Deserun, Meilfour.

Merriheim.

29 th Jundalph, 1093.

"GrrAAAAA! Argh.. Ugh...ddd DRAAARGH!!!"

Horrid screams, as loud and terrifying as a hundred banshees tore through the night as their source struggled against his binding. Sight, sound, and smell were lost to the daeben as he floundered against the pain that endlessly assaulted him. His tormented cries were received by a lone witness, one who was powerless to assist or assuage his suffering in any way.

Netear Vinelance trembled as he watched his charge once again convulse, each passing second one that brought with it a rising fear of the daeben biting his own tongue off. He stared at the piece of cloth in his hand as he thought back to three hours ago when Kashi returned from the Summoned's world.

----------------------------------------

Three Hours Earlier,

Kashi gritted his teeth as he regained consciousness in his body, biting back the pain that came from the flames that periodically burned his skin. He forced his eyes open and was more than relieved to see Netear not only awake but, closely monitoring him. "Turn it off," Kashi managed in a very throaty voice. His body was dehydrated. He needed some water fast.

Netear immediately rushed over and tapped each orb, turning them off. He then removed them from the slots in the torture chair to prevent them from accidentally activating and resuming their attack on the daeben. The daeben's body shivered to the touch, which he surmised was more a result of his recent ordeal than the nation's cold weather. Five weeks was a long time for any life-form to go through that procedure, after all. He made to undo the latches, but Kashi weakly shook his head.

"Leave them on," Kashi requested, voice lower than a mouse's, "Gag me,"

Netear paused, and his forehead creased with worry lines as he stared in confusion. "Sorry?"

Kashi weakly panted, and then looked up at the alchemist, red eyes having lost most of their luster. "I need a gag. The real thing's about to start."

"I-I don't understand."

Kashi smiled wryly as the notification he dreaded came up. "Too late. You'll have to wait until the next break."

Warning: Backlash Imminent

You have willfully conducted in Out-Of-Body Training, consigning your body to various forms of torture to raise your stats. This is not a violation of the rules. However, you must be prepared to shoulder the consequences.

Warning: Auto-Logout Switched OFF

The Virtual Drives Auto-Logout Systems have been switched off. Until the backlash is completed, you may only logout manually: Either by shouting, thinking, or accessing the logout button on your menu. However, be warned, should you decide to logout, your avatar will be destroyed by the backlash, even if it is only a second left until the backlash is over.

Please do enjoy this duration of immense, torturous pain, and we hope you endeavor to use the Out-Of-Body Training feature in the future...

Current Duration: ??? Days...

Kashi's head shot back, teeth gritted to stave off panicked screams as his fingernails bit into his palms. That pain did nothing to deter from the anguish of feeling each nail be slowly and deliberately ripped off their roots. Veins bulged along his neck as he rocked violently, struggling in vain to reduce the unbearable pain. He looked to his hands, and sure enough, his nails were all intact, but still, he drowned in the torture, every cell in his body receiving a deliberate message, one he was not allowed to ignore.

Kashi wasn't sure when, but eventually, he couldn't stop himself from screaming out loud, cursing himself between bursts of anguish.

But then it stopped...

Kashi wasn't screaming anymore. But his mouth was open, and he could feel the telltale vibrations in his throat. He was still screaming... but he couldn't hear his screams anymore. Then he realized. It wasn't that he couldn't hear his cries.

He couldn't hear anything anymore. He'd lost his sense of sound.

Kashi's eyes soon followed, slowly losing focus of the frightened wisben who could do nothing but watch with a trepid gaze . Netear’s hands shook with fear, as he was completely oblivious as to the cause of the daeben's episode, nor was he able to think up any solution of any kind.

Kashi forced a half-smile to reassure the wisben . It wouldn't do for the wisben to collapse now. Kashi might very well need his assistance soon.

A couple of torturous hours later, Kashi laughed weakly as the backlash took its first break. His throat was hoarse from the constant yelling, and though he couldn't hear himself, he knew his voice was beyond cracked. He felt something cold touch his lips, and he gratefully leaned back as Netear helped him to some water.

When done, Kashi allowed the alchemist to gag him. At least that should prevent him from accidentally biting his own tongue off. That would be a real bummer way to go.

