It's now that Vesh notices that the fox is slightly bigger than his wolves. Vesh stands in front of the fox while his two remaining wolves try to flank it. But the fox doesn't let itself get surrounded and pulls back slowly. Vesh instead decides to charge the fox together with his wolves. WIth one wolf aiming for the neck the other for the body, and Vesh acting as a distraction. The fox in turn charges at Vesh and everything works up perfectly. The dire Foxe's head gets decapitated, his neck and body are getting worn down by the wolves. But despite Vesh feeling his sword go through flesh and despite his wolves grabbing onto the fox with there teeth. The head isn't falling off and neither is any blood showing. Yet the fox is completely still. It isn't until Vesh notices one of his wolves looking behind him that he turns around. And not only is the fox they have attacked vanishing but another fox is already jumping at Vesh targeting his neck. Vesh tries to create more distance by falling down and placing both his arms in front of him on top of each other. And the fox pulls back before the wolves could attack it. Vesh gets up to and looks at his wound.

Vesh: "It hurts, it fucking hurts."

There are a lot of holes and 4 bigger ones at the side of his arms that was closer to Vesh. And they are all bleeding.

Vesh: "He can make illusion... *heavy breathing*... and appear anywhere? Aaaaaah, fuck it hurts... He doesn't have...enough jaw strength to break my bones... but if this keeps going... I will bleed to death."

While Vesh is trying to pick up his sword again that he dropped the fox rushes towards his wolves. Vesh orders them to cover each other back. But the fox replaces himself with an illusion and simply appears on the first wolves side and bites his neck. The fox pulls back again before the second wolf can do anything. The bitten wolf stand back up but he is bleeding and has difficulty breathing. A portal already opens close to him. Vesh can do nothing but look as he loses another wolf and with him the hope he had to kill the dire fox. For the first time since losing his memories, he experienced fear.

Vesh: "There is no way I can beat it... My only chance to survive is to run away."

Vesh orders his wolf to follow him and they start running away. But the fox chases them. It becomes clear very soon that the fox is catching up, and despite the wolf being faster then Vesh he is staying close to him. But the fox isn't targeting the wolf, he's targeting Vesh.

Vesh: *Is this it? Just because I killed a bunch of people by tricking them I thought I can win a fair fight? Just because I got huge ego I m going to die? How pathetic is that?*

As the fox is coming closer and closer to Vesh, it happens again. The wolf, without being ordered by him, bites the foxes side, stopping it from chasing after Vesh. He sees that, but out of fear he still keeps running.

Vesh: "He did it to save my life. I need to keep running."

Voice: *You are sacrificing his life to save yourself from death?"

Vesh: "My pride doesn't mean anything if I die."

Voice: *Will you be able to live with the person you are about to become?*

Vesh: "You are asking me if I want to live or die!"

Voice: *No, the current you will die either way. The question is if you want to die full of misery or pride.*

Vesh stops, he turns around and runs towards the fox. There is still no portal opening near the wolf which means he is still fine. Vesh is just a couple of meter away and orders his wolf to attack the fox. The wolf does and as expected the fox replaced himself with an illusion and appears next to the wolf, appearing between Vesh and the wolf, the fox feels safe knowing that Vesh is still far away. He goes for the bite while the wolf has his teeth still in the illusion. And then before the fox manages to bite a sword had pierced its side, without anyone holding it. Vesh had thrown his sword in an effort to save the wolf after ordering him to bait his opponent. The fox tries to bite the sword to pull it out but the wolf doesn't let it expose its neck. And while the fox is desperately trying to fight the wolf injured, Vesh closes the distance and pushes the sword deeper inside. Killing the fox. Afterward, his the middle of his sword starts to shine again, only this time he actually feels a difference. He checks how much stronger he became by summoning more wolves, and together with the one currently out he ends up with a total of four. Vesh takes the foxes head and the 2 tails and returns to his client.

Vesh knocks and goes inside. Once inside he sees Jack waiting. He shows the proof of killing the fox and gets his payment.

Vesh: "Why are you here?"

Jack: "Please, we need your help to save the city."

Vesh: "What do you mean save it?"

Jack: "The entire city has a huge crime problem. If you are a criminal your only concern is if other criminal enter your territory. For some reason, all the guards are told to turn a blind eye to it. Some of the higher ranking guards seem to know the reason why. But something of this scale can't just be corruption. I showed you how obsessed the people here are with there religion. Not accepting any kind of help besides Gods or there own. This city is sick Vesh, and we need your help to cure it."

