Chapter 35: The Chase and the Blast
The morning light spills into the inn as everyone stirs awake, the tension of their situation weighing heavily on them. Soon, Edger arrives, looking both determined and slightly irritated as he listens to Reyn, Liora, and Garrett recount the events at the auction house and the relentless pursuit by assassins.
"So, let me get this straight," Edger says, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You bought a dwarven weapon at the auction, and now you're being followed by killers who'll stop at nothing to take it?"
Garrett shrugs, managing a wry smile. "Pretty much."
Edger sighs. "And we're supposed to fight these assassins?"
Reyn steps forward, a steely determination in his gaze. "Yes, but only once we're outside the city. If we confront them here, it'll just draw the guards, and things will get messy."
Liora nods in agreement. "We'll leave the city as if we're heading out on a normal journey, then draw them out to a spot where we can fight without interference."
Edger's brow furrows as he considers this. "Alright, I get it. But you're going to need a solid plan to handle them. These aren't common thugs—they're professionals."
Reyn tightens his grip on the Buster Sword. "I have a spell that can take them out in one shot, but I need your help to keep them contained in one area. Just keep them together long enough for me to unleash the spell."
Edger raises an eyebrow, looking over the large sword. "You're planning to use the Buster Sword for this spell? You'd better hope it works."
"It will," Reyn says, his voice steady but with a flicker of nervousness. He's never taken a life before, and the thought of killing—even if it's in self-defense—is unsettling. But he knows he can't let his friends down.
Garrett places a reassuring hand on Reyn's shoulder. "We'll make sure they don't scatter. Edger and I will ride ahead on horseback and draw them out."
Liora joins in, her eyes fierce. "And I'll stay close to you, Reyn. If anything goes wrong, we'll handle it together."
Just then, Allister speaks up. "I… I want to help too." His voice shakes slightly, but his gaze is earnest. "I'll get us a wagon and drive it out of the city. I can stay back from the fight but be ready to help if anything goes wrong."
"That's actually a smart idea," Edger says, nodding. "We'll need a quick way out."
Reyn smiles at Allister, appreciating his courage. "Thank you, Allister. Just keep the wagon ready and stay safe. We'll need you once the fight is over."
They spend the next hour preparing, going over their plan in detail. Garrett and Edger set up their roles as distractions, while Reyn and Liora finalize the spell's setup. Reyn reviews the incantation and visualizes how he'll channel it through the Buster Sword, silently reminding himself of Valtor's encouragement to stop holding back.
Once everything is set, they head out, carefully making their way toward the city gates. Allister drives the wagon, Liora and Reyn concealed in the back, while Edger and Garrett ride ahead on horseback, scouting for any sign of their pursuers. Reyn keeps his eyes closed, silently rehearsing the spell and forcing himself to focus on what must be done, even if it means crossing a line he's never crossed before.
As they pass through the gates and enter the open countryside, Edger glances back and nods at Garrett, signaling that the assassins will likely make their move soon. With every passing moment, the weight of what they're about to face settles heavily over the group, but Reyn knows he has no choice but to see this through.
The wagon creaked as it jolted forward, the sound of hooves thundering on the dirt road mingling with the clatter of wheels against uneven ground. Allister's grin was wide as he whipped the horses into a frenzy, his eyes sparkling with adrenaline. Liora and Reyn, huddled in the back, exchanged a glance, both surprised by the sudden burst of speed. They had expected a tense retreat, not this wild ride.
"Hang on tight!" Allister howled, leaning forward, his hands gripping the reins like he was in the midst of a race. "This is more fun than I thought!"
Liora clutched the side of the wagon, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Allister, stop having fun! We're being chased!"
Reyn couldn't help but let out a nervous laugh. Despite the situation, Allister's enthusiasm was contagious, and for a moment, the weight of their pursuit seemed to lift. But not for long. Behind them, the assassins were closing in, their dark figures cutting through the trees like shadows on the hunt.
The sound of knives and small projectiles slicing through the air broke the tense silence. Reyn could see them—black silhouettes among the trees—throwing daggers, javelins, and other deadly weapons at them. But each attack was swiftly thwarted.
Garrett, sword in hand, deflected a dagger aimed at their rear, his movements quick and efficient. "They're not letting up. Keep going, Allister!"
Edger, riding just beside Garrett, held his Masamune high, using the blade to swat away incoming projectiles. The steel of his sword clanged against a throwing knife, sending it ricocheting into the woods. "They're persistent," he muttered under his breath. "But we can handle them."
Allister's laugh rang out again, louder this time as he expertly veered the wagon to avoid another incoming projectile. The horses seemed to feed off his excitement, galloping faster, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust behind them. "Did you see that?" Allister shouted, ignoring the dangers surrounding them. "That was a close one! Bet they didn't see me coming!"
Liora and Reyn exchanged an uneasy glance. "Is he even aware we're being attacked?" Liora asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Reyn shook his head, a small smile forming despite the tension. "Not a clue."
The assassins were gaining, their eyes fixed on the group ahead. Their blades gleamed under the sunlight, and their movements were smooth and deliberate, working together to close the gap. Reyn could feel the adrenaline building, his heart racing with each turn of the wheel and the relentless pursuit. The moment had arrived. They were getting far enough from the city.
"Edger, Garrett," Reyn called out, his voice steady despite the chaos. "I need you to hold them off just a little longer. When we're clear, I can end this."
