Chapter 48: Cruelty for the cruel's

The boss let out a savage laugh as he get of from bed.

"Did you found the audacity to fight against us when you were gone or something!?"

Zyro stopped.

"I guess"

The leader smirked.

"Then prepare to die!!"

He roared as he lunged forward, delivering a swinging punch.

Despite their advantageous number, a minute it two later. The three plunderers was unconsciously laying on hard floor in an awkward positions. Their body became maps of injuries.

Zyro's attribute [Elite] mostly at plays it's part. Hence, the noob brutes stood no chance at all against a professionally trained soldier. Furthermore, Zyro's armor - Shroud of Night not only protected his body, it also made his punches felt like iron fists. So as his other attacks. Even without the suit, Zyro's elusive mobility cannot be hit by simple slaves in hand to hand combat. Even more now that his at top state unlike before - Zyro's injuries was cured by Depter's spells, his hunger was fully solved by salty arid meats and he had plenty of rest in the underground ruins before coming here. All that preparations were done for this very moment.

Looking at the barely recognizable faces of the former savage looking boss. which are now replaced by teary, barely open eye, cracked lips, broken nose, skin bulks. The leader was pitiful to say the least, same goes for the two lackeys that fought alongside the leader. Despite all they have done in the passed month to Zyro, he didn't kill them. Not because his merciful or something, rather, it's the opposite.

There are three underlings accompanying thee plunderers boss. But only two of them were here, for the other one - The lackey that greeted Zyro and was forcefully thrown outside in the beginning. Has frantically run away when their mighty boss and comrades was quickly beaten. The underling advantageous position outside easily allowed him.

Donning a bored expression, Zyro seated on a stone bed as he waited on the relatively modest room for a mine slaves. Blankly staring on the swaying torch flame. Wondering...

Now, can he win against the Alpha guard? Rather, a first tier Warrior. First Marks bearers rightful honorifics. According to Depter, the stage one - Warrior was called so because that's the stage when an individual was acknowledge by the world as a true warrior.

Zyro had prevailed against a Grick a scout, a Warrior of the first tier already. Their clashed lasted short in tense seconds that felt like eternity. But at that time, Zyro had overwhelming advantage. Wielding a long spear with an element of surprise. At the same time, his agility and might was augmented by exoskeleton on full power. Zyro was able to claimed victory in mere seconds. But pulling such a feat wasn't easy as it seems. If not for his [Elite] attribute and Shroud of Night, triumphing against first tier Warriors was impossible as a normal human.

The question is. On equal circumstances, can Zyro defeat an Alpha? In Aizra's calculation, his chances of winning was higher. That said, humans knew better that anyone that calculated assumptions can never be compared to real experiment results.

Which Zyro planned on attempting.

After waiting for a while more, four tapping foots was heard. Implying that two individual were coming.

Zyro listless gaze turn, then stood up and stretched his body, cracking stiffed joints in the process. Done warming up, he headed out to greet the arriving guest.

'That guy finally brought him.'

As he stride in the relatively wide tunnel to meet the approaching two. The guest silhouette became near enough to see. Its was a mine guard clad in leather armor and the runaway underling.

"Took you long enough" Zyro voiced, stopping.

The lackey exaggeratedly pointed at Zyro's figure, emitting subtle pride.

"It's him boss! that shameless bastard assaulted us in our sleep! I was able to react in time and run away, but the others were unfortunate."

He brazenly lied, but no one cared. For the two combatant was intensely focused on each other. The underling halt at a safe distance, evident dread can be seen on his dirty face.

When the Alpha guard reach a certain distance, he halt and said.

"You didn't run?" He lifted an eyebrow, his one, unblind red eye studied the young man arms. Then wickedly chuckled.

"You fixed it! Good job, now you want me to snap that again for you? Fine, fine. You deal quite a pain on me back then. So I'll do you a favor once again."

Taking something out from his shoulder back, The guard added in a threatening tone. Pointing his axe towards Zyro as he stare at him with murder burning in his one, red eye.

"But... This will be the last"

Of course the Guard had weapon, perhaps he forgotten it back then in their first confrontation or judge such thing wasn't needed to deal with puny slave. Now, apparently, the guard had deemed it necessary to rid of Zyro, once and for all. Or... maybe just to cut the young man arms and let him live in agony.

Either way, Zyro won't let the Alpha keep his life tonight.

Tense silence settled over them for a moment, the clinging torches fames burn in peace... Then swayed as the guard charged forward. Almost at the same time, so as Zyro.

The man, armed with barbaric axe and leather clad seemed to have the upper hand. His vicious figure pronounced the horror he bring. Rage and subtle composure excluded in his one red eye.

On the other hand, Zyro that appeared as a puny slave in tattersall garments a moment ago abruptly changed to a lethal assassin from countless battles. His flowing steps were graceful despite bearing average agility, yet carry dire threats. His obsidian eyes were tranquil, but hid within flooding possibilities which the clash might play out.

Devoid of hesitation, the Mine-Guard swing the axe with all his might in a timely manner to meet Zyro's head the moment he entered his range. The guard judged his arching axe swiftness cannot be evaded by the skilled slave mundane mobility.

