*Thoughts*
~Sound effects~
+”Whispers”+
+++++
Chapter 39: Kyle PoV
The next day Kyle woke before anyone arrived at the house and so he had enough time to look at the system messages which popped up because he collapse again before being able to read them.
* You Completed the Punching. You gain
Strength +2
Dexterity +4
Fighting Spirit +1
Sustenance +2
Endurance +1
Vitality +1
* New skill: Fist fighting beginner Level 1
+10% Attack Damage with fists
+0.5% Stun chance
*I already anticipated that, so now to make breakfast before anyone arrives*
While he was in the middle of eating a group of the trap layers arrived and one of them charged towards him while waving around a sheet of paper.
“Morning Kyle, remember our talk about the smiling Chinese?”
“Yes and?”
“It seems like he was spotted yesterday and so the authorities made a wanted poster”
“Show me” Kyle said
After he received it he examined the poster. Under the huge title which said Smiling Chinese dead or alive was a painting of the wanted figure
The painting depicted a person wearing a patched up mantle with a big hood over the head and a scarf around the face. All in the person painted on the sheet could be anyone, the only abnormal thing where the eyes which also contributed the only color to the otherwise grey picture. Beneath the picture where written some descriptions about the person who was wanted: Height between 1,50 and 1,80m. The most noticeable thing about him are his eyes which glow in a yellow- Orange light. When approaching him, be cautious this person is a notorious Criminal, Wanted for a number of thefts. Bounty: 5.000 gold coins.
~Whistle~ *This is a really frightening picture, the painter did a good job, but, wow such a high bounty, guess he robbed some really rich guys and his bounty will only rise, I wonder how high it will be after we go back to Kilakios* Kyle thought
Then a shout from the guy who gave him the picture startled him:”What the heck happened, where is the wall that stood there?!”
*Wow, the wall completely crumbled only parts of it are remaining* Kyle thought after he looked to the wall he used as punching bag
“Guess I t was me, I was so absorbed in my training that, uh, well….”
“Wow, how much strength do you have!? No wait don`t tell me now” the guy interrupted Kyle who was about to give an answer:”Wait till we all have gathered”
“Okay?” *What’s going on?*
. Those who arrived instantly noticed the wall and looked at Kyle with questioning eyes but underneath was admiration and awe. Then finally everyone arrived, except Doran who was late like always and so Kyle said:”So you wanted to hear how much strength I have?”
“Yes” the one who gave him the wanted poster answered but he was interrupted by another who said:
“Your Vitality too, please”
“Also your health Points!”
And then all of them crowded Kyle looking at him with anticipation in their eyes.
“Uh, well I will tell you them but only if you promise to keep them secret” Kyle said while blushing because he wasn`t accustomed to be in the center of attraction, normally he would stay at the outside of crowds.
“But what I will tell you are only my strength, health Points and Vitality” and because no one seemed to mind it he continued:”My level you probably know already?”
“Please tell it to us!” one of them said
“hrm, okay so my level is 68, my Strength is at 309, my Vitality is 193 and my Health points are 8932” Kyle said while reading it from his Status window.
After he said those numbers all hell broke loose, some dropped to the ground defeated, while others raised their fists in the air while making happy sounds.
“Ähm, why did you want to know those stats anyway?”
“Ähm, well…..” One of them said while all of them looked quite embarrassed, then they performed a circle and began discussing:” You tell him!”
“No you”
*What the heck is going on?* Kyle thought and then they finally came to a conclusion. Who stepped out of the crowd was the girl who excelled in Trap laying.
*Huh, why did they send out her, are they afraid I will go berserk if I hear the reason and so they send the one which impressed me the most?*
Then she began to speak in a really shy voice while becoming completely red from embarrassment:”Ähm sorry, but we, well ähm where quite wondering about you and…” she um and erred and then she halted while looking at Kyle who just motioned her to continue.
*Did they bet about my stats, and why do they think I will be angry about that?*
After that she began to speak really fast:”well we wondered how you where able to survive all those traps, or how you blocked those logs. So we kind of lost ourselves in speculating and……”
“You made bets about my stats” Kyle concluded now sure of it and when he said that she jerked and asked:”Are you angry?”
“Ha, no way, I am honored, anyway who won?”
All of the trappers just looked at him with wide open eyes and dropped mouths.
“Huh, why so surprised?” Kyle asked
“Well, another group was caught doing the same thing and they were punished with a week of kitchen duty.” One of them explained
“okay so would you tell me what you bet upon and who won?” but this moment Doran entered and so all of them hurried to begin with their duty.
