Chapter 9: Altor's First Job Part 2
Makino was in the Merandi to go back to his apartment. It was still an awkward ride, but now he tried to ignore it. It was exhausting to think about it now. He was sitting with his head looking at the window, when saw something peculiar.
'What in the- isn't that? I saw him in the mines and the last day. And those three are- those guys!" He thought while observing them, remembering his first hours as a Magistoid and with that, a trigger of bad memories.
Contemplating on what to do, he shouted to the driver.
"Driver, I wanted to stop here."
The Merandi stopped near at the alleyway and Makino started to take off.
Slam!
Arlandy, meanwhile, is thrown off to a hidden part of the alleyway, still clutching at his magic bag.
"Hey, you shouldn't forget what your debts is to us! We gave you in our good graces some loan to you even you're a filthy Kaidel and now trying to run away from us several times." The leader holding his neck and slammed him again on the ground.
"Last night was a bad timing, but now fate smiles on us. You have a filthy sum there, so give it. That would be the 5% down payment. The rest would be expected in one tedafu (week). You got that! Now give it now! Or else you'll provide our perfect cover." The leader threatened Arlandy while trying to claw the bag out of his hand.
Arlandy wasn't gonna let things play out thought, as he tried to lift his other hand to cast magic.
"Casei Manturi!" One of the goons cast their magic on his leg stomped on Arlandy's arm.
Crunch!!!!
"Argh!!!" Arlandy screamed in pain, as his arm is almost crushed to a degree, ambrosia leaking through his arm.
"Seriously. Trying to cast your weak magic. So pathetic, dude." The goon who crushed Arlandy's arm maniacally taunts.
"Just like what he said, how dare you to tempt fate. Just accept that in your trash head. Now give us the money!!" The leader tried to again claw the bag out of Arlandy's hand.
Arlandy, though hurt, didn't budge. It was really important to him to get the money.
The leader seeing his defiance, signalled one of his goons.
Bam!
"Argh!!" Arlandy screamed in more pain as his crushed arm is being kicked again.
The goon continually stepped upon Arlandy's arm even further, as Arlandy continually screamed in pain. He loses grip of his hand holding the bag, the leader gleefully takes his prize.
"You sure took a long time to be convinced there, Kaidel trash. I expect the same amount here tomorrow." He menacingly chuckled.
As the goons are gloating in their hoard, Arlandy's thoughts darken.
'It's useless. There's nothing gonna change in this world. Why do I even bother trying to survive?.... Dukago.'
Slap!
A slap in the hand and the clinking of coins in the ground is heard.
"Argh!! Who did th-"
A shudder came over the goons as they saw a figure they knew - Altor standing over them.
"Ugh! N-Noble Sir!"
"Altor...." Arlandy looked upon him, weak from his injuries.
"Altor? Sir Altor. What we can do for you? We hope we didn't offend you this time and forgive us for the last night for us being the recipient of your fury. Please!" The leader, along with his goons, cowering and pleading for forgiveness at Altor's feet.
Makino saw Arlandy almost lying in the wall. At this sight, he is seething in anger, an expression that didn't escaped the attention of the goons.
"Get out. And leave him alone, along with the money. Now!" Makino angrily said.
"Ye-"
Kling!
Before he finished his reply, he saw the magic bag full of coins and something dark is seething within him, something building up in a long time.
"Boss?"
"Boss, we need to leave now."
His lackeys pleaded to him to get out now, as they didn't want to risk more of Altor's fury.
"No."
"What?" One of the goons questioned.
"No. This- I had enough of this!" His lackeys are shocked to his answer.
"I thought I fate smiling on me at last. No! Fate is really smiling at me at last! We had what is ours being taken from us by those high up! If we didn't deliver our quota to our Lord, he will take whatever left of us. I will not stand it anymore!"
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Makino, upon hearing this, was gasped by this information, but he started to feel something is coming.
"Madto Caliveris!" The leader chanted his spell, unleashing a wave of boulders.
"What!?" Makino exclaimed as he tried to dodge the boulders that come in his way.
"Oh no. They're using Magic now! This is not good!!" Makino whispered.
But in a moment, he managed to move fast enough to dodge the boulders. He was shocked at this feat of strength.
"Wow, that was a fast dodge. Even with all my focus and concentration, my body then wasn't fast and strong enough to respond as fast as this."
He was still testing the limits of strength to know how to use them and it was a marvellous thing to behold at his feats now, but at this moment he has no time to think about it.
"Madto Caliveris!!" The leader shouted his chant again and another stream of boulders come in Altor's way.
He tried to dodge again and succeeding in doing so, but the leader, growing furious, commanded one of his goons.
"Now!!"
"Mando Yunti!!" One of his lackeys chanted his magic.
"What in the-" Makino exclaimed.
Streams of lassos appeared on the ground and started to bind him. He tried to get of those lassos and some of them started to snap one by one. This sends shivers to the lackey.
"More. Summon more of them!!" The leader frantically ordered.
More and more lassos manifested and totally binds Makino down.
"Let's do it, boys! We can show it now, even at this time only, we can show that we are more than they say and we can still have our dignity, even when they take what's ours!!" The leader, in a sense, almost tearfully, exclaimed in proud bravado.
This is didn't escaped in Makino's earshot as he struggled to escape, but he has more things to think about now.
"Madto Caliveris!!!" His second spell chanted, unleashing a new wave of boulders, aiming towards Altor.
"Argh!!!"
The boulders hit true, hitting his body all at the same time. He cannot get out of there, the lassos also hold him true. Torrents of pain started to rack his body, not knowing what to do now.
"Arghhhh!!!!!"
Arlandy watched as Altor is being bombarded by the goons, wondering what us happening now.
'Just why? This is the second time. Just why are you doing this, Altor? What is your problem?'
Arlandy started to raise his undamaged arm, poised for a choice.
'You are really a crazed mech, Altor.' Arlandy filling with determination.
"Fado Marado!" He weakly chanted but the act is true, shooting a bolt of electricity.
Kzzzt!!
"Argh!" The leader grunted and with that, the hail of boulders stopped.
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Makino is feeling the wreck of pain within him from the attack, the lassos still bind him and no idea to how to escape. His strength was useless on this level of binds, frustration started to set in.
'Why did I do this? I'm not ready yet. Why did I risk my neck for him? Just.....'
As he thought about those things, he remembered again: the suffering, the terror, the pain he and everyone endured under the Magistoids. It's all vivid and it he remembered Arlandy, in the same situation. Something is bubbling inside of him.
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The leader turned back and saw Arlandy unleashing the bolt, now totally weakened from the ordeal. The leader, totally enraged, started to unleash his fury to Arlandy, but then.....
"Those devils.... I will not forgive them. NEVER!!!!!!!!" Makino raged on and a tingle, different than before, crossed in his head.
Klack!!
A compartment in his side, opposite to where his money are, opened and from within it, a handle started to emerged. It rosed up and spark of light flashed under it.
Kang!!!!
Something shot out from the compartment, and along with it, the lassos snapped all at once.
"What!?" The goon who holds the gasped at what he'd seen.
The leader saw what happened, as the object falls down, Makino, without much thought, raised his hand up and grabbed it. It was sword. A long sword that was shot from the compartment. As Makino saw this sword, he smiled inside.
"So this- a chance!" Makino started to stance up with his sword in his hand against the goons, ready to fight.
"And I will not waste it!"
Altor's first job begins.