Arc 1: The Tragic Hero
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Part 2: Lamara Village
The aircraft's engine roared with the might of ten thousand lions—a hint of nervousness tainting its cabin. It rumbled with minimal turbulence, mixing anxiety with anticipation. Flying in an aircraft was daunting enough, but hurling through the skies at supersonic speeds would make even an elephant feel unsteady.
Pairing this with the constant ringing of the words 'test mission' brought a deep feeling of unease. After a month of brutal training, it was time to test their new skills and abilities—no one could blame a bunch of newbies for being a little anxious. Fortunately, Alondo had crafted the perfect team to assist them in their first endeavor.
Instructor Brady captained a team of six comprised of two trustworthy assassins the trio had met once before. It was comforting dealing with the gorgeous Amanda and the brilliant Leo, their initial saviors from the perilous Dark Forest. They sat at the front of the aircraft, discussing the details of the mission with Instructor Brady, who didn't fail to feature his usual corona cigar and spiffy dark shades.
On the other hand, Nathan, Sindy, and Andrew sat at the back of the cabin, decked out in their new AA uniforms. The guys wore tight black turtleneck long-sleeved shirts brandishing the red AA logo on their chests and right arms. They sported black military-grade trousers with many pockets for weapon storage and other essentials. Their hands were covered with thick, black gloves for gripping weapons and ledges, while sturdy leather boots protected their feet for the roughest terrain. In short, they looked like a special ops squad.
The female uniform was similar to the male uniform, just extremely attractive. It was form-fitting, contouring perfectly over curves like latex, designed for flexibility and powerful bursts of speed. It was hard not to stare when Amanda and Sindy looked like supermodels from a special military squadron. The uniforms served as modern-day body armor—equally protective but significantly lighter.
As for weapons, the trio had contrasting tastes. Nathan carried a red-hilted black katana by his side, some daring to say it was a bit cliche. However, he focused on training his Lightning Art as his primary Substyle since using his Death Art was forbidden. This led him to develop a fast and agile battle style well-suited for wielding a katana.
Andrew chose two crescent cerulean-blue swords, one sheathed on each side. In contrast to Nathan, he discovered a far more aggressive battle style centered around strength and destructive power—perfect for a dual-wielding psycho such as himself.
Finally, Sindy's weapons were a pair of red steel-plated knives hidden stealthily behind her waist. She was far more agile and flexible than the others and found it challenging to use heavier weapons. She developed a combat style suited to getting close to enemies while weaving around attacks like a serpent before delivering a deadly strike.
"Listen up, kids!" Instructor Brady began, stepping into the back of the cabin with weighted force. "I'll be going over the mission one last time before we arrive. Lamara Village suddenly had a spike in Demon Beast activity over the past two weeks. Previously, the village suffered minor attacks that the villagers could fend off. However, the villagers have become overwhelmed with the increase in attacks lately," he paused, taking a small puff of his cigar before continuing. "It pains me to say that quite a few villagers have already died. Alondo has tasked us with investigating the rise in Demon Beast activity in the area and finding a solution if possible."
"If you ask me, I think these poor people were unlucky enough to have a Spawn Point develop near their village," Leo sighed, kicking his feet up.
"A Spawn Point?" Sindy gestured, furrowing her brows. "Amanda mentioned something similar when we met back in the Dark Forest. What is it exactly?"
Leo's eyes darted to Amanda, hoping his words wouldn't cause them too much concern. "It's an area where Demon Beasts spawn rampantly and rapidly develop, essentially acting as their birthplace and impossible to eliminate once formed."
The Instructor extinguished his cigar as he pondered. If a Spawn Point had developed near the village, that would mean serious trouble. The mission would be a failure before it even began. "Let's hope it's not a new Spawn Point. If it is, the villagers are doomed. It's either they abandon the village or remain behind and die. Not that relocating would be much better in their condition," he dreaded.
A few minutes later, they landed in an open field next to Lamara Village. The assassins wasted no time climbing from the aircraft, immediately stepping into the outskirts of the village.
