30 The Depraved One (2)

The checkpoint was an important structure for the Zukiras, it was no secret to anyone. Yet, in their arrogance, they never really thought about reinforcing it properly. The checkpoint basically consisted of a watchtower and a couple of barricades with living accommodations of no more than five people. They do have traps and other minor things for defence on top of a couple of weapons. But that was it.

If only they had spent half the attention and resources that they were putting into making the ginormous stables, Zok would have never even thought about attacking the checkpoint in the first place. But for them, the checkpoint only served to give them a warning in case of a surprise attack. As the warning would give the tribe enough time to mobilise and defend themselves from the aggressor.

Zok thought he could control his emotions regarding the betrayal of his father and the shamans till he got strong enough to exact his revenge on them. He thought killing the beast would get his mind away from it all. But as the days passed in the wilderness, he couldn't help but think of ways to get back at them. It didn't matter whether he was sleeping, hunting or just passing time... all he could think about were ways to get back at the shamans.

However, he knew he wasn't nearly strong enough to attack the shamans on his own because they would have the support from the Zukiras if not for some other tribes as well. So he came up with a plan to cause them as much inconvenience as he could while he was weak. And the first thing that came up to his mind was something he had heard Ahuli talk about... the strategic weakness of the tribe, that was the checkpoint.

Without the checkpoint, the Zukiras will have to stay on their toes. Not knowing when the danger will strike and Zok wanted them to feel despair on some level like he had felt when he 'died' at Taheton's hands. Zok also knew this strike would probably compel them to finally do something about the checkpoint, but he didn't care. The next time he would attack them would probably be after a long time and he would be stronger than ever.

That was what he was thinking as he made his way towards the checkpoint. However, when he arrived there under the guise of The Bracelet of Secrecy, he saw something that infuriated him even more. Those bast.ard Zukirans were harassing an old man. Now, Zok wasn't a saint either but seeing them like that was as if feeding fuel to his rage. One could say Zok had turned into some kind of a hypocrite. In his eyes, only he was allowed to bully the Zukirans, no one else.

Initially, he wanted to knock the henchmen down while using the bracelet and destroy the checkpoint after that. But now, he was going to destroy those basta.rds along with the checkpoint. He gave Kaira the command and she lunged at the guy who was busy manhandling the old man while he made his way towards the one closest to him.

***

Back in the present...

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You have entered into combat with a mob of Occunians.

[Dodger] class ability [Elude] activated.

The level of the enemy is found to be lower than yours. You will permanently gain a level for dodging an attack.

Current probability of winning: 100.00%

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Zok, let out a sly smile as those words flashed in front of his eyes. It felt as if the stars were shining in his favour.

"What the-" The third henchman jumped far away from Zok and Kaira, "Who are you!? Do you know whom you're messing with!? The Zukiras will have your head by nightfall!"

The man kept yelling, but he received no reply from Zok, who just kept smiling sickly. As for Kaira, she let out a menacing growl as she bit hard into the first Henchman's chest, masking her face with his blood before dragging him to the side. The henchman's hand was moving a little. He was still alive, but not for long.

Kaira put the man down before ripping one of his legs off as the third man watched her in horror. The man would have yelled as Kaira ravaged him of his limbs one after another. But he didn't have the strength to do so. He just laid there until his last breath.

[You have slain a level 6 C-grade Occunian. Knowledge +10. Exp +50]

[Your familiar <Kaira> has slain a level 6 C-grade Occunian. Exp +50]

The henchman could stomach the wolf taking down one of his partners. But to think a child would kill one of them in one swift attack was a bit frightful and unnerving at the same time. Zok was still standing behind the one whom he had plunged his spear into. Blood gushed out of the man's mouth as well as the gaping wound in the centre of his chest as Zok pulled the spear back.

[You have slain a level 7 C-grade Occunian. Knowledge +10. Exp +80]

[Your familiar <Kaira> has slain a level 7 C-grade Occunian. Exp +80]

"So that's how I can gain knowledge, quickly. Interesting..." Zok mumbled as he slammed the end of the spear into the bloodied ground, "I guess, I'll get more than just fun here today."

"Who the fck is shouting their a.ss off, eh?"

A voice echoed behind Zok and two more henchmen emerged out of the hut nearby. They looked different from the Zukiras and were taller than any man Zok had ever seen. However, both of them had a mark right in the middle of their forehead, just above the eyes. It was in a different place than Zok had seen it before, but the tattoos were exactly the same as the one Taheton had... which meant these two were also servants of the Shamans even if they weren't Zukira tribesmen.

"Why are you morons blithering like a tulak in heat?" One of the two giants said before he saw the bloodfest outside, "What the hell happened here?"

'Things keep getting better and better.' Zok thought to himself.