Kashi swallowed hard and took a deep breath as he prepared himself for the second wave. He wasn't sure just how many waves there would be. The backlash could range from four hours to four weeks. Half the torture was not knowing how long it would last. If a specific time was given, he could psyche himself up with each passing minute.

But not knowing... Now that was the real test. This system was designed to discourage Out-of-Body training, a training method that could easily create Over-Powered (OP) characters in the game.

When people looked at Razznik, they saw an OP Demon King. Very few were—and would ever be—aware of the months of torture he endured to get to that state.

But I suppose that is the nature of kings —GhyaaAAA!

Without warning or ceremony, the torture resumed, ripping him out of his philosophical ramblings. This time the theme seemed to be fire, and it was all Kashi could do not to beg to be logged out as invisible flames burned him from the inside out.

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Some Time Later

Kashi slumped in the chair, a defeated figure. He lacked the basic energy required to even raise his head and was forced to rely on Netear to help him drink the potion he held out. Never in the daeben's life had he missed the ability to pass out as he did at that moment. He wasn't sure how, but the system had somehow managed to prevent his mind from blanking out—a self-defense tactic the human body used to avoid excess mental damage from pain.

Kashi felt the thick liquid trickle down his throat but tasted nothing. Ah, that was right. He had lost his sense of taste too after his tongue had been 'seared.'

Just as Kashi was about to resign himself to the next wave, he realized he was being fed a health potion. How did he know? The taste, the oh so foul taste...

Wait? Taste? That was right, he could taste the damned drink! Kashi recognized the feeling! By the gods, it was finally over! Tears streamed down the daeben’s cheeks as he smacked the liquid around his mouth, each sharp swallow a confirmation that brought relief... relief he could not hide.

"-dono! Kashi-dono, are you alright!? Can you hear me!"

That voice... Netear. That was right, it was the blessed wisben. Kashi could hear the alchemist's frantic cries as he tried to ascertain the cause for his tears.

If Kashi wasn't sure before, now he was. The backlash had finally run its course, and h is senses were being restored .

He had somehow survived.

Kashi weakly pointed to his mouth. Netear correctly guessed his meaning and removed the gag from the daeben's grateful mouth. "I-I'm fine," Kashi assured, in a voice so alien it actually shocked him. "It's over." He winced as streams of unfocused light pierced the darkness. The worry lines on the alchemist's face were the first things he noticed as his sight regained focus.

The alchemist had changed robes, which suggested at least a day had passed since the backlash began. That or Kashi had accidentally thrown up on him. The daeben desperately hoped it was the former.

"H-How long has it been?" Kashi asked as Netear moved to undo the latches.

"Five days, sir," Netear reported. His voice held admiration, wonder, and no small traces of fear.

"Five days, huh?" Kashi muttered as he leaned back against the chair, eyes closed. Razznik's longest backlash episode had been a full day. It seemed the developers were earnestly trying to prevent another Razznik from appearing in this game.

Congratulations:

You somehow managed to endure the backlash, thereby completing your Out-Of-Body training. As a result you have earned the following rewards.

Endurance: +320

Fighting Spirit: +150

Vitality: +120

Stamina +94

Magic Resistance: + 352

Electricity Resistance: +125%

Fire Resistance: +125%

Kashi rocked his head in tortured amusement, laughing with all that he had. It was actually worth it. All of the pain, the pain he'd thought would never end. Its pay off was right in front of him. With that level of Endurance, his health regeneration rate would skyrocket. Who knew, he might even be strong enough to pull off that one scene from that anime about sword arts where the main character tanked several hits.

Coupled with his magic resistance, Kashi was sure no mage near his level should be able to give him too much trouble. Well, except mages like Syèl, Absalon, and Jade, who possessed special skills and stats that ranked them far above any other mages he had encountered.

Kashi was assisted to his feet by Netear, then rested against an enchant ment table, his feet still a bit wobbly from the ordeal . His extremely long hair fell down around his face like curtains. Unlocking the stylist had also unlocked the feature that allowed hair growth , hence the rapid growth. Thankfully, daeben did not grow facial hair, so he was spared that burden.

