Reasons

It was midnight. Three tents were cramped in a small fortress. In one of the tents one of them stirred awake.

He looked to his side to see a beautiful lady that had somehow managed to conquer his cold heart.

He smiled seeing her peaceful and happy expression. However that smile soon faded as it was replaced with sorrow when...

* Cough ** Cough *

The lady sleeping started to give some pained coughs and her smile was slowly replaced with a painful expression.

Lockley got out of the tent wearing his clothes and taking a sword he had kept in his bag.

He looked back at the tent and gave a small sigh before flickering away.

He suddenly appeared at the Beast Lord that was defeated.

He examined the remains of the beast studying what had happened to it.

There was two noticeable arrows undoubtedly from Lovette.

There were Small cuts and small arrows around the beast. He plucked one of the unknown arrows and studied it . He frowned seeing a green sticky substance fall from the beast.

It was a paralytic medicine formed by Goblins. He looked around to see many of them making his frown deeper.

This signified the high amount of goblins they were likely to encounter.

He weighed on the best cause of action.

Lovette was injured and even with Cole's healing powers she would still be useless in battle for around three days.

Lyka could prove slightly helpful but not against strong opponents.

Mia unfortunately was a burden.

Priscilla, he didn't want Priscilla to overuse her magic until she got treatment.

And as for Cole ... Lockley looked at the bashed head of the beast and the charred parts.

He could be useful.

He shook his head from trying to make the gang fight with goblins. He could clear them for most of the night.

That way Priscilla's stubborn headedness won't make use more magic than necessary.

But before that he had to gather this Beast Lord meat.

The stronger the beast, the more nutrients and strength it provided when eaten. So this beast was important.

Lockley unsheathed his sword before decapitating the beast head.

He watched as red blood further dyed the grass red. This brought relief to him.

" Good the paralytic components isn't fully integrated to the body. " He said to himself before cutting of the side the beast was shot with goblin arrows

He then proceeded to choose the most unaffected and juiciest part of the meat.

He cut it before jumping with the bloody meat back to the camp.

It was around 13 kg worth.

He didn't want it to be much because either way it would become bad within 24 hours.

Once he reached near the campsite, he flickered inside putting the meat beside the fire.

Luckily the air would be filtered out thus not attract animals.

He sat on the bonfire gazing on it's flames yet his mind wondered.

" With that 1 million, you'll get the best doctors to treat you" He murmured to himself.

She could be treated and the rest could be used to retire and finally have the kids they desired.

As his mind drifted and his sadness grew, another person woke up in cold sweat.

Cole looked around and sighed.

" That fucking person" He muttered.

He stood up as he put his shut on looking at a more nude Lovette. She had only bras and panties mainly because she couldn't sleep in any other way.

It annoyed Cole but she was healing at a faster rate which was beneficial to his survival.

He got out equipped with his daggers only to find Lockley spitted on the campfire.

" Oh hi " Lockley said as his sad expression quickly shifted to his normal jubilant expression. A fake one albeit.

" How do I get out of here, I need to train" Cole said.

This made Lockley slightly chuckle.

" Perhaps helping Cole train could get rid of his negative and sad thoughts.

" Let me help " He tapped Cole and they flickered to just outside the fortress.

Cole's eyes widened. He wanted to learn that technique but he couldn't openly ask Lockley because he didn't have the full picture of his personality and furthermore didn't know him.

Lockley noticed the glint in his eyes and chuckled.

" You want to learn my Flicker Technique ?" Lockley asked.

Cole didn't say anything. He didn't want to owe him favors but his eyes betrayed him.

" I can teach you but you'll have to do me a favor " Lockley said.

Cole looked to his eyes.

" And what might that be ?" He asked.

Lockley was about to say something but hesitated.

" Help me kill enemies that might be Infront of us in advance " Lockley said.

He wanted as much as possible to keep Priscilla out of danger.

Cole looked at him questioningly. His gazed tried to pierce through Lockley's thoughts but he got nothing.

" You must be really desperate to go as far as to ask the person you don't trust. "

" Other options are unavailable due to obvious or personal reasons and yes desperate people do desperate things. I understand that fully comprehend what I say. " Lockley said.

Cole nodded. He understood his desperation as he had been there multiple times.

" And if we go for a little killing spree every night, will Priscilla be able to protect everyone by herself?" Cole asked.

" Not to worry about that, I got it all sorted" Lockley said.

" And it's to my knowledge you won't backstab me " Cole asked.

This made Lockley groan in slight frustration.

" It will be stupid to kill you and greatly lower our group chance of survival. The more and stronger we are the greater chance of survival. " Lockley said making Cole nod in thought.

' Sometimes I think myself smart but am a fool, to think I wanted to get rid of Lovette because she potentially paused a risk to my path and not a great one to.

She's far much valuable alive, her 'eyesight' and strength will help Cole survive so the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages '

Lockley seeing Cole's thoughtful face asked him.

" What are you thinking?"

' Of how much of a fool I am, but anyway back to training " Cole said as he jumped to the ground and started doing pushups.

Lockley watched in silence before suggesting something.

He took out 4 bracelets from his bag and passed them to Cole.

" What's this ? " Cole asked.

" Weight bracelets, they can be adjusted upto 10 tons. " Lockley said as he watched the previous Cole who was doing pushups study the runes in the bracelets.

" The engravings are immaculate and the power the exude is high , surely this cost a high amount of money " Cole said looking at Lockley in a judging way.

No sane person would give something so precious, perhaps it would enslave him.

" More than you can imagine. Make no mistake. Am lending you until we get paid. After that you return them to me "

" Goals "

" Increase our survivability when the time comes " Lockley said.

" It seems to me like you're hiding something. You're afraid?" Cole asked sensing his emotions.

This just made Lockley sigh.

" Everyone fears something even you Cole. And sometimes we have to face those fears if we wish to protect someone dear to us " Lockley said.

Cole nodded nonchalantly as he put the bracelet in his arms and ankles.

He didn't care about anyone and as far as he was concerned he only feared one thing that so happened to be far away from his life or so he thought.

He adjusted the weights to 200 kg each . A total 800kg.

Seeing the weight inhibited him but wasn't too taxing on him he gave an internal smile.

" Now try adjusting yourself to that weight and if I were you I'd only remove the bracelets when and only when my life is in danger.

Anyway how about we make you adjust faster.

There's a goblin village we have to annihilate. " Lockley said.

" Huh? "