Ch 7: One of the Many Kills

Life has been full of suffering, despair mixed with moments of joy and happiness. That's how almost anyone would perceive their past and their present to be.

Adrian however had gone numb from everything he had experienced.

At this point, all he really cares about is a small mission which he sought to complete at all costs.

Sometimes he felt like a hollow shell, an existence having no meaning in the gentle unfurling of time.

A peaceful life.

It shouldn't have been hard to live something like that...or so he thought.

If he was being really honest, he would even admit that the last month was really peaceful.

No running away, living in fear not knowing where the next attack would strike him from.

No need for war, shedding lots of blood while they screamed in agony, they begged him in desperation and withered away in silent whimpers.

No need for dirty tricks, for the low level manipulation, fooling people, betraying trust and forging hatred only to crush it himself.

It was simple really, following these conditions. It shouldn't have been hard.

It never was.

But it seemed as if fate itself was reluctant to let him have such a life, where he could just be a man, just one of those wandering mortals, fooling around, not really thinking about their next day...only living in the present.

Seeing the girl in front of him, he felt a pang of anger, which was rare for him. He saw her as a source of disturbance, ready to bring back chaos in his life.

Somehow, he was sure that she was going to be the major reason because of which he would soon be getting a rollercoaster ride to hell.

Not willing to give the girl any chance, Adrian lunged forward with incredible speed that didn't quite suit his level 0.

The girl seemed a bit taken aback by this sudden aggressiveness but composed herself before leaping to her side and dodged the incoming dagger easily.

She twirled one of her daggers in the air while shooting one hidden dagger from her sleeve. To her surprise, Adrian easily dodged it. She shot another one, which was intercepted by his dagger.

Smirking, she shot another dagger and by the time he had intercepted the attack once again, she was almost on him, ready to attack his exposed flank.

Adrian didn't even see her form before he rolled back, just in the nick of time and propelled himself toward the weakened wall. The girl followed suit, not at all willing to give him a chance to recover.

However, she was in for a surprise.

Before her slash could reach him, Adrian crouched and leapt to her right. He stomped her right foot, while catching her extended right wrist. He then spun before bringing his knees to her exposed abdomen.

The pain she felt from the blow was too much for her and she staggered. In doing so, she dropped one of her daggers while still having a weak hold on the other one.

Releasing his hold on her, he followed quickly with a kick to her face sending her flying towards that weaker section of the wall, which upon contact immediately broke under her weight, this throwing her out of the house.

"Now for the final touch..." Adrian muttered before he lunged forward, abandoning his defences and aimed the 'borrowed' dagger at her chest.

Chuck

The dagger met little resistance and shoveled straight into her chest. Her eyes bulged in surprise, her mouth opening to say words she no longer could spell out.

Adrian rolled away, putting distance between them. He stood up and frowned slightly.

What he saw was blood...or rather the absence of it.

This 'saviour' didn't spill blood...?

Mustering the last of her strength, she turned her head sideways and whispered in a strangely sweet voice, "I guess it's farewell for now, Mr.Adrian. Though, your grave...has already been dug."

Her voice trailed off before she went limp.

Adrian however looked on in sheer shock.

The girl's body started dissipating into small ethereal particles before completely disappearing.

"What the heck just happened!" He couldn't keep his shock to himself anymore. Never ever had he seen such a bizzare death.

Even the daggers didn't remain.

'A Stage IV weapon? No...that shouldn't be the case, the daggers weren't that strong.'

'Wait, wait! Still, the daggers actually disappeared. Whatever technology they are using, disintegration of weapons can only mean they are stored in the soul realm of the user. That simply means she is still alive...'

Adrian looked around him, confusion and wariness filled in him.

'I feel as if I have been trapped,like something is brewing up against me.' He turned and quickly started running back to the main part of the city.

As he ran, he took out his ID, where a yellow-haired man, Leonard, looked back at him.

The smile returned back to Adrian as he was already concoting a plan.

Two hours later...

Adrian sipped coffee from a golden embroidered cup. His expression satisfied, his stomach full from the previous extravagant meal.

Across from him tied to the chair, his mouth gagged with his own bedsheets, was the City Lord,

Lord Augustus. He was squirming violently in his seat, his eyes red and his cheeks wet from the dried tears.

For all the glare directed at Adrian with a mix of anger and fear, it was unfortunate that it was only a show of contempt rather than anything that could pose as a threat to Adrian.

Calmly keeping the cup on the table, Adrian looked Augustus in the eyes and repeated,"I shall ask you again...what were the orders from the higher ups? Will you answer me?"

Probably realising that resistance would be futile and seeing none coming to his help, the man nodded, his head jerking up and down.

Adrian leaned forward, removing the gag just a little downwards.

"Speak." He commanded.

Lord Augustus stuttered upon his own words, his words coming out in a rush.

"Duke Cornstar assigned me to this place. I-i just need to help the saviours into forming their own g-guilds and h-hire them under our Kingdom's name. I have n-no other purpose."

Adrian smiled. "You might not have any other purpose...but do tell me, what's the advantage in hiring them? I mean they are under the Entities. I am sure no kingdom or Empire would go after them..." He drawled out the last line, the implication clear.

The lord gulped in awe and fear hearing that.

"The d-duke wants to have an army under him."

"And why is that so?"

"T-That...p-please, I beg you...I-i can't say anymore..." Fresh tears spilled down the man's cheeks, his body shaking uncontrollably.

"Ahh, I see... you are under a soul pact." Adrian chuckled at the realisation. He added, "But I got the information I needed."

Augustus looked at him with renewed hope.

"Does that m-mean I can g-go?"

"Yes, yes you can...but just one little thing before that. Help me to create a ID. Oh, I shall be the one to put the information on it. No peeking on it, alright?"

"Of c-course sir..."

They soon got to work.

It didn't take long before they parted ways.

Lord Augustus, the once proud noble, now shook under his blanket. His body shivered continuously, his attempts at trying to forget that man in vain.

"D-don't think this is the end...I shall have them kill you, bastard!"

'...Is what the Lord is probably thinking at this moment.' Adrian thought as he looked back at the mansion one last time.

Shaking his head, he muttered.

"Not that it matters.

Since the one who traumatized him is Leonard...not Adrian. Unfortunate man."