Vesh: "Who do you think is behind all of this."

Jack: "The mayor, he is the only one with enough power to do this."

Vesh: "So you are asking me to take on an entire City?"

Jack: "You won't be doing it alone. We managed to gather over 100 people, most of them are younger and some like me are part of the guards."

Vesh: "And how many people are in this city?"

Jack: "Around 20 000."

Vesh: "So you are telling me to fight with a little over 100 plus myself, against a force of around 133 guards together with the criminals that are apparently in this conspiracy?

Jack: "You killed a dire fox that normally takes at least 10 people to defeat."

Vesh: "I refuse."

Jack: "You obviously won't be doing it for free. Once we free the city we will give you enough money so you won't have to work anymore, for the rest of your life."

Vesh: "I would be risking my life with a bunch of kids that are up against a trainer and organized force. Not to mention that they most likely even have priests using magic as a backup. You should probably give up on this."

Vesh is on his way to leave the house.

Jack: "A warning. The wanted posters were put up by our group. The reason why they got taken was that the guards didn't want anyone interfering with the criminals. Marko took all the blame and is now waiting for his execution. Daniel is on the run they are blaming him as well because he was working the same shift with him. And now they are also searching for you. So I suggest you stay out of the city."

Vesh: "I appreciate the warning."

Vesh goes back to the forest, hunts some food with the help of his wolves, eats it and then goes to sleep. He makes sure that from now on he always has at least one wolf watch over him while he sleeps.

And again Vesh seems to be dreaming about his younger self. He is in front of John's group.

Vesh: "How about we stop this?"

John: "You are finally showing some will to resist."

Vesh: "I can't really take this forever."

John: "For me, the real fun begins now."

John comes closer and Vesh shows his knife.

Vesh: "This can end in one of 2 ways. Either one of us dies or you leave."

John: "What are you trying to play you little bitch."

John tries to push Vesh. Vesh wanted to stab his hand but was not able to bring himself to do it when he got the chance. So he just punches John in the face.

John: "The more you resist, the more fun this is going to be for me!"

Vesh picks the knife back up and instead of stabbing with it puts it in the way of there attacks. Although he ends up taking a lot of hits he also manages to get at least some of them in. And every time his fist connects with one of his opponents he comes to enjoy this fight more and more. By the end, John and his group leave saying that this isn't over.

Vesh: *I don't think I ever felt this good in my life. I can't stop smiling.*

Vesh goes back home and tells his father that-

Vesh: "From now on I will never let go of my pride."

His dad smiles and pets him on the head.

Father: "I know you can do it."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

The next day in the same place John comes back with a lot more people, most of them much older than John.

Leader: "You can't even beat up such a weakling? Maybe you should be next once I m done with him."

John looks distressed.

Leader: "Well I m responsible for taking care of my the reputation my man create. And the best way to fix it would be to kill you."

Vesh looks for a path to run away but all the routes are blocked off by more man.

Vesh: "Do you get your entire gang together to beat up kids on a daily basis."

Leader: "Most kids aren't as stupid as you."

As they are coming closer to Vesh the Leader notices behind him another person carrying a sword.

Leader: "What do you want?"

Vesh: "Dad?"

Father: "I m making sure my kid faces an even fight."

Leader: "Even? Are you so old you can't count anymore."

Veshe's Father draws his sword and they charge him with three people.

Leader: "Showing a son the death of his father, this brings back memories."

But instead of his Father dying he manages to bring all three of them down, one after the other.

Leader: "Looks like you do have some fight in you. Take the kid away."

They manage to capture Vesh and take him away, while his father is killing one after the other. After killing all the people that staid behind and no one but the Leader is left, he begs for his life.

Leader: "Wait, we just wanted to teach him a lesson."

Father: "Don't worry, all I wanted was to become part of your memories."

After leaving behind a bunch of corpses Veshe's Father tries to follow the kidnappers, but it's already too late. He has no idea where they took his son. He tries to search for him until a girl that seems to be Veshe's run towards him.

Girl: "I know where Vesh is, follow me."

Father: "Who are you?"

Girl: "My name is Olivia, Vesh helped me out once. Please, you have to trust me."

Father: "Alright, lead the way."

Olivia leads him to an old warehouse and once inside they see a lot of just random things and at the end of the warehouse, they see Vesh tied up and unconscious. His father starts fighting the kidnappers while Olivia goes around to free Vesh. She shakes Vesh to make him wake up, and he slowly does.

Vesh: "You...look familiar."

Olivia: "It's me, Olivia. You helped me ten days ago."

