4 Hope

From the wide and clear blue sky, a small twinkling star can be seen even though it's not yet dark time. As it came closer and closer to the viewer, it`s seems it was not one`s have thought is supposed to be. The object in mind was none other than a javelin.

"Clive what do you see?"

From their voiceless communication, he responded to the leader`s query with a dull voice.

"It's nothing worry about, it's just stray javelin" From his spell [oculus], he saw that faraway object with ease. He is currently standing at the top of black branch the same kind of trees as before. But some things not right, he further zoomed in his vision. He call back with a jeering voice to report what he truly perceived.

"Actually it's a javelin, covered in electricity, I'll shoot it down for you"

"Please do so"

Henry, hang his head in contemplation. (Why would a powerful being sent just one javelin? It's more reasonable and chaotic if he just launched a hundreds of them. Just what can he achieved in throwing just a single javelin. Maybe he could—)

"Henry, its bad news!! rally bad news!!"

"What, what is it!"

From his voice clad in despair, he answered in that manner, to the panicking leader –which had suddenly pulled in from the flow.

"My arrow…. My arrows evaded the damn thing!"

"What?"

"My arrows can't touch it. There is something in that thing, you got less than 15 seconds before contact"

In the bald area of the forest, lies a 9 persons—including the clones. As the report said, the party quickly deal with it.

"I see" The king nodded as he broke out from invisibility and followed by invoking his magic – [void storage] –that stores any item without a limits. From that floating dark magic circles, a sheathed sword covered in an elegant shades of blue spilled out. As soon as he grabbed the sword, he prompted to pull the blade from its scabbard. The sword was covered with purple and violet shades. The legendary sword that was said to be as powerful as its user, [Joyeuse], was on the hands on the king.

The said sword emits an ominous aura, telling death awaits within the swords range.

"I'll take care of it, just focus on your positions"

He raised the sword up with both hands.

The sword gleamed a dark aura as owner feeds it mana. He brought down a downward slashed accompanied with a battle cry. A crescent shaped violet light formed from that action launched forward, intercepting the falling javelin.

"What… the.."

The two invisible man together with their clone in the frontline, suddenly felt an electricity crawling through their muscles. Voltage was not enough to keep them from moving, but it caused a big trouble considering the electricity keeping them from moving too fast also from recovering their lost mana. The clones on the other hand was completely paralyzed.

As the two powerful attacks collided, that crescent light split the javelin in half. However, that contact exploded the air covering, causing massive shockwave with a surging electricity riding on that matter to spread unto the given area.

As result, a wide radius of countless black trees mercilessly plowed down. A large bald spot was instantly created from that collision. Even the vanguard who's approximately a hundred meters away was caught up by the blast. Since the clones was made up of mana and thrice weaker than the original, its completely got immobilize by the shock and after a short while it vanished.

"Everyone are you alright"

"Were fine your Highness, but the clones are completely gone"

"Clive-kun, have you spotted the keeper"

"Nothing to report your highness, I still can't catch a shadow of that man—"

His sentence was interrupted by the sudden dramatic pain inside his chest. His invisibility cloak dispelled as the bloods spitted out from his mouth.

The image of a hand covered in his own blood coming out from his center, gripping his beatless heart was too much for him to stay sane. He wanted to scream the pain and struggle, but it's no use. His completely paralyzed in the blanket of trepidation and agonizing ache. His pupils was shaking vividly, together with entire body which soaked in the dripping blood. He fixed his vision alone to his own heart, telling him that this would be the first as well last moment he ever witnessed the true color of his heart.

From his horrid state he watched how it was crushed like a jelly, bursting its fragments against his cheeks. In the end, I don't get the chance to show everything. That was his last thought as his consciousness faded.

"C-clive…" Henry anguished by the sudden loss of his friends "we just lost Clive"

"Impossible! How can he died like that" everyone also grimaced. They knew Clive supposed to be an [assassin] type mage knight –class that expert in perception and hiding his presence –and was killed in an instant.

"Every one, lets regroup, I think our invisibility has been saw through and I doubt our traps will truly work on him"

As the order of their calmed king, they quickly move while still cloaked in invisibility.

He got Clive, surely I would be the next—

She running from the rear position, but her thoughts was interrupted as she was sank down immediately to the ground.

O-ouch…. what the hell was that… What is this… I can't move. She struggled to break from her bindings, but it's useless. There's something pricking and holding down her legs as well as her arms. It's too dark I can't see... What is this place? The last thing I remember I was running, then the next moment was already here… I guess I will cast a magic to lighten this place up… what I can't invoke! Help!!! You`re Highness! Henry! Alicia! Everyone please save me"

Her composed demeanor was replaced by apprehension after she realized her unescapable predicament.

As the vanguard from the frontlines reaches its destination. He asked a question in a troubled tone.

"W-where is Sasuna?"

