Chapter 3: A Timely Intervention (Revised)

Chapter 3: A Timely Intervention (Revised)

Elder Davis stepped out the village gate, letting it close behind him.

"Good luck Elder Davis." A villager shouted.

Elder Davis nodded his head as he watched two hundred bandits storm forward. The bald man leading them signaled for them to halt. He stepped forward sneering at the old man in front of him.

"I am the village representative, Davis, we would like to negotiate with you. Would you tell me your name?" Elder Davis spoke up showing no fear.

"Oh? You can call me Hugo." Hugo noticed the old man's calm demeanor, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Most of the people he preyed on cowered in fear, yet this old man was different.

"Well Mr.Hugo, We are willing to give a large portion of our money, food, and alcohol, to you if you are willing to ignore our humble village."

"What's stopping me from taking it anyway, old man." Hugo said imposingly.

"We have at least one hundred well-armed people willing fight to protect our village, we'd like to avoid losing people and I'm sure you would too. Also, I can forge weapons for you, this old man can attest to the quality." Elder Davis spoke undeterred, embellishing the numbers while showing no fear in front of this large force of bandits.

"Gimme a sec to think old man." Hugo walked back to the group, speaking to a thin man in a black long coat.

"You think we should take the deal, Q?"

"Hmm, A force of one hundred is still a bit much to deal with, most of our men aren't using proper weapons. I'll go scout around, you accept the deal for now. Once they open the gates I'll shoot the old man if the numbers are manageable, that'll be the signal to charge."

"Right, Anyway I like getting my rewards without work anyway."

'You said you liked to fight, you lying bastard' Q thought inwardly before stepping into the crowd. He made his way to the back of the crowd, before sneaking into the woods. He found a tree and began climbing it, showing off cat-like agility. Standing on a large branch, he pulled out a spyglass, scouting the village forces.

'Lying old bastard , It's at least forty combatants. Though they are better armed than most of us, we could overwhelm them through sheer numbers.'

Meanwhile, Hugo returned to speak to Elder Davis.

"How would I know if these weapons are good?" Elder Davis thought for a moment, then drew a silver sword from the black scabbard attached to his hip.

Hugo was startled for a moment, but then was distracted by the sword.

It was a 3-foot long silver sword, with a black grip. The double-edged blade was 6cm wide. The overall design was very simple, but it gave off a dignified feeling.

"Heh. Heh. Heh. Pretty good old man." Hugo praised Elder Davis, but thinking differently inside his heart. 'How can I let a golden goose like you get away.'

"So do we have a deal, Mr.Hugo?"

"Yeah, Have your people bring out the stuff old man, we also need fifty good swords."

"Hmmm, I can give you half of it now and half in a few hours. As long as your people comply with the terms."

"Yeah, yeah, sure thing."

Elder Davis turned around and walked towards the gate, "Open it!"

He shouted to the villagers behind the gate.

"Elder Davis, you sure we shou-"

"Just open it, they would get in somehow anyway

The wooden gate opened, as the forty villagers tensed up. Three carts were lined up near the gate. Each cart held; weapons, food, alcohol, and money.

"Haaah." Elder Davis sighed, looking at the large of amount of things they had to give away. He turned towards the bandits, seeing the undisguised greed in their eyes. But just then an arrow came flying towards Elder Davis who drew his sword to deflect it.

"Grandpa Davis!" Benjamin shouted.

Hugo made his move swinging a huge battle-axe towards Elder Davis. Quickly prioritizing which one was more dangerous, Elder Davis used the the silver sword blocked the great axe, but the arrow to tore through his leg.

"Gaaargh!" Elder Davis shouted, limping backward to retreat behind the gate. The forty villagers surrounded him, brandishing their weapons. Meanwhile, the two hundred bandits poured in, killing twenty villagers who were too slow to retreat.

"Wait! Wait!"

"Stop please!"

"NOOOO!"

The unlucky villagers died being swarmed by bandits.