“uhm Kyle, Deltaio wants to see you” he just said before he turned around and left again.
“Wait, Sir, what about training, and why is he summoning me?”
“Training is on hold for now” he answered while heading back to wherever he came from.
After hearing this all the trappers interrupted whatever they were doing and approached Kyle with questioning looks and one asked:”What does that mean, do we have to lay more traps, or is our training also on hold?”
“I don`t know, I will go see Deltaio now and for you, well, just begin laying your traps, with this we won`t do anything wrong”
*damn Doran just tell as the whole story you lazy bum* Kyle thought while he went his way towards the barracks.
And again he knocked on the door to Deltaios office and was greeted by “Come in”
“Sir, why have you requested for me?”
“What hasn`t Doran told you anything, oh that lazy bum, anyway Yesterday all Captains had a improvised meeting to talk about the Smiling Chinese”
*Ugh, now to tell my story*
“Ähm, Sir how may I be of help in that issue?”
“I want you to use your eyes of the judge to find that thief. We can`t put anymore shame on the city guards so we and no one else has to catch him!” the last part was shouted
*Shit he is pissed*
“So what do you expect from me?”
“I will promote you and so you can have your own squad, with them I want you to use all of your time to find that scum!”
“Ähm, but I am in the middle of training” Kyle tried to wind himself out of this mess.
“On Hold” was the short reply
“I also have to do some research about my class in the library; I recently got some hints about it” Kyle tried to persuade Deltaio
“Alright, but only if it doesn`t hinder you from doing your work!”
“Yes Sir!”
“So I want you to be back at 9 o clock then you shall begin with your duty”
“Yes Sir! What about the trap layers, they are still in the mansion and working.”
“Don`t worry Kyle; I will send them a messenger, you just go to the library”
“Yes Sir!” Kyle said before he turned around and exited the office.
*What about Neurons eyes, oh well since he didn`t mention them….*
As soon as Kyle was outside he sent Neuron a whisper
K+”neuron we got Problems!”+
N+”huh, What, why, how”+ Neuron answered confused
K+”Have you been sleeping till now?”+
N+”No, you just startled me”+ he answered rather annoyed
K+”No, but back to topic, Deltaio appointed me with a new mission. I have to catch the smiling Chinese, meaning you!”+
N+”What’s the problem then?”+
K +”I get a whole squad under me so I can`t just pretend that I’m hunting you! I have to do a good job. He is even going so far as to tell that to the public!”+
N+”Ah, hmm”+
K+”And what do we do now!”+
N+”Let me think for a bit! I will whisper you when I got an idea, anyway I heard you get your own squad?”+
K+”Yes and?”+
N+” can you request some people?”+
K+”I guess so, why?”+
N+”Kuahaha, this is great!”+
*What devilish plan has he concocted*
+”Ask Deltaio to place Michael in your squad!”+ he said and then he began laughing maniacally
K+”Neuron you are great! Like this I can keep an eye on him!”+
N+”Happy you like the idea, anyway I am going to think of a conclusion are you free today?”+
K+”Yes I will spend the whole day inside the library”+
N+”Poor you this will be very annoying,”+
K+”I think I will manage, so later”+ Kyle said before he closed the whisper and went back to ask Deltaio.
Once he was inside his office Deltaio asked:”What do you want?”
“I wanted to request a person to join the squadyou want me to lead”
“Oho, have you thought of someone?” Deltaio asked while he leaned forward because he saw a look of mischief on Kyles face.
“Yes, I want to request for Michael as one of my subordinates” he answered while grinning
“Ah I see, nice idea I must say” Deltaio said while he copied Kyle’s smile.
“One question before I begin, could I do what I want during the day, because I think I won`t be able to catch the Smiling Chinese while the sun is shining, he is a night dweller after all.”
“Yes indeed. Good during the day you may do what you want, but when night falls you have to hunt The Smiling Chinese but I want you to use your time to also question those who saw him!”
“Yes Sir!”
*So now that this is cleared I have to get some information about my class. And now that I think about it this new position is a godsend. I can use my new authority to question many people if they know what is going on! I want this quest to be completed rather sooner than later.* Kyle thought while he made his way towards the library.
As soon as he entered he went to the Librarian and asked:”Hello, I am new here so could you tell me where I can find information about ancient Warriors and their classes, If possible also about the history of this country.” Kyle added because he remembered the A rank Quest neuron obtained within Gaber.
