Dirty fighting

The short man looked up at Ertex. He didn't know who he was and that was exactly the problem. He couldn't really underestimate him.

Sure, it could all be a bluff and he could just try to impress Edna.

But what if it wasn't? What if he could actually kill them?

"Stop. I did not ask for your help." Edna's voice was suddenly heard.

"Indeed you didn't. But I am a good person, you know? Who else would help if not me? I can also help you with whatever keeps you from not leaving them. It won't be free, but I'm confident that I'm way better than these guys."

Edna was conflicted. She only met him a day prior and deemed him quite dangerous. He seemed to do anything he wants without thinking about the consequences, and could possibly do anything as long as he gets money. How could she really be sure of her safety around him?

But on the other hand, if he was willing to do anything if he gets money, she just has to pay him, right? Plus, he was level 25 after the first trial. He went through another one on the same day, so his level most likely was higher now. He surely had something that made him that confident, right?

In the end, though, it was only a matter of how desperate she was.

And to be honest, Ertex knew that.

"Absurd. Talking like we aren't even here, like we are just some brutes. We -"

"Shut up. I wasn't talking to you." Ertex stopped the short man.

After that, he saw that everyone readied their weapons, ready to kill him when the leader tells them to.

"You should hurry up, Edna. Things are getting heated up here, and the price will only rise."

.

.

.

She didn't know what to do.

"This is your only chance. You don't trust either side, right? I don't know for how long you've been with your team, but I can tell you regret it. So why don't you change it? What will you lose?" this time, it wasn't Ertex who talked. It was Arga.

Edna looked at her, only now noticing she was here too.

.

.

.

Right. What would she lose? Her life? She kept worrying they'll just get rid of her one day, so what will change now?

Nothing.

All she hoped now... was that things will be different.

"... Do it." clenching her sword handle, she quietly agreed.

"Excellent choice!" Ertex said as he looked at their leader. "So -"

He didn't have time to finish as a tall, muscular man tried to pierce him with a spear.

The man suddenly felt himself somewhat heavier. Looking up, he saw Ertex's face too close to his, doing a handstand on his shoulders.

"Not even letting me finish..."

The man tried to grab him but Ertex smashed his knees into his face, burying his head into the ground.

"Perfect! Why would you?"

A grotesque sound was heard, blood splashing everywhere as the tall man died instantly, his head completely crushed.

"In a life or death scenario, you never let your opponent get ready. What's the point in doing that? So props to that guy." he said as he was getting up, quickly kicking the leader's liver, sending him flying.

Miserable, really. Not even giving him the chance to show what he can do.

2 were already dead.

.

.

.

Edna would be lying if she said she wasn't surprised. Sure, she expected him to win, but not to the point that he just simply overpowers them. And this too only by using his physical capabilities. That only made her aware of the gap between them and how easily he'll be able to kill her if he just wanted to. She had to grow stronger. Way stronger.

Arga, on the other hand, already knew her son's strength. She was just paying attention to Ertex's - intentional or not - teachings.

.

.

.

"Too bad he was the single one with good instincts, though..." Ertex said as he saw them not reacting properly, approaching them.

Then, multiple fire projectiles hit him. They couldn't see if that did anything since smoke obstructed their view.

But Ertex coming out of the smoke and grabbing the face of the man that used the projectiles was more than enough of an answer.

"I disapprove of that." he said referring to the magic-related hits before clenching his hand, killing the third man.

"When you are fighting me, unfortunately, you are forced to use your hands. So come one, show me something good. It doesn't matter how it's done, just do it!"

Just as he was about to rush towards another one, someone stepped on his foot. Not giving Ertex any time to look at him, the man started a desperate barrage of blows, hitting wherever he could.

Another one came behind his back, and using a hammer, he started hitting his head, while another tried to stab him with a sword.

A woman came flying, smashing her knee on his face, while the last 2 held his leg, trying to keep him in place. Everyone gave their best, hoping they'll be able to take down Ertex.

Alas, it was futile. Spinning his body, he sent everyone flying, blood coming out of their mouths.

Seeing him not taking any damage made them lose even the last spark of hope they had left.

"Your teamwork was decent and that's about it. Everything else is miserable. You all truly are trash."

Ertex stopped a punch to his face. Looking at the man in front of him, he realized he was the one with the hammer. Ertex only saw hatred and disperation in his eyes.

The man tried to kick Ertex in the balls, but he was kicked in the stomach, only staying in place because Ertex was holding his punch. As if ignoring the pain, the man using his other hand smashed his hammer on Ertex's face and bit his forearm. This made Ertex smile, feeling his heart slowly bumping faster.

Letting go of his arm, he grabbed the hammer.

"It's awesome, isn't it?" he said as he hit the man in the mouth with the hammer. "That dirty fighting... I love it too."

The man tried to gauge Ertex's eyes out, but Ertex smashed the hammer on his temple.

"It's just the easiest way out, right?" Ertex asked he continued to smash the hammer on the man's head.

"I kinda want to know how you'll evolve... But a deal's a deal." he finished as he pierced the man's neck with his fingers, ripping it apart, the man falling breathlessly to the ground.

Ertex calming himself, began to whistle, stepping on him and approaching another one. He still had the hammer in his hand, with blood dripping from it. Not very pleasant to look at.

He slowly killed all of them. Most of them just accepted their fate, while some tried to run away. There was no use, really.

"W-wait!" when he reached the last one, the woman, she shouted. "10,000! I'll give you 10,000 coins if you don't kill me like the rest!"

.

.

.

"Fuck, she's right!" he said, turning towards Arga.

"Huh? Why are you looking at me? What did I do?" she asked, confused.

"There are exploits in this! Why didn't you tell me? Gotta make new rules after that. Alright, give me the money." he said as he threw the hammer.

[Olivia sent you 10,000 coins!]

Ertex nodded and turned around. The woman, Olivia, breathes a sigh of relief.

When Edna was about to protest, he saw Ertex picking up a sword.

He once again reached Olivia, rising the sword.

"W-what are you doing?! I paid you! YOU SAID YOU WON'T KILL ME!" she shouted, trying to run.

"I never said that. The deal was that I will not kill you like the rest. I'm killing you in a different way." he smiled sweetly as he cut her neck, her head rolling on the ground.

"Job's done. My money now, please." he said as he appeared on front of Edna. She only nodded, to tired to even be surprised anymore.

[Edna sent you 45,000 coins!]

"Good, good. Now, how do I-"

"Hey."

He couldn't finish his sentence as Edna cut him off.

"We are not fighting now. It's not nice to interrupt someone who's speaking if you're not fighting."

.

.

.

"Train me."