New Dawn Chapter: 068

Shido scrambled up immediately, nearly tripping on his feet as he raised both his hands up. "Wait—"

Naturally, Tysone didn't wait. Through the dim lighting, a fist approached with blinding speed, sending him careening back on a stack of boxes. His mouth filled with an acidic, metallic taste as the first of his teeth dislodged.

Before his knees could find stability, another strike to the solar plexus brought him back down to the floor. Tysone could hear Rei shuffling forward, but the girl made sure to give Tysone space.

When Shido got back on his feet, trying his damnedest to maintain the facade of confidence and power, Tysone greeted him with a fist right in the teeth, this one delivered to the poor fuck's face. Another tooth splintered away with a deafening snap.

By this point, Rei felt absolutely no sympathy, so she simply watched from a few meters away with a look that screamed, 'Do whatever you need to. That bastard is a complete sleazeball.'

Tysone approached his downed target.

"I'm not the strongest. I'm not the smartest. Hell, I don't even have that many skills that's beneficial to a society like ours. Still..." He slammed his knee right into Shido's cheekbone. The bastard's glasses fell to pieces, leaving him as naked as he was inside. "You don't get to look down upon me. Let alone use the rest of us to save your sorry hide. There's only one way to deal with motherfuckers like you, Shido. And guess what? The law doesn't apply here no more. Only what we deem just."

Shido threw a pitiful, weak punch and missed entirely. Another punch rocked his face. The older man tasted his own filthy blood once more. Even his retaliatory attempt at spitting on Tysone ended up with his gunk not making far enough to reach the younger man. Instead, it fell onto Shido's torn, tattered clothes.

"And you know what I deem just? What we deem just? Your life means shit here, come on, Shido. Beg me. Beg me to spare you."

A second.

Two.

Ten.

Shido was not gonna speak. Tysone swung his fist again, this time sending it hard into Shido's body, the blood on his knuckles and that asshole's flesh smearing him further.

"Where was the look you gave the girls earlier, you bastard? Why the hell are you not begging for my mercy anymore? Aren't you gonna throw a load of apologies?"

Tysone pounded Shido's face mercilessly. The man's glasses were shredded, with fragments of shattered glasses lodged into Shido's face.

And then...

"Please..."

Tysone stopped in mid air, his fist a mere inch from connecting with the poor teacher's bloodied face. "What was that?"

"I'll do... whatever... you say." Shido begged weakly.

"Whatever?" Tysone repeated.

"Yesss..." The poor, battered and bruised man slurred, his bloodied, gash riddled face turning red. "I'll make it up..." He sounded pitiful, pleading, even.

"Oh, really?" Tysone chuckled darkly, pacing back and forth. "Will you become my little bitch?"

"W-What...?"

Tysone's fist descended once more, pounding his face until even Rei had to look away. "ANSWER!"

"Yes..." Came the wheezy answer.

"Yes what? Say it properly, Shido. You're pissing me off." Tysone followed up by grabbing Shido's nose and pulling hard.

"AGH! Yes! I'll... become..." He swallowed the lump in his throat. His pride. "... your bitch."

Tysone laughed out loud, briefly turning towards Rei. "I can't believe he actually said that." He then held his hand out, but not to Shido. "Give me the javelin."

Rei handed it to him, sparing Shido a look that was a mix of pity, hatred, and satisfaction.

"Y-You said... you'd forgive... m-me..."

Tysone placed a finger in front of his lips and shook his head. "Now, why would you expect me to honor such an agreement? And honestly, Shido, when have you ever told a single truth? Is this the behavior of a responsible adult?"

The lanky fucker tried scrambling away as Tysone towered over him. But his futile effort proved too late, since Tysone grabbed the man by his collar with a grip of steel, the sharp, exposed steel tip pressing against his left eyelid.

"YOU'll REGRET IT IF YOU KILL ME!" Shido yelled, mustering the last shreds of his composure. "My father... he won't let you off...!"