Vesh: "Ah...now I remember."

Father: "Olivia take Vesh and hide somewhere. The guards will come soon."

Olivia leads Vesh to a very dark spot and they both hide amidst all of the random things, after about 5 seconds of hiding they can hear a lot of footsteps.

Officer: "I feel like this had happened once before, Victor. I thought I made it very clear last time that you are not allowed to administrate your own view on justice."

Victor/Father: "Slow to react as always."

Officer: "This time simply kicking you from the guards won't be enough Victor."

Victor: "And you are guarding what exactly?"

Officer: "Victor, Victor, Victor... I m so sorry, but you will have to die here."

All the guards surround Victor, and without much difficulty end up bringing him down. Vesh seeing this comes out of the hiding place and runs towards his dad, the guards stopping him from getting any closer.

Vesh: "Dad?"

Victor: "I m sorry son...*coughs up blood*... your old man doesn't look that great right now."

Vesh with tears coming from his eyes.

Vesh: "Dad I'm sorry, this is my fault. If I just didn't...if I just..."

Victor: "No matter what you do Vesh. I will always be proud of you."

Officer: "Did you hear that Vesh? The last touching words of your father. But don't worry we won't go after you...after all, you are just a victim."

The guards leave and Vesh can do nothing but stare at his father's body.

Vesh wakes up with his wolf still staying guard, but after a couple of seconds, the morning turns to night. A weird fully black human-like figure standing in front of him. His wolf looks at the figure but doesn't see it as a threat. After a while, Veshe's right hand begins to be coated in shadows, almost like black fire yet it does not burn. He points his arm towards the figure and one word appears in his mind, "Bind". It's immediately after that word rang in his thoughts that four small portals appeared around the figure. And they were just big enough to let through one black hand each that looked like the same black hands that come for his defeated wolves. The only difference is that these black hands has a blue line going from there palm's and then spiraling around the rest of the arm. Those black hands hold the limbs of the figure and then its morning again. The figure along with the hands disappeared.

Vesh: *Is this how I learn new powers? Well I definitely prefer it from being eaten alive.*

Vesh: *Dad...It wasn't the first time you tried to fight for justice, was it. And if it wasn't for me you would still have been fighting. This time I will fight for you, just like how you fought for me.*

Vesh returns to the city and almost instantly get spotted. But instead of going up to him one guard simply follows him while Vesh is going deeper into the city. After around 10 minutes some disguised figure walks up to him, but Vesh recognizes his voice.

Jack: "Why did you come back?"

Vesh: "I m in."

Jack: "Id like to wait but Markos execution is today. We are doing it now. Go to the inn and wait there, they should send a group for you. We will ambush them."

Vesh goes back to the inn and waits in the lounge. He draws the sword and hides it close to him and summons his 4 wolves and hides them. After a while, around six guards enter and one walks up to him.

Guard: "Are you the one that has killed 12 citizens of this City two days ago?"

Vesh: "Well murderers and rapists are still citizens so I guess I did."

Guard: "No matter what kind of crimes you think you have committed, you are not part of this city's law enforcement."

Vesh: "Sory I m a bit confused. I m not sure if it's laws that this city lacks or if its the nonexistence of there enforcement."

Guard: "I have been a guard for 20 years. I will show you just how real we are."

Vesh: "It will be an honor for me to be your very first example of justice in your carer."

Vesh stands up kicking the table, once it fell on the guard rebels swarmed in and upon seeing the huge numerical disadvantage of 30 to 6 they surrendered. Vesh goes up to Jack who was part of the ambush.

Vesh: "There is one thing I don't understand. Why are the guards not trying to suppress the crime in this City."

Jack: "I will tell you on the way to our next target, and the man who will have all the answers. To the mayor of this city."

Vesh follows Jack and eight more rebels into the sewers putting his wolves back into the portals.

Jack: "Every guard has the order not to interfere with God's plan. If someone is murdered for example, then it was because God wanted that person to die. And for some reason, nearly all of the people of this City are also seeing things like that as God's will. Yet we are different. We wanted to take matters into our own hands. The only reason we could find as to why that is the case is that we didn't pray as much as all the adults. Which means the prayers in this City are manipulating people in some way. But we have no proof. And we don't want any. We are seeing with this blind faith is doing to our family. To our fathers, our mothers. And we want to bring a stop to it. We have asked, we have begged and this is the last thing we did not try."

The group goes up a ladder leading out of the sewers, and he reaches it. The mayor's mansion. Surrounding Vesh is now a stone wall. They go into the mansion itself but get spotted on the way in, the guards sound the alarm and once inside they are stopped by a group of guards.

