“Who are you and what are you doing in this outpost? Speak.”

Jennifer Savbra, Commander of the association’s military forces and a 5-star Witch, faced the three captives with a baton in her hand.

Unlike the other commanders protecting the outposts, Jennifer was a league above them and a distinguished individual within the Witch Association.

Not only was she remarkably strong, but her authority across the entirety of the border was unsurpassable.

Therefore, when Agent Katrina came back to her senses, she was a bit relieved instead of scared.

“I’m from the Secret Intelligence Team of the Republic’s Department of Defense. I’ve come to bring back and protect someone. These two are my target’s companions.”

Since Katrina wore her nation’s military attire, along with the presence of the van, Jennifer didn’t suspect them to be the Ascetic Blasphemers. Still, she wasn’t ready to let them go, especially not after finding them at the crime scene.

“You’ve crossed the border without a Transit Pass.” Remarked the cold-faced Jennifer, who, despite having a relatively short height, looked scarier than Silya Hext.

“W-wait wait! We’ve been caught by Commander Hext. We were about to let go only for those crazy bastards to attack. They took your friend and ours!”

Sulong fumbled and spat the truth, which made Jennifer frown and scrutinized him for a bit.

“They took Hext and your friend?”

Finding this surprising, she turned to look at the stoic Katrina and asked again,

“Who’s this target of yours?”

Jennifer knew enough about the Ascetic Blasphmeres to know that they wouldn’t take anyone with them unless they were very special.

Silya Hext’s ability was what probably pushed them to attack this outpost, but they couldn’t have predicted the presence of another valuable subject, or so Jenny guessed.

“His name is Zeke Orland. A student of Erys and the sibling of my superior. That’s all I can say.”

“A kid? Why would they want to take a kid?”

The confused Witch noticed that Sulong and Jack were keeping themselves awfully quiet. ‘Twas apparent that they knew more than they had let on, but trying to figure out the truth right now would avail no one.

With a swipe of her hand, Jennifer unbound the three of them and authoritatively ordered,

“You will head West and wait for me at the other outpost. Tell them I sent you.”

“No.” Immediately objected to the resolute Katrina. “I answer to the Republic, not you. I will go find my target and bring him to safety.”

Even with the 5-star Witch giving her a menacing glare, Katrina refused to back off, thus starting a brief yet intense staring contest.

Eventually, the auburn-haired commander sighed and signaled for the two men to leave for the outpost while she and the agent would give chase.

…

“What are you gawking here for? Go find them!”

Signora was practically hyperventilating as a shiny glow healed most of the grievous wound inflicted by the scythe. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get rid of the black-colored fog stuck to her body, making the scar look more hideous than it should be.

She might not be the strongest of the organization’s Red Masks, however, Signora was still a high-status member and shouldn’t have been hit by Zeke.

This was supposed to be a swift operation; Securing Silya Hext then retreating to a safe spot, away from Jennifer Savbra’s eyes.

While Signora might have the power to easily overpower a 4-star Witches, and to a certain extent, even 5-star Witches, Jennifer Savbra’s ability was truly fearsome and deadly, making it someone to avoid at all costs.

“It’s not coming off!”

While gritting his teeth, Signora pierced her abdomen with her shining index finger, which made her let out painful cries. While bearing through the agony, she tried pulling the ominous negative energy only to receive a backlash that made her body jolt and her ability to get canceled.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Having had enough of the successive failed attempts, the red-masked woman stomped the ground and yelled atop her lungs, startling those stationed nearby. They looked at each other then backed away, unwilling to be on the receiving end of her wrath.

…

After swimming for a bit more than a minute, Zeke squeezed his body and the Witch’s through a narrow path before surfacing in another cave.

He hastily dragged Hext’s body to the hard surface and nervously checked her pulse.

“Damnit!”

Although not proficient at it, he pressed his hands up and down on her chest before switching to CPR.

Fortunately, Silya coughed water thereafter and gasped for breath. The wound she sustained from Signora was healed by the Elixir, but it was clear that she was tired and incapable of doing any drastic movements.

“Can you hear me?”

“...”

The commander meekly nodded as her wet eyes fluttered, struggling to remain open.

“We’re safe… for now.”