Kashi brushed the dark mass out of his face as he drank a potion handed to him by Netear, and then smacked his lips in disgust as the contents revitalized him. "That last one was pretty effective," Kashi observed. "You've been practicing?"

Netear visibly paled. He resembled a child that had been caught stealing sugar from the pantry. "Ah, y-yes. I saw your notes, and couldn't help myself."

Kashi placated the man with a smile. "And? Were they helpful?"

"Yes, Kashi-dono. Very insightful," Netear admitted. "If I had these notes, I could have achieved the Master ranking years ago. Though some of your methods are a bit... suspect."

Kashi laughed as he worked his legs, relieved to feel the vigor return to them. He grabbed as much of his hair as he could , and then tied it into a knot at the base of his neck. "I cannot deny that accusation."

"Oh no, I didn't mean it th—"

"You interested in joining the Hopeful Maggots?" Kashi asked, eyes locked onto the wisben's. "Want to build something here in Merriheim. Could use an alchemist like you on my side." He gestured to the lab. "All this will be put in your charge, and you'll have first access to my notes and any findings I come across while in the field."

Netear stared at the daeben, mouth agape in shock. He only had one answer to that unbelievable offer. "Y-yes! Oh, sweet Mera, yes! It would be an honor!"

Kashi nodded, the effort causing him to wince. He took out a parchment, quill, and ink, from his inventory, then directed Netear on what to fill out. This method of recruitment was required for residents as they didn't have the menus to accept or decline guild invitations. When Netear was done filling out the form, Kashi signed it, and the paper combusted simultaneously with a notification of the wisben's inclusion into the guild. The form , (through magic, of course) , now sat in the Maggots' Headquarters in Ranad .

Kashi clasped Netear's hand firmly in his as he formally welcomed the wisben to the guild. He spent the next hour explaining his directives and plans to the alchemist, gathered some materials, required for the next phase of his plan, then brewed several potions and poisons.

Kashi exited the building after he had confirmed none of the Maggots were present. The air was as cold as the night was dark, save for a few stars overhead. Kashi made his way to the stables, where Drixlia greeted him with a grunt as if to say 'where have you been.'

Kashi patted the stallion as he untethered it, then hopped onto its back. The proud beast still refused to be saddled, even though it had (reluctantly) accepted being reined. However, Kashi had an inkling that if Drixlia wanted, it could chew through the bit without a second thought. Thankfully, it seemed the stallion was content to let itself be reined as long as Kashi did not get a big head and do something stupid like tugging too hard.

Kashi galloped out of the compound, casting Netear a cursory glance and wave before riding off, Merriheim's rocky plains lit up by the ever-watching stars and their silent general.

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Meilfour .

34 th Jundalph, 1093.

In the five weeks since Kashi left Meilfour, the musical town had grown exponentially, developing into a grand city that matched the word its previous country was named after. Like moths to a flame, Rosendun's declaration of expansion (war) attracted many characters of all kinds to its newest territory.

Be it spies looking to weigh the potential threat, adventurers looking for new challenges or tourists wondering what all the fuss was about, many traveled from far and wide to witness this new land for themselves. This boosted the economy, even more so when considering that the Royal Family of Rosendun sent funds to hasten the progress of a province that King Parissius correctly deduced would become really profitable soon.

Kashi tugged his cowl low as he entered Rine's Bar. Daebens, while not still as popular as other races, had increased in number compared to when the game first began. Chances that he would be immediately identified as Kashi of the Daebens were therefore reduced, but still possible. Hence the cowl.

Kashi smiled as he entered the bustling tavern. The tables were all occupied, waitresses, running back and forth as they attended the customers. Judging from the trays they carried, a lot had been added to the menu since he last arrived. The entire building had also expanded since his last visit, offering more rooms and service space. There was also a small stage that was occupied by a group he did not recognize, playing a soft Celtic tune.

Surprisingly, (or maybe not so much), Muko kept his place at the bar, cheeringly serving his customers some excellent ale. He spotted Kashi through the crowd and waved the daeben to a free stool at the counter’s edge .

"I see business has really picked up," Kashi praised as he took his seat.

"In no small part thanks to you," Muko remarked with a gentle smile as he uncorked a flask of Yarcon Juice, filled a mug and pushed it toward the daeben. "I see Kira's not with you today."

