It's Only The Beginning

"That's all five of them... Or not." Ten noticed that one girl who got hit by the chain ball survived, although she barely survived.

"Perfect timing, I guess I can get some info out of you." The girl in latex which is called, Kuroni, then tried to take the dagger that was lying beside her as she swung it to Ten at the same time. In a short moment, it takes a while before Kuroni noticed her hands were cut off.

"I could always change my mind, if you could just behave a bit..."

"ARRRGGH!!" Kuroni screamed in agony as she tried to prevent the blood from flowing out. At the same time, she looked at Ten with hatred feelings. Then she muttered...

"Just... Kill me..." Upon hearing Kuroni's wishes, Ten looks sideways, thinking...

"No... I don't think I'm gonna kill you. Yet."

"Y-You monster..." Upon noticing Kuroni look away, Ten hit Kuroni in the back of her head, making her fall into unconsciousness.

"Now, that's all of them done. But again, it's a pain in the ass if I wanna group up all of those corpses..."

"In that case, leave it to me, Ten-sama." The new voice called out as 'sama' was referred to Ten. The guy wearing a black coat, and black hat, and also has a cane in his hand. Ten's eyes widened upon witnessing the man's arrival.

"Ohhh, Straycrow! It's been a while. How was it over there?" Ten's tone changed compared to how he talked to the elite of Flameborn a minute ago. The guy Ten referred to as Straycrow, smiled as he spoke...

"Everything has been going well, Ten-sama. I assure you the business is growing steadily."

"Good, keep it up. Anyway, I'm assuming you're here to tell me something important. Speak up." Ten opened the bottle of healing potion and he poured it to Kuroni's bleeding wound.

"Ah, yes. I'm here to send you a message, specifically from The Witch herself."

"A massage?"

"Yes, in the city of Engineer, which is the capital city of Lorani, Electra City. There are two apocalypses somewhere inside the city, a red one, and a blue one. The same identical face. You'll know it when you find them. That's her message that she'd like to tell you."

"Two of them huh... Fine, I'll look into it as soon I finish with the 'Groveland' matter. By the way, since you're here, mind cleaning up the area for a little bit?"

"Sure, Ten-sama. To collect, or to dispose?" Ten lifted Kuroni up as he showed his back to Straycrow.

"To dispose..." Ten walked away, holding Kuroni in his arms. But it looks like Straycrow has another word he has to say.

"Ten-sama, before you go. I'd like to ask you..." Ten stopped, lending his ears.

"What is it?"

"You see, it's been kind of lonely over there. So if I may ask, could I accompany Ten-sama in a quest to return the favor of that 'witch'?" For some time, Ten silence for quite a good minute before speak again.

"Uhh, but you're the only one managing the business, isn't it?"

"That's fine, I could just push them all to 'Ruler'. That girl is more capable of running the business rather than me." Upon hearing Straycrow's answer, Ten sighed.

"Fine, I guess you can accompany me for a bit. But, not by my side. Your identity must remain nonexistent to all those around me. If you happen to make any contact with them, It'll take time before they know about my true identity. Actually, just change your outfit, people will get suspicious when they see someone with a full black outfit walking outside in the middle of the day."

"Fufu, then. Your wish is my command. I'll meet you somewhere inside the town later."

"Good." Ten left the area, leaving Straycrow with the corpse that he was supposed to dispose of. Soon, the sight of the flying crow was visible in the sky. A second passes, and their numbers grow significantly before flying over to the corpse as they take a bite of their flesh.

"Now then my dear friends, eat. A lot."

...

A few hours have passed, and Ten has put Kuroni in a tight, closed space. Before walking out again. Ten walked again, step by step. Witnessing the destroyed building. Witnessing the dead body that has been picked up by the civilian. There were tears, there was also the wrath towards those who attacked their hometown.

(Tragedy happens every day, be it on the corner of the world, or plain in sight of people's eyes. It exists to remind those that peace won't always remain peaceful. There are people who are born with greed, and there are ordinary people who are turned into villains, solely because of how they were molded.)

Ten's eyes caught on the dead corpse who happened to be by the side of his foot.

(I remember this person, he's an adventurer who kept talking and buying me a drink, even though I've mostly ignored him. I guess... Things are going a little lonely from now on...)

Ten sighed as he walked forward... Not long after, his eyes were caught on by the sight of Meryna and Derugo, who were also with Sunny, Jin, Bone, and Angelica Groveland. Angelica also noticed Ten at the same time.

"Then Meryna, I hope your day will be fulfilled with happiness, from now on..." Angelica left the group as she walked pass Ten. The two's eyes met, Angelica simply gave a smile to Ten as she walked off with her companion. After Angelica left the group, Ten stepped forward and he greeted the group.

"So, how was the situation?"

"All is fine~ Most of the bad guys have been defeated and surrendered. But we do not know if there's also any of them trying to flee."

"No, there aren't." Solely because of the Mind wave, any person who wants to leave the town has to take a detour to the northwest gate. Ten decided to turn off the artifact as it was gone from his hand. And then, Jin tried to streak up the conversation.

"Ten, I believe you've done your part well right?"

"Yes, no problem at all. Anyway, since I'm here, would I mind to take these two with me?" Ten was referring to Meryna and Derugo. Sunny smirked as she closed his distance with Ten.

"Oh oh?~ Is it because you're glad nothing happened to them~? My, youth is really great isn't it~?"

"That's not what I said."

"Anyway, me and Jin will leave you three alone, so be sure to show your tears well~" Thus, Sunny and Jin left the three alone. For a minute, Ten went silent as he sighed.

"What's wrong, Ten?" Derugo was worried about Ten, it seemed like he had something to talk to them both.

"First of all, I'm not going to shed tears, because I believe you the enemies of this caliber would barely scratch you. Second of all, I'd like you both to follow me." Ten walked to the path towards the sun. Ten was barely able to see as he was shined by the sun.

The three walked for quite some time. As Ten was sure there was nobody around them, he showed his back to the sun.

"Say, how many years do you think we've been together?" And then, Meryna answered.

"Hmm... 2 to 3 years?"

"Yes, that's the longest time I've been with anybody. That's why, I want to trust you both."

"Is it about the favor from the 'Witch'?" Derugo question.

"It's not just any favor like asking them to buy them something. If 'she' was right, It's going to meddle with our lives in the future, one way or another. I didn't say anything to you both at first since I was not sure what am I watching for, but I've started to feel it. The 'Monster' that currently resides in our body, including all the students..."

"What?!" Said Derugo, surprised..."

(The past, was merely a memory. The present, is the present we currently enjoy. The future, is the plan we crafted. Despite that, I couldn't do this alone, not with how many obstacles we're gonna run into.)

"That's why, I'm gonna ask you both, would you both trust me for what I'm gonna say?"

ARC 1- THE BEGINNING AFTER THE CHAOS

THE END