He lifted her body again and moved it farther from the deep pool of water before surveying his vicinity, afraid that they must attack him from an unnoticed spot.

Apart from diving into the water again, the cave had no other exits. With no source of light and no resources, Zeke knew that they couldn’t stay here for long. After all, Signora must’ve already sent people after them and though the normal cultists weren’t particularly strong, they still held a great numerical advantage.

As he was lost in thought, Zeke heard the Witch call for him so he dashed to her side and carefully helped her sit up.

“I’ll need to recover a bit more.”

“Alright. I’ll be on the lookout.”

He was about to stand up again but she extended her hand and held him back.

“You… who are you?”

The look in her eyes was devoid of suspicion. It had become clear that he was antagonistic against the Ascetic Blasphemers, nevertheless, he couldn’t be a normal young man, at least that’s what Hext thought after seeing him fight and even injure Signora. It was a feat even she wasn’t able to do.

“I told you; I’m just a student from Erys.”

“Heh! A student wouldn’t come all the way here to seek trouble.” The Witch coughed a few times then continued, “You seem to know quite a bit about them.”

“Well…” He shrugged and perfunctorily responded, “We have a history, they and I.”

“I won’t pry. Still… thank you for saving me.”

Right after saying that, Silya Hext broke up in tears, choking like a little girl.

It was so unexpected that Zeke was left perplexed and startled, not knowing how to react or what to do. In the end, he awkwardly patted her back in a vain attempt to calm her down.

“I’ve failed… all my soldiers are dead.”

Only when he heard that did Zeke realize what was happening.

Apart from the two of them, everyone else in the outpost was subjected to a brutal and unwarranted end.

Now that she had time to process everything, it was natural, even for a strong-willed adult Witch, to feel guilty and break down.

“Save your tears for the morrow, commander Hext. I know that the burden of being the only survivor is too much, but hold on for a bit longer. You will survive this and, when the time comes, you can honor their deaths by becoming an even better commander!”

It felt strange for Zeke to console someone older than him, someone he had met less than a day ago. Still, she didn’t hurt him and was even going to let him go. It was clear that she was a good and caring person.

“You are… right.” She wiped her tears while sniffing and forcing a soft smile.

“That’s the spirit.”

He stood up again and stretched his sore limbs while taking deep breaths.

“I will be returning to the other cave. Can you use your ability to force an opening from here?”

“What? Why will you be going back there?”

The youth confidently pointed at himself and chuckled, “Don’t worry about me hahaha. Before I leave, I need to get some answers, or else my long trip here would have been for naught. We each got a job to do, commander.”

“No… wai-”

Unfortunately, Zeke didn’t let her continue as he dove back into the waters, leaving a troubled Witch behind.

…

“Still nothing? This is ridiculous!”

Signora kicked one of the kneeling cultists and cursed, as was her wont. However, moments later, a figure jumped from the pool of water.

Seeing the lonesome youth drenched in water and grinning back at her, Signora frowned.

“I’m back.”

He shook his body and spat a bit of water as electricity burst from his body, blasting the seven or so enemies that rushed at him.

“So you’ve hidden the witch, huh? Well, it matters not anymore. It’s you I’m going to take with me.”

“Take? You speak such grand words when I nearly sliced you open.”

He grimaced at her and motioned at her bandaged abdomen and the blood that had splattered on her silver robe.

“You do not know who you’re messing with, kid. We, the red masks, are not so easily beaten.”

A pillar of light covered Signora before shooting upwards then at Zeke, whose hands were already holding the scythe.

While empowering his weapon with voltage, Zeke slashed down continuously, somehow managing to protect himself.

Seeing her not attack again, he chuckled and asked,

“Would now be a good time for a friendly chat? I just want to know where Red Mask Fanti Fan.”

Alas, she snorted and finally went all-out. Her subordinates also maintained their distance and sent the magical insects, which were either pulverized by the electric currents or disintegrated upon coming into contact with the scythe’s black fog.

“So be it.”

Zeke readied himself then pierced the lower part of the scythe’s long handle into the ground.

As Signora’s blinding ability was coming straight at him, he stood motionless as one of his new skills, ‘At Death’s Door’, was activated.