Kashi took a pleasant draft from the mug. "Not today, no. She's nearby, though. I can sense her."

"I see," Muko said with a short nod. He temporarily left to attend another customer, then returned shortly after, pleased to see Kashi had finished the drink. He filled the mug as he asked, "So, what're you up to next?"

Kashi smirked as he accepted the drink. "I've got some things in the works."

"Don't you always," Muko laughed. "If you're planning on sticking around least a few days, you should go see Ms. Falsetto's show. Then maybe I can introduce you to that stylist I mentioned."

Kashi raised a brow. "Lunette's got a show? When is it?"

"Well, she's got one sche duled —sorry, one sec." Muko motioned to one of the waitresses, and she took his place at the counter. "Yes, like I was saying, she's got one in half an hour. Performs every Tu chiel and Fr ochiel ."

"At the Emporium, right?"

"Yeah."

Kashi smiled to himself. Seemed his gamble had paid off. How well, he would soon find out. "Now, how about I make you even richer than you currently are?" He said to the barkeep.

Muko frowned. "What do you mean?"

Kashi took out a runed gemstone and fed it some of his mana . He placed it against the mug, then removed it after white frost began to cake the surface. "Here, try this."

Muko glanced skeptically at the mug, then made to pick it up. "It's cold," he observed, more to himself than anything else. He then placed it next to his lips and took a sip... then downed the entire mug in a second. He set it down and stared at the daeben, amazement in his eyes. "H-how did you do that? I have never tasted anything like that before."

"Wish I could take the credit, but it's a normal thing in the Summoned's world. They call it refrigeration."

Muko stared at the stone in Kashi's hand with wonder. "Refrigeration?"

"Yeah. It doesn't just make things cold, though," Kashi explained. "If cold enough, you can even preserve perishable foodstuffs."

Muko frowned. "What do you mean preserved? Like smoking? Or salting?"

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Only ten times better," Kashi revealed.

Muko's eyes widened. "Quick, give me the numbers."

Kashi laughed as he raised a hand. "My guild's already collecting a percentage from the town's profits. Consider this an investment to raise those profits."

Muko's brows furrowed. "You're gonna hand these out for free? Does Miote know about this?"

Kashi grinned sheepishly. "If I told him, he would probably kill me. But trust me, I know what I'm doing."

"Well, no skin off my back," The m ertian relented. "That'll save me a lot of Syros." He shook his head in disbelief. "Still, can't believe you're just handing these out."

Kashi laughed as he got to his feet. "Speak to the smith, Nudemi. He's a member of my guild now. I've given him instructions on how to make a lot more of these."

Muko grasped the stone in his hands as he watched the daeben exit the store, still disbelieving what just transpired. Just as Kashi disappeared into the street, Muko remembered that he hadn’t introduce d the daeben to th at stylist. Well, one more day with that terrible hair shouldn't kill him.

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Kashi trod through the busy streets atop Drixlia, absolutely lost in the light show the town had become. Several colored lamps hung overhead as bards serenaded the roads with a uniform melody that seemed to flow with his movement. The picturesque atmosphere was adorned with several sculptures that lined the streets . A lot of which were clearly crafted by S ummoned , judging by the usernames displayed on the naming tiles.

City and building walls followed a wavy color code that continued without pause, even into the alleyways, such that there were no discontinuities.

All roads eventually lead to the heart of the city, a large dome-like structure Kashi had dubbed 'The Emporium.' Sure, the name could have used some more work, but the daeben personally liked it. It was easy, straightforward, and clearly stated what the building was meant for.

Kashi paused in front of the building and glanced with a hint of worry at the traffic. It was impossible! How he hoped to get in, he could not readily guess. He dismounted, then tethered Drixlia to a nearby post.

Kashi then took one cursory glance at the crowd and security around the perimeter.

The Emporium had been designed with inspiration from modern football stadiums in the Summoned's world. The massive structure had an open hatch at its top, from which a garden at the center could be seen. Thousands of spectator seats rose from the garden to the roof. Exits situated at the stairs lead to the attractions that were housed in the circular perimeter.

Shops selling musical instruments, artworks, a mini-exhibition of some rare monsters, and several other attractions could be found in these sections.

