Chapter 16 : ????

A young boy of 15 makes his way through the city under the night sky. He walks between the walls that are too high for him to bother seeking the almost black sky, he absentmindedly kicks a small garbage can with each stride, the sounds of footsteps echo across the street . As he get to the end of the street which exposed a stoney road and the occasional carriages that passed by, the lampposts above him cast his shadow like black over deepest charcoal, he silently looks around him, trying to make sure he wasn't being followed before he continued moving once again onto the next street across the short road; by midway his shadow had bled out. From the apartments come noises, not so much as in the daytime but all the louder for the absence of light and the quieter traffic. Soon he notices the yellow beams of the lampposts ahead illuminating the number "7", without a conscious thought the grip on his bag loosens a little, as does his stride.

[Almost there, with this I'll have food for me and the others by tomorrow.] The Boy mutters as he could barely hold back his excitement in his eyes despite being anxious, the concept of "food" made him loose his guard as he missed a few hooded figures who seemed to have stepped out from a different corner.

He quickly makes a turn into the alley way to make his delivery just as the Dark skinned merchant required but...

In front of him appeared three Hooded Men, quickly he spins around to make a run for it but was blocked once again by and set of hooded figures. They just stood there watching him silently with occasional laughter coming from beneath their hoods.

"f***, who are this people? they don't seem friendly! " The Boy thought as cold sweat formed on his back.

Kriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.....

[Boy... I must commend you, you really have guts to come selling "goods" in Invictus territory.] a figure stepped out of the Shadows while dragging a metal Rod behind him.

[Hehehe]

[I wonder which group he's with? ]

[I... I'm sorry, perhaps you have the wrong idea] the Boy defended as he barely stopped himself from stuttering.

[oh? ...how so? ] the figure said as his "companions" made way for him till he was infront of the Bo, he then casually placed the rod over his shoulder.

[I...I merely wish to visit m..my Aunty!. I hail from out of town you see? ] After mustering enough courage, he cooked up a story, hoping they would believe him but all that hope was shattered by the Man's next sentence.

[hahaha...that's an interesting thing to say eh?...Oliver. ]

[!!!!] Oliver was shocked to the core but before he could recover he was sent reeling by a punch to the gut.

Bluergh!...!

Series of laughter echoed in the alley way, the Man looked at the Boy before pulling down the Hood exposing his piercing blue eyes and dirty brown hair with Sharp brows like swords.

[You think there is anything in this Town that I, Rollo don't know about? ] Rollo sneered as he went closer to Oliver before pulling away the Bag from him despite him knowing it was a futile.

[N... N.. No, please don't take it away, I... I have no way to pay back the... ] He suddenly shut his mouth as he noticed that he almost said something completely unneeded.

[Oh? Oliver...I'm quite interested in this story you just mentioned. Who gave you the "goods" in your hands, come on, don't be shy] Rollo said calmly as he opened the Bag, showing off a brown wooden box. With his eyes fixed on the boy, he carefully checked the contents of the box.

[Blue dust....!!! ] one of Rollo's companions exclaimed with wide eyes.

[they are Fresh ones too] Rollo chimed as he tasted a pinch of the contents .

[Gi...Give it back, you don't understa...bleuegh!! ] Oliver latched unto Rollo's feet once more but was sent flying with a kick from the latter.

Swish...

CRAAASH!!!!!!

Oliver heavily landed on a pile of scattered wood and dirt. Presently he felt like he had broken all his bones but he still struggled to get up while dragging his feet slowly towards Rollo.

[quite tenacious aren't you?...hey why don't you come work for me?] Rollo spoke much gently this time making Oliver flinch as he Thought of the others, whom they had Run here together. but unfortunately Rollo saw it as him ignoring him, a cold glint flashed through his eyes.

He used his Jaws to order his Men to beat Oliver to death.

Immediately, sounds of blows, grunts, kicks and screams echoed through the night. Pedestrians hastened their steps, trying to avoid implicating themselves. All but one who had just arrived on a nearby roof, no one knows what he was thinking but those who saw him pretended not to have seen anything.

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[A-ha, a perfect system points farm as boss would call it] Anyone who sees this man's face would be intimidated. The ominous glowing red eyes and multiple piercings on his face, ears were visible as he stood there trying to cook up a grand entrance, his black robes with floating red clouds fluttered calmly in evening winds.

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I Calmly watched the scene in front of me, the Oliver boy was one of the kids the Boss had planned to recruit. so I had been shocked seeing him pushing blue dust. The more the boy struggled the more I supported the Boss's decision.

Oliver traded Blow for Blow, albeit weak punches considering he was not even a cultivator, Most of my men present here were Class 3-4 warriors.