“Ah yes, we have them here just look in row 6 room C there we have all the information about our ancient heroes and the Class they obtained. We also have a compendium in which many classes for adventurers are written. About the history, those books you can find in also within Room C.” he pattered.
*What does this Room C mean?*
“Ähm, thanks, but I don`t know what you are talking about!” Kyle asked confused
“just go through that door here then you will understand” was the only answer Kyle got and so he complied. As soon as he went through the aforementioned door he found himself in a long Corridor with many doors. Above each door a character of the Alphabet was painted on the wall and at the right side of each door a sign was mounted listing what could be found in that particular room.
While he passed those rooms Kyle shot Glances at those signs which said: Magic and its usage, Flora and Fauna, Mythology….
*Ah now I get it, so let’s see he said room C row 6 for the classes*
On the sign to room C Stood:
* History of Agakyos
The room Kyle entered was smaller than he imagined, all in all there where 6 rows of shelves which were filled to the brim with books.
As soon as Kyle entered he made his way to row six and there he looked at the back of the books to find something which could interest him. As soon as he found one he pocketed it and after he was satisfied with the amount he found Kyle went to one of the tables right beneath a window and began reading though the huge pile.
*Damn guess I chose too many*
And now Kyle immersed himself in those books when he suddenly got interrupted by a whisper from neuron.
N+”Hey Kyle, I know what to do now!”+
K+”Hnn, what?”+
N+”I won`t break in anymore, or at least I will do it sporadically and without going on big hauls”+
K+”And what about my mission to capture you?”+
N+”I will just give you some other bandits to hunt”+
K+”And how will you do that?”+
N+”Let’s just say that I will be using the fame of the Smiling Chinese to my advantage”+
K+”I see”+
*I hope he won`t get in a big mess*
N+”So you go hunting for bandits within the slum”+
K+”And what shall I say to Deltaio?”+
N+”I am sure you will think of something. Anyway see you later”+ And with that Neuron closed the whisper
*damn you, making it sound so easy, anyway back to reading, this part is interesting*
The sun has long passed her zenith when Kyle’s stomach made a dissatisfied sound.
*Hmm, what time is it now, what already two. damn I was so immersed in reading that I didn`t notice* and so Kyle began to eat a late lunch and while he ate he thought about what he found out.
What he read where many stories about heroes and how they obtained the classes which made them so very special. But no word about a class like Kyle’s. What really startled him was that there were very view ranged classes listed.
“No point brooding over that, maybe I just picked the wrong books the Librarian said something about a compendium of most classes I should just ask him later” Kyle said to himself before he began reading again.
But this time he set himself an alarm so he wouldn`t miss the deadline he gave to the smith.
During the afternoon Neuron sent him a whisper:
N+”Kyle, you free?”+
K+”Yes, what do you want to talk about?”+
N+”I talked with Lucro and….”+ but Kyle interrupted him
K+”What you talked with the underground Boss!?”+
N+”Yes and well, somehow things got out of control and so well Lucro is now going for the kill”+
K+”Neuron tell me the whole story, don`t leave anything out”+ Kyle hissed because he grew more worried with each word Neuron was saying.
N+”Well I talked with Lucro about you and how you are hunting thieves and other lawless guys in this city, so he just well marked you as his prey”+
K+”And this means he has given out a prize for us?”+ Kyle said in a calm voice
N+”Wow you are surely calm about that, anyway I am going to log off before the evening, so later”+
K+”I AM NOT CALM AT ALL!”+ he shouted and then Kyle continued sounding defeated:+”It is just damn why do you always bring me in grave situations”+
N+”No point brooding over that, haven`t I busted you out of any situation I brought you in?”+
*That is true, but i`d prefer that those situations never would have happened*
K+”Do you mean you will help me?”+
N+”No, as I said before I am going to log out to catch a bit of real sleep”+
*Neuron you bastard*
N+”But I am just saying, If I know that someone is hunting me I`d lure him to favorite terrain so that I can defeat him, anyway good luck!”+ he said and turned off the whisper heaving a thinking Kyle behind
*What does he mean by that?* Kyle thought
_______________________________________________________________
Now Kyle stood before the smithy again and went in:”hello, ah its you” the receptionist said as soon as she recognized Kyle:”he is about to finish your armor, just wait a little” she said smiling.
While Kyle sat there waiting he could hear many Beep sounds mixed within the hammering of the smith.
*Guess he isn’t pleased to make me a free armor.* Kyle though smiling and because he had nothing to do he looked around and while doing that he spotted a really well made armor which was placed near the counter. The design on the breast plate reminded him of a roaring Lion.
