Not so friendly Encounter

Wiping off the accumulated dust on the surface of the mask, I gently placed it on my face. The cold material felt like ice against my skin, but it quickly warmed to conform to my facial features.

Not wanting to lose Isabella's trail, I began moving deeper into the factory. However, the ground was too visible for comfort, so I decided to take a shortcut through the unseen shadows.

A quick climb and I made my way along the ceiling, swinging from pipe to pipe, jumping from one ledge to another.

The wind whipped past me, tugging at my coat and mask. It felt exhilarating to be up high, with a bird's eye view of the factory floor below.

However, I couldn't help but notice that not everything in this place was shut down. In fact, quite the opposite — some sections still functioned perfectly fine, and... are still producing something.

The quiet hum of machinery, accompanied by the clanking of gears and the hiss of steam piqued my curiosity and I wanted to investigate further but chose against it since I wanted to track down Isabella and her sister first.

As I continued to make my way across the ceiling, I caught a glimpse of Isabella through the corner of my eye. She stood there, frozen and wide-eyed, staring straight ahead at a small figure.

Her expression changed abruptly when the previous chorus of laughter suddenly ceased, replaced by the quiet yet penetrating sound of footsteps approaching.

A dozen of man, dressed in black coats and equipped with weapons, emerged from the shadows like ghosts materializing in the night.

It was as if they were part of the factory, cogs in a larger machine that was churning out something far more sinister than any physical product.

Contrary to their refined clothes and sharp attire, however, the men carried themselves with a rough edge.

They looked unkempt and disheveled, their faces obscured beneath masks of varying styles. Their hands were also free of rings or bracelets, revealing calloused palms.

What seems to be their leader, a towering figure with a scar running down his face, approached Isabella slowly, as if savoring the wariness in her eyes.

He spoke in a low, rumbling voice, his words like thunder echoing through the vast space.

"And I thought that finally our employer came to pay his debt... say, what business do you have here, little girl?" His accent was thick and heavy, almost unintelligible.

I could downright see the concern etched on Isabella's face as she did not bring her spear with her for some reason. Inconspicuous, she was looking around, probably trying to find me.

"I think I must have lost myself," she said, feigning ignorance. "Do excuse me."

Isabella constantly took quick glances at the small, petite figure that is most likely her sister. I'm impressed that she maintained her composure and took the logical choice of retreating for the moment.

"Wait for a bit little girl. Why are you in such a hurry? The day is still long." The man moved closer, reaching out to grab her arm.

Instinctively, Isabella jerked away from him, causing the tall figure to stumble forward. An angry expression quickly replaced his detached demeanor.

He gave a quick nod to his companions who did not hesitate and closed in on Isabella. Their movements were synchronized, like a well-oiled machine running at full capacity.

Isabella tried to back away, but she was soon cornered by the menacing figures.

Their presence was overwhelming, akin to a dark and ominous cloud looming on the horizon, foretelling an impending storm of violence and destruction.

Meanwhile, Isabella appeared fragile and vulnerable, like a small boat adrift in a tempestuous sea.

"Hey, don't come any closer!" Isabella shouted.

However, the men were adamant about testing her limits and pressed in harder, forcing Isabella to fight back.

Her Rank seemed to be superior as she punched an assailant clean in the jaw, staggering him momentarily.

The retaliation wasn't warmly welcomed though as the men went full out and swung their fists wildly, even unsheathing their weapons after being outmaneuvered.

There were no rules in combat, only the outcome itself mattered.

Maybe it was due to her getting severely underestimated at the start, but even Isabella managed to put up a good fight, even able to steal a short dagger from one of the assailants' belts.

"You're quite the feisty one aren't you?" The leader sneered, wiping away the blood trickling down his nose.

In response, Isabella replied with a defiant glare. "Let me go. That is all I ask."

"Alright."

...

"Wait what did you say?" Isabella asked incredulously.

"You can go." The man turned to look at his comrades. "Don't make a move on her."

