I will kill this bastard myself...

Flashback.

The weather today was unusual. Dark clouds loomed overhead, creating an eerie atmosphere. The air was thick with tension as if nature itself was preparing for something significant. Raindrops started falling, gradually intensifying into a heavy downpour. Lightning occasionally illuminated the clouds, casting eerie shadows across the empty streets.

The citizens wisely sought refuge in their homes, leaving the alleys deserted and the city shrouded in the symphony of rain and distant thunder. However, amidst the deserted streets, two figures moved with urgency, darting through the rain-soaked alleys.

Aurelius and Aurelia, pursued by the ominous weather and people, pressed forward with determination. The rain plastered their clothes to their bodies, and every footstep echoed through the empty spaces. Several figures wearing black robes and masks silently materialized behind them, like shadows emerging from the gloom.

Within a minute, Aurelius and Aurelia found themselves at a dead end—a narrow alley with towering walls on either side and nowhere to escape. The rain intensified, turning the alley into a cascade of water.

The ten masked figures slowly closed in, their laughter echoing against the walls. The atmosphere grew tense, and the two turned to face their pursuers with a mix of defiance and fear.

"Why are you chasing us?" Aurelia demanded, her voice cutting through the patter of rain.

The masked figures chuckled, their voices distorted by the masks. "You shouldn't have offended someone if you can't handle the consequences. Now, there's no way for you to run."

Aurelius gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing at the threat. "Let us go. We don't want any trouble."

The masked figures exchanged glances before bursting into sinister laughter. "Trouble? You two brought this upon yourselves. Now, pay the price."

Aurelius, shielding Aurelia behind him, spoke with a firmer tone. "If you have issues with us, fine. But leave her out of this."

The masked figures, seemingly amused by Aurelius's plea, took a step closer. "We make the rules here. You should have thought twice before speaking."

Aurelia, sensing the escalating danger, whispered to Aurelius, "We need to do something, Aurelius."

Aurelius nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any possible advantage. The rain poured relentlessly, washing away the world's colors and leaving only shades of gray in the dimly lit alley.

"Ah, don't try anything funny, the area has already been closed by a barrier. Even if you were to scream, nobody would hear you. you can drop any futile hopes of escape," one of the masked figures taunted, reveling in their perceived victory.

The tension peaked, the masked figures closing in, and the storm above echoing the impending clash.

In the midst of the rain-soaked alley, Aurelius took a step forward, his eyes narrowing at the masked figures. "Who sent you? Father? Or brother?"

The figures, still concealed by the shadows of their masks, merely chuckled in response. "You ask too many questions, boy."

Without warning, the figures lunged forward, their movements swift and coordinated. Aurelius engaged them with calculated precision. A brief exchange of blows and bursts of Aether erupted in the confined space, creating a chaotic ballet of shadows and rain.

Aurelia, despite the danger, focused her energy, channeling Aether to defend herself and Aurelius. The air crackled with the clash of powers, but the alley provided little room for maneuvering. The two fought desperately, the rain concealing their exertion.

As the confrontation unfolded, it became clear that the masked figures possessed formidable skills and power. Aurelius and Aurelia soon found themselves at a complete disadvantage. Aurelia also became poisoned during this little time.

Both of them were putting up a valiant fight, but it was evident that the masked figures were merely toying with them. Aurelia's condition worsened with each passing moment, her movements becoming sluggish as the poison coursed through her veins. In contrast, the figures seemed untouched, reveling in the unequal struggle.

"Bastards!" Aurelius shouted, his frustration boiling over. "I'll kill you!"

At that very moment, something thudded onto the wet ground between them, emitting a blinding light and an explosive force that sent both Aurelius and Aurelia sprawling. Smoke and mist filled the surroundings, obscuring the alley in a hazy curtain.

As the mist slowly dissipated, another figure emerged from the shadows, clad in a cloak that seemed to absorb the ambient light. The mysterious newcomer approached Aurelius and Aurelia with silent determination. In their hand, they held a small scroll.

Aurelius, still disoriented from the explosion, looked up at the figure, his guard momentarily lowered. The figure's voice, though muffled by the cloak, cut through the aftermath of the confrontation. "Use this. Now!"

They handed Aurelius the scroll, urgency emanating from their every movement. Aurelius hesitated for a brief moment, glancing between the masked figures and the enigmatic savior.

"Quickly!" The figure urged, the urgency in their voice leaving no room for debate. "Use it, or you'll die here."

Aurelius nodded, gratitude in his eyes. He took the scroll and, with a quick glance at Aurelia, who lay on the rain-soaked ground, he unfurled it. The arcane symbols on the parchment glowed, reacting to the touch of his Aether-infused hands.

In an instant, the world around them seemed to warp and twist. Aurelius and Aurelia vanished from the alley, leaving the masked figures bewildered in the dissipating mist.

The figure, ensuring the two had successfully escaped, prepared to use a similar scroll to follow suit. However, before they could activate it, an arrow sliced through the air with deadly accuracy. The arrow struck the scroll, tearing it apart and dispersing its magic in a burst of ethereal light.

The figure's eyes narrowed in the direction of the incoming threat, a glint of irritation beneath the hood. Another figure, concealed in the shadows of the adjacent rooftop, drew another arrow and aimed at the mysterious savior.

"You three will go after those two with me." The leader of the masked figures' voice echoed through the alley. "The rest of you take this bastard down. And make sure to torture him before he dies."

"Yes, leader." The other masked figures responded in unison.

The leader of the masked figures wasted no time. With a swift gesture, he signaled four of his subordinates to follow him, leaving the dark alley in pursuit of Aurelius and Aurelia. The rain continued to pour, amplifying the sense of urgency in the air.

Left behind, the mysterious figure, their cloak billowing in the wind, found themselves surrounded by the remaining three masked assailants. The alley, still slick from the rain, became an arena for an impending clash.

Without uttering a word, the masked figures attacked simultaneously, their movements coordinated and ruthless. The mysterious figure, though outnumbered, proved to be a formidable opponent. The cloak concealed their precise maneuvers, and with each strike, a burst of Aether crackled in the air.

In the ensuing chaos, the alley became a battleground, a symphony of clashing powers and the relentless patter of rain. The mysterious figure fought with determination, evading attacks and retaliating with calculated precision. However, the masked figures were relentless in their pursuit.

As the battle unfolded, the tide shifted. Two of the masked figures lay sprawled on the wet ground, defeated by the mysterious figure's exceptional skill and tricks. Yet, the remaining four, seemingly infuriated by their comrades' defeat, fought more aggressively.

Soon, the fight ended.

The mysterious figure collapsed on the wet ground, unable to fight, spitting blood.

"Haha... We finally took this bastard down."

"Yeah, but he was really like a cockroach, even after being hit by four arrows, he still continued to fight."

"So, it's right for us to get rid of him."

"Let me do it. I will kill this bastard myself!"