The City of Sins was alive with chaos, its streets a blend of every race imaginable. Merchants called out their wares, the clinking of gold coins echoed through the air, and the raucous laughter of a thousand voices blended into a cacophony. Elves, orcs,abd some other races and creatures of every kind walked side by side—though not always in harmony. This was a city of power, corruption, and ambition, where the strong trampled the weak, and alliances dissolved as easily as promises whispered in the dark.

I couldn't spot any human after a long survey of the city, I had come here seeking the human king, but instead, my attention was caught by something unexpected. There she was, standing in the middle of the chaos, her wide eyes drinking in the madness around her, completely oblivious to the dangers lurking at every corner.

She wore a simple cloak, its fabric clean and unblemished, and beneath it, a neat dress that fell gracefully to her ankles. Her chestnut-brown hair framed her face in soft waves, and her emerald-green eyes darted around with the curiosity of someone lost and unsure. She looked like a lamb in a den of wolves.

A human, here of all places? It was rare to see one in the city, let alone one so naive. I could already feel the tension in the air, the kind that always preceded trouble.

The crowd parted as a group of three elves—sharp-featured and imposing—stepped through, their presence commanding attention. The leader, a silver-haired elf with piercing blue eyes, stopped when he saw her, a cruel smirk curling on his lips.

"Well, well," he purred, his voice smooth and dripping with malice. "A human wandering into our city?"

The girl blinked up at him, confusion etched on her face. "Oh, hi there! I'm sorry, I seem to have gotten lost. Can you tell me where I am?"

The elf's amusement quickly shifted to annoyance. "You don't know where you are?" His voice was thick with disbelief. "This is the City of Sins. Humans don't belong here."

The girl, still oblivious to the gravity of her situation, smiled innocently. "City of Sins? I didn't mean to intrude. I was just trying to find my way. I didn't think humans weren't allowed here."

"You really don't know your place, do you?" sneered another elf, stepping forward. He was taller, with black hair tied back in a tight braid and golden eyes gleaming with disdain. "You think we'll just let a beautiful human lady go after wandering alone in our city?"

The girl took a step back, uncertainty flickering across her face. "I'm sorry, I just... got lost."

The silver-haired elf's frustration mounted as he took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "You should have thought about that before wandering here. There are places in this city that'll devour you if you're not careful."

She frowned, her innocence making her tone apologetic. "I didn't know. Can you help me find my way out?"

I had been watching from a distance, my cloak concealing my identity. My stomach churned as I observed. These elves weren't just rude—they were dangerous. The girl was too naive to realize the threat, and if I didn't act, she'd become their target. Who knew what they might do to her?

I couldn't let that happen. I stepped forward, my voice cutting through the tension. "Let her go."

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The silver-haired elf turned to me, his piercing gaze filled with fury. "Another human? What do you want?"

"I said, let her go," I repeated, my voice firm and unwavering.

His lips curled into a sneer. "And what if I don't? You think you can tell me what to do? I'll crush you like the insect you are, just to remind you of your place."

"I'm not telling you. I'm making a request," I said calmly, locking eyes with him like a predator sizing up its prey. "She's lost. Let her go, and we avoid trouble."

The taller elf stepped closer, his predatory gaze fixed on me. "You're brave, I'll give you that. But you're a fool if you think you can stop us."

"I'm not here to fight," I said, my stance steady. "I'm here to protect her."

The silver-haired elf's patience snapped. "You'll regret this," he spat, his voice venomous. "You think you can challenge the might of the elven race? You don't tell us what to do, you lowly, weak human."

He lunged, his sword blazing with fire magic. A sword in fire, Interesting—I'd love to learn more about their abilities, but now's not the time. I summoned one of Kirito's black blades into my hand—sleek and razor-sharp. With a single, swift motion, I severed his arm cleanly. Blood sprayed, and he stumbled backward, clutching the stump as I stared him down with unflinching determination.

"Move back," I told the girl without breaking eye contact with the elves. I didn't want a fight attracting attention to the other races, but they'd left me no choice. If they pushed further, I'd show them exactly what humans were now capable of.

"You bastard!" the black-haired elf barked, drawing his glowing blade. Light radiated from it—a powerful attack, but not enough to defeat me. I powered up, energy crackling around me like a storm. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"How can a human have such power?" he muttered.

"What will I gain by explaining myself?" I shot back, effortlessly dodging his strike.

The third elf, wielding a sword swirling with water, stepped forward. But the black-haired one raised a hand to stop him. "Stop! You'll only get yourself killed he no ordinary human."

I smirked. "What's this? The mighty elves backing down? Good. You really know your place in the presence of someone stronger than you—a human."

Their fury was palpable, but none dared move. The stares of onlookers burned into me, their eyes sharp and undeniable. Without wasting another moment, I grabbed the girl by her arm and sprinted into the shadows.

"Mira," I called out in my mind.

"Yes," came the familiar voice of my guide.

"Can you guide me to a safe place?"

"Yes," she replied. "Head east; there's an alley leading out of the market district."

I clenched my teeth, pushing my body to its limit as I wove through the labyrinthine streets. The girl stayed silent, her expression a mixture of fear and confusion. She hadn't fully processed how close she'd come to being their victim.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly, keeping my voice low.

She nodded hesitantly, her voice trembling. "I think so. Thank you for helping me. I didn't realize they were like that."

"That's how they see us," I replied, my tone serious. "You were lucky they didn't do worse."

"I thought people outside here were friendly," she muttered, almost to herself.

"Not in this city with these people maybe outside it,there might ones with kind hearts to human," I said, glancing behind us to ensure we weren't being followed. "It's dangerous for humans. But you're safe now."

She hesitated, then spoke softly. "I'll... stick with you. If that's okay."

"Good," I said, offering her a small smile. "My name's Ethan. What's yours?"

"Aria," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Nice to meet you, Aria." She managed a faint smile in return, though fear still lingered in her emerald-green eyes.

I knew this wasn't over. The way the elves and onlookers stared at me—it was like they were ready to pounce at any moment. That's why I grabbed Aria's hand and ran as fast as I could. Who knows if I'd stand a chance against all of them? I might've gotten killed right then and there.

As we ran, my mind flashed with images of how it could've ended—me lying lifeless on the ground. No. Next time, I'll need a better plan, a better method to handle something like that. But for now, Aria is safe.

They won't forget what I've done. I won't be surprised if someone's already tailing us. If that happens… I'll just have to deal with them.

End of Chapter.