*This must be one of his best works* Kyle thought while he examined it. Then finally the smith was finished and approached Kyle.
“Here you brat” he said while he tossed him the armor he made.
“Nice thank you it’s a perfect fit!” and because the smith looked rather stunned kyle asked:”What’s the matter?”
And so the smith answered:”Haven`t you checked the stats of this armor?”
“No, I can`t I don`t have the identification skill” Kyle answered truthfully.
“I see, but since it is yours you should be able to” he said with a really anticipating look in his eyes.
*What’s the matter* Kyle thought before he said:”Show Information of the Armor”
Then a system Window appeared before Kyle which left him completely stunned for a while. And while he stood there with his mouth open the Blacksmith began to laugh evilly.
* Scrap Armor
This Armor was made by an experienced Blacksmith. He tried to mix many different Metals together but he failed since he used only scrap Metal. This armor is quite heavy but it somehow fulfills its purpose.
Durability 40/40
Defense 10
Bonus: none
Restrictions:
250 Strength
160 Dexterity
Level 10
Then finally Kyle regained his composure and cried out:”What is this junk!, its Durability and Defense are way too low for the required Stats, and what is this is about level ten!?”
“Yes indeed, you never said that the armor should fit your needs, you only mentioned that you wanted a fitting armor, with the crest of the army on it, I Fulfilled your wish!” He said while suppressing his laughter.
*Oh you…….* Kyle thought and because he somehow had to release his anger at something appropriate he neared the Lion Armor. He decided to name it that because of its design, when the Blacksmith asked:”What, you want to buy tis armor after all” and his tone of voice finally made Kyle snap.
Before the Blacksmith gave this retort Kyle was already thinking about leaving the shop quietly but now he equipped his War hammer coated his right arm with mana and while shouting using his roar of vengeance:”CHEATER!” he brought his Hammer down on the armor with all his force.
After he was finished he just tossed a money bag down before the Blacksmith and said:”here for the repairs” while he left the shop to a Blacksmith who was on his knees holding an armor which looked like a truck passed over it.
While Kyle went his way down the street a completely furious Blacksmith charged after him swing his giant two handed sword while shouting atrocities but Kyle only turned around and looked at him with his eyes of the judge. As soon as he saw those eyes the smith halted while sweating buckets and then he opened his mouth to scream. But Kyle’s hand which covered his mouth was faster and then he whispered into his ear:”I would advise you to confess about how you overpriced all of your works, I think it is better than me telling it to Deltaio….”
Then Kyle turned around and went on his way towards the mansion where he trained while whistling.
When Kyle entered he was greeted by silence *Huh, where is everyone* he thought while he climbed the stairs. On the alcove few traps where placed, but Kyle decided to leave them alone and since he had 2 and a half hours till the meeting with Deltaio he decided to go back to the library, there were still some books left to read.
At nine o clock Kyle entered the barracks and headed towards Deltaios office but before he arrived there he was halted by a soldier
“Kyle, Deltaio waits for you on the training ground”
“Ah thank you I will go there then” Kyle said and then he turned around to do what he said before.
At the training ground he saw many familiar faces which where aligned in neat rows, all in all 24 people.
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*Huh, what are the trappers doing here?*
As soon as they saw him approaching they all got into the attention position *Huh, what’s going on, does that mean they will be my squad?*
“While he thought that a loud voice which belonged to Deltaio echoed through the training ground:”You are late Kyle!”
“Late? I am punctual” after hearing Kyle saying that everyone of those who stood there made a gasp sound.
*Shit, did I make a mistake?*
“Since you are freedman you wouldn`t know, but within the army everyone arrives before the appointed time” said a emotionless voice behind Kyle and then he received a really hard smack on his back of the head.
*What, why is Doran here?* where the only thoughts Kyle had while his head jerked forward due to the power of the smack.
“Good since all are here let me introduce you to your new squad” said Deltaio while he approached Kyle:”I chose them because they trust you and you have worked with them before so now greet them!”
“Ahem, hello my name is Kyle and it seems like I will be your leader” he stuttered. After saying that he could practically feel Doran making a fist and so he tried to dodge but before Doran could use the fist he formed a shout came from the rows of people standing before them.
“What, I refuse to work under that guy! I am the nephew of the brother of the King, I Refuse to work under a dirty commoner like that”
*Michael I guess*
But Deltaio only shouted:”I am your superior here and my orders are absolute, try to complain one more time and I will kick you out of the army!”
