While Lance and his cronies kept their secrets to themselves, Liz and her companions all shook their heads and swore that they had no clue—which Ethan believed. He didn’t know the two girls, but he didn’t doubt Liz and Gerald’s honestly. They couldn’t have cracked the main quest so fast, considering their delayed start.

As for the coach, he was just as apologetic, if not more. “I’m sorry, but we haven’t dared move too deep. I have to make sure my boys stay safe,” he said as he glanced back. Ethan followed his gaze to see the many young faces hidden behind lowered round and tower shields. Most looked resolved and ready, but the dirt and dark circles under many of their eyes could not be missed. The coach turned back to him. “Please. Please let us know when you find it. I really don’t mind if we go last as long as I can get them out of here.”

Ethan stared at the man for a second, then nodded. He couldn’t help but feel awed for a moment. As far as he could tell, there hadn’t been any subterfuge or deceit from the man. None. It almost made him uncomfortable, but Ethan had met one or two of the man’s kind.

In a way, that kindness reminded him of Luther. As long as you’d ignore the rudeness and sarcasm that made up the rest of the old man’s personality.

Those boys were lucky, and for a second, a what-if scenario tried to form itself in the back of his mind. A scenario of what would have happened if he’d met someone like this early enough, but he quickly quashed the thoughts away.

This wasn’t the time for ifs and buts and useless speculations. Plus, if he hadn’t had lived through his troubling childhood, he might not have had the tools and mindset to let him live through this mess.

Hell, he might already be dead.

Ethan shook his head. He didn’t have much time to consider such far-fetched scenarios and in any case, the moment was ruined by the shield-bearer. Robert scoffed at the surprised coach and began standing up. “Save us that sap story, would ya?”

Ethan raised a brow as both Lance and Barry began standing as well. There was no bow in the man’s hands, but his arms were spread a bit further than normal. He was ready to summon it, and to be frank, it would make Ethan’s decision easier if they did.

“Stay down. All three of you.”

“No,” said Robert. “If you’ve got something to say, you can—”

Ethan's claws appeared, which shut them up, but then he paused. “You know what, actually, just wait right there.”

Turning back, he found that Amelie—and everyone else, really—had her wand drawn. Everyone was ready. The young woman pointed her weapon at Lance’s group and spoke between gritted teeth. “Fucking sociopaths.”

They all began shouting and yelling at each other, and instead of trying to match them, Ethan ignited his claws.

The air around him immediately rippled, as if the door to an invisible furnace had been cracked open. Ethan had a chance to see Gerald’s eyes squint as he took a step back from the heat and, in fact, everyone within a few feet of him did, mainly Liz and her group. The only one who didn’t flinch at the heat was Audrey, the tall and fit woman who was staring down at his clawed hands with wide eyes.

Lance’s shortbow was back in his hands. He began raising it, only to freeze when Ethan glanced at him. The archer lowered his weapon, but Ethan just glared at him and cracked his wrists as he turned and fully faced Lance’s group. He pushed some fire out of them, as if the flames had to be vented.

He didn’t need to. It just felt cool, and it might look intimidating to the trio, which will help in the next coming part.

Lance realized where this was going, so he gritted his teeth and hissed. “We don’t know where the exit is, and you threatening us won’t make the damn thing pop out of thin air.”

Ethan nodded along the empty words and took a few steps closer. This time, weapons were fully trained on him, but he didn’t care. He wanted them to shoot at him, which would make what came after a bit easier to swallow.

Ethan was no beacon of morality or ethics, but after having heard of what these three have been up to, he couldn’t stomach letting them continue. He didn’t relish the idea of killing, but he abhorred the thought of being even remotely complicit to their behavior.

“Listen, Lance. I know you know something. And here’s the thing; If the roles were reversed, you’d be doing the same to me. If not worse. So let’s cut a deal: You three, against me. If I win, you spill the beans and tell me what you know. If you win, you get whatever you want, as I’ll probably be dead, anyway. What do you say? It should be an easy fight for you three, no?”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Ethan gave them a second to process his words while he prepared himself. This might all blow out of proportions at any moment, so he needed to be ready. He knew he was bullying them, technically, but he had no qualms about bullying bullies. Especially unrepentant ones that should know better.

He stared them down and saw them step into position. The shield was raised. The arrow was nocked. The wand was aiming.

Ethan just had to flex his wand, and protective fire would consume everything around him. Though he had to be careful with his mana. The new tier-2 claw-modifier was guzzling mana like no tomorrow.

