19 The Need for Strength Part 3

Joshua walked to the guild hall with the taste of Gina's lips still freshly upon his. In his past life he never found love. All he did was devote himself to his job and his hobbies. He would work from sunrise to sunset some days when a project had to be completed. On the days he was off, he would spend them reading, playing video games, or watching anime.

That being said, he still had the occasional hook up, but nothing he would have called love. It was different. He didn't know if it was Joshua's residual feelings still in his mind, or if he himself felt something towards her. But he knew this feeling had to be what was known as love.

His heart felt like it was going to jump from his chest at even the thought of her. And the moment of their kiss continuously replayed in his head. His thoughts kept him busy, and he did not notice while he was walking to the guild, two cloaked men were following him.

As he unwittingly turned down an alley, not thinking of anything other than Gina, he found himself surrounded. The two cloaked men who were following him were joined by two that cut him off from the front.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the demon slayer himself." One of the men said. "You know our party was going to take that quest, but you beat us to it. I think that means you owe us for the trouble you caused us.

We spent days and weeks researching and planning. All that time wasted. You owe us for the time we spent. Or we will just have to take out our frustrations on you."

Each of the men revealed a weapon from beneath their hooded robe and showed it to Joshua, clearly with malicious intent.

"Now surely you boys don't think I actually owe you anything do you?" Joshua asked. "It's just a pretext for a shake down. You do realize I killed that unkillable demon do you not? How do you think you will fair?" He was bluffing of course. The only reason he killed that demon was because of his skill and the fact the demon killed itself. He was terrified. His level was not high enough yet to fight four adventurers.

The men were unphased by Joshua's threat. But who would be afraid of a young man who lacked all outward appearance of muscle? One whose body was frail and no more than skin and bone.

"Looks like we get to have some fun then boys." Another one of them said from behind.

Joshua pulled his sword and prepared for a fight. His fear was visible. His sword arm was trembling, and the look of fear was undoubtedly upon his face.

The assailants charged Joshua and started striking at him. Joshua did his best to dodge and parry, but he was still unskilled when it came to combat. Had he not been wearing the armored clothing his flesh would have been sliced to bits.

The force was still evident in their blows, as his body quickly became bruised and broken and he fell to the ground and rolled into a ball. The four men laughed as they stabbed at him and kicked him.

Imagines, maybe a memory of Joshua's past played in his head while the attacks struck his back. Joshua was laying in bed. It was the moment before his death.

"I don't know if the gods exist, but I ask anyway." Joshua said. "Please don't let this cruel world continue as it does. Let the cruelty and horrors end. I shouldn't have died. Too many die a senseless death like mine. So, if there is a god or gods or devil even! Do not let this world continue!

Use my body if you have to! I know I don't need it anymore! I beg you here on my deathbed in my final moments, let my curse on this world come true, may it all burn to the ground so that a better one can take its place! One where people like me have a chance at life.

One where my mother no longer suffers each day. One where I could have told Gina how much I loved her. Please, I beg the gods or whatever! Burn this world! Burn it to the ground…"

With the image of Joshua's final breath, his focus returned back to the bastards that were attacking him mercilessly.

Joshua could tell the men were longer considering him a threat, as they were laughing while they kicked him. He tightened his grip on his blade's handle as tightly as he could hold it and took a deep breath.

With a single fluid motion, he jumped up between the kicks. With his sword extended outward he twirled as he rose. His sharp blade made contact with their flesh as he cleaved three of the men, one from the waist to the bottom of his ribs, disemboweling him. Another across the ribcage, causing him to bleed and fall, and the final one across the neck, freeing his head from his shoulders.

As Joshua made the cuts, their blood showered down upon him soaking him thoroughly. His eyes were reddened from their previous assault, and he was breathing hard as he faced down the last of his attackers.

"Why did you kill my friends?!" The attacker yelled, completely shocked by the whole thing.

Joshua took his blade and swung it quickly towards the ground to clean it from the blood it was covered in. He then raised it straight at the last one. It was no longer shaking. Seeing the last moments of the young man he replaced, gave him a sense of purpose, and reminded him that he must live.

Only he could save his mother from her torment, and he needed to see Gina again.

"You really did kill that demon?!" The man yelled, as he threw down his weapon and started to run away.

When the man was gone Joshua fell to one knee. His entire body was hurting. He needed a healer. He struggled to stand back up and used his sword as a cane as he continued on his way to the guild, still dripping with the blood of the men he just killed.