“Yes Sir” Michael hissed because he feared what his father would do to him if he got kicked out of the army. His father managed to achieve a high rank after all.
“Good, now I will leave you alone with your squad” Deltaio said before leaving
“Yes Sir!”
As soon as Deltaio left another familiar voice could be heard coming from the people standing before him:”Sir would you mind telling us of your plans so that we can follow them?”
*I see Ardesti is also in here. Thanks Deltaio for choosing only people I am familiar with.*
“Ahem. Deltaio said I should patrol within the rich guys quarters but I have a hunch that our target won’t appear there anyway since he almost got caught the other night. So I thought about hunting small fries before we go for the big fish, which means tonight we will go hunting for thieves within the slum to make our teamwork better.”
“What teamwork, all I can see is a bunch of weaklings!”
*Was it really a good idea to choose Michael?* Kyle thought while sighing a bit.
“Weaklings? They are better in their respective field than you are in yours” answered Kyle:”Anyway, let’s go!” he shouted turning around. Then he halted and said:”Shoot, I totally forgot, I need a shield!”
“Oh is that junk finally broken and by the way why are you realizing only now that you need a shield, are you an idiot!?”
*Calm down, he is just frustrated that he has to serve under me. Neuron what the heck where you thinking proposing that!?* while he thought that many opened their mouths to retort back to Michael but nearly all of the guys from his new squad closed them without saying a word since they were afraid of Michaels status. Only Ardesti and the girl where brave enough to say something back.
The girl said something which sounded like:” Ddon`t talk bad about him” in a really silent voice, but the action counts doesn`t it?
Ardesti instead shouted:”Shut up you good for nothing sleazebag”
“You, you dare say something like that to me, me the…..”
“Yeah I know you are the nephew of the kings brother so what about it?” taunted Ardesti
“Ardesti calm down” Kyle said while again breathing out a sigh.
“Yes Sir!” he said while saluting then he added:”I will bring you a shield Sir!” and with hat he rushed of.
*What the heck, why does he defend me so hard?* Kyle thought because he took it as natural to forgive him. After all his dearest person was being used as a thread against him.
So Kyle couldn`t really be angry with him, and what was even stranger neuron too, since he never cursed him.
But for Ardesti things looked different because anyone within the army would have taken revenge some way or another.
“Sir, here is the shield” he said while he held the shield he brought towards Kyle.
*Wow he is completely out of breath*
“Thank you”
*Hmm, the shield isn`t anything special it gives some low defense and its durability is soso* then he moved his left arm with the shield equipped *It is quite light which could be an dis advantage since I used only heavier shields till now…; well it has to do for now anyway so no point complaining*
In reality Ardesti chose the best shield suited for Kyle he could find which was within the level restriction for Kyle to use. It was only that Kyle was accustomed to the works of Warnton who gave his utmost to make him fitting equipment before they left Gaber. And then there was the Grakin shield which blurred Kyle`s knowledge about shields and their stats. Grakin naturally is a hard metal and so its defense is greater than iron even if Warnton couldn`t make it to the best of his abilities.
“Alright, let’s go to the slum!” Shouted Kyle and began to march and everyone followed.
Before Kyle crossed on of the three bridges leading to the slum he halted a moment
“Okay guys now we enter enemy territory . Who of you has grown up there?” Kyle asked while he pointed over the bridge towards the slum and only three people raised their hands with hesitation, one of them being Ardesti
*Damn so few, like this we can`t divide us in small groups. And so we will only gather attention and there is the fact that we are being targeted. Shit I want to leave*
“Wow you are a reeeeaaaalllly capable leader you know that” someone said sarcastically but Kyle could easily guess who it was that said it
*There he is right* Kyle admitted with hesitation
“We are all going together till we arrive to the middle of the slum, There I will breef you how we continue” Kyle said ignoring Michael.
*Since neuron said favorite terrain I will let them plaster the square with traps* Where kyles plans
*Damn Neuron I am going to have a word with you why did you suggest that? Wait how does Neuron think, he is quick with revenge and retaliation. When he performs them he always goes over the top so why putting a guy like…….So that I can boss him around!* Kyle shouted in his mind when he finally got it. Now that his thoughts were cleared he looked around and what he saw was his squad surrounded by knifes and clubs wielding lowlifes.
“Kyle, Kyle what shall we do now?!” Ardesti asked with a fearful tone.
“What happened?!”
“RUN!” shouted Michael as he dashed into a empty alleyway located at their right then Ardesti shouted.
