Returning to Snezhnaya

Allen was directly sent to Snezhnaya on the next ship and it wasn't long before he recovered completely.

From what he could say, Aleksei had given him some kind of nervous poison that affected his brain, causing a brutal pain followed by immobilization. Thankfully, it was easily cured with the right antidote without leaving none side effects. However, that didn't stop Allen's anger toward Aleksei. Him being so pissed in all the travel that the sailors avoid it him.

However, with the days that the trip lasted, Allen was able to cool a little thanks to his training, calming himself before reaching sore.

'I was really and idiot to take the eye drops' Allen sighed 'While they had tested me, neither Pantalone and Aleksei had directly injured me, the things that they had offered being quite useful instead. But I suppose that for make their way they would do anything so I should consider myself lucky that they didn't make anything permanent, he forced his decision. Anyway, I need to have my revenge.'

'As Aleksei is not a close combat combatant, I can't really say his actual strength' Allen thought 'If I fought with him to death, who will attain the victory?'

'He seemed quite confident, but it could all be one of his bluffs...' Allen shook his head 'The simple fact that I am asking this makes it my lose. Even if I want to kill him, I might not be strong enough to bear the consequences as his rank is higher than mine. I should continue training and thinking on how to become stronger.'

"Sir Allen, your transport is ready" Just as Allen left the ship, he was received by a soldier with a prepared carriage "I will bring you to Snezhnaya City."

Riding the carriage, Allen had another boring travel until he finally reached his destination, stopping just before the familiar walls. That walls, that dark clouds, that slums, all of them making him remember that bad memories and the only light for him then.

"I was instructed to not you directly pass through. Pantalone thinks that you should be strong enough to reach his place" The soldier instructed "If not, there's no need for you to come. He also said to enjoy the gifts."

'So that's it' Allen turned over the walls 'I need to pass over the three walls. The first two there's no need to even worry and about the third... it shouldn't pose much problem. I should be strong enough to win a normal skirmisher. But what would it be the gifts?'

Reaching the wall, the usual hunter-like guardian stood there with two knives and leather armor.

"Prepare to fight" Allen announced as he approached the guardian, putting his hand over the handle of his sword.

"Iajutsu" Before the guardian was even able to take out his knives, he found the tip of Allen's sword over his neck, Allen drawing it at an incredible speed.

*Gulp* The guard gulped feeling the cold steel "You pass." He said without daring to move.

'To think that this seemed impossible at that time... In the end 5 years, are quite the time' Allen sheathed his sword and crossed over the wall without saying a word, entering the first district, the commoner's area.

As he crossed over the houses, the only memory of them was when he was at the orphanage. That mirror of the capital where only the strong went was respected. Being mistreated by the other boys due to his own weakness, only letting him go thanks to Ellen.

'The orphanage was made by Arlecchino...' Allen thought 'I'll need to learn more from her.'

Finally, Allen reached the second ice wall and deducted what Pantalone meant as a gift as he looked at the guardian who had brown hair, and wore an iron armor while wielding a spear.

"Do you remember me?" Allen asked at the guardian.

"What are you saying, kid!?" The guardian said with disdain "Unless you want to get badly hurt, don't waste my time!"

"Haha" Allen laughed "Yes. In the end, we were only some lowly number, how could you remember me. But I remember you" Allen smiled "Let me refresh you."

*Bam* Allen unleashed his burst over his feet, dashing to the guardian with great speed, making him unable to answer. There was any need to use his burst? Not truly. If Allen wanted, he could have been able to take care of him easily with only his sword, but the problem was that he didn't want to use the sword.

*Bang* Allen punched the guardian directly in his face, breaking his nose and throwing him to the ground with a trail of blood.

"AAGGG!" The guardian shouted in pain as he held his face that not only was hard hitten but was pierced by multiple ice needles.

"Do you remember now," Allen approached him, lifting his head by gripping his brown hair, forcing his eyes to look at his "Kirill?"

Yes, he was Kirill. The bandit-like thug that tormented Allen and Ellen in the past and who almost killed them.