All these were guarded jealously by strict guards who kept to their patrol routes sternly. To enter, one would have to buy a ticket at the overcrowded stand, which would be checked by the guards at the entrance. Kashi did not recall implementing this system.

Most likely, Miote saw a way to maximize profits and went with it.

Kashi was sure there would be a VIP entrance somewhere, but the density of the crowd did not allow him much room to round the structure. Sighing, he decided to test just how good the security system was.

Kashi clambered up the nearest building and scanned the area in front of the entrance. It was a definite no-go. Crowd's density aside, the only door was too closely guarded for him to sneak in through there.

Kashi once more gazed down at the crowd before making up his mind. He took out his bow and an arrow, followed by a long piece of rope. At this point, he never went anywhere without lots of spare lines in his inventory. They were one of the most versatile tools an adventurer could have.

Kashi then took out Rosario’s brush and a vial of night-black ink . Precision was not required, so he tapped the brush against the rope, then selected the Auto-Paint option. He then watched as color spread from the brush down the length of the line. This advanced version of Auto-Paint was one of the bonuses he had gotten while preparing Project Fame.

Kashi tied one end of the blackened rope to the arrow then got to his feet. He notched and then fired. The silent missile sailed over the string of lanterns that lit up the Emporium's entrance, then buried into the building's side, near the top. He tied the end still on the rooftop to another arrow, which he then drove into the roof.

Kashi slung his bow over his shoulder, then equipped a single quiver of arrows. After one last glance at the crowd below, he hopped onto the line, then flitted across, feet too quick for his full weight to ever fully bear down on it.

Once across, he took out an arrow and stabbed it into the side of the building. Gazing down at the unsuspecting masses below, for once, he was glad of the secrecy that came with politics.

Riven had long since taken countermeasures against the route Kashi had used to infiltrate, placing boiling pots at the wall-walk that overlooked the steep climb. Guards also performed regular inspections to prevent any foul play like the kind Kashi had pulled where he buried rods in the earth. Of course, they never officially revealed the method of infiltration—to save some face, the ministers had proposed.

It was better the masses believed Parissius and Leila had devised some secret plan while working in tandem with the Kertan army. It added an air of mystery and otherworldly godliness to the king.

Kashi couldn't care less wither way, but right now, he could not deny he was grateful. If the news had spread, surely countermeasures would be in place against operations like this. He took out another arrow and began his ascent, glancing apologetically at the holes he left in his path.

Well, technically, it was his guild's building, and the funds to fix it would come from him as the mayor of the town. Irresponsible thinking? Maybe, but it worked for him. He eventually made it to the curved top, where he placed the arrows back into their quivers.

Kashi ran the remaining length, till he reached the flattened half-roof. He paused at the edge then looked down. He wasn't prepared for what he saw.

Thunderous cries and chants from people from all races blew out the small opening like a never-ending geyser. Shouts of "Lune-chan!" "Twilight Wolves!" "Shadow!" "Triple Threat!" One end of the stands held placards that formed a giant Lunette, which on an invisible cue, flipped to show Shadow and Kira.

The posters and paintings he had drawn had multiplied beyond even his expectations, the frantic crowd in the fields waving colored mage lights as a replacement for glowsticks.

The daeben could scarcely believe his eyes. If he didn't know better, he would have assumed he was at a live concert in Roppongi. The orchestra currently occupied a large stage at the north end and was entertaining the waiting audience with a few tunes. Without warning, all members stopped playing.

Booms echoed around the stadium as the drummers banged hard. It seemed the crowd knew this routine because they began to chant in unison. A grin escaped the daeben's lips as two girls stepped in front of the orchestra and took the lead with the electric guitars he'd crafted. Of course, they weren't exactly the same. Nudemi had improved on the design he had been given. You could hardly hear a difference between these and the real things. And they weren't even using amplifiers.

The word 'Magic' sure was convenient for developers and gamers alike...

The orchestrated noise reached a whole new crescendo as Lunette, Shadow, and the triplets made their way out of a side entrance into the garden below. To the daeben's amused surprise, Kira followed behind, the direwolf's entrance almost causing the crowd to grow ballistic. Wow, looked like Kira had somehow cultivated her own cult following.