They both nodded without a word, their focus unshaken. The assassins began to spread out, attempting to encircle them, but the two warriors were quick to intercept.
Then, in a split second, the moment Reyn had been waiting for arrived. The assassins had gathered in a group, trying to close in for a final strike. Reyn's heart pounded as he pulled the Buster Sword from his back. He could feel the weight of the weapon, but also the immense power humming within it. This was his moment. He couldn't hold back.
He raised the sword above his head, focusing on the swirling energy around him. The air seemed to thicken, and a heavy heat enveloped him as he gathered the raw power he needed.
"Hold them still!" Reyn shouted over the wind. Garrett, Edger, and Liora moved with purpose, cutting down any assassins who tried to break through their defense. They could feel the tension rising, but they trusted Reyn.
Reyn leaped into the air, the Buster Sword glowing with fiery intensity. He swung it downward, the blade slicing through the air with a force that split the sky itself. The ground shook as a series of massive, flaming meteors rained down from the heavens, crashing into the group of assassins.
Each meteor landed with a deafening roar, scattering the enemy into disarray. Explosions of fire and smoke consumed the area, and the assassins screamed as they were obliterated by the relentless barrage.
The heat of the flames, the explosion of magic, the devastation—it was overwhelming. For a moment, Reyn couldn't even hear himself breathe, the roar of the flames drowning everything else out. He felt a surge of power like never before, but it was tempered with a deep, uneasy realization. He had just taken lives. And he couldn't take it back.
The battlefield lay in silence, smoke rising into the sky. When the last of the flames died down, Reyn landed lightly on the ground, his breath heavy as he surveyed the carnage. His body was tense, his mind reeling. He had done it, but at what cost?
Allister, still grinning like a maniac, pulled the reins and brought the wagon to a halt. "Whoa, that was some ride!" He laughed, oblivious to the devastation that lay behind them.
Reyn glanced back at the ashes of their attackers. He could still hear the crackling of the flames, but the weight of what he'd just done was sinking in. He had killed them to protect his friends. And he would do it again if it meant keeping them safe.
Liora came to his side, her expression unreadable. "Reyn... that was... intense."
He nodded, unable to speak for a moment. The words were caught in his throat. He had never taken a life before. But this time... this time, there was no other choice. He had done what needed to be done. And he would carry that weight from here on out.
The group stood together in silence for a moment, processing what had just happened. But they knew one thing for sure: they were alive. And they would continue to fight for each other, no matter the cost.
Thank you for clarifying! Here's the revised ending for Chapter 62, incorporating Valtor's earlier revelation about the demons and the war fanatic:
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Reyn glanced back at the smoldering battlefield, the remnants of their attackers scattered across the open space. The fight was over, but the weight of his actions hung heavy on him. He had protected his friends, but this was the first time he had taken lives. Even though they had been assassins, the reality of what he had done was sinking in.
The wagon creaked back onto the dirt road, and as they began to move again, Reyn turned to Alistor. "Alistor... that 'need for speed' side of you—where'd that come from?"
Alistor grinned, still holding the reins. "Back in the town my father governs, there's this big horse racing scene. People bet huge amounts, and the excitement of it all is crazy. I used to sneak out and watch when I was younger, and I guess the thrill kind of stuck with me!"
Garrett laughed, shaking his head. "That explains it. But Reyn, that spell... those meteors... do you think I'd ever be able to pull something like that off with the Buster Sword?"
Reyn leaned back against the wagon with a tired smile. "Maybe. But you'd need a lot of practice with gravity magic first. It's not something you can just pick up overnight. For now, I'll handle the big explosions."
Garrett chuckled. "Fair enough. Just don't blow us up next time."
As the group settled into a steady pace, Reyn rested against the wagon's side, his gaze fixed on the dark horizon. But his thoughts weren't on the spell he had just cast or even the assassins they had defeated. Instead, his mind wandered back to the dream he'd had, the one where Valtor, the God of Blacksmithing, had visited him.
Valtor's words echoed in his mind: "my father, the Supreme God of Life, and my mother, the Supreme God of Death, have their little arguments. He gave magic to all the races, and she let demons take root on another continent. Then, to even the odds, she reincarnated a war fanatic with a love for guns among the demons. Now it's a powder keg waiting to explode."
Reyn clenched his fists. Valtor's warning had been clear. The demons were not just another threat—they were equipped with weapons far beyond anything his world had seen. Guns, machines of death that could obliterate even the strongest warriors. Reyn didn't know much about guns from his old life, but he remembered enough to know their potential for destruction.
"Demons... and guns plus magic," Reyn muttered to himself, his voice almost drowned out by the wagon wheels creaking along the path. He wasn't ready to face such a force—not yet. But he couldn't ignore the truth. If the demons came, they wouldn't stop at the borders. They would come for everything, and everyone.
Garrett noticed Reyn's troubled expression and gave him a light nudge. "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah," Reyn replied, though his tone was distant. "Just thinking."
"About what?"
Reyn shook his head. "About what's coming... and how to stop it."
For now, he was exhausted. There was still so much to do, but he'd have to take it one step at a time. As the wagon rolled on, Reyn closed his eyes, letting the fatigue of the day overtake him. In his heart, he resolved to be ready for the challenges ahead—whether it was demons, assassins, or even the war fanatic with their deadly guns.