"Fear not, she has yet to arrive"

"Just to make sure you`re highness [telepathy]" No one can blame Henry for his strange acts. His skilled friend was killed like nothing. Now, he truly understand how powerful this Haven is. And procrastination is something they should avoid. A late in small amount of time can lead to a serious problem, which had already happened.

"Henry what`s wrong, why are you making that weird face?

"He got her" hi muttered dejectedly. "she still alive, but she`s not answering"

"Shit… Henry use your [berserker`s call] when that bastard approached us. When that happens, you`re highness please get back immediately and strike him together with us inside the hemisphere.

Her voiced was calm but subtly reproachful. She exactly knew what was starting to get over her. It can't be helped, anyone who had their friends got killed one by one would surely can`t keep their composure.

"Alright" the king knew there`s no convincing her to change her mind. He understands better the pain inside their heart. That's why he gave them a forceful nod.

After along paused, a twinge of danger was felt. They notice his presences.

"Have you felt it?"

"Yeah, that him no doubt"

"The two of you get ready"

They felt his strong killing intent from the distance. A young man donned in white military-like clothes with an overcoat in the same color. it`s was surprisingly unstained right after he pieced the adventurer`s body with his arms.

Amid of the clear area of the forest, the two party stared at each other as if waiting who will make the first move. After a long paused. The white man make his move first.

He stomped his feet, at the same time a couple of black stakes –from the black earth –projected from behind. The objects movements was extremely fast, the three of them barely evaded. But their clones got pierced and vanished like a popped up bubbles.

They leapt a separate direction, abandoning their planted traps. Alicia who was in the middle, had leaped forward. But the moment the tip of her shoe kiss the black grass. He saw the image of the boy in front her slashing with his flatted gloved hand in a horizontal direction, like his hand was the blade itself. At first she didn't understand. Could his obviously dull hand are sharp enough to make even a slit on her vestment? But as his flat hand gets closer, until then she understand what it is.

A fast moving wind takes a shape of blade, extending from those hand. The air blade cuts trough to her defensive magic – [greater enhancement] magic, [boosted resistance], [boosted immunity], [iron flesh], [crystal skin], and [refraction]—like it's nothing. Like cutting a cake with knife, her body split in half.

Her lower torso plopped to the ground. A bucked of blood gushed out from the opening along with her intestines. It was a clean cut, so there's no burst out of entrails occurred, but just a few amount of blood.

Her upper torso few towards to the direction of the man in golden armor which a few meters beside her.

His eyes budged open as he witnessed the macabre state of his friend. The eyes was fixed to the remnants of his comrade's body, forgetting the enemy in front. He didn't have the luxury to mourn as that little time he spend staring at the half body had caused his death.

ooOoo

Soon as the white man killed the sorcerer, he didn`t stop as he go to the unguarded armored man. He knew from his appearances that he is belong to a guardian class of mage-knights, which boosted in a high defense and heavy attacks. Which is why that was the best time. He increased the amount of wind dramatically, his target was the vulnerable spot of that armors. He sprinted towards the enemy. With his turning slash, his right hand slashed through the neck, and the second blade cut down his hips. Henry got split into 3 parts accompanied by the surging flow of blood.

One more left , he murmured as he removed the few droplets of blood in her clothes.

He slowly turned his head to king. As a response, he tightly grip his sword. Gnashing his molars with a bloodshot eyes in anger.

(He is clearly angry. But there's a hidden fear inside his heart)

The white boy knew how this event will turn out. So from his hair clip which was shaped like a flower, it flew out slowly and the three petals opened a space warp.

The king knew about those devices. It was called [void cloud] a device that opens an empty dimension. Just like his spell [void storage] it carriers the items of the user but with a certain capacity. It was invented by the earthling kingdom called Encaria. Inspired from that spell, they manage to created it. But he had no idea it can used as a hair clip.

Soon he realized that that this young man was an Encarian. By the [Void Cloud] he had, and the elemental manipulation, the reality dawned on him.

From that empty space, a katana sheathed in a bamboo-like pattern design came out. As he remove its covering, a jet black blade with white edge made the king`s eyes fixed in subtle awe.

Based from the weapon the young man, the king assumed it`s a sword with great power. He put more power to the sword as intense amount of dark aura was produced, emanating from his body.

The white young man responds by releasing an invisible heart stopping aura as his killing intent grew stronger. At the same time, a great amount of electricity crawling in his body through his sword –which had also began to absorb converging wind. He knew his weapon just ordinary weapon made from rare material and doesn't have any enchantments. He`s aware that a contact from the [joyeuse] would be break his sword,[Apraya]

https://img00.deviantart.net/2628/i/2018/282/e/7/chap_4__illustration_by_duarvey23-dcozost.jpg

Long range attacks were futile if an enemy before him has speed that makes everything so slow. So the king`s only option was to face him in a melee combat.

Two exactly understand what will happened next. They would end up having a duel with their swords decides their fate.