The village was encircled by lush, towering trees stretching endlessly into the horizon. The crisp scent of fresh air mingled with the earthy aroma of tilled soil, filling their lungs with a bittersweet reminder of nature's resilience. The houses, crafted from stone and thatch, looked like they belonged to an ancient world frozen in time. Many bore the scars of age—some crumbling, others teetering on the edge of collapse. Farm plots dotted the area, but their crops stood wilted and lifeless. The entire village felt like the empty pages of a child's coloring book—desolate, waiting for life to return.
"This village looks terrible… This is not what I was expecting..." Nathan muttered, his voice laced with concern.
"Your expectations were pretty high then," Amanda answered, brushing her fingertips across the soil's surface.
"What do you mean?" Nathan asked, a hint of confusion creeping into his mind. "I know the people here suffer from Demon Beast attacks but isn't the Mind World filled with fancy technology? This place looks like a complete downgrade from what we've seen so far."
"The only ones with fancy technology are the ones who can afford it. Poor villages like this can hardly find enough money for food, much less better living conditions. This is the average standard of living for 80% of the Mind World's population."
Nathan, Sindy, and Andrew felt their hearts drop into the deepest pit of their stomachs. They were scared to find out what other horrors awaited them.
"How's the soil, Amanda?" Instructor Brady asked, his head tilted towards Amanda.
"I hate to say it, but things might be worse than we suspected," she began dimly. "The land is dying. As you can see for yourself, the color of the vegetation is quite pale. This was caused by the negative influx of SE from the Demon Beasts in the area."
"If that's the case, we might end up staying in this village longer than anticipated," Leo sighed, rubbing his hair in circles.
Just then, a series of footsteps approached the group of assassins. They looked a few paces ahead to see a small group of people walking toward them. At the group's helm was a muscular man in his early thirties. He had bright blue eyes and short black hair. His clothes were ragged and filthy, and a white cloth dangled around the crown of his head.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all! We've been expecting your arrival," the stranger greeted, his voice friendly with a hint of worry. The villagers behind him bowed and nodded in a commotion of excitement.
"Are you the village chief?" Instructor Brady asked.
"Yes, I am. You can call me Chief Sawyer. I'm sorry for not being able to give you a warmer welcome, but I managed to gather most of the villagers here—"
"That wasn't necessary," the Instructor interrupted, getting straight to the point. "We're only here to investigate your Demon Beast problem. A warm welcome at a time like this isn't the wisest idea when you're all struggling to survive."
"You're right. Please excuse my lack of urgency, Mister..?"
"You can call me Instructor Brady like the rest of my team does. That aside, the village is in terrible condition. I'm surprised you're all still alive."
"Yes, about that…" Chief Sawyer tittered. "A group of Art Users arrived two days after the Demon Beast attacks started worsening and have been offering us their protection ever since. They're the only reason we're still alive…"
A wave of anxiety crossed the faces of the villagers at the mention of the Art Users. They whispered amongst themselves and averted their gaze as if they were in the presence of a terrifying tyrant.
Instructor Brady raised his left brow with suspicion—the other assassins immediately taking notice.
"A group of Art Users?" Amanda interjected, seeking more details.
"Yes…" Chief Sawyer hesitated with a low grumble. "Uhm… We have no idea who they are or where they came from, but we were so desperate for help that we had no choice but to accept their assistance. You have to understand!" His voice climbed with desperation. "If we didn't accept their assistance, we would have lost everything before you arrived!"
"I won't judge you for your choices," Instructor Brady comforted as he lit another cigar. "I know just how difficult it can be living under these conditions. You chose the most rational option. However, I can't see a random group of Art Users protecting your village for free."
Chief Sawyer's gaze immediately touched the ground. Even a young mother within the group could hardly contain her growing cries. A few other villagers had to take her aside to comfort her.
"It was a tough decision, but we had no choice..! In exchange for their protection, we had to offer them 40% of the animals and crops we grow and a daily fee of Five Thousand Nummi! We could barely feed our families before! Some of us haven't eaten in the past three days!"
"Where are these Art Users now?" Instructor Brady inquired further, his voice growing more serious.
"Some are currently patrolling the area for Demon Beasts, b-but a few should still be somewhere in the village," Chief Sayer stammered.
Instructor Brady puffed his cigar before turning to face his assassins. "Amanda, take the Mind—" he said, leaving his words hanging, not wanting to complete his sentence. "Ahem... Nathan and the other newbies with you inside the village to investigate. Leo, you stay with me for now."
