Chapter 166: The Sahuagin

As the beautiful orange sun's rays reflected on the blades held by the group of five, they looked at each other once more with a cruel, predatory glint in their eyes. In the next moment, as if on command, with loud, raging battle cries, the Blood Dagger adventurer's group began their charge with weapons first at the two boys. Two at the left charged at Cole while the rest, including the leader aimed at Aiden.

Seeing as how the man was closing in, Aiden smirked, then in the next moment, he simply vanished.

Startled by this development, Jack and the two thugs halted their steps, looking at the empty spot he stood a moment ago with confusion. 

Suddenly, a painful shriek hit their ears coming from the left. Looking at the source of the noise, they saw Aiden's figure blur and seemingly warp back into reality at the same as the two thugs that were aiming for Aiden were suddenly flung back into the air. The sound of bones cracking could be heard as they rocketed with high speeds towards the nearby river, only to fall below into the clear blue surface a second later.

Shocked and frightened by this turn of events, they looked in horror as their friends emerged from below the surface and desperately try to swim their way back to the riverbank. 

Their attempt to escape the deathtrap they all knew the river meant was futile. 6 blueish membranous hands came from below and grabbed on the frightened rogues, pulling them back.

As their ribs were shattered by the hammer-like impact they received from the black-haired youth they couldn't cry out for help, they only managed to rattle garbled words that vaguely resemble something similar to 'HELP!'.

They gave one last despaired look at the remaining three, as they were pulled below the surface. The bubbling watery surface quickly died down, returning to its peaceful state in mere seconds.

Stunned by what just happened, Jack and his remaining two companions, looked at the river with wide-open eyes. As the black-haired youth slowly turned around, and the same cruel grin that they all had a moment ago was revealed on his face, they instinctively took a step backward. 

Meanwhile, Cole who just witnessed the 'true' power of Aiden, could only stare at him with shock in his eyes.

"W-what have you done?! Just what are you?! H-how can you be so strong?!" With a shaky voice and hands, Jack pointed his right dagger-holding hand towards the boy. His two mates were already another step behind, still nervously holding their daggers but not daring to charge or attack anymore.

"What do you mean? Didn't you want to teach us a lesson a moment ago? Where's your fire now?" Looking at the frightened trio, Aiden slowly began to approach them. His eyes were glowing brightly, radiating their golden hue. Despite his grinning expression, his voice kept his unnaturally calm, cool tone.

"N-no… S-stay away from us… you... M-monster! Y-you are not human!" The approaching terror that this young boy suddenly meant, Jack took another step back. His companions followed behind. 

Seeing as how the boy kept approaching, they couldn't hold their composure any longer. The trio threw their weapons away, and turned around, and rushed towards the safety that the road meant. 

Unfortunately, before they could cross any meaningful distance, the boy's figure flickered and appeared a few steps in front of them. He raised his arms to the air as if inviting them into a hug. His cruel grin turned to a strange friendly one, as he looked at them.

"Why are you running away? Do you want to leave us alone to go against these Rank 2 creatures? Shouldn't you be showing us how it's done? No… You can't leave yet!"

His figure flickered again. Just as his still blurry silhouette appeared right in front of them, they felt a hammer-like strike against their chest. As the pain began to spread and they could hear their own ribs cracking under the pressure, they could also feel as breathing suddenly became a chore. 

With a splintered bone seemingly ripping a hole in their lungs, they didn't even register the fact they were on-course in the air towards the watery surface just like their companions a moment ago. Everyone, besides Jack, who was pushed down the ground and forced to watch as their companions, friends and mates were flung to their doom.

Regret and anger filled his mind. He knew that they were all doomed. Still, he couldn't accept the fact that a fragile, weak bronze-skinned, brown-haired, golden-eyed youngster was their reaper. No. This rookie, this Rank 1 newbie… how could they all die to him?! There must be something else at play!

"T-this…" He fought to push out the words. He was in great pain. While his ribs were not shattered, he couldn't make a movement. The boy's leg, albeit it looked thin and powerless, held him in place perfectly. He felt a great pressure pushing against his spine where the feet and his own back met.

Feeling the squirming fellow below his feet, Aiden looked down. With the smile and the golden glowing eyes, he looked like something straight out of a nightmare to Jack. In a calm tone, as if nothing strange had happened a moment ago Aiden spoke.

"What's the matter? Aren't you going to teach us how this cruel world works? Why are you acting like this and going against your word?" As he asked, he also slightly increased the pressure he exerted against Jack's spine, but he made sure not to go overboard. At least not yet.

Under the heightened pressure, Jack felt immense pain. First, he tried to hold it in and fight against it, but soon he couldn't bear it any longer. Looking up towards the sky, he loudly began to cry. His garbled voice carried his grief, pain, and anger. Although Aiden could make out most of the words, he still looked down once again and increased the pressure once more. Slight cracking noises could be heard, as some of the ribs began to give in to the increased weight.

Aiden looked down at Jack and asked again.

"What were you saying? So, Jack, leader of the Bloody Dagger please let us listen to your teaching and explain to us, what are these creatures, and why are they so dangerous?"

Meanwhile, as Aiden spoke, Cole has made their way toward him. He was still frightened and shocked by all that happened, but he didn't fear the boy. On the contrary, he felt safe with him. These vile, cruel people wanted to use him as bait and kill him to complete their quest and also steal their credit. 

Although he was still new, he already heard of similar stories, and also experienced the ugliness of the world. Tightly gripping the handle of his short sword, he stood behind the calm and collected Aiden, who simply smiled at him as he arrived before returning his glowing gaze at the men below his feet.

"So? Speak!" He once again pushed on his back. Another round of cracking could be heard as several more of Jack's ribs gave in to the incredible pressure. Jack's pain-filled cry reverberated all around, he uncontrollably sobbed and wept, no longer showing the expression of an experienced warrior.

Under his never-ending cries, the watery surface started to bubble, startling the two youngsters. The initial calm surface popped one air-filled bubble. In the next moment, another three came, then it underwent a rapid increment as the surface began to frenziedly seethe similar to how boiling water would act.

Shaking his head in contempt, Aiden spoke with a disdainful voice looking at the leader of the bandits.

"That wasn't very smart Jack. For someone that is supposedly Rank 2, and with SO much experience to make such a stupid mistake… I guess you can only serve one last purpose now."

With that, he increased the pressure one last time and snapped the man's spine. As the man cried out Aiden lifted his leg, only to kick him away closer to the riverbank.

He looked back at Cole, and with a troubled expression, he spoke. His voice carried concern and worry as he looked at his newly made friend.

"Sorry you had to see all this, but scum like these makes me lose myself. I understand if you don't want to party up with me anymore, but at the very least let's complete these quests. Okay?"

"N-No… I mean yes… I mean, I'm not afraid of you, I…" Cole nervously shook then nodded his head trying to find the best way to express himself. In the end, his words froze in him when he saw the water's surface fiercely bubble, and shortly 6 blue small heads resembling fish heads emerge. 

Shortly after, their short humanoid but fish-scaled blue slimy bodies followed. They all held a spear-like weapon in their hands that seemed to be made from some fish-bones instead of wood and stone, and with their large, black, sclera-less eyes, they approached the weeping Jack who was already on his deathbed.

As they surrounded him, Jack let out one last despaired cry as they stabbed him, ending his miserable existence.