Chapter 103: Composed Wrath
It only took an instant for the spear to hit its mark. Yet that instant seemed so long for Zyro.
When it arrived, he felt a force strike him. But instead in front, it came from his side. Suddenly pulling him out of his paralyzed state, at the same time, he heard flesh and bones being crushed by devastating force. Followed by warm liquid splashing on the side of his face.
However, it's not his, or was he numb?
It all happened too quickly to process.
The darting spear left as soon as it came, leaving a turbulent gust of wind in it's wake.
Stumbling on the ground, Zyro was at a lost for a moment. Stunned of being alive after coming in terms with death. Smelling the pungent scent of blood, he slowly reaches to his cheek and looks at his blood-dyed fingers in daze.
'What... Just happened?'
Although, he asked that. In truth, that wasn't a question to be solved. It's just him avoiding reality, refusing to believe the evident answer. His not dumb, of course he knew what exactly happened!
It's just that... He didn't want to hear it, to think about it, and stay in obliviousness forever. It's hard to accept cruel truths.
The absence of pain and wounds are enough to tell him what happened.
He had been saved... But at what cost?
'Damn it!'
Zyro wanted to turn around to see his savior, but his heart bleed at the thought. In the end, his head stayed down, afraid of seeing a horrid sight behind.
Meanwhile, standing a distance before him, Astron looked darkly amused at the unexpected turn of events. And a bit displeased at the result.
"What a bother. Why can't you lowlifes just die?"
Hearing that peculiar Grick, a rare anguish and hatred filled his heart. Zyro had long gained full control of his emotions through hard earned lessons. Which mostly taught him to restrain anger due to its instability. It saved him on many occasions, helping him maintain clarity amidst adversity. However, a human heart can't completely ignore emotions. Especially anger.
'B-mustard!' His mind roared.
Spark of rage bloomed within him, waking him up from his daze. He grimaced, but didn't let overflowing emotions get the best of him.
A Delta isn't an opponent you can carelessly fight.
Gritting his teeth, Zyro took out Broken Sword, it's entire appearance unseen to others. To Astron, he appeared as a pitiful slave holding nothing.
Slowly standing up, Zyro looked at Astron dead in the eye. His gaze full of murderous killing intent, thinking how to kill this Delta.
What's there to think about? Nothing, really. Zyro only wants to get rid of Astron as soon as possible, he can't bear to see him breath after what he had done.
So, he let it all out.
Zyro throw the invisible sword towards Astron. Of course, the Grick can't sense the unnoticeable blade flying towards him.
Astron merely frowned at his seemingly strange act. But Zyro didn't care, for his attention was focused on the Broken Sword trajectory. Soon enough, it went to his chest center unnoticed. It would have been great for him to die without knowing what hit him, but as expected, Broken Sword is enabled to effect physical things without contact with an existing anomaly, namely - Zyro.
Still, dark glee spread within Zyro. His lips curved.
"Dark Burst." He mumbled in low voice. Not like he had too, Zyro just felt like uttering the cause of Astron's demise.
His muscles burst with overwhelming strength, while everything around him seemed to slow down. [Dark Burst] Blinker's soul core gift was activated. However, unlike the previous times he utilized this broken skill, his anger made him lose care of the consequences of using [Dark Burst] full power.
So what if his muscles were torn in the process? It didn't matter, as long as he eliminated these Gricks!
Astron eyelid blink, not thinking much about it. Oblivious of the fact that, that will be his last.
Then, his eyes were force wide open by the sudden pain in his chest. All of a sudden, the puny miner disappeared from view, and appeared in front of him holding an invisible weapon already stuck on his chest.
Broken Sword edges were blunt, too dull to easily pierced tough flesh of a full pledge Warrior. So, Zyro used [Dark Burst] to touch it's grip the moment it's rough blade buried itself in Astron chest. Making it come to existence physically within the Grick. Having aimed at his ribcage middle, Astron ribs cracked by the sudden appearance of a blunt blade out of nowhere inside his bone.
However, this is the first time Zyro used [Dark Burst] overall might. Traveling in lightning speed with astonishing strength isn't easy to control. When crossed distance to gripped Broken Sword hilt instantly, the inertia sent him and Astron rolling forward before coming to a stop.
Laying on the ground, Zyro gritted his teeth in pain. Tormented by his ripped muscles agony, he feels tortured all-over. [Dark Burst] is powerful, Blinker showed him the horror of this gift. However, it's not something an enhanced human body can fully handle. He doesn't have Blinker monstrous physic that is tailored made to withstand [Dark Burst].
Likewise, Astron was laying nearby in agony. His lips trembling as he coughs blood, his breathing desperate yet shallow. Zyro did not only crush his ribs, he also damaged Astron lungs air way. Enabling him to give orders or warning...
Because the battle isn't over yet.
The rest of the unit is coming.
As the fastest flyer in the team, Astron arrived first and took it upon himself to execute the insignificant target. Fooled by the fleeing slave misunderstood strength, the rest of the unit relaxed. Confident that their captain will finish the task easily, which causes them to take their time stabling their speed and landing slowly unlike Astron.