"Surrender, you bastards! We may even spare you!" Hugo laughed loudly while swinging his giant battle-axe. The scar across his face contorted with his smile.

"Grandpa!" Benjamin grit his teeth, glaring at Hugo. Clark gripped the sword yet still couldn't draw it, his face dripping with sweat. Amy assumed a battle stance, staring fiercely at the bandits, while readying the spear. The villagers nervously held their weapons, their apprehension giving more courage to the bandits.

The stand-off intensified as the bandits crept closer.

......................................

"Got him." Q said boastfully as he put away his bow.

"Nice Shot!" Q was startled as he turned around to see a boy, no younger than sixteen, standing on the tree branch with him. His hair and eye color were odd, but the strangest thing was him being nude. It was none other than Ira.

Q used a skill called Quickdraw which allowed him to instantly draw his bow, and then aim at the boy.

"Oh wow! That's pretty cool!" The boy shouted excitedly. He smiled, exposing his shiny white teeth. Q didn't respond as he released the bowstring.

Ira disappeared, as the arrow struck the tree instead.

"Would you kindly stay still?" Q heard a voice behind him. He turned around, drawing a dagger hidden on his waist, and stabbed toward the boy.

"What the fuck!?" Q yelled out, as Ira caught his wrist. His face was still smiling but his eyes were holding an expression of indifference.

"Aaaaargh! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

With a crunch, Q's wrist hung limp as he grimaced in pain, dropping the dagger.

"I haven't killed anyone before so..." Iras hand reached towards Q's face. Q trembled as if he could see the Grim Reaper reaching for him.

"Try to bear with me." Ira said as his hand gripped Q's face tightly.

"Wait! Please stop!"

Q's skull creaked under the immense pressure, as he wildly flailed his arms. His eyes and nose began bleeding, he cried out in fear.

With another crunching sound, his body went limp, the boy pulled him closer and began to take his clothes. Holding them under one arm, he used the other arm to throw the body down from the tree.

He then waved his hand over the clothes causing them to disappear, only leaving very minute traces of black mist behind..

"I killed someone..."

He clenched his fist, and closed his eyes. He had watched scenes of people killing each other before. No guilt was felt, just a reassurance that this was the way the world worked. People killed and people died, the only thing consistent was that someone lost their life.

"I killed someone..." He said as his yellow eyes opened.

"Hahaha! I killed someone! Ira laughed as if reveling in a victory. Truthfully, he felt as if killing was him carving his place into the natural order. He calmed down and then disappeared from sight, leaving black mist in his previous spot.

.....................................

"So no one's gonna give up?" Hugo smiled at the villagers. He kept swinging his battle-axe while eyeing them.

"Damn it!

"Fuck you!"

"We can take him!"

Three villagers rushed up to Hugo, swinging their swords.

Hugo's axe drew a white line in the air, swinging towards the three charging men.

The torsos of the men instantly separated from their bodies.

"Hahaha! Who want's to step up next!" Hugo taunted.

The remaining seventeen villagers went silent, some even crying. Clark stared on, unable to move at all. Benjamin's pudgy body shook, as he held tightly onto his Grandpa's arm.

Benjamin you need to leave now! Go hide with the other! Elder Davis reprimanded him. Benjamin shook his head in response and stayed. Elder Davis could only grit his teeth as he was too injured to carry Benjamin away.

Amy, seeing no one else move, stepped forward.

"Amy, come back!" Elder Davis, Benjamin, and Mrs.Ann shouted simultaneously.

"You wanna have a go, girly?" Hugo looked at her, lust clearly filling his eyes. The bandits began laughing at her. Amy glared as she stayed silent.

"Clark! Go stop her!" Amy's mother, Mrs.Ann shouted clutching his arm.

"..." Clark stayed silent, his eyes becoming cloudy.

"Fine girl! I like them with a little fight, too bad I'll be breaking you in soon." Hugo yelled, advancing forward.