Lance was fuming. Teeth bared. Ethan wasn’t sure if the archer was about to take the bait or not, but he knew for a fact Lance was burning to shoot that arrow. The gears turned for a few more seconds, and then the archer spoke up. “Fuck you. I’m not playing your games. We’re leaving.”

He began signaling his two companions—when a loud whistle cut him off.

Ethan lowered his left hand from his lips and summoned [Scorching Claws] around it once more. He gave the archer a confused look. “Did I not make myself clear? This fight’s happening. And you pointing that thing at me after I warned you not, you is the least of why it has to happen.”

Realization sunk into the man’s eyes as they narrowed. The shield-bearer was equally as enraged, but the third somehow kept getting paler by the second. “This is barbaric,” spat out the archer.

A snort came from behind him, and Amelie’s voice rang into the clearing. “When someone pisses them off, they get taken on an expedition and no one sees them again.”

The coach took a step back. “What is happening to you, people? Have you all lost your damn minds?”

Audrey turned to him. “New world, coach. I think you better go to your group and thank whatever set this whole thing up that you didn’t find yourself with those people. We’ll let you know if we learn anything new. Right?”

Liz nodded, a somber expression on her face, and so did Gerald. “Of course,” he said.

“So. Lance. Are you going to take your shot or would you rather I turned my back first?”

The bowstring twanged, and the arrow zipped at his chest. Ethan grinned, and with a flick of his wrist, a gout of flame surged upward, vaporizing the arrow and setting fire to a portion of the mushroom-tree cap above.

“Back up, you four. And let us know if any monster shows up,” Ethan said, without looking away from his opponents. Then he paused, frowning for a second before he added. “If an orange cat shows up, don’t attack it.”

All four of his allies stared at him. Then Amelie asked. “An orange what?”

***

Ethan stood in the clearing and faced the three opponents ahead of him. Lance and the wand-user were hidden behind the bulky shield, shooting at him and failing to pierce through the screen of flames.

Well, mainly Lance. Barry seemed to be on standby. Or maybe he was just tasked with healing.

No signal had been given. Lance had lashed after Ethan’s provocation and hadn’t stopped since. Ethan intercepted yet another arrow that was suspiciously off-course, most likely aiming at the other four.

Alright then.

Ethan raised a hand toward the group, and the shorter man’s shield shone with that earthy tone while a larger barrier was projected a few inches in front of the group.

Ethan was curious how resilient that barrier was. It hadn’t lasted much against his fire. How well would it contain an explosion?

I guess I’ll find out in a second.

A ball of concentrated flames shot out of Ethan’s palm and crossed the distance between them in a second. The ball touched the barrier and detonated like a crack of thunder. The defensive barrier shattered nearly instantly, as if it was made of glass, and fire engulfed the group in an instant. The shield-bearer seemed to resist for barely a second before he was thrown back, knocking the other two behind him like a bowling-ball through pins.

The flames washed over them, tearing a scream out of their throat, but Ethan didn’t follow up with anything and gave them a second.

He slowly made his way toward the fallen three and would have winced if he had any sympathies for them, but from what he’d heard, it wasn’t nearly enough punishment for their behavior.

They sported multiple burns, and a good chunk of their clothes and hair was gone. The office worker was barely awake, while the shield-bearer was already up on his feet. He didn’t lose hair, because he didn’t have any, but at least he didn’t get burnt too badly. It looked just like a mild case of sunburns.

Points in Toughness, I bet.

Lance was trying to get off-the ground. His pants had large holes in them, while his vest and hair were smoking. He was on all four and then, as he tried to get his foot under him, he leaned forward and threw up.

Ethan hadn’t expected his opening salvo to basically end the fight. But everything should be over soon. He stepped toward the shield-bearer. The white of the man’s eyes was bright, contrasting with the soot on cheek and forehead.

Robert took a step backward, and Ethan steeled himself.

They extorted, pressured, abused, and killed. They tried to kill me. They just tried to kill or capture Liz and her team. Everyone else they hurt is on me.

As if seeing the resolve in his eyes, Robert took another step back. “Listen. Let’s—”

Ethan stepped forward and sunk his claws into the man’s chest. Then let his flames roar.

Lance finally looked up and fell on his backside as he tried to push himself away from Ethan. Ethan saw his lips move, but he couldn’t hear him over the buzzing in his ears. He extended his left hand toward the archer and drowned his words out in a sea of flames.