'Phew! I managed to escape!' At a corner of the tavern, the man that was caught in the act took a deep breath to calm down as he remembered that moment.
'Apart from the headmistress, no one else can recognize me when disguised in the tavern, that boy…!' His eyes narrowed.
'He really is something else'.
Despite feeling bad and a bit panicked that his biggest secret was just discovered by no one else but a student that he targeted every class, this man shrugged it off casually as he thought back to that moment.
'That tremor…,' His eyes narrowed again.
Bzzz!
Gray astral energy appeared around him and he seemed to warp, turning into afterimages as he disappeared from this corner the next moment.
…
Somewhere in Coca Market, where the rows of stone building stalls were located, a mighty red fire erupted, burning fiercely.
This was not natural fire; it was induced by astral energy.
BOOM!
"Argh…!"
"Ahhhh…!"
"Run! Armed robbers!" Traders and buyers yelled in fear as a great commotion started instantly in the market, the non-users running helter skelter.
The fire originated from one of the stone building stalls, a shop selling all kinds of shoes, including astral hunter-grade shoes. Half of this stall and its goods were already consumed by the flames, including 2 servant workers.
As for the merchant who owned the shop, his personal body guard, a low-tier Legionnaire Stage Warrior protected his contractor with his life.
Wielding a sharp machete, he faced the robbers bravely.
As for his opponents, they were 8 astral travelers.
All 8 wielded dangerous looking weapons and their leader, a red-haired young man wearing only some tattered shorts, opening his chest that had a sword scar on it faced the Merchant and his guard intimidatingly.
"Where is the magic crystal?" He demanded arrogantly.
"Hand it over now!"
The merchant pushed his guard over. "Save me!"
Whoosh!
One slash of this red-haired man's hand and the guard who stumbled forward lost his life as a thin blade made out of fire energy sliced his head off from his body.
Seeing this scene, the 4 or 5 astral warriors that stopped to see the commotion scurried away instantly as they lost all motivation to protect the non-users, disappearing into the chaotic market.
"Hand it over!" The red-haired astral traveler roared.
Staring at his dead bodyguard, this merchant felt like disappearing into nonexistence. He stammered. "I-it's not here yet!"
"They were supposed to deliver it more than 4 hours ago".
"I-I swear, I don't have it yet!"
The red-haired man smirked. "As if I would believe you".
"Flame Technique: Level 2 Burn- Incineration!"
BOOM!
Flames erupted from the legs of this astral traveler as he rose into the air. In mid-air, all the flames converged beneath his legs, forming a circlet of concentrated flames as he descended with the circle of flames.
The merchant felt his soul leave his body; he saw death in the face.
This was when they arrived.
5 seconds earlier…
Listening to the words of the merchant and arriving at the scene of the explosion, seeing the stall that was in flames, Shaggy's eyes widened.
"That's the merchant that we are supposed to deliver the goods to!"
Instantly, this made them even more responsible for his safety.
Watching the red-haired man kill the merchant's body guard so effortlessly, Shaggy could tell instantly that he was at the same level as him. The red-haired man was a low-tier Knight Stage warrior.
And yes, one look was all Shaggy needed to tell this warrior's pathway. He was a Warrior Transmutator just like him.
"…!" Ramon felt a bit sick on arriving at the scene, especially what happened.
Seeing the bodies that were scorched to death by the explosion, witnessing the body guard forfeit his life so casually, he felt his brain twist in an unnatural way.
This was not Ramon's first-time seeing people die.
The patriarch occasionally executed thieves that invaded his farm back home. Yet, for some reason, he felt that all those deaths were justified then.
But this death, was it justified?
What did this astral warrior working as a guard to survive do to deserve such a meaningless death?
Ramon was just 10 years old but these thoughts messed up his mind.
Shaggy noticed this and he hesitated. His first instinct was to retreat to protect Ramon but on second thought, he went on with his initial plan.
Retreating would put a blemish in Ramon's academic record if the merchant died since they were kind of responsible for what happened to him.
A blemish could ruin a promising student's journey through the academy.
Shaggy didn't want this for Ramon.
"Ramon, focus!" Shaggy slapped him on the shoulder even as they kept on running closer to the scene. "Can you do it?"
Silence.
Shaggy slapped him again. "You can't afford to be distracted!"