"Do you need someone to show them around?" The chief quickly asked.
"That won't be necessary," Amanda swiftly answered. "If possible, I'd like everyone else to remain with the Instructor until we finish our investigations."
Amanda then signaled to Nathan and the others to follow. They quickly marched into the village, leaving Leo and Instructor Brady behind with the villagers.
"Hey, Amanda, what did the village chief mean by Art Users?" Sindy questioned. "Are they bad news?"
"Come on, Sindy! I was just about to ask her that!" Andrew complained, not getting a chance to flirt with Amanda.
"Andrew, we know you're looking for the smallest excuse to hit on Amanda. This isn't the time for it! We're on a mission here!" Sindy scolded.
"To be precise, you're on a mission. I'm on two missions," he gesticulated, putting up two fingers. "My first mission is to help these people and kick some ass! The second is to secure myself a baddie!"
SIGH! "You don't even know if she has a boyfriend!"
Amanda chuckled cutely at their childish bickering—her lush lavender hair bouncing in delight. "Are you always like this? You seem to enjoy each other's company. Friendship is something to treasure here in the Mind World."
"We are most of the time, but Andrew has a habit of taking it to the extreme," Nathan replied, eyeing Andrew from the side. "Don't take him seriously."
"Hehe! I see," Amanda continued with a smile. "Also, to answer your earlier question, Sindy, Art Users are individuals who can use their Art Styles for combat but do not belong to any specific hero organization."
"That's a weird way to phrase it. Doesn't everyone in the Mind World use Art Styles for combat?" Asked Sindy in confusion.
"You might be surprised to learn that not everyone uses Spirit Energy. Mastering Art Styles requires precise control of Spirit Energy, which not everyone can do. There are also some who choose not to use Art Styles because they consider them violent. Those who don't use Art Styles often live in impoverished communities or seek refuge in Safe Zones if they can afford it. On the other hand, some individuals have the talent but opt not to join legal hero organizations, instead forming their own groups and acting according to their own intentions. These individuals are known as Art Users."
"So does that mean these Art Users are exploiting these poor villagers? That's what it sounded like when Chief Sawyer was explaining their situation. That would piss me off!" Nathan cursed, balling his hand into a fist.
"For them, it's just business. It's how they survive, so I hate to say you can't blame them. Besides, not everyone wants to become government dogs like us…" Amanda stated, her voice dimming at the end.
"Government dogs? You say it like working for the government is a bad thing…"
"Heh... That's a topic for another day."
Just then, they were interrupted by the sound of fast-approaching footsteps. They redirected their gaze ahead, noticing two young teens. The first was a 13-year-old boy with pale blue eyes and shaggy black hair. Beside him was a 12-year-old girl with soft blonde hair and vibrant blue eyes, almost like a miniature version of Sindy.
"Are you guys heroes?!" The boy quickly asked—his eyes dazzling with excitement greater than a starry night sky.
"No, we're assassins, kid! Heroes are lame!" Andrew teased, tapping the edge of his blade.
Sigh… "Don't listen to this bigot. We're AA assassins, so we're still heroes," Sindy quickly advised.
"Finally! Dad didn't want us to meet you guys because he thought we'd cause trouble! But since you're here, I want to help you fight the Demon Beasts!" The boy continued, throwing his fists into the air with unmatched excitement.
"Blake, you know we'll get in trouble for doing this! Let's not," the little girl argued timidly.
"But Mika, don't you want to get stronger and join a hero organization, too?" he turned toward the little girl, clutching her shoulders and gazing into her eyes. "This is our chance! They'll let us join them if we show them how strong we are! This is AA we're talking about!"
Amanda pondered, observing the two kids. They had a striking resemblance to the village chief. "Blake and Mika, was it?" she asked. "Are you two Chief Sawyer's kids by any chance?"
Blake grinned proudly, pleased with Amanda's deduction, "That's right! I'll become a hero and make enough money to move my entire village out of this dump and into a Safe Zone someday! So we will prove our skills to you and join Assassins Agency!"
"Oh?" Amanda mumbled, an idea sparkling to life. "In that case, there's something you two can do for me. We're looking for the Art Users who showed up in your village. Take us to the leader, and maybe we'll consider your little request!"