The Looming Death

'Should I just bash their heads in?'

Arsh let out a heavy sigh, trying to contain his boiling anger. Being chased down by a group of kids every day was not a very pleasant experience.

But, he was more or less used to this kind of treatment, after all these years. Being the outcast among the kids for the longest time, It was a regular everyday thing for him. 

Arsh tried to ignore the group at first, faring away in the direction of the forest. However, the kids who were following him weren't in any mood of stopping. 

Frustrated by getting no response out of Arsh after so many tries, they suddenly started cursing him from behind. Knowing it was the only sure way to rile him up.

"This Son of a bitch thinks he is better than us. Come here right now, you little shit!"

Arsh knew he was relatively safe from any kind of assault from any kid. He was stronger than any of the kids in the village anyway. And the other kids were jealous of his glorified image, adults made it to be inside the village.

Arsh mostly never gave them any attention. Knowing it will only be a waste of his own time. But today was a bit different.

"...Which one of you insulted my mother?"

They had insulted his mother. 

Arsh looked back at them, making the kids flinch at his penetrating gaze.

He stopped at the very boundary of the village, and took a step forward toward them, repeating in a dark and enraged voice.

"Which One Of You Insulted My Mother?"

The biggest kid in the front shuddered. But, he didn't back away. Clenching his teeth while trying to defy his fear, he also moved forward toward Arsh.

The kid directly stood in front of Arsh, spaying in a hateful voice.

"Don't act all cocky. You Motherfucker!"

"You bastard! Why are you getting all angry at us for telling the truth? Your mother is a bitch, to begin with, If not? Tell me the name of your father or your last name. Go on!"

The group started laughing loudly, to mock Arsh at the comment of the biggest kid. They smirked together looking at Arsh, who in return just downcasted his eyes to the ground.

"Your mother is a whore. She always has been one."

Another one of the kids with blue hair shouted a mocking grin plastered all over his face.

'....Last Chance. One last chance.'

Arsh spared them a devoid glance with an emotionless face. He turned around and moved inside the forest, leaving all the kids flabbergasted. 

The group of kids looked at the retreating figure of Arsh, suddenly broken down in loud laughter together.

"Hahaha…. This!? This is the most glorified kid in our village? They must be lying about him being the strongest!"

"Right? My father always warns me to not mess with him. That damn coward! He ran away quaking in his boots"

The kids were celebrating among themselves, ever so happily. It was the first time they made Arsh retreat in their everyday clashes.

"We should teach that coward a lesson. Find that bastard!"

The kids, drunk on their victory, moved into the forest tracing Arsh's footsteps. Though as they got deeper into the forest, they found only trees and silence everywhere in sight.

One of the kids started fidgeting uncomfortably in the back. The kid's eyes looked in every direction, with visible terror in his expression.

"....What if we encountered a monster?"

Suddenly, they all halted. Listening to the low and scared voice. 

They always had heard several tales of monsters being near the village. That was the main reason why it was banned for kids to leave the village. With the only exception of Arsh.

"What!? That coward always moves alone in the forest. We even have a group with us, what are you guys so afraid of?"

The big kid shouted at his lackeys. They did not have the power to defy the big kid, so they had to follow him all the way, willingly or unwillingly.

As they moved inside one of the densest parts of the forest. The bands of kids suddenly found themself in a cleared part of the forest, with almost no trees around them. 

A completely clear grassland.

They looked around anxiously to find any sign of life around. After a moment they let out a sigh of relief together, looking at Arsh. 

He was sitting on a giant rock at some distance, all alone. 

Arsh jumped down looking at them. His expressions were cold and unreadable. But, his monotonous voice made it all clear…. He was far more dangerous than any monster in existence at the moment.

"I gave you a chance, but..... It seems you guys don't know your place."

With every step Arsh took forward, the whole group took a step backward. 

Arsh's crimson-red eyes shone with a murderous gaze, making the group petrified on their spot. A feeling of true dread clutching their guts. 

They knew they couldn't run, they couldn't hide and most importantly they couldn't win. They were petrified by the creeping feeling. The feeling of impending doom. 

The big kid on the front gritted his teeth, smacking others on their heads. Trying to take control of the situation forcibly. He looked at Arsh and defying his innate fear he went on to bark.

"What are you guys freezing up for!? He is all alone, while we are a group of 7. He doesn't even stand a chance against us."

They looked at each other, before reluctantly nodding. Ignoring the warnings given by their screaming senses they decided to strike him down.

They surrounded Arsh in a circle, trying to cut off his running route completely. 

But what they did not expect was Arsh's reaction to all of that. Looking at them, he just laughed in pure amusement, confusing them even further. 

".....Hahaha"

He looked at the band of kids. His cold and calculating gaze followed them all one by one, finally stopping at the biggest kid in the group. Raising his middle finger at them, he only said two words.

"Go on."

Bracing themselves, all of them ran together toward Arsh. Not expecting what was about to go down there, even in any of their wildest dreams.

"Die! Creepy Bastard."

Arsh didn't move from his spot, and let them come at him. The first kid tried to kick him in the stomach. Arsh caught his kick easily midway and crunched it with his elbow, destroying several bones together.

"AAAHHHHH"

The kid let out a pained growl, as he writhed in pain on the ground.

