Chapter 8 | The regretful intruder

Jel slowly awoke inside the tent that Rey gave to Steven and Himself last night. The tent was big enough to store the two, and their supplies. Steven beside him snored while drooling out of his mouth.

"Hey Steven, wake up," Jel said pulling Stevens's arm. "It's morning now and we have to plan our move."

"5 more minutes Chris..." Steven muttered.

"Fine, I guess I'll make breakfast then." Jel sighed leaving the tent. He started frying pancakes on the mini grill they previously bought while being in the Market.

Steven finally awoke leaving the tent and yawning. "Morning Jel." He greeted.

"Good morning, Steven," Jel said. shifting his sight towards Steven. "We're going to plan our first move today."

Steven senses something approaching in the Distance. It was the same aura of the Samurai they fought not so long ago. He shifted his gaze upon the fields spotting the Samurai approaching with his Axe in hand.

"Well, it seems like the plan is coming towards us," Steven warned Jel unsheathing his sword. "Get ready Jel."

Jel hastily pulled his sword out of his bag and stood next to Steven in a ready-fighting stance.

The Samurai finally stopped 20 feet apart from the boys. And Steven couldn't help but ask. "What the hell do you want from us?"

The Samurai took a deep breath and finally spoke. "My boss sent me here once again to eliminate you. I don't care for your friend." He explained.

"I knew you were a part of Hacks," Steven said. "Now it's me and you pal," Steven said excluding Jel. "Jel, stay out of this. I can handle it."

"Well... if that's what you want Steven." Jel said backing away.

"NOW LET'S GO!" Steven yelled beginning to rush towards the Samurai at full speed winding up his sword for a blow.

The Samurai then slammed his Axe on the ground bursting with intense flames towards Steven. Steven was too slow to avoid the incoming attack and took the blow flying back towards Jel.

Jel disobeyed Steven and rushed towards the Samurai. The Samurai stood there silently watching Jels move. He could tell Jel wasn't confident in fighting like Steven. And decided to underestimate him. It wasn't like Jel was his target anyways.

Jel finally closed in on the Samurai winded up his swing. He was unsure about his fighting skills. But he would do anything to try to fend the Samurai back. He took a deep breath and finally swung his swords towards the Samurai. But the samurai responded by kicking Jel in the stomach with force. Jel landed on the ground trying to recover from pain.

"You're not my target." The Samurai said dismissing Jel.

Steven was still sitting on the ground trying to recover from the powerful blow. He underestimated the power of the Samurai and his Axe. He felt truly weak but could only try to gasp for air and recover. But it was too late. The samurai walked in front of Steven preparing to strike his final blow.

Jel rose from the ground and hastily stumbled in front of Steven and the Samurai. He knew he was weak but didn't care at all. All he knew is that he needed to protect his partner. Jel started hastily punching the Samurai's stomach whose Axe was already lifted above his head preparing to strike Steven. Jel kept punching the Samurai more and more, but his punches were far too weak to create any damage for the Samurai. It was like a child fighting a grown man. The Samurai felt disgusted and confused, Jel was like a little weak insect that could easily be murdered at any second. Why did he choose to defend Steven if he knew he was already weak? Why did he keep fighting if he could easily run away and survive? The samurai could only wonder, and then he asked.

"Why are you protecting him?"

"Because he's my friend god-dammit!" Jel cried continuing to punch the Samurai even more.

"But you can easily run away, you are not even my target." The Samurai further questioned.

"Because he's my partner and I can't leave him to die!" Jel cried harder beginning to grow tired from punching.

"But you both are too weak to defeat even me. So, what's the point in even trying?" The Samurai further questioned more.

"B-Because we've gone so far and we're not stopping here." Jel cried falling on his knees from exhaustion.

Steven sat there unresponsive trying to process what Jel just said. He knew Jel's loyalty was strong. But he never knew it would be this strong. All he could do was start to cry from the touching words of determination.

The Samurai stood there silently processing what he just heard. Then he remembered his old friend. His old partner in this prime district died protecting Him. Who was slaughtered by a faction that spared the Samurai's life because he was too weak to fight? The Samurai froze and then lowered his Axe and dropped it. He realized everything he'd done to the other people in the district. Trying to gain some type of revenge that never existed. Trying to take out all his anger on people who were the same as him. He questioned what his boss asked of him. Was it worth it destroying people's lives to gain something? What was he gaining in the end? The Samurai questioned himself more and more, finally realizing that his boss was exploiting his revenge and anger for his gain.

"I'm sorry." The Samurai said. "I'm sorry for hurting you and your friend. I understand now."

Jel wiped his tears and stood up. "Why? Aren't you going to finish us off?"

"I realized what I was doing was wrong. I'm so sorry I was too blind to notice it." The Samurai said with regret in his tone. "Please. Eliminate me. I've ruined much too many lives."

Steven stood up wiping his tears and brushing the dirt off of his clothes. He then got up and walked towards the Samurai and stopped in front of him. He raised Valkyrie above his head aiming it down on the Samurai.

"Steven..." Jel said questioning what Steven was about to do.

Steven struck his sword down towards the Samurai's face. Jel shut his eyes for two seconds and then opened them once again. Steven hadn't sliced the Samurai's face in half. Instead, Steven sliced his mask open in half. The Samurai's eyes widened in shock. He had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep. His short spiky hair was red and glistered in the sun. The Samurai was around the same age as Steven, he was a teenager who seemed just a few years older. The Samurai felt Suprise, and then regret, and finally peace as he cried dropping down on his knees from someone sparing him.