So I thought it was impressive that he was still fighting back. As I was about stopping the beating, the closest street lamp suddenly went off.

All actions came to a stop as my Man pulled out a torch lighter it, when I turned my attention to Oliver, he was sitting next to a... Man.

[Oii... who are you!! ] Phillip yells immediately but I'm more interested in how he got to the middle of us without us realizing.

"Expert" I thought but chose to keep Quiet for now, the youth's devilishly glowing red eyes scanned over all of us. when his eyes stared at me a little longer, I felt like I was placed on a pedestal In the middle of the winter's snow, completely naked as the grim reaper loomed over me with fiery red eyes.

It was but a few seconds stare but I felt like I had died and gone through the circles of reincanation. unable to control myself, I took a few steps back with shaking hands. When I looked at the others, they seemed not to have experienced what I Had.

I could have written it off as an imagination but I knew my instincts were warning me. And I trust my instincts, so I took the opportunity to gain some distance between them all.

[Bastard, Ignoring the Invictus...Haaaa] with a shout and a battle cry, the Fool charged at the red eyed Monster with his daggers.

Swoosh...!!!

But the sound of impact never came, instead it passed through the Youth like knife through butter.

Seeing this made Jobbs speechless as he repeatedly looked at his hand and the youth in front of him.

The other party simply muttered an unknown language that sounded like a Judgement from heaven Yaiba no Jutsu [ Blade Technique ] 

The Youth charged lightning elements into his palm as they eventually worked up to his fingers. Soon a blade of electricity is formed between the youths index and middle finger. The blade looked very thin, and looked to be around a foot long. It was 3 inches wide, and lacks a hilt. The blade is held between his fingers, simply looking at it made my scalp tingle.

with a wave of his hand, Jobbs charred decapitated head dropped to the ground with an also charred upper body following after.

"What kind of Magic is this?...Magician?!!!" I screamed in my head before ordering the others, [Quick, get out of there, Run!!!! ]

Like mercy from above, they Ran like mad wishing they had extra legs. My shout had attracted the sight of the Monster as it tilted it's head looking at me strangely before it said in an Emotionless Voice [I don't know what gave you the impression that you can escape me, but no matter, I shall you the error of your ways]

[Run... Run ] I yell repeatedly as I followed after them, occasionally looking backwards. it was then I saw it, I saw the unthinkable!!.

He bends down and touches the unconscious Oliver, who then began to disappear in a spiralling motion till he was completely gone. I unconsciously halt my steps until the youth looked at me with a bored expression but an Evil grin appeared on his face like a malicious demon.

His pupils seemed to spin but I dare not wait for what he was preparing.

[I SAID YOU CAN'T ESCAPE!!] His Shout echoed through the night.

Boom!!

"AAAaaargh!! SPARE ME!!!" a scream came from not too far ahead so I make a turn to my left. "I swear, that sounded like Tony"

"Aaah!! NOOOOO!! " Soon another scream followed making my scalp tingle like ants were crawling beneath my hair. I muster all my Rank 4 Axeman's strength to just get Further ahead.

Not long after, Screams echoed in different parts of the Town, and I knew I was the only one left, this only made things more unsettling.

I tried knocking on doors but as expected no One wanted to open or invite me in, but I guess that's expected with the kind of stuff that happens in this Town at night.

Woosh!

woosh!

woosh!

all the surrounding Street lamps went off simultaneously besides the one I was standing under.

The night was eerily quiet, and I was placed beneath a spotlight by the street lamp, like an actor in a play.

Thud...

Thud...

Thud...

Thud...

Several footsteps sounded from everywhere in my surrounding, so I couldn't pinpoint the location of my aggressor.

Sweat trickled down my back as I strained my eyes to find even a small clue but now there was just silence, a deafening silence with nothing but the sound of my heavy breath.

I close my eyes to offer one last prayer to All Father and the Lord of soul to accept and cleanse me of my sins but as though he could read my mind, I heard him say from right behind me [The gods can't save you my friend...].

With wide eyes and shock I turned to look behind me as tried to swing the axe in my arms, but he beat me to it by grabbing hold of my hand and forcing me to look at those eyes.

Soon I felt a powerful suction force from his eyes like a black hole calling me in, no matter the amount of struggle I put up, I couldn't do a thing.

His expressionless face stared into my eyes as I felt Numb all over and everything went Dark.

My Last thought being, "Why"

Meanwhile, Somewhere outside of town sat Haru next to his bonfire when Numerous amounts of Notifications Popped up.

When he chose to view it, Only one word CD out from his Mouth [WHAT???].