The king recites every physical enhancement magic he can think of. As soon as he finished. The two charge on each other at the same time. With their great speed and power, every steps dent the dark ground.

As the two was about to closed their distanced, the king thrust his sword forward. Air is being split as moves relentlessly.

Haven with his reverse grip, his sword facing backwards, he ran like a ninja.

A heartbeat later, the passes each other. There`s no clang can be heard in the collision.

Both of them stop with their backs facing each other. After long paused. The demon lord struck his sword to the ground, supporting its limp body.

How did he do it? That's the only words playing inside his head. Unable to comprehend what had transpired.

The jet black sword lacerated his abdomen freeing those contained blood to drip. He slowly turned his body to face the man named Haven, as the boy was already gazing at him wearing his usual lethargic look.

That facades made the king grimaced at his pitiful situation, he was frustrated inside his mind. Is he not a worthy becoming his opponent? Does he sees him nothing but pebble in the sideline? Does he even makes him sweat that after all the preparation he`d done? How does a mere human become suddenly outranked the highest race in terms of power? Deep inside his heart, he wanted to cry. All his comrades were gone, and he can't event touch their killer.

The boy walk a little closer to him. With a thud of his feet. A woman whose legs and arms were all pierced by a needles of earth and cemented on a platform shaped rock, ascended from the black soil.

"Your highness!!!" Sasuna emotional cry as her tears of joy rolled from the corner of her eyes. But her candle hoped was spilled by a cold water as she witnessed the his king`s cowering body with his arms wraps around his open would.

"w-where are the others?" she stuttered question with a fluster voice. She had already prepared herself on what to expect. But she want hear it from the words of his king. But the king stay silent as he drooped down his head and greeted his teeth.

Unable to her get her answer, Haven, gestured his hand to rotate rock platform. Her face distorts as she witnessed the dismembered bodies of her friend. Unable to keep her composure from the horrid scene, she vomited in her place mixed with the gushing of her tears.

Her vision involuntarily turned by turning of the rock platform filled with stench of her vomit. After a seconds she notice the white man unfazed by the smell was standing beside her with a blade touching her throat.

(Im a going to die soon, Alicia, Henry, Clive wait for me) Sasuna`s tears remained to fell down with a blank expression. Any seconds now she can see the afterlife.

The king, unable to endure their both suffering, plead the white man as he struggled to kneeling directly to the ground with his injured body.

"Please let this child go.. let me take her place instead"

Her face become alive again, after watching her dear king to do an unbecoming action.

"Your Highness don't do it!! You should run now… please I beg you… You there, you want to kill me right!? you can do anything you want with this body!! Just please let my king go!"

"Don't listen to her! I`m a king, my value should be enough please…"

The two continued their argy-bargy. But it`s seems those two was starting to getting on his nerves, he let out a sigh and speak placating voice.

"Give me your sword" they stop their argument as they heard the strange request of their captor. After a moment of silence, those words repeated again as if making them to understand. But they knew the sword would be useless since its strength was dependent on the user's mana. They knew he can't use it since, he has no mana. What the hell is he trying to do with that sword?

"Don't get the wrong idea I`m just using it as a display in my house" he muttered "Your enchanter can heal your wounds, then use all your mana to resurrect you`re fallen comrades. It's a fair trade isn`t it"

Fair trade? It's clearly not a fair trade, he can just kill those two and steal the blade. The king couldn't predicted his way of thinking.

It`s true he still have a mana to spare for his comrades, resurrection magic is one of the highest tier magic which expends a great amount of mana. A demon lord can repeated cast the magic based on the amount of his mana. But for humans, it can only cast once a week, since resurrection will drain their mana dry and provides a substantial strain on the psyche for a week.

But a window of hope was open for them. It`s no exaggeration to call this as once in a life time chance. They must grabbed and never let go. Thus, the king nodded.

"Take my sword"

The sword sank down just like what happened to the sorcerer.

Haven faced Sasuna.

"If your wandering why you can`t cast your magic it`s because I pierced you with the earthed needle which constantly carrying electricity in your mana circuits."

She was taken aback by his words. She understands it now. This man apparently knows how to disarm mages. And the man before her is an enemy that should be avoided at all cost.

She suddenly released from her constrained and hang her head down dejectedly

Haven walked away from them as [joyeus] spitted by earthed jumped towards his hands. But he stopped after a few trades.

He looked back and said. "Your children would be exhausted as you after their rebirth. If you want, I will send my overseer to guide you in my home. You can rest there. I will prepare a meal" then he continued to takes his steps.

The two adventurer baffled in silently by his unexpected hospitality. From an enemy to a guests. What is he even thinking? The adventure can`t discern his personality no matter what the think. But they remember what the black dragon had said to them a while ago. That he truly is kind. Maybe this was the real kindness he was talking about. But those question has yet to be answered as they finally made up their mind.

(It truly is good show. The change will come soon, Queen Octavia.)

From the depths of the forest, the black dragon murmured in delight.