- It's been a week, from Gliesha to Axel estate roughly, honestly I don't know how much even roughly, but definitely a lot. - Quintus pondered, eating his second roast of the day.
Suddenly a rather loud stomping of hooves could be heard. The sound was from outside the village. Suddenly, only 10 knights ride in on horseback into the village grounds. Seeing a rather noble person, they decided that they were sent here because of him. One of them gets down from his horse, walks up to Quintus and pulls out a package from his bag.
- Did Mr. Axel himself write to me?) - Quintus smirked so that the knight would definitely hear.
- Quintus Conrad, you are accused of taking over lands belonging to the Axel family. If you do not wish further trouble, then..." before the knight could finish his sentence, Quintus pulled out his katana and severed his head.
His body fell to the ground, and the other 9 knights got angry and rushed to attack.
- How dare the wretched humans interfere with me...''
Quintus gathered his strength and ran so fast that it seemed as if he had instantly moved behind the backs of the two knights. He kicked the body with his foot and ended up pushing one of them off his horse. That knight not only fell off his horse, but also fell the other knight off his horse.
When the knight tried to get up his gaze was met by Quintus, who swung and stabbed him in the head. Even the armor he was wearing did not save him and the katana stabbed him in the head. The Emperor of Conrad decided to gloat and picked at the knight's head with his katana.
The man who had also fallen off his horse tried to run away, but eventually Quintus hit him in the right eye.
- Aah!" the knight screamed in pain, and fell to the ground.
Quintus stretched and yawned.
The tallest of the knights suddenly rushed at Quintus with his sword, believing he had won.
But the Conrad Emperor ran at him and thrust his katana into the knight's throat.
- Will you two just calm down and be done? - Quintus tried to calm his opponents.
- 'No,' they shouted back.
Quintus sighed, concentrated and enveloped the katana with the power of fire.
The katana caught fire.
The knights were frightened, was it a demon?!
Quintus' threat is magic according to human logic, and magic cannot be used by humans. Only demonic beings can use it.
The knights started to retreat, and one knight, seeing this tried to escape.
Quintus grinned and decided that this knight will tell everyone what a cool alpha male he is and everyone will decide that it is better to swear loyalty to him. And the rest of them could just kill him.
Quintus looked at his men, they hid behind the houses, so that a stray blow, for example, wouldn't hit them.
- Good. Then we can fight more seriously! - Said Quintus, thinking that yes, even though he could defeat anyone, who would respect an empire with a small population.
Quintus took advantage of their fear and rushed into the attack like a hurricane, burning the ground in his path. His katana reflected the sunlight, adding brightness to the bursts of fire.
Once in front of the knight he swung and tried to pierce the armor. Even without the fire he was able to do it, but with it he was able to do it even easier, the armor cut through like butter.
He slashed and killed another knight.
Suddenly, behind him he hears a sound like a man running at him, swinging his sword. Quintus' reaction noticed this rather late and the knight's left arm succeeded in being severed.
The emperor of Conrad was furious:
- How can you pathetic man tear my clothes, apparently you have decided that Axels have had enough of living! - Shouted Quintus and started running at an even faster speed killing one knight after another.
Only two knights were left alive. Finally Quintus was able to calm down. He walked over to his severed arm, picked it up and put it to the stump of the surviving part. The two joined, and the arm that had been severed just a few minutes ago was back where it belonged!
Quintus abruptly began to laugh at the fact that not so long ago these knights had been threatening him.
- Ha! Do you remember how you used to condition me? And now what? You're hiding, or perhaps you've escaped! - Shouted Quintus, looking around at all the places where the knights could hide.
Have they escaped too?
- Come out! - Quintus shouted, so that all the inhabitants would realize that they were safe now.
Slowly everyone began to crawl out of their hiding places and Quintus decided to give a speech that he hadn't thought out one bit:
- Citizens of the Great Empire Conrad! We have won the first battle and we will fight back! But the war declared on us by the Axels will not break us! - Shouted Quintus, as he finished his speech, not hearing the joyous shouts and clapping, he looked at everyone with eyes of "What? No one is rejoicing?"
Realizing what the self-proclaimed emperor was expecting from them, one woman started clapping and whispered in her son's ear:
- Clap and smile.
The son obeyed, put a smile on his face and began clapping.
Quintus saw that many people were smiling fake smiles, but that was fine with him for starters.
***
Four days passed:
The knights had reached the Axel family's estate.
Their armor was covered in blood. As they ran up to the doors, they were spotted by the guards and stopped:
- You're back, where are the others?
- It's a cap'n! It's a demon! He set his sword on fire! It killed everyone! We barely survived! - Said one of the three knights with a puff of breath and collapsed to the ground from exhaustion.
None of the three knights had slept in the last 5 days.
- Physician! Quickly get the doctor to the main gate! - Shouted the guard, kneeled down and took off their helmets to make it easier for them to breathe.
Two doctors ran up quite quickly, seeing the knights lying on the ground, he understood everything and took turns dragging them to the infirmary.
Meanwhile, one guard went to Count Axel to report what had happened. Only one sentinel remained at the gate.
After reaching the gate, the guard knocked and after being allowed to enter, he entered.
Seeing who was in front of him, Count Axel ordered him to take off his helmet.
After complying with the order, the sentinel reported:
- Fulfilling your assignment to eliminate the occupier at the edge of the county, only three people returned. According to their statements, all the others are dead. - said the watchman and kneeled before his master.
- Only three... - sighed the count.
- Mr. Eustaff Axel, what do you want to do? - The guard asked.
- Nothing for now, if the invader starts to develop we will do something. If that's all, then you are free to go. - replied the Count.
- That's all. Goodbye, sir. - said the guard and left, closing the door behind him.