**Chapter 9: Irrational**
Damon felt the wind wash over his face, invigorating him. "Where do I begin? Should I make a name for myself as I journey to the demon continent?" he mused, gazing at the daunting cliff ahead. The view was captivating. "You may reveal yourselves," he called out, but silence met his words.
"Why must this be so complicated?" he chuckled to himself.
The bandits lurking nearby believed they had chosen an easy target. They had been trailing Damon for an hour, only to realize they had been led into a trap. "We need a plan, and fast," the bandit leader said, sensing the tide turning against them. Just then, Damon's voice rang out again, prompting the bandits to hide in the bushes, unwilling to be seen. Suddenly, they heard their companions' cries echoing through the trees.
Damon approached the hidden area, where the bandit leader cowered. All he could see was a madman with bloodied fists, the severed head of one of his men gripped tightly in his hand. Wiping the blood from his face, Damon smirked. "Ah, it's you—the rat who's been following me."
His smile could charm any woman, yet to the bandits, he appeared as a demon. One of the bandits, sword raised high, lunged at Damon, aiming for his head. But it was futile. With swift movements, Damon plunged his hands into the bandit's chest, tearing him apart. Fear gripped the bandit leader's heart; he may have been a rogue, but he was no monster, and the sight before him was beyond his comprehension. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned and ran, unwilling to face his fate at Damon's hands. He sprinted toward the cliff, preparing to leap into oblivion.
But then, to his shock, Damon dove past him, defying gravity itself. The bandit leader watched as the ground below crumbled, and he plummeted into the abyss. "Hahaha, you really thought you could rob me?" Damon laughed, picking up his axe and twirling it effortlessly in the air as he approached the now desperate bandit leader. The man bowed low, begging for his life.
"Why do you beg me?" Damon shouted, adrenaline coursing through him, and with that, he unleashed his fury, hacking the man to pieces.
"You could have left him in a better state," a willow tree murmured, using its roots to claim the nutrients from the fallen body.
Damon set about cleaning himself, determined to maintain his polished appearance. He waded into a nearby pond, scrubbing away the remnants of his enemies. Once satisfied, he gathered the storage rings, inspecting his spoils. A smile crept across his face as he unfolded a detailed map of the four great continents:
- Lymhrst, the land of merchants
- Fortsterling, the frigid continent
- The demon continent, a realm for those who had lost their way
- The Aoki continent, home to neutral and benevolent factions
Rolling up the maps, he continued his journey, nearing the border of Lymhrst. Along the way, he dismantled three bandit camps, leaving only two survivors. They fled in terror, muttering, "Oh, madman of Avalonia, please spare my life!" Their minds were clouded with despair as they recalled the deaths of their comrades.
In one of the camps, a girl from the Lotus Sect watched from a distance, trembling with fear, hoping he wouldn't notice her. She had witnessed killings before, but this was beyond her comprehension. "Beginner-level mission, my foot! Who is that demon?" Grace thought, her heart racing.
"Miss, please, I am a bit lost," Damon's voice interrupted her thoughts. Startled, she turned around, finding herself face to face with the fearsome man. A scream escaped her lips.
"What's wrong?" Damon asked, his face still smeared with blood, and she felt as if she were staring death in the face.
"I really need directions to Lymhrst," he continued, undeterred.
"Sir, please don't kill me!" Grace cried, remembering her disabled younger brother, whom she would leave behind.
"Who said anything about killing you? In fact, you will be my guide to Lymhrst." As her heart began to calm, Grace noticed that beneath the blood and chaos, Damon was strikingly handsome. A rush of shyness washed over her, awakening instinctual feelings. But Damon was oblivious to her fluster; his focus remained on reaching Lymhrst.
Grace guided him effortlessly, and as they arrived at the Lymhrst border, the guards at the gate recognized her. However, Damon's presence filled them with unease. They hesitated to let him pass. Grace realized she was not imagining things; the guards felt the impending doom that loomed over their continent as they looked at Damon, sensing disaster was near.
But in a land of merchants,they welcomed both factions with open arms so they let them in, reassured by Grace's presence. All she desired was to distance herself from Damon. "I never caught your name," Damon inquired, prompting Grace to introduce herself as she mention her roots in the Lotus Clan. He expressed his gratitude to Grace as he took his leave, weary and eager to find an inn where he could finally rest.