“What just happened?!”
Salil voiced the question that was on everyone’s mind.
In a split second, multiple enemies had shown up, rising from the shadows, while one of them kidnapped Sana before anyone could do a thing.
That hidden presence, those shadows… I knew it. It can only be… Lawkey clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. So, you’re here too, Kojiro!
The person, nay, the Hyking who instigated a rebellion in the Kage Clan and caused so much trouble for everyone around him.
Even though he was Sasaki’s son, the woman who sacrificed her life for Lawkey, Kojiro didn’t feel a shred of brotherhood towards the green-eyed boy. On the contrary, he would have liked nothing more to kill him, but alas, his last attempt ended in failure due to the Shadow Queen’s involvement.
After seeking help from the Coin Masters and their Golden Garden Guild at the time, and putting Munisai, Jun and everyone else in the Clan, especially the Shadow Queen Taiga herself, in grave danger, there was no way for him to be accepted back into the Clan. That’s why in that very moment, he had already made up his mind and joined the guild he sought help from, and it seems he was still with them even now six years later.
Lawkey was never able to figure out why Kojiro didn’t attempt to kill him or attack again in the past six years, considering he has the ability to travel between shadows, but now his current suspicions were confirmed at the very least.
Kojiro was with the Golden Garden Guild, and he is on this island, helping the takeover from the shadows.
For a brief moment when he saw the tritons acting weird with their eyes glowing a light crimson, Lawkey had considered the option of it being Kojiro’s doing too. After all, his second Sign also allowed for a similar power.
For now though, Lawkey had more pressing matters to worry about, so he shoved all thoughts concerning his old fellow pupil into the back of his mind.
“Sana…”
Hearing her mumbling, Lawkey turned to Riana and saw her face that had twisted her beautiful features into that of a raging beast.
“...” He narrowed his eyes, then took a step forward toward the gathering mob that had been teleported in by the shadows, “Let’s go. One of these bastards should know where they took her.”
“No, the one who would know isn’t here…” Riana raised her spear along with her posture. Her light crimson eyes were glaring at whoever stood in her way. “We have to get to the cathedral, now.”
“...” Lawkey figured she was probably talking about the executive of the Golden Garden Guild, the highest authority of the bunch on the island currently. “Well, we still have to get through these weaklings first.”
“Hah! You think you can take us on?!” Baahir, who led a group of newly gathered guild members, sauntered forward, blocking the way south where the cathedral was located. “I’m here to make you pay, you siren bitch! You took everything from me, destroyed my ship, made me a laughing stock amongst my guild members! I’ll make-?!”
“Ugh!”
“?!”
Just as Baahir was making his last threats, a flying object zapped through the air suddenly and hit him in the face, sending him tumbling backwards.
“Brother!” Bakari ran to check on him without a moment of delay.
“Who the hell did that to the captain?!” The rookie with the dark blue hair shouted as he looked around.
Next to him, Liv and Erik stayed silent as they looked toward the culprit walking into the central square.
Lawkey and Riana glanced over, only for their eyes to widen in surprise.
“Since no one is goin’ to listen to ma words…” the dwarf who was previously too numb from the mermaids’ songs and far away from his weapons, now walked without another worry on his mind. The object that he had thrown earlier hovered above Baahir suddenly, and then flew to its owner’s side once more, revealing a golden and light blue hammer that looked like a thing out of legends.
Alviss caught it without losing a shred of momentum, despite how fast it was going. All with one hand too, for his other hand was holding a similarly designed battle ax with around the same size. “I’ll just beat ya all to a pulp me self!”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“Heh! Interesting!” Erik, seeing a real life version of the god of thunder from his own Royal Clan, just without the lightning, couldn’t help but feel his excitement rise within his chest.
“Didn’t know you could fight like that, Shorty!” Despite everything on his mind, Lawkey put on a confident smile to contrast the permanent frown next to him. “Let’s just push through them.”
Before he did anything else, Lawkey took another glance behind him and watched the other sirens and tritons all standing in place. Some were frowning, while others were holding their heads or knees.
He let out a sigh and unsheathed Eclipsed Dawn once more.
“Bookie!”
“...”
“Um, yes, Captain?” The Rookie who took a second before realizing he was being addressed, looked back to see Baahir getting up with the support of Bakari.
The Captain was covering his broken nose, but that didn’t stop the blood from flowing out. First his stomach wound from Zoran, and now this, it was safe to say Baahir wouldn’t be much help during a fight,
“Transborm!”
“Are you sure, Captain?”
“Bo it!”
Hearing that, the Rookie took a step forward, putting distance between him and his companions.
“?!”
A second later, Lawkey, Alviss and Riana watched with complicated expressions as this seemingly weak Rookie transformed into some kind of humanoid version of a frog, with wet golden skin. While his head still looked mostly human, his previously dark blue hair had also turned blond. His pupils had completely disappeared into the now fully black irises.