Kira stopped by the stage, while the others climbed the stairs, waving to their fans as they did.

Ah, so she was a bodyguard. Kashi released a disappointed smirk. He would have had ammunition for life if the dire wolf had joined them on stage then started hopping up and down like a newborn puppy. Well, what can you do?

Kashi waved as Kira's perceptive gaze met his. She barely acknowledged his presence before returning her attention to the crazed primes in front of her. Was she mad? Well, if this was what she'd been forced to do for the past weeks because of his absence, he could understand her anger.

With the grace of a professional, Lunette wrapped a guitar around her, then swiped a microphone from a stand. (This was just for show. Bards didn't need mics, nor did this mic actually work. /Amplify/ achieved the same effect easy enough.)

She cheerily greeted her audience as Shadow picked up a bass guitar to her left. Diegel took his place by a modern drum set behind them, while Zeigfreid lifted a guitar to Lunette's right.

Iggy stood at the head of the orchestra, violin poised as they joined in the number, much to the crowd's delight.

Kashi could almost picture their stats racking up points by the payload. Just as adventurers needed to hit or kill things to raise their skills and stats, bards needed people to listen to, and appreciate their music for their skills to rise.

Kashi's smile sharply degenerated to a frown. "If you value your life, do not disturb me." He turned back to look at the cloaked figure behind him.

A furry turban covered all of the man's face, save a pair of red eyes that gleamed through, their horrid gaze distinctly fixed on the daeben. The intruder eerily donned a what seemed to be bone armor atop leather. Warty dark-brown skin showed through tears in gloves, which covered huge hands.

"You... Kashi... Daeben. Maggot?" The intruder's Japanese was broken, head tilting this way and that as he spoke, as if trying to recall the words he was supposed to use.

Kashi's eyes narrowed as he equipped all weapons. "Who's asking?"

"Songstress... capture... impossible. Capture... Kill... Daeben."

Kashi pressed against the roof as the man suddenly dashed at him, clawed fingers missing his face by a hair's breadth. He kicked hard against the man's left foot.

The man lost his balance, his momentum throwing him off the roof's edge.

Kashi lurched and grabbed his hand, wincing as the claws dug into his flesh. This man wasn't trying to grab on. He was attempting to rip the daeben's hand right off. He obviously did not care that doing so would cause him to fall to his very likely death.

"Can't let you do that!" Kashi flung the intruder overhead, then slammed him onto the roof. He straddled his assailant, then slammed his head against the roof when he tried to bite his hand off. "If you wish for death, I'll gladly carry out your wish. But not here."

"Captured... Escape... Unlikely. Containment measure three."

Kashi felt rising heat against his knees and looked down to see a dull glow emanating from the man's heart. The light pulsed like a heartbeat, slowly increasing in speed and intensity over time.

Kashi frowned as he examined the glow. The man's words ... Captured. Unlikely escape. Containment... Containment.

Kashi put himself in the man's shoes for a minute. A soldier—no, a spy caught in the field of duty. What would he do to make sure the information he held never escaped. Suicide. Yes, that was the best option. But in a situation where the subject he was supposed to kill was within close proximity...

Kashi's eyes widened in shock as he realized what his captive intended. He charged his fists with earth energy, then punched through the man's chest. His fists circled around an object cold to the touch, despite the intense heat that surrounded it.

Kashi pulled it out, the man beneath immediately going limp. He examined the black soul-stone, recognizing some of the engravings etched onto its sides.

Tier 3 Soul Stone

Holds the Soul of a great Soldier lost in the line of duty.

Achieves various effects if melded into items and weapons.

The stone's pulse rapidly increased, and Kashi had to think fast. He did not want to spoil the concert below, nor did he want anything negative associated with Lunette. There was only one method he could think of then.

Kashi placed the stone in his inventory.

Five seconds later, he checked the inventory and wasn't surprised to see items called Soul-Stone Shards. The gem had exploded, but the never-ending inventory space had contained it, leaving only the shards behind. In retrospect, this could be considered cheating – an abuse of the game’s system if you would.

Kashi, however, did not care. In fact, he spared a second to wonder if the inventory could also tank a nuclear explosion... Not that he'd ever be brave enough to test that theory on himself.