Confused, Isabella slowly distanced herself from the men, constantly looking back over her shoulder in case they would try anything funny.

Their seemingly irrational actions left even me perplexed as I slowly approached them, wanting to find out what they are up to.

It did not take long for me to find out why the men suddenly let Isabella go.

The moment she was just about to turn tail and flee, the leader pulled out a small cell, that radiated with mana.

It looked like it was about to burst, sweeping the entire room in a wave of overwhelming energy.

Pulling out a small knife, he stabbed it directly into the cell, making it leak mana rapidly.

"Idiot..." The man muttered under his breath, throwing the cell to Isabella.

The cracking of glass sounded throughout the large chamber. In its wake, a blinding light engulfed the area and took over everything within range.

Shockwaves rippled outward, almost causing me to almost lose balance and fall to the ground. A sudden wave of mana rushed past my body, leaving it chaotic and turbulent.

My heartbeat spiked sharply, accompanied by a pounding headache. However, contrary to Isabella, I got through this unscathed.

Buried beneath the rubble of broken machinery, was Isabella with blood trickling from her forehead. She was basically hurled across the room, landing hard against the wall.

Still, she managed to stay barely conscious.

Two of the men approached her, sinister grins plastered on their faces. Not wanting to unnecessarily endanger her further, I decided to intervene.

Pulling out two daggers, I propelled myself downward directly at the men. Like a hawk diving into prey, I plunged the blades deep into the soft flesh of their nape.

It was an instantaneous death. They both crumbled to the floor without uttering a sound or feeling a thing.

Two precious lives wasted, who were robbed of the opportunity to be able to express their final emotions. Their real emotions.

At least they served to further heighten the fear of the remaining men. A sacrifice of significant value.

"W-Who are you!" Their leader spoke out through the chamber, filled with a mix of fear, anger, and surprise.

"Your final destination." I replied coldly, slowly advancing towards him.

I already confirmed that that mana cell was the only one they had on them so I didn't have to worry about any more unexpected explosions.

The frequent sound of blood dripping from the tip of my daggers synchronized with my movements as I slowly walked toward them, marking the path with their blood.

The mask concealed my whole face, adding to the dread that was already evident in their eyes.

"Go get him."

The remaining men hesitated for a moment, their apprehension as clear as the day. But eventually, they charged toward me, their weapons at the ready.

A smirk formed under my mask. The thrill of the fight was something I always enjoyed, and this was no exception. I shifted my stance, ready to take on their onslaught.

The men were quick, but I was quicker. My movements were like a blur as I sidestepped their attacks, dodging and weaving in between them effortlessly.

Their strikes were clumsy and uncoordinated, a clear indication of their lack of training.

However, I made sure to not kill them but instead incapacitate them.

With each swing of my daggers, I sliced through their defenses like a scythe through wheat, leaving them dazed and confused.

Their movements were like those of a herd of sheep, blindly following their shepherd toward their slaughter.

As I continued my assault, I felt like a predator toying with its prey, relishing in the thrill of the hunt.

Their fear was palpable, and it only fueled my desire to keep going, to keep testing their limits. But eventually, they began to tire, their movements slowing down as their wounds took their toll.

It was like watching a candle flicker before going out, their energy slowly fading away until they were no longer a threat.

Only pain, suffering, lingering regrets and the weight of their failure remained. A peaceful moment in which these men finally realize their own truth.

The fear of death was something that hung over them like a dark cloud, suffocating and ever-present. A fascinating experience that only the wisest learn to appreciate.

A seed that blooms into countless emotions and thoughts when faced with death's inevitability. Something that makes you finally feel truly alive.

"Hah.. h-how sad. Dying in this hellhole *cough* a so boring and uneventful death..." A weak voice echoed throughout the industry.

?!?!?

Boring?!

Looking over, I saw a dying man holding his hand high like he wanted to grasp the light above him.

His statement left me devastated to the core as I couldn't comprehend how he could think such a thing. What did I do wrong?

I refuse to let him die here! Not whilst thinking that!