That delay was enough for everything till now to occured.
But seeing their captain being suddenly assaulted was enough of a reason for them to check what happened and support if needed.
Battered and hurting everywhere. Zyro can barely move due to excessive pain every motion brings.
If he counted correctly, there's eleven of them.
"Don't worry, I'll kill all of them." Zyro grunted wearily. The range of his spite can't be satisfied by Astron demise alone, nor death of this entire unit.
If he could, Zyro would wipe out the entire Grick race!
At that moment, Aizra spoke. Her voice is monotone and emotionless as ever.
[Inability to move due to severe mascular injury. Master, I suggest activation of Limit Breaker. Would you like to proceed?]
Aizra may not have the ability to stop time and save him from that spear. Still, she had helpful perks of her own to aid her master anytime.
He let out a satisfied grin, as if already expecting this.
"Sure."
With a gust of wind, the members landed one by one. After walking for a moment, they saw their captain suffering from seriously internal injury on the ground.
They were just about to aid him. Struggling, Astron forced out a warning.
"Dont... Be... fooled."
Noticing something amiss, the leading Grick immediately shouted at his comrades behind, full of urgency.
"The horn! Blow it immediately!"
Bang!
One of the unit members who took out his horn was shot dead.
Bang!
Then, another member fall.
The Gricks were quick to react, figuring that the assault are some kind of ranged attacker. They moved behind the trees for cover. Unfortunately, bullets are faster. Coupled with professional handling of an expert gunner, every shot is unlikely to miss.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
One Grick fell after the other, all accurately shot in the head. Earthlings acknowledge firearms as their main weapon, therefore, prioritized their soldiers handling precision above everything. After all, a gun is useless if it can't hit.
And most of Zyro's life in the military, he had been holding a gun.
Four more Grick had fallen before the rest could certain the shotter position and hide behind a safe angle.
In a bit of panic with his back on a tree, a winged warrior bellowed for his distant companion to hear.
"What is that?!"
In the ambushed, everyone was separated by the need to survive. Putting distance between them, as they hid behind their own perspective tree.
A calmer Grick replied.
"I don't know. Some kind of bow, but without arrows and faster."
Another warrior joined them, this one was angered and anxious.
"Damn it! What are we supposed to do against that thing! Wait, the horn! Call for reinforcement now!"
When he said that, silence settled over them for a while. As gloomy seconds passed, someone finally spoke the bitter truth.
"All callers had been taken down."
Horns were enchanted items produced by skilled artisans to sound louder than normal. Besides the scouts, a unit of twelve only received four horns to not waste resources.
And Zyro prioritized killing those with horns, having already learned his lesson back then when he battled a Grick, which resulted in him being pursued by an entire army and meeting the sealed sage. If he had not entered Depter obscuring seal back then, he wouldn't have survived.
"What do we do now?" Lost, a worried Grick asked in the brink of losing hope.
After another forlorn silence, a rough voice resounded.
"What else? We charge!"
Every veteran warrior knew how to deal with troublesome ranged attackers. Fleeing is not an option because it will only give the shotter opportunity to hit them one by one. Furthermore, only five of them are left. The gunner had taken down six of their members. So no one would probably survive if they turn their backs to ran.
Leaving them with the only option.
Overwhelmed and take out the mysterious gunner at the expense of their life.
The Grick who proposed the barbaric strategy took it upon himself to lead the charge.
He roared.
"Steel yourselves! Grickish Warriors! We only have one option now! Show the courage of the Gricks." He paused to give everyone time to ready themselves for the inevitable.
Then.
He bellowed loudly.
"CHARGE! SHOW THEM WHAT WERE MADE OF!!"
The rest of the Gricks bravely run forward, roaring war cries as they go. A vicious expression of bravery fighting against fear masked their face. Some of them even have tears.
Behind a tree, Zyro spun the newly loaded cylinder. His composure betrayed the murderous wrath raging in his eyes. Hearing them cry, Zyro knocked his revolver and put on the mask.
"?????????????!!"
[Utter Vile] resounded, giving knowledge of corruption on the courageous Gricks.
Their cry of bravery turns into a scream of pained madness. Their previous wide strides falter, bringing them to their knees.
Zyro. No, the slave donning half of the Fallen Knight armored face walk calmly, his gaze indifferent.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
With that, the unit was wiped out. And their captain witnessed it all helplessly, unable to do a thing.
He had broken his limbs earlier, robbing the Delta of his ability to do anything.
Standing above Astron, Zyro asked.
"Does it hurt? I know it is, because I felt it too. Back in my days in the military, I experienced the pain of being powerless while your cherished comrades die."
Reminiscent of his bitter past flashed in his eyes. While Astron stared at him full of horror rage.
Pointing the revolver, Zyro said as he fired the shot.
"May your soul rest in peace."
Bang!
A unit belonging to Falcon was wiped out, the Fallen Knight killed them all while feeling they deserved it.
Zyro sighed.
Only then could he turn to Pert... And ask.
"Why?"