CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT;Mystery slayer

Orion hid behind a stack of boxes, watching as the girls were loaded into the carriage. He waited until it began moving before emerging from his hiding spot.

As the carriage rolled away, Orion sprinted alongside it,climbing up to where the girls where,there was a man who was there with the girls,incase anyone of them wanted to jump down or so, Before the man could raise an alarm, Orion silently took him down, snapping his neck and pushing him out of the moving carriage.

The girls gasped, but Orion quickly silenced them, urging them to remain quiet. He sat with them, vigilant, as the carriage continued on its journey.

After what felt like an eternity, the carriage finally arrived at its destination. One of the men opened the covering, and his eyes widened as he took in Orion's unfamiliar face.

Before the man could sound the alarm, Orion delivered a swift kick, rendering him unconscious. The commotion drew the attention of the other men, who rushed to investigate.

Orion slipped out of the carriage, using the chaos to his advantage. As the men approached, he took them down one by one, his movements swift and deadly.

The palace guards arrived, raising the alarm as they shouted, "Intruder! Intruder!" The night erupted into chaos, with Orion at its center.

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The notorious king lounged on his throne, surrounded by girls who looked like they were on the verge of collapse. His hands roamed over them, disregarding their evident distress. The girls' faces contorted in a mix of fear and revulsion.

The king's gaze settled on one girl who seemed particularly lifeless. "Do you want to live?" he sneered. "If you want to see your loved ones again, satisfy me." The girl nodded, tears streaming down her face.

Just then, a guard rushed in, looking frantic. "Your Majesty, we have a situation. There's a huge commotion outside."

The king's expression darkened. "What's the meaning of this?" he thundered.

The guard swallowed hard. "There's an intruder."

"Intruder?" the king repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. "Capture him and throw him in the cell."

The guard hesitated, his expression uneasy. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, this intruder is...different. He's taken down several guards already, and he's fighting with a skill that's...unsettling. He's not just any ordinary intruder."

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Orion, confident in his triumph over the guards, smoothed his attire, tucked away his pocket knife, and strode majestically into the palace. His regal demeanor commanded attention.

As he entered, the palace guards sprang into action, eager to defend their king. However, with a single, swift strike, Orion took down two guards. More guards rushed in, only to meet the same fate.

The king's eyes widened in terror as he beheld the mysterious intruder. "Who are you?" he stammered.

Orion's gaze narrowed. "I detest being asked who I am. It's a question that always brings out the worst in me. If you value your life, refrain from asking."

The king's fear turned to indignation. "How dare you enter my palace and threaten me? How dare you!"

Orion swiftly threw his pocket knife, which landed precisely on the king's robe, pinning it to the chair. Orion's aim was true, but he had intentionally avoided targeting the king's vital areas.

As the king trembled, Orion approached him and turned to look at the frightened girls, who were huddled together and back to the king"What do you gain from kidnapping and tormenting them?" Orion demanded, his voice firm.

The king, a middle-aged man, swallowed hard. Orion removed the pocket knife from the king's robe and pointed it at his face. "I can kill you now, and no one would ever know who did it."

The king's eyes widened in terror as he gasped for air. He cowered, begging, "Who are you? Is this how you operate, wearing a mask and killing people?"

Orion's gaze turned icy. "Silence. Unless you want to face my wrath."

Orion sat on the couch, adjusting his coat, and addressed the king, "Since I'm not wicked, I'll give you a chance to change. I'll take these girls and return them to their homes." He glanced at the king, "Change your ways, or I'll return for you."

The king sat, paralyzed with fear. Orion commanded the girls to approach, and they rushed forward. "Is this all of you?" he asked. One girl mentioned that many more were still imprisoned in the cells.

Orion instructed the girls to wait while he went to release the others. As he turned, he sensed movement behind him. The king, armed with a small knife, attempted to stab Orion. However, Orion swiftly turned and countered, stabbing the king in the leg.

The king yelled in agony. Orion sat, unfazed, and said, "What's wrong with people? Trying to stab me with a small knife?" He looked at the king, "You should know I'm quicker and can detect movement."

Since the king refused to change, Orion left to free the remaining girls. After releasing them, he gathered all the girls outside and addressed the king, "For attempting to take my life, this is your punishment."

Orion stabbed the king in both legs, and the king screamed. Orion calmly cleaned his knife with a napkin, returned it to his pocket, and said, "That's your punishment. If you harm any more girls, you'll see me again, and it won't be pleasant."

With a cold smirk, Orion helped the girls into the carriage and climbed aboard. As they departed, the girls thanked him profusely.

As Orion drove the carriage through the chilly night air, the girls provided him with directions to their homes. He carefully dropped each one off at their respective locations, ensuring their safe return.

With his mission accomplished, Orion guided the carriage to a nearby hill. He deliberately pushed it off the edge, watching as it rolled down the slope, disappearing into the darkness.

Orion continued on his way, his senses heightened as he felt someone following him. Though wary, he didn't flinch. He swiftly turned around, but saw no one.

Undeterred, Orion pressed on, his footsteps echoing through the night. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of someone lunging at him from the corner of his eye. Orion reacted swiftly, his movements a blur as he fought off the attacker.

The stranger attempted to rip off Orion's mask, gasping, Orion thwarted the attempt, refusing to reveal his identity.

In the scuffle, Orion was stabbed, but he seemed impervious to the pain. With lightning speed, he drew his own knife and struck the stranger, then swiftly departed the scene.

The stranger, clutching the wound, struggled to stay upright, his eyes fixed on the fleeing figure of Orion.