"You were taught this in your sword department. This is battle!" He glared at the little boy. "Tell me you're ready let's go through with this!"
Ramon finally snapped out of his reverie. He looked ahead and seeing the frightened merchant, Ramon felt a nut twist in his head.
He won't be able to live with himself if he let this man die. He was the reason why this merchant could not provide what the robbers needed to them.
Shing!
Ramon grabbed Storm Breaker and she vibrated. "I'm ready!" He growled.
"Good," Shaggy looked ahead. "I'll take on the red-haired man".
"Try your best to distract the others".
"They are all Legionnaire Stage Warriors and are pretty weak but you can't beat them alone, just try to distract them".
"Just stick to the basics and you'll survive".
Despite saying it, Shaggy was unconvinced, Ramon was up against 7 literal Legionnaire Stage Warriors with 2 of them stronger than Ramon by a tier.
It would require a miracle for him to survive.
What Shaggy hoped on though was that seeing both of them go at the armed robbers, the other astral warriors lurking around would get the confidence to interfere. His hopes were placed on them.
"Ramon, don't die on me, survive!"
Shaggy finally moved. Touching the ring that was on his left hand, Shaggy accessed his storage ring as he pulled out a gigantic hammer the next moment.
Instantly after the hammer came out, Shaggy's aura became heavier.
"Sand Technique: Quicksand!"
"Earth Technique: Hammer- Heavy Elemental Blow!"
Instantly after Shaggy moved, Ramon saw his technique for the first time.
Shaggy was an Earth Warrior Transmutator.
The ground under his legs instantly turned to quicksand as under his control, he rapidly accelerated towards the red-haired man even as a brown heavy aura surrounded his body.
The red-haired man noticed his approach and turned to face him.
It didn't matter though; Shaggy already had the initial momentum.
While moving rapidly through the ground with his quicksand trick, his hammer dragged through the ground and in the process attracted the surrounding earth like a magnet, forming a sturdy rocky layer around it.
Arriving, Shaggy instantly raised his hammer with both his hands as his brown astral energy spiked, then he struck with all his power.
BOOM!
Reacting at the last moment, the astral traveler was able to coat both his hands with flames to defend but Shaggy's attack destroyed his defense with impunity, shattering his bones and putting him at a disadvantage instantly.
Ramon was impressed by the sight.
He wanted to admire Shaggy's battle but he knew that he also had a battle of his own as 4 of his enemies now charged towards him.
As for the remaining 3 others, they went towards the merchant.
His small 10-year-old physique gave him this advantage.
'Are they going to kill him?' Desperation filled this 10-year old's head.
Watching the tall hefty men walk towards him, Ramon could not help but feel fear but he gritted his teeth and fought it all back. 'The future King of astral travelers can't run away from a fight in fear!'
'The Fate Destroying Emperor would not run in fear!'
'Heck! Even Joel won't run in fear!'
With Sword Breaker still on its hilt with his right hand on it, Ramon harnessed his astral energy. As it erupted, he focused it on his legs and went on a dash.
"Get him!" One of the 4 men roared.
One of them wielded rubber boxing gloves, another wielded a dagger, one held a machete, and the last one was barehanded.
Ignoring the other 3, Ramon charged at the one wielding a machete.
His instincts told him that he stood a better chance against the brown-haired machete wielding astral traveler, and his instinct never failed him.
"Hehe," The man grinned. "Little boy, go to school, this is no place for a kid like you!"
He didn't even use his machete out of disdain for his opponent, instead he used his free right hand since he was left-handed to try pressing the head of the boy down to show superiority.
This was his mistake, a deadly one.
Ramon already entered a strange zone state at this moment.
"Sword Technique: Quick Draw!"
Whoosh!
Ramon drew his sword and attacked with immense speed, leaving his opponent no time to react.
The man briefly saw golden energy, then a brief white light appeared in his vision, then he saw red, his blood!
"Arghhh…!" The man screamed in pain as his left hand was cleanly cut in 2 from the elbow joint.
Before he could react…
Whoosh!
After executing his new sword technique to perfection, Ramon followed with a basic diagonal downward slash as he sliced off this enemy's left leg.
Instantly after the slash, taking advantage of the forward momentum that it brought, he pushed his body against his opponent's chest, easily overpowering him as he only had 1 leg now.
Instantly after pushing him aside, the little boy rushed ahead.
