Chapter 7. Power

What is he talking about? What power. 

"No, I don't? Should I?" Taiji asked in a cautious tone.

"You came here without even knowing where you are. Disgraceful. Show some respect for your elders, child!" responded the stranger

"Then please, enlighten me. Where am I?" Taiji said in a condescending tone

"Watch your mouth in the Temple of the Wind, child. Show some respect to the deceased."

"Deceased? Look, I don't know what your game is but if you even move a muscle, you are dead."

"Look, I'm not your enemy. So, how about you lower your sword?"

"First, tell me about the power I'm supposed to sense."

The man stood still for a moment in the middle of the room. 

"The torches on the wall. Take a good look." 

The torches? What? Taiji looked around, his sword still pointed towards the man. Wait. The torches. Does he mean the crystals?

Long crystals were embedded into the wall, camouflaged by years of dust and dirt covering them, with just a dim glow surrounding them. 

"The crystals? What does that have to do with anything?" 

"The crystals react to high MC count. Otherwise, commonly known as power that some people possess. The higher the count, the brighter they glow." 

How does he? No. It would make sense given that he probably lives here. 

The crystals started glowing brighter and brighter. Now the entire room was fully lit up. Taiji could now clearly see the man. His long white hair fell below his shoulders and his ragged baggy clothes didn't give much away about his physique. 

"What did you do?" Taiji asked loudly. 

"Nothing. But their brighter glow indicates a high total MC count." 

"That means what? That an army of people with a high MC count is coming here? Yeah right. I don't buy it. I'll ask again, what did you do?"

"You don't have to trust me. But I did not do anything. I quite despise fighting if anything." 

Yeah right. Before Taiji could say it out loud, he heard distant screams. Screams? And… Footsteps? A lot of them. 

"Don't try anything." He told the man, who was now standing behind him. He quickly turned around to check on him. Oh shit. Where did he go now? I'm fucked if those footsteps are what i think they are. 

5 men rushed through the door with their guns up, checking the entire room. The moment they saw Taiji, they opened fire. 

Sadly, I was right. He dodged a few bullets and blocked the other ones with his sword. Come on, start reloading.

The barrage of bullets finally stopped. Now. Taiji ran towards them, quickly closing the distance between them. With one slash, he managed to hit two soldiers, slashing them straight through the throat. After kicking the third soldier in the chest and punching the fourth, he stabbed the last one right through the neck. 

As he pulled out his sword, decapitating the fifth soldier in the process, he swung towards the 2 still standing soldiers. 

"Quick call for backup, we found him!" screamed the third soldier to the fourth. 

So they are here for me. Oh no. Comms. But if I can… He quickly leapt towards the fourth soldier, slashing off his hands and then stabbing him straight through the eye. As the third soldier tried to grab his gun and shoot, Taiji kicked his gun away and threw him to the ground, keeping his sword just a few centimeters away from his throat. 

"How did you track me?"

"We… We… We tracked your MC signature. I don't know how, I'm just a common soldier, I swear." He whimpered. "Please, let me go, I have a wife and a son. Please". He begged.

"Would you have let me go if I told you that while you pursued me? No? I didn't think so." He stabbed him through the throat before ripping his sword out. 

The comms. I have to hack into their radio frequency. He walked quickly towards the fourth soldier and took out his earpiece. Using the screen, he looked at the frequency they were using to copy it to his wrist screen. 

4.4 MHz. That's a new one. I hope they didn't hear all this commotion down here. Maybe I can get out of here without them spotting me. He hurriedly copied the frequency and put the earbud in. Holy, this is loud. 

"Target is not in any of the settlements sir. Requesting orders" sounded a voice in the earbuds.

"Commander Richt told us that he is likely underground. Call for more troops and search the caves while I interrogate the prisoners."

The caves? Oh no. I have to get out now. But prisoners? Villagers probably. Should I try to save them? No, they are not my concern now. 

He ran quickly back through the corridor where he came from, through the entrance, straight into the dark cave. 

Now, how do I get out? He looked up. And they sealed the well. Why would they seal it? No it doesn't matter now. I have to get out. And as I can see, my only way is forward. He ran in the direction opposite of the temple. 

He ran through stalagmites, tall stalactites and small patches of water. He quickly passed the well and continued in the opposite direction towards the darkness. He pulled out his flashlight from his belt and looked around. The cave was getting narrower and narrower with every step he took. Soon he had to squeeze to be able to go through. 

He barely managed to squeeze through and arrived at a cliff. A small platform above a big underground lake. As he stepped forward to look around the cliff broke a bit. 

Empty walls. Guess I'll have to dive for a bit. He thought while looking down. I hate jumping into lakes. He thought before running and jumping off the cliff.

Oh shit its cold. The water was freezing and he could not see anything. Here goes nothing. He dove beneath the water's surface, using his flashlight to illuminate the surrounding areas. Please be an exit. He thought after seeing a crack in the wall a few meters beneath him. 

He quickly started swimming towards the hole, squeezing through the tight entrance and barely moving through the large part of the path. Near the end it widened, allowing him to swim properly. 

"Another cave. Great. Just fucking great." 

This cave was smaller and he could see the exit. A mid-sized circle a few dozen meters above him. Well at least I can climb up. He thought after looking around for a bit. It was steep but climbable. He started climbing. Slowly but surely.

Come on. Almost there. Don't break you stupid rock.

He climbed out into a small cave that bears used for hibernation. He looked around for a bit after exiting, trying to see where he was. 

The big mountain, maybe I can use it to see where I am. It didn't take long to find it. Yellow smoke. Oh shit, only my fuel produces yellow smoke. He looked up towards the mountain. Using the screen and goggles, he zoomed in on the top. His ship was burning bright yellow. 

Oh fuck, oh fucking fuck. His breathing got heavier. How will I escape now? I can take the ship of the guys that attacked me but if there are stronger opponents I'm done. The crystals sensed a large MC count and if what he said was correct, I have to fight an entire army. It's my only chance. Oh fuckkk. 

He stood there for a moment, trying to calm his thoughts. Lets try the village now. Please, God let me be lucky this one time. 

He slowly started walking towards the town, away from his ship, carrying his sword in his right hand. Here goes nothing