Upon Henry's touch, the blade became nothing but shavings and dust. Corruption overtook the metal, weakening it. Given its size, the effect was swift.
The only thing left was the wooden hilt, and Henry Savoy shifted to the side, sending a punch to Rayzor Thayne's gut.
BOOM!
The air exploded where Henry had punched. Rayzor Thayne's stomach suddenly twisted, and he had an urge to puke. But he couldn't, and his body betrayed him. The thing was, Henry hadn't even landed the punch. He knew the buff of brandy was too much, and one actual punch would put a hole in Rayzor's body.
Rayzor Thayne's legs quivered, and he fell to his knees, his ears ringing from the sonic boom and his vision blurred with tears. Weeping, the only thing he saw clearly was Henry Savoy's demonic grin.
"You're a pisser, Rayzor," Henry Savoy snickered before elbowing his face with just enough force to shake his brain, killing him without too much blood spilt.
The eighteen bandits saw it all and began to put down their arms, but that's not how Henry danced. He knew better than to leave these dangerous people alive, so he placed his fingers to his mouth and whistled sharply.
Kagezo emerged from the shadows behind them, slitting throats, Phenix rained volleys of arrows from the rooftops, Fortiana burst out of an alley and smashed a bandit's skull to bits, while Ammonete stood beside Phenix, casting protective spells to ensure their attacks were uninterrupted.
In minutes, the main road had turned into a cesspool of bodies and blood.
Kagezo walked over to Henry Savoy.
"Your plan wasn't half-bad," he said, a mask still obscuring his face.
"Hey, Kagezo, do you have that mask?" Henry smirked. "People will come out, and I don't want them seeing my face," he said. "So, I'd appreciate it if you lent me one for now."
"Sure, but it's a smiling crow. In my culture, it means the bringer of death," Kagezo said, pulling out the mask and handing it to Henry.
The mask was crafted from black wood, with ripples across its surface. The nose was long like a plague mask, and the mouth had a wicked smile. It truly resembled a crow.
"This'll do," Henry said, putting it on. "How do I look?"
Kagezo glanced at him, then at the others who were tidying up the bodies. "It works," he replied.
"It works," Henry Savoy echoed, smiling under the mask.
"Monet, ring the bells," Phenix ordered. Ammonete obliged, quickly ringing the bell of a nearby steeple.
Soon enough, the people of Arcton came flooding out. Parents sent their children home, and the adults helped clean the streets. A few minutes later, the Griffon's Grace stood together, facing the people of Arcton.
It was fortunate they had moved quickly and warned the people. Of course, the townsfolk hadn't believed them at first, so Henry Savoy, suave as ever, had threatened that if they didn't act, he himself would burn Arcton. That got them moving.
The townspeople of Arcton looked at the Griffon's Grace, smiling as if the god Oberin had sent them in time. They waited for a speech or something similar. Henry wasn't the best at speaking, so he nudged Phenix forward. As the leader of the Griffon's Grace, Phenix had to address them. Phenix gave Henry a sharp look but stepped forward, brushing grime from his gloves. His face was calm and reassuring as he spoke.
"People of Arcton, tonight could have been dark. The Griffon's Grace did what we set out to do—protect those who cannot defend themselves. The bandits who threatened you are no more," he said, gesturing to the pile of fallen bandits, prompting murmurs of relief from the villagers.
He paused before continuing. "But know this: the Vorhan Empire's conflicts have left places like Arcton vulnerable. We can't guarantee we'll always be here, so remember this night as a reminder to stay vigilant. Keep close bonds, rely on each other, and remain watchful."
Henry Savoy chuckled, his voice cutting through the sincerity. He stepped forward and sighed, patting Phenix on the back.
From Henry's perspective, the speech was dreadful. He thought it lacked impact. Since he was part of the group, he figured he might as well make himself truly one of them.
"By the gods, I thought I was bad at speaking," he chuckled, gesturing to everyone. "Listen, people of Arcton, do you hear that?"
Everyone looked around, listening intently.
"That's right; there is nothing but peace. But how will you keep this peace? A gardener in a war is common for militia, but a warrior in a garden is rare. I ask you to be both—not because I want you to, but because you need to. These bandits were just twenty men, and they were each half a man compared to that lovely lady there."
He pointed to a farmer's wife, and everyone laughed.
"War will come to your doorsteps, and chaos will follow. Will you flee? Watch your family be massacred, your home razed to ashes, and your memory live on only by word of mouth? Or will you protect your home? Will you ensure your loved ones sleep soundly? Will you keep the sound of peace in this town as it is tonight? Will you fight?"
Silence followed, then a young man raised his pitchfork. "I will fight!"
Then an old man, his voice quivering but strong, said, "So will I!"
Soon enough, the men and women alike joined in.
Henry Savoy smirked as Phenix gave him a playful nudge.
"You're one hell of an orator," he snickered.
"You're just bad at speaking, Phenix," Henry replied, chuckling.
"What are your names, sirs and madames?" an elderly man asked, and the crowd leaned in to listen.
"My name is Phenix the Crimson," he smiled.
"I'm Fortiana," she said, smiling and resting her elbow on Phenix's shoulder.
"Hi, I am Ammonete."
Henry Savoy slipped behind them.
"Kagezo," he raised his hand.
Then the Griffon's Grace turned to Henry Savoy and smiled.
"The people are waiting for you," said Phenix, chuckling. "Stop being coy."
Henry Savoy sighed, half-annoyed, half-amused. "I guess it can't be helped, huh?" He stepped forward and looked at the people. He might as well put on a show.
Opening his arms like a messiah, he declared, "I am Dionysus!"
"Dionysus?" chuckled Ammonete. "What a strange name to give yourself, Henry."
But it didn't matter; the people began cheering their names.
"We are the Griffon's Grace," Phenix shouted, raising his bow.
"Let every evil that dares cross our path taste extreme prejudice!" Henry added, jokingly.
But the people took it seriously.
[NOTICE]
New title added: DIONYSUS.
"Eh?" Henry blinked, looking at the Griffon's Grace. They were all smiling at him. They had no idea what had just happened, but Henry realized something. The title reflected how people perceived him, and now, since he'd given them that name, he would also be known as such.
"Fuck," he cursed underneath his breath, realizing what he'd done.
A self-fulfilling prophecy.