Feeling that ice needles and seeing Allen's right punch covered with icy thorns, Kirill's eyes went wide "The little rat" He realized.

"Oh?" Allen made a surprised face "You didn't even know our names. The little rat and mouse, wasn't it?" Allen smiled with cold eyes "Yes, in the end, we were only two more children, we weren't worth remembering. But I remember you Kirill. Now..." Allen made a thoughtful look that quickly turned cold "What should I do with you?"

*Bang* *Bang* Allen started punching him over and over, controlling his strength to not force him unconscious as he needed to feel the pain.

"P-ple-ase" Kirill supplicated all bloody, without any strength and will to fight more "I a-am s-s-s-sorry. D-don't k-kill me."

"This is getting boring" Allen sighed, letting Kirill's hair go, He stood up and withdrew his sword.

"AAAAGGG!" With two light swings, Allen cut Kirill's two feet, causing him to scream in pain.

"I should accept that as a happy scream?" Allen said "In the end, I'll let you live" Allen turned to the other soldiers at the wall "Make sure that he doesn't die as I really doubt that he can escape."

The other soldiers quickly nodded as in the end, the respect for the strong was highly integrated in their mind and they really didn't want to incur Allen's anger.

'After causing us so much pain, Ellen also deserves to get her revenge. Once I save her, she would decide your end.' Allen looked one last time at Kirill before crossing the wall.

'Pantalone's message said gifts, in plural. So if Kirill was one, the other one can only be...' Just as Allen thought, as the guardian of the third wall stood an Electrohammer Vanguard, the same as that time.

"YOU!" Lightning cracked around the Vanguard as he unleashed his Electro shield. He, unlike Kirill, immediately recognized Allen. "Do you know how much Mora I had to pay to lord Pantalone for his interruption? I was barely able to live, and I needed these 5 years to pay for it!"

The Vanguard charged at Allen, swinging his large hammer at him. For his part, Allen was calmly wielding his sword coated with his elemental skill.

'Even 5 years ago, I could see your movements, how could I get hit by it now?' Allen turned his body around, easily avoiding the attack that hit the ground.

"So what if you had strength if you are unable to hit." Allen slashed at the Vanguard's arm, at the joint of his armor as with the shield activated he was unable to cut through it.

"AAA!" The Vanguard shouted, his hammer shining and lightning exploding from it, going towards Allen.

"So easy to predict..." Two floating swords appeared around Allen, absorbing all the lightning 'It's far weaker than Sara.'

"DAMMIT!" The Vanguard swung laterally his hammer but the result was the same, Allen was able to see every one of his movements, avoiding them while cutting through a joint. After it was repeated for 5 attacks, Allen stepped back.

"Open" The Cryo fragments over the armor's joints exploded, breaking the Electro shield and at the same time, piercing over the armor.

"Gug!" The Vanguard groaned as blood surged from all his joints, causing his arms to hang and his legs to lose strength and fall to his knees.

"Your slow movements and Electro shield clearly make me your counter, you couldn't win" Allen said "But I'll remember your words at that time, we learn and grow from the worst memories. Treasure it" Allen approached the laying Vanguard "A pity that this would be your last one" Allen swung his sword one last time, cutting his head that rolled over the ground.

"As I worked under a Harbinger, my rank should be higher, so there's no need to become the guardian of the wall, no?" Allen asked the soldier who was guiding him.

The challenge of the wall had its own rules. Defeating the guardian let you pass the wall. And while the guardian couldn't kill the contender as it would receive a heavy punishment, the contender could, but in that case, the contender would take the position as guardian.

Once being a guardian, there was only one way to leave and was going further. If a guardian of the 2nd wall defeated one of the 3rd, he could stop being a guardian and become part of the third Noble district. So Allen's position should be considered higher than a guardian of the third wall.

"Of course not, sir." The soldier quickly answered and started guiding again, finally reaching an immense manor made of gold. Inside, Pantalone was already waiting for Allen.

"Have you enjoyed my gifts?"