Chapter 10- Breaking the law

Erick's POV:

A sudden metallic sound echoes through the air. Before I realize what my body is doing, my weak legs drop me to the ground. Even though I try to breathe, my lungs refuse to accept it. My hands violently grip my head as I try to stay sane. Tears begin to spill from my eyes as I try to tear off my ears.

"That won't help anything."

I look up unsteadily to find Vulk floating in front of me. Intense rage makes me want to punch the tree I'm perched on, but when I try, I can't even make it tremble. The pain in my muscles practically suppresses my movement while wild impulses to self-harm fill my head erratically.

"Even if you tear out your eyes, your ears, and your tongue, that won't stop you from hearing my voice, nor will it do anything to resolve the little girl's condition."

Vulk's voice echoes in my head, calming the angry thoughts that were flooding my mind. The muscle pain causes me to stop moving completely as I think about Vulk's explanation.

- She... accepted your proposal?... Without complaint?

"... Yes. She specifically asked me to save you. Despite knowing the risk, she knew that neither of you could survive any other way."

- If she was going to die anyway... it was best to save me, right?

Before Vulk could respond, I quickly swing my arm. A horizontal blow against the ground causes the entire area around the tree to tremble slightly. My pent-up frustration continues to tear at my sanity as fat tears begin to run down my face. I repeat the blow, creating small tremors accompanied by slight moans of pain. Before I know it, my arm is pointed in a strange direction, and I am unable to move it. My mind slowly clears as tears fall down my cheeks.

- What kind of hero am I if I can't even save that little girl?

A heavy silence hangs around us as Vulk floats around me. The intense pain only increases as my body relaxes.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You saved that little girl's life during the collapse."

- ...And what good did that do me? In the end, she ended up in a terrible state because of my lack of strength.

"But... she's still alive, right?"

- ALIVE? YOU CALL THAT ALIVE? I TOOK AWAY ALL HOPE OF HER HAVING A NORMAL LIFE! OTHERS WILL DISPOSE HER BECAUSE OF THOSE BURNS! SHE WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO LIVE ON HER OWN WITH ONE ARM AND ONE LEG IN THAT STATE! YOU CALL THAT LIVING? I THROWN HER INTO HELL WITH MY TWO DAMN HANDS!

"…"

The room falls silent again for a while. The weight of my failure as a hero fills me with a piercing pain distinct from the ache in my muscles. I look up at the sky, searching for an answer to my predicament while I try to bear the pain.

"…I'm sorry, Little Erick… I know you didn't want something like this, but I had no choice. The little girl knew the dangers from the beginning when she asked to join our adventure… Although I didn't want the little girl to get hurt either, if the situation were to happen again, I would choose to save you again."

Vulk's words became a dagger that cut me deeply. My helplessness, my weakness, and my shame tightened my chest as I tried to keep the anger I felt from taking over. My ideals were crushed mercilessly as I stared at ####'s battered body beside me. Before I could say anything, Vulk spoke again.

"You… need to rest, Little Erick."

I wasn't able to respond. Before I knew it, my unbroken arm acted on its own. A powerful blow to my chin knocks me to the ground as my consciousness faded.

"Just… leave everything to my Little Erick."

With those last words echoing in my mind, my eyelids close as my consciousness fades.

.....................…..

Vulk's POV:

Erick collapses to the ground without the slightest hint of resistance as I watch him in sorrow. Watching him right now feels like watching a child who has lost their way home. I sigh ruefully as I silently watch Erick.

"At times like this, I wish I had a physical body."

My urge to hug Erick and reassure him overwhelms me as I sigh again, unable to properly comfort Little Erick.

"If I can't comfort him, at least I'll try to protect him."

I rise above the fire barrier I set up to find a large group of people approaching this place. From my previous expeditions, I knew who these people were approaching.

"It was their fault, after all."

Intense hatred fills my mind as I watch them approach. Despite never having strayed far from Erick, I could hear what had happened among the scouts' conversations. Like a vile archbishop who tried to kill Erick. My precious little Erick is in this state because of those pompous bastards.

"Don't expect to get away with this."

Even though I knew full well I was breaking the angels' rules right now, I couldn't care less. A large fireball formed above me as I quickly approached them.

"I know little Erick cares deeply about the forest and its animals, but… if I have to choose between saving little Erick and the forest, I won't hesitate again."

Screams of surprise and fear could be heard from the distance. I quickened my pace so as not to lose the element of surprise. The moment I reached the caravan, I launched my fireball at them.

"That's exactly what they deserve."

Hell spread before my eyes. The wooden caravans filled with soldiers burned like coals in a campfire. The fireball didn't stop until the last of the caravans were rapidly burning. Cries of pleading and help echo throughout the area as black smoke billows into the sky. Only a few survivors manage to escape the caravans and flee quickly into the forest as some of them are on fire.

"Don't think you can run away—"

Before I could finish, an incredible force pulls me skyward, leaving me unable to resist.

"I knew this was going to happen, but… I didn't expect it to happen so soon."

A bright light imprisons me as I'm pulled upward. I look down as the caravans slowly turn to ash.

"Even if I can't see for myself, I hope those bastards burn to ash."

I continue staring into the forest until it disappears from view. Before I know it, I'm at a huge desk where a huge, beautiful man with red hair and two pure white wings on his back sits.

"Lord Camael…"

A piercing gaze stares at me as an instinctive fear surges through me.

- … What the hell did you do this time, Vulk?

....................................….

Kevin's POV:

- J-just, what the hell is going on?

I flee in terror as all hell breaks loose behind me. The 50 men Cardinal Liberio had placed under my command, along with all my followers, are now burning in flames in what looks like a sight straight out of the underworld itself.

- The fire hero did this?

My shock and fear soon make my legs buckle. As I'm about to hit the ground, one of my few surviving followers catches me.

- My lord… I fear that continuing the hunt for the hero will be impossible. We must flee while we still can.

A deep anger fills my chest. Unwilling to believe what had happened. When I turn to see the burning wagons, I renew my resolve.

- DON'T THINK THIS WILL BE THE LAST YOU'LL SEE OF ME!

With my pride trampled and my goal so close, this wasn't the time to stop because of a simple obstacle.

- Sir?

- Kid, hire the Lightning Gang. I'll spare no expense until I make a damn rug out of that filthy Fire Hero's hide.

My companion stared at me in disbelief as he watched the scene.

- Don't think this will end here.