Kashi looked up from his inventory with cold eyes . "Well then gents, I don't suppose you are overly enthusiastic fans?"

Three cloaked figures surrounded him, their eerie silence his sole answer.

"Don't Follow."

Kashi shot off the rooftop at the closest, but it bent backward, allowing him to fly over it. He twisted around mid-air then loosed three arrows.

All three assailants caught the missiles with ease. "Daeben... Capture... Kill..." They crushed the arrows then charged their target.

Assured of their attention, Kashi spun around... and ran! He jumped off the side of the building, twisting his body mid-air to dodge arcs of electricity, fire, and ice. He cursed as he landed on the thin line, then dashed across. They were mages!

Kashi ducked instinctively, wincing as a foot swung overhead. He kicked against the line and got into a handstand as a blade swung down on his position. The line cut, causing the daeben to flounder as he lost his balance.

His assailants watched him fall, somehow hovering in the air above. Kashi took out an arrow with a line attached then fired, assisted by <>.

The attack caught his assailants unawares, and his target could not dodge the arrow that tore through the heel of his boot.

Kashi used the hovering man as a lever and swung down towards the building he'd performed recon from. He released the line at the apex of his swing and tumbled onto the rooftop.

One of the men kicked hard against the air, then barrelled straight for the out of control daeben. A few inches away from his target, his vision suddenly blackened.

Kashi had lifted the arrow he'd previously pinned to the roof when he crashed, read the attack, and flung it straight into the attacker's left eye. The man collapsed onto the rooftop, and Kashi swiftly tore out the gem in his heart before it started its countdown.

The attacker who had an arrow in his boots seemed to have trouble hovering, and chose instead to land on the rooftop, his mate just hovering overhead.

Kashi eyed both men. He could tell something was not right about them. They hadn't once cried out in pain or shown any signs of discomfort. "Follow."

He hopped off the roof and onto Drixlia below, cutting the tether with an arrow. "Ride!"

Drixlia needed no more prodding. He tore down the cobbled streets with ferocious speed, knocking over pedestrians and stalls. Above, the cloaked men pursued without rest, their numbers seemingly increasing on the rooftops above.

Opposing winds blew off Kashi's cowl, but he had not time to fix it, as he dodged incessant blasts from his pursuers. Inevitably, someone recognized him, and soon shouts of Kashi exploded along the streets as he passed.

Bloodlust escaped a lithe figure as he passed, but he had no time to confirm who it was as he made his way to the city gates.

The guards saw him approaching and made to close the door, but Kashi removed the lower cloth mask, revealing his full face as he screamed, "Leave it Open!"

The guards recognized their mayor and did as ordered, wincing as he tore past with the force off a small gale.

Kashi rode hard till he was thirty minutes away from the city. He paused, then dismounted, patting Drixlia as he praised the stallion's efforts. "Go home." Drixlia nodded, then turned back the way he came, kicking up dust.

Kashi closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. When he opened them, an unnatural sandstorm had kicked up around him. As they died down, dozens of similarly cloaked men slowly stepped into view, surrounding him on all sides.

"Well, isn't this interesting?" Kashi mused. "Who sent you?"

"Daeben... Come... Not... Come... Perish."

Kashi massaged his forehead. "I see this is getting us nowhere."

"KA-SHI!"

Kashi jumped back in surprise as a lithe figure crashed a few feet away, then lunged at him, twin swords poised for his chest. He ducked beneath the strike and smacked both sword arms high. He reached for the mystery assailant with his right hand, but only managed to grab the mantle that shielded her.

The cloth ripped as the assailant skipped away from his reach.

The stars cast their light on the female Chetah, eyes as fiery as the sun locked onto the daeben. "Kashi of the Daebens. Today you meet your end."

"You do not look an ordinary mercenary," Kashi observed. "Do you have a personal grudge against me."

"I am—"

"Chetah... Asha... Kill on Sight."

Kashi looked to the men surrounding him. "I suppose you are the Asha they speak of?"

Asha ignored his question as she glanced at the surrounding mob. "Chaos Ghouls," she spat. She glared at the lifeless drones. "I wasn't aware the Order was interested in this area."