However, Zyro's agility abruptly sky rocketed at the last moment as he turned on the exoskeleton. Allowing him to duck at the nick of time, dodging the slicing axe. The guard was startled at the sudden change of his opponent mobility.

At that instant, Zyro was already crouched down. His legs stretched into a ferocious swing. Knocking the guard footing with augmented strength, causing it to collapse. Taken by surprised, the Guard back stumbled on the ground. The next thing he knew, a pang was felt on his hand that held the axe. As if an iron feet stumped it. But he didn't let go of his weapon despite the bone crushing torment.

The guard grunted and hastily grab the enemy foot. But before he could, Zyro's another foot landed on his face. Breaking a nose. Still, the Alpha's free hand persisted, not halting it's attempt to get a hold of Zyro. Which forced him to back away.

No matter how exceptionally skilled Zyro is, never did he dare become careless and arrogant. Once his grabbed by the guard, evading attacks won't be as easy anymore. Although, such predicament was salvageable in his current condition, Zyro still rather avoid it at all cost. Even if it means prolonging the fight. And as the saying goes "The strongest attacks doesn't matter if it doesn't hit"

If anything, elusiveness was Zyro's mightiest defence. So he'll keep it on no matter the circumstances.

Grunting curses, the guard quickly stood up. Switching the hand holding his axe, for the other right one fingers was broken. Seeing the guard awkward grip, it's evident that he wasn't accustomed welding the axe using his left hand.

Breathing heavily with bleeding nose, his bloodlust eye stared at Zyro. The guard spat in disbelief.

"You became Marked... How?"

Zyro would loved too, but no. His existence wasn't capable of receiving marks. His enhanced strength paring against the first tier Warrior was thanks to Shroud of Night exoskeleton.

"I wish" Said Zyro truthfully.

The guard utter a wicked chuckle.

"You found out didn't you? The law of ascension."

That, Zyro knew. The reason why the Guard before him stand above his peers and bear the mark of an Alpha was thanks to his subordinates genuine loyalty. This external support lifted above others and become an Alpha. Of course, the plunderers loyalty wasn't free. To earn it, this guard care for his subordinates was authentic. Their brotherhood was pure, aiding each other in times of need.

That's external power that earned the guard the first mark. Something his unmarked peers lack.

Receiving silence, as if he was just ignore.

"Your comrades are not here, donut doesn't matter if your an Alpha now. You slippery bastard! I'm gonna slice you to pieces!"

The Alpha roared. Once again lunging at the young man las he awkwardly swing the axe. This time, the slash was lower to restrained Zyro from ducking to evade.

Not like evading is the only thing his good at.

Twisting his body, Zyro performed a calculated kick. Perfectly timed to meet the moving axe side, causing it abruptly switch trajectory with a colliding metal sound. Before the guard could recover his stance, Zyro rapidly closed the distance between them. Sending a punch on the Guard right eye, but was blocked by a forearmed as the Alpha unconsciously closed his one eye. However, the first punch's was just a feint, the real attack is what followed.

Quickly after that blocked attack was another punch, this one however was special. It wasn't clinched, for the fingers stand straight reminiscent of a lethal dagger. It moved like a prowling snake, swift and deadly.

When the guard removed his arm and open his sight to view his opponent, what greeted his crimson ires was Zyro's gloved fingers tip... horribly close, it's so close that as if time had stopped, he could vividly see the gloves weavings texture in detail.

The next thing the Alpha knew, his sight was gone. The world was filled by foreboding darkness.

He was just about to scream. But at that moment.

As if an iron fist hit him in that boundless darkness. Then another, and another. He felt the horror of not being able to see, while myriads of devastating attacks constantly assaulted him everywhere. As if... he became a harmless punching bag.

Heart breaking scream, horrid cry and pitiful begging resounded for a long while. Before dying down.

Laying on the floor was the corpse of the Alpha guard that had snapped Zyro's arm a month ago. His death wasn't pleasant to say the least.

Done with his work, Zyro indifferently turn to leave. However, he was stopped by a trembling voice.

"Y-yo...you... killed... Brim"

Zyro look over his shoulder. To see the badly beaten lackey that lead the Alpha here to face him. Zyro was truly at the bond the plunderers shared. Despite being a coward, that underling tried to help Brim - the alpha when his being helplessly devastated. Unfortunately, the underling effort was futile. In the end, he was beaten too. Not like Zyro intend to spare him.

The lackey laying beside his fallen comrade trembled under the young man gaze. But, suddenly. The pitiful man smiled wickedly, as if he found solace in despair. He chuckled, his blood dyed smile and malicious eyes looked ghastly.

"You killed him... You killed him... An Alpha! You killed an Alpha of the Mine." He took a labored breath. Before adding excitedly.

"Do you think the Mine-guards will let you live?"

That is true. If killing a lowly slave cause one to bear considerable debts. Then what's the consequences of killing an Alpha guard? An individual whose valued greater than average mine-guards. It wasn't something the Mine inhabitants want to think about, that's for sure.

Despite knowing this full well, the doer - Zyro didn't show even a hint of fear. He remain unfazed.

In reply, Zyro just blankly stare at the accuser for a moment before indifferently shrugging.

Leaving this words.

"You should be worried about yourselves."