Jack: "Vesh we will hold them off here. The longer we fight the more guards will appear. You have to find the mayor and take him hostage."

Vesh nods and takes a turn, summoning two of his wolves to follow him. Every time Vesh run into a lone guard he locks them into a parry and has his wolves take advantage of the opening. Until he enters a huge room with very expensive looking furniture and a very well dressed man looking out the window.

Vesh: "Are you the mayor of this City."

Mayor: "Yes that would be me."

Vesh walks towards him but then notices a bright light in his way. The light slowly starts to take the form of a human, but by the end, it looks more like an angel made out of yellow light. 

Vesh: "What is that?"

Mayor: "It's the whole reason this city exists. It's called a guardian."

The Guardian creates a sword and begins attacking Vesh. Every time Vesh tries to parry he loses balance because of the huge difference in strength. And whenever the wolves bite the guardian not only do they not deal any damage, but being in contact with his light at such a distance poisons the wolves and makes them lose strength in their jaw. The wolves are useless for a while and Vesh loses balance and has the Guardians sword resting against his neck.

Mayor: "Did you know, a normal guardian isn't supposed to be this strong. But there is a way to make them stronger. By feeding them the faith of there followers. In other words, the more faith a follower shows towards his God the more powerful the guardians of that faith become. But simply trying to tell a population to have more faith and rely on God more is simply not good enough. The more emotions are in a faithful follower, the more use he has."

Vesh: "Is that why you have the city in such a state?"

Mayor: "Correct, all the food that this city is missing gets important while the citizens themselves are not allowed to leave the region. We have created the forest beyond the border to make sure they don't try to sneak out. The criminals have free rain to terrorize the city but they also have limits. And of course, the guards are not allowed to intervene."

Vesh: "So you create desperation and fear as the emotion. How are you making everyone so religious that they would deny help from others?"

Mayor: "Whenever someone prayers, that person gets connected to the closest guardian. The closer the guardian the more influence he can exert on that person's mind. But it takes a very long time until there is a difference. Which is why so many brats are revolting."

Vesh: "So you are using this entire city to increase your military strength."

Mayor: "Of course, as long as it's for more power a country will allow anything."

Vesh: "Why so many people are suffering."

Mayor: "And now you are doing all this to find out the truth. Now that you know it I will let you return to your comrades."

Vesh: "...I can't tell them."

The mayor smiles.

Mayor: "Exactly, if you did all their hope for a better future would be lost. They would either choose to give up or not believe you and say you are in on this. But it matters not, since you are smart enough not to fall for it I will have you die here."

The Guardian is about to pierce his neck but the two wolves jump on the sword to change its thurst. Vesh looks for shadows to summon his remaining two wolves but the Guardian is too bright, he cant find one. He kicks the table next to him and opens two portals. In the meantime, the Guardian manages to get rid of the two wolves killing one of them. The wolves come out and they position themselves a couple of meters to Veshe's left and right. The wolf whos jaw was paralyzed stands behind Vesh slowly gaining his jaw back. Vesh swings at the Guardian and it parrys without any issues. The two wolves on Veshe's sides run around the Guardian towards the mayor.

Mayor: "It's futile."

The Guardian shoots out beams of light out of his wings killing the two wolves. But the third wolf was going under Veshe's and the Guardians legs. It tries to fire at the wolf but its wings can't reach directly behind him. The Guardian turns around to try and stop the wolf from killing the mayor but Vesh takes the opportunity. While the guardian is turning its starts firing from both his wings to stop Vesh. But before reaching Vesh the firing stops and Vesh kills the guardian. The wolf is in front of the mayor.

Mayor: "Taking me hostage won't achieve anything."

Vesh: "Do you have anyone to take your place."

Mayor: "No, why?"

Vesh stabs the mayor in his heart, and the mayor looks confused.

Mayor: "W...h...y."

Vesh: "I also lived in this city."

Vesh puts his one remaining wolf in the portal and starts dragging the mayor's dead body out of the mansion and towards the town's center. Leaving behind a trail of blood. He meets the group that sneaked into the mansion with him, with only three of the rebels remaining, Jack was not one of them. The guards and the rebels stop fighting after seeing the mayor. He leaves the mansion grounds and into the city, seeing all kinds of people fighting the guards and criminals, old and young. Once they see the mayor they stop fighting. Vesh putts the body in the center of the town while the city is in complete silence. He then looks at the people around him and leaves the city.

End of the first arc.