"Your father...?" Tysone tilted his head, his eyes cold. "Your father is a slimy piece of shit, just like you, Shido. What do you think he could possibly do?"

A thick trail of snot dripped down the bastard's face. "My father... he's a politician!" Shido blurted out, his words coming out as a hoarse, desperate rasp. "He has connections! If you kill me... if you so much as touch me again... he'll come after you!"

Silence hung heavy in the stale air of the convenience store.

Tysone blinked once.

Twice.

Then he threw his head back and laughed, a deep, dark sound that echoed through the small room. Rei shifted uneasily at the intensity of it.

"Your father?" Tysone echoed mockingly. "You think your daddy is going to do something about this? In case you haven't noticed, Shido, the world has gone to absolute shit. The government is in ruins. The military is barely holding the line. And you think your daddy is gonna crawl out of whatever hole he's hiding in to avenge his disgrace of a son?"

Shido opened his mouth, but no words came out. His trembling lips, bloodied and split, only stuttered in shock.

"Face it." Tysone continued, his voice now a low growl. "Your father's power died the moment those dead fuckers started tearing through the city. He can't save you. No one can. Hah, I'd honestly be surprised if no one has already torn a new hole in him."

He jabbed the tip of the javelin a little harder against Shido's cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. "Out here, the only thing that matters is strength. Not connections. Not money. Just whether you're useful enough to stay alive. And guess what, Shido? You're not."

Shido's breathing grew ragged, his mind racing for a retort—any retort—that could save his skin. His lips quivered. "Please... please don't kill me..."

"Why not? Wouldn't it be easier for me to leave no loose ends behind?" Tysone leaned closer, and Shido nearly flinched. He stared right into his eyes, relishing his look of horror.

The javelin was an inch away from Shido's bloodied eye.

"Don't worry, if your dear old man is still alive, I promise you'll be seeing him soon enough. I don't like to leave loose ends."

Rei forced herself to look when a sickening squelch went off as the blade dug through, passing through the flesh, popping out the other end, the tip sticking through Shido's skull.

After what seemed like an eternity, Tysone pulled the javelin back out, letting Shido's twitching body collapse.

"His last expression..." Rei shook her head and averted her gaze. She wasn't a sensitive soul, but this was something even she had trouble handling, to a degree. "Are you really fine with that?"

"I've got to be. I can't be crying for any piece of shit that I kill, now can I?" Tysone sighed. Even though he said that, his heart was pounding erratically against his ribs. It wasn't his first murder, but using a bus as a bludgeoning tool wasn't nearly as personal, and there weren't any conscious victims staring him in the eyes, begging for their lives either. "How are you holding up?"

"Well..." Rei replied weakly, staring at her hand. "It doesn't feel good. Doing this, killing someone. Someone human... but what has to be done, has to be done."

"Not exactly how you planned spending the night?" Tysone chuckled.

She flashed a wry, but reassuring smile. "Maybe not quite what I had in mind, but we should return to the others. They must be worried about you."

"Yeah, let's get out of here, but first let's pack up on food. Whatever is left, anyway."

"Yes!"

As they made it out of the store with their pockets and bags full of food and drinks, a helmeted head peeked out of a corner, watching them disappear around a corner. 

…

Shizuka moved the bus from the middle of the road to a more secluded corner. They'd wait until the morning before hitting the road—it was less risky that way.

Besides, everyone needed rest.

It was agreed that while the rest slept, two would stay awake to keep watch.

Tysone volunteered since he wasn't sleepy, and Saeko…

He didn't know why she volunteered, but she was good company regardless.

She sat down next to him, her bokken laying next to her on the bench. Tysone sharpened the javelin slowly, the steady scrape of metal on metal the only sound.

She watched him for a moment, then spoke—soft, but certain. "He's dead, isn't he?"

Tysone didn't stop sharpening. "Yeah."

A beat of silence.

Saeko nodded once, her gaze fixed ahead. "Figured."

Another scrape of the blade.

Neither of them said more.

Author's Note: [ Surprise extra chapter ]

If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at P@treon.com/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support