“What the hell is that?!” Lawkey didn’t hesitate to voice his puzzlement, but he wasn’t meant with any answer.
“Kill dem all!”
“You got it, Captain!”
With his orders, the Rookie rushed forward towards the dwarf first, as if looking for revenge for what he had done to the Captain.
“...” Alviss watched him without a change in his expression, then he sighed, “Lad, I will give ya one chance-”
“I don’t need it! With my venom, I don’t have anything to fear!” The Rookie planted his foot in front of Alviss, and brought down his hand. The translucent liquid that seemed stuck between his fingers was quickly forced to release towards the dwarf.
Splash!
Alviss raised a single hand to block the weird substance from reaching his face, but other than that, made no other movements or changes to his expression.
But then, he clenched his grip on his legendary hammer.
“Wha-!? Why?! What about the venom?”
“I warned ya, laddie.” Alviss’ arm suddenly expanded, becoming almost twice its usual size. The dwarf had finally regained his power over his Body Manipulation Sign.
“?!”
“Venomous frogs like ya, ma people eat them for breakfast!” With a single swing, the hammer hit the transformed Rookie in the stomach and sent him crashing in the distance beyond the central square.
Phwwwtt!
Lawkey whistled at the sight, while almost everyone else stood in shock.
Baahir and Bakari froze in place, their mouths agape for what felt like a minute before they recovered.
“Dabbit! Bakari, block their bay!”
“Their what?”
“Their BAY!!”
After his brother gestured to him, Bakari understood and activated his Sign, the Earth Manipulation Sign, and summoned a wall of dirt that blocked the way south completely.
“Enough with this!” Erik ruffled his orange mohawk and stepped forward. “You two.”
“?”
Riana and Lawkey looked at him after noticing Erik addressing them.
“You want to go ahead, right? Go, I don’t care. But I’ll be fighting him in exchange.” The tall man with the broad shoulders and big muscles pointed at Alviss.
“?!”
“Ebik! What are-”
“Shut up, Baahir. I don’t want to hear any words out of your mouth. You’re weak, your brother is weak, and your underlings are weak.”
“How bare you-”
Boom!
Before Baahir could finish his sentence, lightning struck him out of nowhere and he collapsed unconscious on the ground. Behind him, even the conjured wall of dirt fell into pieces.
“B-baahir!” Bakari tried to help his brother, while Liv watched in silence from the back.
“See? Weak. Stand back and let them walk through.” Erik announced as he finally drew his double-edged blade. Then he gestured to Lawkey and Riana, “Go on.”
“...” Lawkey stepped forward, but instead of going to the side, he walked up to Erik instead. “You’re strong, I’m not leaving all of these people with you around. I’ll take you down first.”
“Hahaha, I don’t care about you, kid. I want to fight him, Alviss Blackforest.” Erik laughed, then narrowed his eyes at Lawkey, “You want the girl, don’t you? She should be in the cathedral with Zoran.”
“...”
“Go on, friend. The siren lass is already leavin’.” Alviss walked up to stand next to Lawkey, making him turn to see Riana making her way out of the central square.
“Dammit, wait up! Will you be okay, Shorty?”
“‘Course.”
“You better. You still owe me pancakes.”
The two bumped fists before Lawkey ran after Riana.
Just as she was crossing where the other Golden Garden Guild members were, her killing intent alone forced Bakari to fall on his behind, and Liv to jump back in an attempt to put distance between them.
The raging beast glanced at the now charred unconscious body of Baahir, before clicking her tongue and walking forward.
By the time she passed into the southern street that led to the cathedral in the distance, Lawkey had caught up to her.
“You don’t have to do this. You don’t owe us anything.” Riana suddenly turned and faced Lawkey with narrow eyes.
“...” Lawkey realized that he had been acting a little indifferent after Sana was kidnapped, which may have led to Riana doubting how much he cared.
“No matter what, keep smiling!”
That was part of Sasaki’s last words to him. Those words weren’t a simple meaningless gesture from her.
He knew the real meaning behind them, and therefore strove to always face things with a smile.
However, faced with Riana’s stern expression, he felt it would be an insult to force on a smile at this moment.
Because that’s what it was, an act. Deep down, there was a constant raging battle to hold back the beast within him.
And right now, that beast was threatening to make its way out to save Sana.
“I’ve already made my decision, I want to help. Just lead the way.”
Seeing his determined emerald eyes meet her light crimson pupils, Riana nodded slightly, then turned to the cathedral.
“Then let’s go get her back.”
The two quickly picked up speed.
For the rest of their way, the two remained completely silent.
However, both of them had a feeling their next conversation wouldn’t be so simple.
Lawkey quickly ignored the implanted memory flashing into his mind.
I won’t let it happen!
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image [https://i.imgur.com/KQmIY8F.png]