"…!" The remaining 3 of the initial 4 astral travelers were shocked.
"Watch out!" They warned their remaining compatriots but it was already too late as the little kid appeared before them.
One of them was holding the merchant by the neck, Ramon targeted him.
"Battojutsu Sword Technique: Slicing Mountain; Thrusting River!"
Slicing upwards, Ramon's intention was to slice this enemy from the waist up in twain but just before his sword hit its target, his hand shook.
He could not do it.
Ramon's eyes wavered; he could not take a life in cold blood yet.
Stopping his sword technique mid-way, he changed it to another diagonal slash downwards as he aimed to take this enemy's leg but his brief hesitation was all this warrior needed to react.
Raising his leg even as his astral energy erupted in desperation, he was able to dodge the deadly attack as he retreated.
Finally, the merchant was safe.
"Stay behind me!" Ramon yelled at him.
The merchant was startled, looking down at the little boy but having seen what he just did, he did not hesitate as he stayed behind him.
"Please protect me, I'll pay you massively!"
The merchant was safe but only temporarily, he and Ramon were in even more danger as the remaining 6 astral travelers boxed them in.
It was now a true 1 vs 6 and Ramon had to protect the merchant.
His instincts told him that his only outcome was death.
Ramon had a defiant look on his face though as he glared at them, he looked at brother Shaggy. He had the upper hand but the red-haired man was also powerful as he was able to barely hold his own against Shaggy.
Their intense battle already destroyed 2 more stone building stalls.
Shaggy also noticed Ramon's situation and his heart fell. 'No help came…,' He became desperate even as he tried hard to stay calm.
"Run! Escape! Leave the merchant!" Shaggy roared at Ramon but Ramon didn't answer as he stared defiantly at his enemies.
"Little boy, you think you're powerful huh?"
"How dare you cripple our buddy?" All 6 travelers shamelessly attacked the little boy that looked no more than 10 together.
They didn't care; he already showed his strength which was enough to make them respect him. Afterall, this was the astral world were even the most unassuming person could prove being the most dangerous in battle.
They barely moved though when another energy type appeared.
BZZZ!
Their bodies felt heavy like the world itself pressed against them.
"6 grown men ganging up on a little boy, that's not fair now, is it?"
Those were the last words that they heard; after the whistle, the lingering sound that was left by the blade aura coated by thick gray energy.
Whoosh!
The mysterious savior sheathed back his huge broad sword that he didn't bother to fully unsheathe back in its sheath, he killed them without fully unsheathing his sword.
Then, without looking he raised his free right hand to the left.
"Astral Technique: Gravity; Pull!"
BOOM!
The red-haired man's eyes widened as a strange force acted on his body, pulling him away from his battlefield as his neck landed on a man's thick arms.
Ramon's eyes widened even as his heart beat rapidly, sweat filled all his body.
At that moment, he truly felt that he would die.
Looking up, he recognized him. He didn't have the energy to yell or accuse him like before though, he only whispered. "Fat man".
Mr. Patrick grinned. "You did well kid".
He finally looked at the corpse of the 6 astral travelers. "I know about your vested interest in astral travelers," he looked at Ramon. "This is who they are".
"They kill, they plunder, they cause chaos".
"They are the enemies of our world".
"They are the enemies of peace and justice".
"It is our duty as astral warriors to bring an end to them".
"The day that the last astral traveler dies, the world will be a much more peaceful place".
Mr. Patrick glared at the little kid. "Ramon, never aspire to become them".
"They are the enemies!"
Ramon looked down, exhausted both mentally and physically, yet he still found the strength to whisper. "Not all astral travelers are like them".
He looked up at Mr. Patrick. "They're the pathetic ones".
"Joel is not like them".
Mr. Patrick looked down at the kid without saying a word. 'This boy…!'
Raising his head, he finally looked at the red-haired man who struggled in his grasp to no avail, his face turned serious as he finally asked. "Who sent you?!"
As soon as the question was asked, the red-haired man no longer showed fear as he laughed. "You fell for the trap, hahaha!"
"Hahaha, the will of the world sent me!"
Mr. Patrick's eyes narrowed, then he felt it.
He saw the metal disc powered by powerful wind astral energy only when it was inches away from his neck, Mr. Patrick could not dodge.
WHOOSH!
Mr. Patrick lost his head!