‘Take this?’ Ligi did not understand the meaning behind the words that was uttered in Sabik’s mouth.

‘This is a precious treasure that’s coveted by all the powers in the world. Why would he give this to me?’

Ligi wondered while looking at the glowing sphere that was now in his hands. He didn’t know when it happened but suddenly he is now in possession of this treasure. Maybe he didn’t remember taking the essence or Sabik just forced it on him, Ligi didn’t know.

‘This power is what I coveted the most when I was miserable. This is now a chance to change my destiny and forget about my past and start anew.’

For a brief moment, Ligi was excited. If one looked close enough, they could even see a smile creeping up on Ligi’s face. The prospect of being happy with this power surged from the bottom of his heart but his cool mind quickly shut it down.

‘That is only when I survive this, can I even keep this if we survive? There will surely be people looking for him and take numerous attempts at his life in order to obtain this essence, like the one chasing them now.’

Then like a bolt of lightning, he thought about how he even acquired this treasure and why Sabik gave it to him in the first place. Then he remembered when before this chasing sequence even occurred, Sabik bargained Ligi’s own life for himself.

‘He wanted me to take all the heat so he could escape..... No, he wouldn’t do that would he? He’s not that evil is he? He even saved me from before right?’

A thought that slowed Ligi’s escape to freedom made the fire in his heart weaken from a small match fire to a barely noticeable light. He could not figure out why someone would do the things he did. He did not understand why he saved him, then put him in harms way, and then use him as a bargaining chip. This confusing set of actions coupled with the promise of power by Sabik led to a denial in the facts he was seeing.

He slowed even further as he accepted that he will always be a pawn in the powerful’s game of chess. Scratch that, he is not even allowed to see the board much more to be in it. He is not allowed to know the intentions and thoughts of those powerful people lest he confuse and damage his own brain.

The powerful like the Steel Muscle group, the Hunter’s quest, the Sailing Men, and the Farmer’s Mercy are the only ones allowed to rule and govern the town. They provide the needs and wants of the common folk, they do all the hard work that’s why the people in the slums are just observers. They are in the whims of the governor and they should just shut up and be thankful that they are lucky enough to even have a place to live.

Ligi has never seen anyone go against the flow of the four powers, except for Sabik.

‘Sabik.....Sabik.........Who even is this guy? He’s not even strong nor he has any special powers. He’s only good with his words. Why am I following this guy, why am I at his whims?’ Ligi ran as he looked and stared at the back of Sabik’s head

‘Why do I have to be a pawn in his chess? He’s not even qualified to do that. He dares try and leverage me to be a livestock to be traded and slaughtered?!’ Ligi now became fully angry and a frown directed at Sabik is now active in his face. An abnormal amount of emotions flowed through him and affected his state of mind.

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‘Hmph..... let’s see how you react when you taste your own medicine!’

Ligi then slowed down more and more until he came to a full stop, surprising the muscle heads that was chasing him.

Wary of the trap that might be locked and loaded once they reach him, Tarim stopped himself from tackling the vulnerable and solitary Ligi. He flexed his muscles making it seem like he grew in size as a form of defense to what may come. His comrades saw this and readied themselves for a fight as they stopped.

They could now see that although alone, Ligi did not look like he was in despair. He was on the contrary, angry with one of his fists closed and shaking while the other held the essence.

“Be a good kid and throw us the essence. It would do you no good holding that thing.” said Tarim in a calm and peaceful way seemingly wanting to disarm the anger in the kid lest he make an erroneous action.

Ligi did not answer but only look at the ground in frustration and anger, it’s recipient? The muscle heads did not know.

As Tarim was about to speak in a more forceful manner as impatience sat on his face, he heard Ligi speak.

“I’ll give this to you, but you shall be at my whims and follow what I tell you.”

Before Tarim could even explode in anger, Ligi continued his sermon.

“You have to spare me and punish Sabik”

Ligi said as he felt disdain even as he spoke that guy’s name. It infuriates him to his core what that guy did and that bastard’s cowardly way of self-preservation. Even he didn’t know he could hate a person this much and affect his every action.

“I’ll do no such thing boy! Either you give us that now or suffer an eternity of pain”

Tarim exclaimed as he powered up his muscles even more at the provocation that was just thrown at him. His pride could not take the feeling of being commanded by a boy who could not even lift a 50 kg rock. He did not know where this timid guy got the confidence to command a person such as himself, the mighty Tarim.

Ligi did not speak and kept frowning at the ground as if it had a lifelong grudge at it. Ligi was so preoccupied at his own anger that he did not see or hear the sound of footsteps closing in on him.

Without the use of sonic communication, Tarim flexed his arms and put it in his waist and then crossed his arms, forming an x at his wrists. His comrades understood this and with speed and power, rushed at Ligi.

Without any complication and resistance, they successfully restrained the arms of Ligi who was now looking at the muscle heads restraining his arms. He still had a frown on his face which is now directed at the man coming towards him and aiming for the essence.

Now with his hand about to grasp the coveted essence, a source of power and food for his muscles, Tarim smiled. He grasped the essence with both hands and with care befitting a treasure such as this.

He felt joy and pride at his achievements. A dream of advancing to an even more magnificent state of muscles is now becoming a reality. Being a senior member of the steel muscle group can now become a reality. With that status comes more resources for cultivation and more resources means more advancements.

This made him smile and get lost in his own world. He was completely absorbed with himself and his future. He did not notice or even care about what his subordinates were saying.

“Sir........sir.............SIR!!”

Being of the same rank whose only difference is seniority, the muscle head who shouted could not take the fact that he was being ignored. He finally went to Tarim’s side and shook his body and only then did Tarim finally acknowledged his subordinate’s plea.

“What?!”

Said Tarim with an annoyed expression. He looked like someone just annoyed him out of his sleep while he was off duty.

Not expecting the annoyed expression, the muscle head also became annoyed and angry but kept it hidden in his heart.

“What should we do about the kid?”

Tarim looked at the kid, who now looked at him with expectations and remembered the way this pitiful guy talked to him. He even tried to leverage the treasure that would always be his. He felt it funny and interesting that even with his flimsy body, he worked up the courage to confront him. He even entertained the thought of giving mercy to this guy, but his pride told him to be merciless.

“Kill him” said Tarim without the slightest bit of emotion and whose attention is now back to the essence in his hands. Thinking whatever he wanted to think.

“Wait what?! No, we had a deal right? Please?!” Ligi once again covered his eyes and tried to drop in a fetal position, but the muscle heads had a firm grip on his arms.

‘Why did I even do that? Of course he isn’t gonna hold up the bargain, I have no leverage.’

Regret now started to fill him and he hated himself for even uttering the words he said previously. That was a stupid mistake that costed him his life. If they were gonna kill him, he hoped it would be quick and painless.

That hope vanished quickly when he saw a muscle head rear his arms back up as if loading a spring that would launch a rock right at his stomach.

‘I guess this is what I get. At least the misery will be over.’

Ligi thought his last words.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”