"The Order ? Ah, you mean the Chaos Order ." Kashi glanced at the men whose numbers seemed to increase with each passing minute. "It would seem they are also out for your head. How about we call a temporary tru—!" He retreated sharply, her strike just about missing him. "Well then, if that is your wish."

Kashi took out a set of arrows from his side quivers. Unlike those at his back, these had metal shafts, which made them more ideal for close combat. They wouldn't break when parrying swords, and their weight gave them more penetrative power. Their only downside was that they didn't curve very well, hence were unsuited for long-range sniping.

Kashi fired a barrage at the Chetah, but she easily struck the missiles out of the air as she charged.

Kashi slung his bow over his shoulder and held three arrows each in each hand like makeshift rods. He accepted her strike, mildly impressed by the power behind her lithe frame. He pushed her arms away, but she only returned faster and stronger.

The duo stood rooted to the spot as they exchanged blows faster than the naked eyes could see. Sparks flew as neither agreed to yield an inch. Arcs of magic attacks raced towards the battlers, but neither paid them any heed.

BOOM! BOOM!

Dust rose as the earth around the duo exploded from the impact.

"Oi, Oi... Who's leaving me out of a fight like this?" An ax cleaved through the dust cloud, revealing an imposing warrior clad in full metal armor, color as black as night with red murals drawn onto it. Hektor balanced the ax on his shoulder as he glared at the ghouls with his back to Kashi's. "Sacrifice yourselves to my legend."

A paw cut through the dust cloud on the opposite end, and with a flick, the dust swirled and shrunk till it was a mini-tornado in the monk's palm. "I dare say, Asha: If you are going hunting, please do remember us."

Explosions rocked from the ghouls' ranks as Asha's warriors descended on the army.

"I hope you're alone," Kashi whispered.

"Yeah, other ’ s are still at the concert. Followed when you tore through the marketplace like a hell rider."

"Sure you don't want to retreat?" Kashi said as he eyed the c hetah and her companion. "Seems we're surrounded on all fronts."

"You're staying, right?"

"Well..."

"Then, so am I."

Kashi knew better than to question the teen's resolve. "If you insist," he relented. "Watch my back."

Hektor grinned as he raised his ax high above his head. "Betcha ass, I will. Just don't lose to the cat."

Kashi chuckled as he flung the arrows in his hands into approaching ghouls. With [ Drill ] activated, the missiles tore clean through. "Now you're just insulting me."

Kashi and Asha crouched low in preparation for simultaneous strikes when thunderclaps from the heavens gave them pause. Kashi frowned as he stared into the blackened sky. The thunderclaps got closer and closer...

"Get down!" Kashi screamed as he shoved Hektor to the earth, and dove down himself.

Torrents of flames poured out of a giant silhouette that flew overhead, consuming both Asha's soldiers and the ghouls alike.

The c hetah cried out as she watched her family burn around her, herself protected by Kaga's force field.

The smell of burned flesh choked the daeben as he got to his feet, then assisted Hektor to his. He stared around the land, his expression unreadable. The scorched earth bore no resemblance to its former self. Blackened bodies caked the dark surface, and what little vegetation the area had had burned to a crisp. "I had almost forgotten..."

"Forgotten what?" Hektor asked as he too took in the carnage.

The monster responsible landed a couple feet away from them, large feet crushing a ghoul underneath. One of the Chetah tried to back away, but the beast's fiery gaze latched onto her, freezing her in place. Its long serpentine neck bent low, as a head, the size of carriages studied its prey. Dark grey scales glowed in the fires it spouted as it snapped the poor female in half with teeth her size.

"The terrifying strength of the dragon-kin," Kashi said with a wry smile. "Still don't wanna retreat?"

Hektor laughed through his helmet. "Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't considering it."

The Lesser Drake regarded its next meal with detached interest as it reared its head to release another plume.

Tears streaming down her face, Asha let out a maddened shriek as she shrugged off Kaga's hold and charged the beast. "You bastard!" she cried desperately as she lunged for its exposed throat.

"You idiot!"

Asha whirled around to meet the sole of a boot in her face. The force sent her crashing into the survivors below.

Now you've done it! Kashi wryly smiled as the dragon's flames enveloped his entire frame...

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To be Continued...