The battle-axe swung forward. Amy dodged showing dexterous footwork, but the Axe was relentless under the guidance of Hugo.

Amy's movements began slowing as the Axe swings increased in intensity.

"Huh!" Everyone was dumbstruck, bandits and villagers alike.

"Where did h-"

Creak.

The sound of the gate moving caused everyone to look over, only to see Ira pushing it closed, before locking it. He dusted his hands off and turned around, smiling. His wolfish grin caused everyone to feel unsettled. His yellow eyes scanned over the crowd of bandits as if they were prey. He slowly took off his black long coat and his white shirt, storing them within the sigil of four wolves.

"So, can we start?" He asked enthusiastically, his smile as bright as ever. With each bandit he killed he felt as if his place in the World would become clearer.

...................................................

"Captain Avery, we've cleared the road." A robust man dressed in knight's armor spoke to a young woman wearing a dark green military officers uniform. If she could be described in one word it would be "beautiful".

Her face held a serious expression, she had sharp eyebrows, full lips, and a strong facial structure. The woman stood at 5'8 with, long dark purple hair that reached her back, clear silver eyes, and a strong build. A saber inside a brown leather scabbard hung on her waist. She appeared to be no older than eighteen, but her true age was twenty-four.

"It seems someone intentionally tried to slow us down." The man continued on, waiting for the woman to respond.

She looked down the road seeing a village in the distance, "Robert, tell everyone to move out immediately."

"Captain!" Robert saluted before running off.

"We might be too late.", Captain Avery said plainly while climbing onto a horse. A group of thirty knights gathered behind her, "We move now!"

The group began moving but eventually, they stopped again, seeing a half-naked corpse with a crushed skull and broken limbs.

"Captain, What could've done this?" A knight said trying to hide his apprehension.

"Not what, but who?" Captain Avery responded.

"What do you mean, Captain."

"Those small indentions on the wrist and skull appear to be from someones fingers. I assume the limbs broke when he fell." Captain Avery looked above her, staring at the tree. Inwardly she was interested in the person responsible for the murder.

"Continue on." She said in a detached tone, the knight squad resumed marching, each one looking at the disfigured corpse.

...................................

"Halt!", Captain Avery shouted as the knight squad arrived at a gate. The sounds of combat and screams resounded from behind the gate.

Argh!

Someone stop the bastard!

Nooo! Please! No!

"Robert!" Avery called out.

Robert stepped forward, saluting."Yes, Captain?"

"Check the gate." She ordered.

"Yes, ma'am." Robert walked over to the gate, pushing and pulling to no avail. "Captain it's blocked."

Captain Avery didn't respond, dismounting her horse and she then approached the gate. She put her hand on the saber grip. She stuck one foot out and leaned her upper body forward. Drawing her sword, she swung.

A white line flashed across the gate. Captain Avery sheathed her sword while walking up to the gate before gently pushing it.

The gate fell, kicking up dust with it. The knights ran inside, in a practiced formation, drawing their weapons. Captain Avery walked in with causal steps. She looked around seeing corpses everywhere, some hanging on rooftops, some without limbs, some decapitated, some with twisted necks, and some with crushed skulls. It was truly a nightmarish sight to behold, even for the most experienced knights.

"Bleeergh!" A knight threw up, feeling disgusted. Usually, it would be shameful for a knight, but no one found fault with him this time.

Closer to the center of the town a group of villagers held weapons, fear on their faces, in front of them, was a boy covered in blood, huge wounds decorating his chest, arms, and back. His breathing was incredibly strained, but strangely he was smiling.

Ten men surrounded him, wielding, chipped swords, and clubs. A bald man wielding a two-handed axe yelled to the men.

"Those damn knights are here!"

"Damn it! Let's surrender." A bandit responded.

"I don't want to fucking fight this guy anymore!" Another agreed.

Ira looked towards the knights. "Stay...out...of...this!", He yelled in an annoyed tone, taking breaths after each word.

