With slow and careful movements, the man stood up and wiped the dirt from his cloak. His twisted grin returned as he reached for his massive sword, gripping it tightly. "I've had enough of you," he mutter, his voice filled with anger.
Haruto braced himself, planting his feet firmly and preparing for another attack. Every muscle in his body tensed as he watched the man's every move. But then, something unexpected happened.
The air grew cold—unnaturally so—and Haruto felt a sudden, chilling pressure envelop his body. Before he could react, his limbs locked in place. Panic surged through him as he realized he couldn't move.
"What's going on? Why can't I move? What did you do to me?" Haruto shouted, his voice laced with both fear and anger. He strained against the invisible force holding him, but it was no use. His body refused to respond.
The man laughed menacingly, the sound low and sinister, as he stepped closer to Haruto, his sword dragging ominously against the ground. "Oh, don't worry about it, kid," his eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "I just used a bit of my mana to stop your little game of dodging. Now, let's see how you beg."
Just as the blade was about to come down, a voice called out from the darkness.
"What's going on here?"
One of the farmers, drawn by the noise, had approached from the fields. He carried a lantern, its flickering light casting long shadows as he stepped closer, his eyebrows narrowed in confusion.
The man froze for a split second, glancing toward the interruption. His grin twisted into something darker, more impatient. "Ah, another one," he muttered, as though the farmer was nothing more than an inconvenience.
The farmer stepped forward carefully, raising the lantern higher. "Hey! Leave the boy alone—"
The man shifted rapidly in a blur before finishing his sentence. His blade flashed, catching the light for an instant before slicing clean through the farmer. Blood sprayed across the ground as the farmer collapsed with a thud, the lantern falling from his hand and shattering. The flames reach the bushes, causing them to burn fiercely.
Haruto's heart sank as he stared at the lifeless body, his breaths coming in rapid gasps. Turning back to him, the man maintained his cruel grin.
"Now, where were we?" he said, his voice dripping with mockery.
He put the sword Haruto's face, slowly moving his sword, leaving a stinging cut along his left chin.
The man chuckled darkly, savoring the moment as he prepared to end Haruto's life once and for all. Raising his sword high, he smirked. "Time to finish this, kid."
Just as the blade was about to come down, a voice interrupted. "Well, now, this is interesting."
The man paused, his head tilting towards the source of the voice. A figure emerged from the shadows near the road of the town, his movements casual yet purposeful. "What's going on here?"
It was Raion, his golden hair catching the faint light as he stepped closer, his hands stuffed into his pockets. His carefree expression didn't match the gravity of the scene before him, but his sharp eyes took in every detail the dead farmer, the injured Haruto, and the bloodthirsty man standing over him.
Raion's voice held a teasing lilt as he addressed the attacker. "You're the guy folks have been whispering about, huh? Causing trouble, spilling blood… You sure know how to make a name for yourself."
The man glared, clearly annoyed. "Why can't you people just let me have fun with my prey?"
Raion tilted his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Fun? That's what you call this? Messing with a kid and slaughtering farmers?" He let out a short laugh, his tone mocking. "You've got a real twisted idea of a good time."
The man looked, his grip on his sword tightening. "Listen, boy, this doesn't concern you. Walk away while you still can, or you'll regret it."
Raion's grin widened, his carefree demeanor unshaken. "Walk away? Nah, that's boring. Besides, I've been looking for something to keep me entertained." He slowly cracked his knuckles, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous edge. "Why don't we see if you're as tough as you act?"
The man's smile deepened as he took a step toward Raion. Haruto, still clutching his bleeding face, watched the exchange with a mix of awe and confusion. Raion's confidence was unsettling, but there was something about him a presence, a calm intensity that made it impossible to look away.
Raion glanced at Haruto briefly, his grin softening just a fraction. "Hey, must be that kid from earlier. Sit tight. This won't take long."
The man let out a sound of frustration, charging at Raion with his sword raised. Raion's grin didn't move as he shifted his stance, ready to meet the challenge head on.
The man's eyes gleamed with rage as he charged forward, his blade cutting through the air with blinding speed. Raion's eyes flicked to the sword, his grin unfazed, and in one fluid motion, he stepped aside, letting the blade narrowly miss his side. But the man wasn't finished. He swung again, faster this time, anticipating Raion's dodge.
Raion blocked the strike with a swift twist of his wrist, the swords clashing with a sharp, metallic ring. The force sent a rush through Raion's arm, but he held firm, his stance unshaken. The man's eyes flashed with determination as he pressed the attack, his movements quick and precise, as if trying to overwhelm Raion with speed and ferocity. Every slash, every thrust seemed to come from a different angle, testing Raion's defenses.
For a moment, it looked like the two were evenly matched. Raion's eyes brightened with amusement, his body flowing with each strike, dodging and blocking with ease. His grin remained, but there was a hint of something else now boredom. The man, though quick and skilled, was no match for Raion's natural reflexes and strength.
Raion's playful attitude slowly began to shift as the fight continued, the man's attacks becoming increasingly desperate.
"You're quick, I'll give you that," Raion said, his voice low, a mocking edge creeping into it. "But you're still far from my level." His grin widened as he effortlessly sidestepped another slash.
The man's breaths came in ragged gasps, frustration seeping into his movements as he continued to strike. His sword was a blur, but Raion's casual movements made it seem like the man was moving in slow motion.
Raion's grin turned into a wicked smirk as he eyed his opponent. "Alright, alright," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Let's see if you can keep up when I actually try."
In an instant, Raion's demeanor shifted. His movements became faster, sharper, more lethal. His sword flashed in a blur, and the man barely had time to react before Raion's blade met his. Each strike from Raion was a precise, deadly hit, overwhelming the man with a relentless onslaught of blows.
The man, now on the defensive, stumbled back, struggling to keep up with Raion's newfound speed. His sword was no longer a threat, only a shield, and even that wasn't enough to protect him. Raion's strikes were like a storm, rapid and unstoppable, each blow pushing the man closer to his breaking point.
"This is the kind of battle I enjoy," Raion mocked, his voice taunting as he swung his sword with ease, knocking the man's weapon from his hands. The man's sword clattered to the ground, useless now.
Raion leaned in close, his grin widening as the man staggered back, eyes wild with fear. "You were never even close to my level," Raion sneered. "And now, you're about to learn just how outclassed you really are."
With a quick flick of his wrist, Raion sent the man tumbling to the ground, his body crashing with a sickening thud. The man's chest heaved with labored breaths, but he could do nothing as Raion stood over him, the intensity in his eyes a stark contrast to the mockery in his voice.
"You thought you could beat me?" Raion asked, his tone dark and amused. "You weren't even worth my time. But now, I'm done playing around."
Raion stepped back, his gaze never leaving the man, who was now too broken to even move. The defeated figure lay on the ground, gasping for breath, as Raion turned and walked away, his steps light and unconcerned.
"Pathetic," he muttered under his breath.