The others didn't stop though. Four of them tried to attack Arsh at the same time from every direction, trying to overwhelm him with numbers. 

Arsh followed their body movements with his eyes, with an uninterested expression on his face. Arsh easily blocked their punches and kicks one by one, while simultaneously attacking them at vital spots.

In the next second, they all were on the ground. Beaten down to a pulp, a stream of blood gushed out of all of their bodies, as they all crawled on the ground. 

Arsh looked at the remaining two in front of him and smiled darkly.

"You fuckers cursed at the only thing I love, in this fucking world. Now! I am going to make sure….. You can't repeat that ever again."

Arsh moved slowly towards them, step by step. They stood at their place, not even trying to run away. They knew full well it was going to be futile. 

The biggest kid gnashed his teeth together, swinging a punch at Arsh out of nowhere. As the one last straw attempt.

Arsh caught his hand in the middle of the swing, breaking it from the elbow. Simultaneously, grabbing the throat of the last kid with his free arm. He then went on by slamming both of them together on the ground.

"First! Let's do something about this disgusting mouth of yours."

Arsh squatted down in front of both of the kids, smiling menacingly. He grabbed the chin of the biggest kid, putting his other hand inside his mouth.

"Naooo… Preaese Naoo."

The big kid begged, having an idea of what Arsh was planning to do. Arsh smiled darkly, shaking his head, and pulled out his front teeth mercilessly. 

The kid tried to jump up, but due to Arsh's hold on his chin, he wasn't able to move. He wailed, and crawled, going as far as gripping Arsh's leg for forgiveness. 

But Arsh didn't stop. He did not stop until he successfully pulled out all of the front teeth from the biggest kid's mouth. The kid cried in pain trying to lose hold of Arsh until he was finally unconscious from giving in to the pain.

Arsh moved to the next kid, the one with the blue hair, and smiled again. A smile more sinister than the last time, with an expression crueler than ever before.

"I clearly remember what you said. Let's see what you have to say now?"

The kid let out a cry in fear, clinging to Arsh's leg for mercy. Arsh squatted down in front of him and slapped him mercilessly on the face, making his teeth fly out on their own just by the force of the impact.

Even after pulling every tooth out of the blue kid's mouth, Arsh didn't stop slapping him. Until the kid was unconscious, with his face looking like a bloody mess.

Arsh stood up, looking at all of the remaining kids on the ground. As he emphasized in a sardonic voice.

"Don't worry! You guys are going to get your turns too. I didn't forget any of you, I am gonna make sure, you guys also know. That you shouldn't run your mouth uselessly. Especially for laughing"

"Stop that!... Arsh. You are going too far."

Arsh stopped abruptly, turning his head quickly to look for the source of the voice. 

As he looked back, his expression became harrowingly bleak. He looked at the man standing just behind him with rage, spatting in a dark voice.

"Leave me alone. These fuckers will have to pay for what they did."

Arsh was already acquainted with the man in the back. 

The man was the most famous person in the whole village. The only one who ever took the side of Arsh, in these everyday fights.

"Edward"

The name of the charming young man was Edward. He was quite popular and respected in the whole village, due to his friendly personality and talent for magic.

"Samantha is going to chew you out this time, Arsh. Look at what you have done to them."

Edward pointed at the kid on the ground.

"It wasn't my fault. If you have heard what he called me and my mother. You wouldn't be stopping me here."

Arsh stood up from the ground, looking Edward straight into his eyes. Arsh wasn't ready to back down. Not after hearing insults about his mother. 

"...But this time you went too far, kid. Just take a look at them! "

Arsh looked at the kids on the ground. Injured and washed in the blood, the two unconscious ones, whom Arsh just pulled teeth out.

Arsh sighed, letting his head cool down a little bit, before looking at Edward again.

"Don't take it too seriously, Arsh. They are just a bunch of dumb kids…..And, after what you did to them today. I don't think they are going to come close to you….. anytime soon."

Edward added, pointing his fingers at the unconscious kids, and laughing out loud.

"Believe me! kid. You should try to control your anger more. Even I was frightened when I saw your eyes this time. You were scarier than dad."

Edward was the newest adult in the small community for now, and he also happens to be the son of the most easygoing person in the village. The village chief.

"Village chief can be mad?"

Arsh was astonished by this revelation. He really can't imagine that hearty old man with the white beard being ever mad. It just didn't look possible.

'This guy managed to make him mad. Should I give him recognition or condolences for that?'

"Well, he is mad with me most of the time. Always pestering me to pray to god. Asking for forgiveness of my sins. Which I am sure, I never committed."

"By the way, how is Samantha? Out for a hunt again?"

"Yeah, mom left the house in the morning. It is about time for her to be back too." 

Arsh looked at the kids on the ground then turned to Edward, pointing his hand at them.

"What should I do about this baggage of trash right here?"

"You don't have to worry about them. They will be fine with a little healing magic, perhaps? Whatever it will be, I'll just take care of it. You should now go back home."

Edward smiled, shooing Arsh away with his hands cheerfully. 

"Oh! Also, tell Samantha. Dad was asking to meet her in the evening."

Arsh looked at Edward with doubt in his eyes. He wasn't so sure about leaving the kids in his care. But, he let the matter go. 

Arsh waved at Edward slowly moving away from the forest, in the direction of his house.