alex was suddenly interrupted by a surprise attack from an unexpected quarter—a figure brandishing a machete.
Just as Lucius anticipated a clash between the sword and the machete, he was startled to witness the opponent's blade suddenly piercing through his own. He questioned his senses, wondering if he was experiencing a hallucination, but his thoughts became a jumbled mess as the enemy's weapon cleanly bore down upon him.
A surge of profound fear coursed through Lucius's body, akin to the shock of being drenched by frigid Arctic waves from both the north and south.
Swish!
The machete cut through his body with eerie ease, as if it were intersecting with an illusory projection. A faint sensation of pain washed over him, followed by an inexplicable feeling of detachment—as if he had been extinguished in a dream.
Lucius spiraled into a vortex of confusion as his consciousness wavered, then dissolved into nothingness.
"Phew, that was close!" Alex exhaled, his gaze fixed on the bloodied figure before him. He then turned his serious countenance in a new direction.
Benedict, now bitten by Jamu and previously entrapped by the other party, was struck with horror. He and Lucius were what many would deem knights, proficient in using mana to augment both their bodies and attacks. They typically possessed formidable strength, akin to the superheroes depicted in films.
Yet, today, those who held such pride found themselves thoroughly defeated by an unassuming figure like Alex. Benedict's thoughts spun wildly as Alex's machete swiftly arced toward him, leaving him no time for sluggish reactions.
In the end, Benedict met his demise in a state of bewilderment, felled by the sharp edge of Alex's machete.
With the grim task done, Alex proceeded to store the two lifeless bodies, along with the dozen wolf carcasses, within his storage ring. He then employed air manipulation from the ring to obscure any lingering scents in the area.
Following the events, Alex hastened his descent from the mountain, his primary concern being to remove the telltale signs of his recent encounter. While descending, he swiftly exchanged his blood-stained attire for fresh clothing from the ring room. He feared that encountering people with his body covered in blood might elicit horror.
Upon arriving home with Jamu, Alex was greeted by the sight of Lily and Rose engaged in play.
"Hey, where have you two been?" he inquired.
"We were just out with Charcoal for his bath time!" Lily responded.
"Charcoal took a bath?" Alex questioned, mildly surprised.
"Yes, indeed! This plump Charcoal can indeed bathe; he even swam around like a fish in the reservoir!"
"It was a sight to behold!"
The two girls excitedly exchanged comments, expressing their admiration for the buffalo that Alex had introduced to them, proudly recalling their ride on the donkey's back.
Listening to their conversation, Alex nodded in agreement and made a suggestion. "All right, take good care of all the animals in the house. Afterward, clean up and then take a shower."
"Yes, father (brother)!" the girls responded in unison.
Following this, Alex proceeded to take a shower. After cleansing himself, he returned to the room and contemplated the unassuming appearance of his machete. A sense of mixed emotions washed over him. He had never realized just how sharp and vital this tool could be in preserving his life.
With these thoughts in mind, Alex stepped into the ring room and arranged the wounded live wolves within the wild garden. Following this task, he directed his gaze towards the lifeless bodies of the two individuals who had earlier sought to end his life.
...
thanks to: John_Carlo_Jalasco and realkiller11111 for power stone.