"Captain, what should we do?" Robert spoke up, staring at Ira as if he was a monster. Captain Avery, stepped forward.

"You criminals have two choices." Avery shouted.

The bandits looked relieved thinking to themselves, 'Surrender or Die.'

But Avery's next words betrayed their expectations. "Die over here or die over there!"

She held no inclination toward proper justice, especially to worthless bandits. It would be far easier to kill them than to capture, feed, and escort them to a prison.

The bandits turned pale, while Ira smiled, "Ha! What...a...nice...woman! Come...on...guys...I'll...treat...you...properly!"

Captain Avery showed a rare grin as she watched him. She felt as if their was something familiar feeling coming from him. It was a feeling that those who came from a dark place would emit, except what she felt from Ira seemed far deeper than anything she had known before.

...........................................

"Damn! Damn! Damn!" Hugo and the remaining nine bandits charged towards Ira. Hugo lifted his axe and swung down, but Ira grabbed the closest bandit using him as a meat shield.

"Fuck!" The bandit screamed as he was cut in two. Ira pushed his body out of the way and then sent a kick to Hugo's stomach. He flew back, crashing into three other bandits. The remaining five spread out, two slashing simultaneously. Ira caught their arms with both of his hands, pulling them together, smashing them into each other with tremendous force.

The two bodies went limp, dropping to the ground. The three bandits looked at each other hesitating, one turned to run, but Ira grabbed his head, pulling it backward, causing his neck to bend at a weird angle as he fell to the ground. The other two bandits took this opportunity to attack Ira, one swinging a club and one thrusting with a sword.

Ira grabbed the club and let the sword stab through his arm. He wrenched the club from the bandit using it, and then beat the sword-wielding bandit with it.

The muffled sound of a skull being caved in echoed in the quiet village. The remaining bandit backed away, while Ira pulled the sword out his arm, dropping it.

He walked over to the bandit, dripping blood with each step.

"Wait! I surrender!"

Ira paused for a second, catching his breath.

"...What does that have to do with me?", He asked with a smile, before grabbing the bandits face and crushing it.

Ethics, Honor, Mercy, and Morality werent easy things to pick up on naturally. Ira felt no difference between killing someone who was armed or someone who was unarmed. No matter what, as long as he had a reason or inclination to, he would continue to kill.

Ira picked up a sword, slowly walking over to Hugo, who was lying on top of three other bandits.

"Fuck! Get off of me!"

"It's Hugo, he's too fucking heavy!"

"Hurry and get up!"

"I can't move my legs you fucks! I think my spine is broken."

Ira stopped in front of them before raising the sword and skewering them in place.

"Aaaah!"

"Fuck!"

"Please!"

"Ergh!"

Ira closed his eyes, breathing deeply, before opening them again. He was there to witness Amy hesitating to kill Hugo. It somehow bothered him, so he would help her find her place in the World.

"Hey, Spear Girl!" Ira waved.

Amy was startled, shaking as she answered. She asked him to kill the bandits but she didn't prepare for the raw and unsightly brutality."Y-yes!" She responded with a gulp.

"Come here!" He yelled.

"O-ok!" Amy nervously ran over to Ira. And when she met his eyes she began to tremble

"Here. Finish it!" He produced the Redwood spear from thin air, handing it to her.

Amy grabbed the spear, looking at the bandits pinned to the ground, especially at Hugo.

"Haaah...Haah...So...you're...gonna...kill...a...defenseless-"

The spear stabbed through Hugo's skull interrupting his sentence, as she pulled it out, started stabbing the other bandits one by one.

"Aaaah!!!!!"

Amy screamed, tears dripping down her face, bringing her fear, grief, tension, and stress with them. Though her heart was still broken by the death of her mother, she felt better knowing she got to kill the ones responsible with her own hands.

"Nice one!" Ira smiled widely, before collapsing onto the ground.

.............................................................