Miko
Ish knocked again, this time with a worried fervor behind his taps.
He looked back at us with an awkward smile. One that said 'Don't worry, he'll answer the door anytime now!'
As he knocked 5 more times, it became very evident that his friend wasn't going to answer the door.
Stepping forward, I attempted to open the door. Unlocked.
"Zy's paranoid... he'd never leave his door unlocked!"
Zyan was a close friend of Ish. According to him, they had grown up together and even helped with each other's experiments and other science stuff. Until Zyan became paranoid of the world, believing every corner to hold some deadly monster.
Hiding himself in this house, he did his best to make his existence unknown. He did his best to watch the world while keeping it blind to himself.
I was the first to stumble upon his dead body. The first to see his eyes gouged... no, burnt, out of his head. The first to see his inanimate scream.
"Oh my god..." Ish's muffled gasp indicated that he was the second. Or maybe Farv was just silent from shock, as he never reacted.
Kneeling down, I inspected the corpse to see if I could find any clues as to who killed him.
It was impossible. The burnt corpse was far too mangled to make out any meaningful details.
Standing up, I stepped aside so that Ish could say his farewells to his friend.
As he knelt, I whispered, "I'm sorry."
Ish gently grabbed one of the man's arms, laying the arm so that his hand would lay over his chest.
"Farewell, friend. May the beyond be kind."
Farv and I exited the room, allowing him to pay his final respects.
This was a foreboding discovery. So far our search only led to death.
Aruna, I'm coming for you! I promise.
After a few minutes, Ish left his friend behind, closing the door as he left the room.
"I think I know who did this. You guys go ahead, I have to make sure my kids are safe."
Worried for his safety, I exclaimed, "Shouldn't I come with you then!?"
He smiled through his tears, saying "If you would, I'd be forever grateful. But the culprit of this attack... is going to go into hiding soon. So I'd imagine you would want to go save your princess."
That is what I want... but I can't just leave his kids in that much danger! If I did, how could I look at myself again? How could I look at Aruna again!
Turning to Farv I prepared to give him a solemn duty. "Farv, do you think you could trail them long enough? I'm sorry, but I can't leave his kids in danger. Aruna would never forgive-"
"Consider it done." He said as he tapped my chest 3 times.
Relief flashing across his face, Ish said, "I think it has to be this newcomer. I haven't seen him myself, but the word from my colleagues is that he's especially malicious. His victims are often left disfigured, like... Anyway, be careful. He should be somewhere here, in the east district, right now. His name is Hito."
...
Roan
"You sure you know nothing?"
I studied the insolent man as my sword rammed further into his arm. Another informant that would deny me the information I needed.
It was time to relearn all of my old torture tricks.
Gripping his jaw, I forced his eyes to look into mine. To see my malice.
"Well, let me tell you what I know. I know where your family lives. You have a little girl, maybe 9, that loves to dance."
He began to whimper, but his pathetic cries didn't turn into any answers.
"Tell me, if I break her legs, would she still be able to dance?"
His eyes grew wide, his mouth fluttering as it attempted to make any sound. If it made a sound that wasn't the princess's exact location, I would be inclined to break it.
I cocked my eyebrow to reinforce the question. This only led to more whimpers, so I pressed onward.
"How's Fern doing? Is he a good big brother? I heard he's supposed to be married soon. Maybe I'll gift his sister's head to him at his wedding."
I watched with distaste as tears began flowing down this man's face. All he had to do was give me the location of the princess and I'd be on my way. Instead, he had to go and make everything complicated.
I pulled the 3 swords out that were holding him suspended in the air, letting my arm do the job all on its own. His arms unable to move due to his injuries, he had no defense against my hand squeezing his jaw.
I can be merciful though. Dropping his body to the ground, I asked him the final question. "Where is the princess? Just lead me her way, and your family will be fine."
He finally learned how to talk. "I- I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! We- we were forced t-"
"I don't care about your apologies."
"S-s- I- He's in the e-"
A sudden horror filled my being as his entire body blew apart, dousing me in his blood, guts, bones, skin, hair, and the like.
It's been a while since I was covered with this much blood.
What's the E?
Maybe he meant the East district? But someone doesn't want you to know that.
Damn it all. It's as good a lead as any.
Miko
We were just returning to Ish's house. During our entire trip here, I couldn't help but worry for Farv. And Aruna.
Sure, he's grown stronger, but these people we're dealing with... something told me they were horrible news. They were a force such that no amount of training could prepare Farv to face them.
But I had to trust him. Just as he trusts me.
Just as Ish trusts me, I thought as I took note of 2 adult humanoid figures in his house.
Grabbing Ish's shoulder I demanded, "Stay here."
Although he met my command with defiance, the second he saw my face he understood.
Equip.
Dragon's breath would be useless. But my newest skill wouldn't.
"Give me The Lord's Weapon."
I heard a gasp behind me as a sword appeared out of thin air to the right of me. To my surprise, it actually wasn't a replica of the demon sword.
Does that mean the sword actually won't level up alongside me?
No matter, with just 1 look I could feel the power emanating from it. Its mere presence had the land begging to be spared. The light brimming from the sword radiated into perfect darkness.
It was the perfect weapon, created for the perfect soldier.
Passive perk failed: Executioner's blade.
Passive perk failed: Catalyst of Destruction.
Whoever was on the other side of this door had overwhelming strength. I didn't even need my system display to tell me that, the pressure they emitted was one that made me feel as if I had sunk into the deepest parts of the ocean, of hell.
They were also threatening Ish's kids. I had no time to waste on fear.
Before I even opened the door I felt a hand reach for my throat.
Using nothing but instinct to dodge, I rolled past him while using The Lord's Grasp to propel myself even further.
Unlike the successful attempt against the Elven boss, this time my trick was stopped short.
I winced as the second person kicked me mid-roll, knocking me into the wall. As black sparks filled my vision, it was all I could do to stand. If it wasn't for my new skill, I would've died right there.
But this little chance was all I needed.
Readying my sword, I took care to keep my back to the wall. Although they could flank my sides, I knew if my blind side was safe I at least stood a chance.
Now that I could get a good look at the 2, I realized a startling fact. They both had a tattoo on their face, similar to the one I had when using Release.
Do they have systems too?
[No, kid.]
I jumped at my system's sudden speech. Ever since the Leviathan, he had been silent. Not a single word.
He picks a hell of a time to show up. He probably just wants to kill.
[Sure. I'd love to take over and kill these inbreds.]
Inbreds? And no, you're not taking over.
The soldier on the left lunged at me, forcing my thoughts back into the present. The small size of my sword was shown to be a real hindrance.
As he continued his assault, I could feel myself losing an immense amount of energy with each strike. Before long, I'd be completely overrun. And that's with my sword doing a phenomenal job at keeping the other assailant at bay.
Passive perks failed. Enemy is multiple class levels above you.