“Don’t, it is a dead end” but it was too late since everyone turned tail and run after Michael and so only two figures remained outside, Kyle who doesn`t get the situation because he was lost in thoughts while it happened and Ardesti who is trying to explain the situation.
“We were just going our way when suddenly all of them rushed out of those houses”
*Damn this is what Neuron warned me about, hey where are the others?*
“Let’s regroup!” he shouted and then dashed after Ardesti who run into the alleyway where the others went into.
While Kyle followed him a little slower because of his armor he took a look at the alley they run into. It was so narrow that only three people could walk side by side, the houses which sided it all had one story which made it impossible for them to get onto the roofs, then he looked in front and saw everyone grouped together before a house which closed the alley and made it into a dead end.
*Damn the lured us in here* Kyle thought as soon as he saw the situation and so quick thinking out of the box was requested, which sadly was Neurons forte, but Kyle wasn`t stupid either.
The Hoodlums who attacked grouped themselves at the entrance and shouted atrocities to lower the morale of their opponents which sadly worked as Kyle saw many dropping to their knees without retaliating since they weren`t really trained in fighting and never experienced a battle to the death. Only few remained standing and readied their weapons, but also those where shaking.
*Why are they just standing there, don`t tell me* Kyle thought while jerking his head upwards to look at the roofs of the houses and indeed many silhouettes appeared.
*Shit we are sitting ducks!* Kyle thought while he looked around frantically to spot a way out, but sadly he couldn`t find any till he noticed a door, and without much thinking he threw his War hammer with all his force towards it because the door belonged to the house which blocked the alley and he hadn`t the time to navigate through his comrades which didn`t move at all.
“INTO THE HOUSE!” Kyle shouted using his roar of vengeance to startle is opponents and also to shake everyone out of their state of fear. He did that before he even checked if the hammer he threw broke the door open, after all Kyle had confidence in his strength.
Some managed to get over their fear and dashed into the open entrance while dragging their comrades with them. The enemies soon shook off their surprise and either nocked their arrows or charged into the dead end. Kyle tried to protect his men from the arrows .He managed to block quite a few but some managed to pass and nearly each time this was accompanied by a shout of pain.
“Kyle everyone is within the house” someone shouted towards him and so Kyle ducked under his shield and followed through the door.
As soon as Kyle went through the door it was blocked by a huge cupboard which was being used to block the entrance.
“Everyone up into the first floor and lay some traps on them!” Kyle shouted while he pushed against the cupboard with his shield to prevent the assailants form throwing it over to boot he also tried to coat it with mana which sadly didn`t work.
*So I can either coat my body or weapons only, damn* Kyle thought while he felt the bandits attempts to break the improvised blockade.
As soon as he got the message that they where done he moved away from the, already tattered, Wardrobe and turned right while going backwards to the stairs while blocking the way with his shield.
*Okay trappers show me what you are able to* he thought while he made a quick glance towards the stair, which was covered with traps who where sadly only like those they made for their first time, meaning wire traps, because there wasn`t enough time to make something more elaborate.
While he slowly made his way towards the stairs Kyle tried to find his hammer since he was weaponless and no one was so thoughtful to bring it back to him, to say the truth the girls which excelled in trap laying tried to do so but she was unable to lift it.
So Kyle looked around and saw it laying near the wall in direct line from the door But it couldn`t be helped anymore since he was already at the stairs and the room before him was being filled with enemies who managed to flip the wardrobe over since no one was sustaining it anymore. So his only way was to go upwards while of course avoiding the traps, and using his shield to push the enemies back down which proved to be really useful since the ones behind where hit by the falling bodies and toppled over.
When he arrived at the last step he looked around to see how those who run up before him where faring. Some only covered on the ground while fearing for their lives while others stood before the windows and tried to retaliate by either shooting arrows or throwing knifes at those standing on the roofs and those who were trying to enter the house in which Kyle and the others barricaded themselves respectively.
*Like this we will never win* and with that thought in mind he tried to cheer them up a bit.
“Everyone ready your weapons we are going to retaliate now. I will block the stairs so that no one will be able to enter. Those with bows take them and kill those on the roofs! Everyone else stand behind me and do everything to hurt those who try to climb the stairs! We will win!” he shouted at the end using his skill to do so. And those orders worked wonders.
Now a gleam was present in their eyes because they trusted in Kyle since most knew what he was capable of. Only one wasn`t encouraged, and he stayed on the ground shouting:”I don´t wanna die!” this person was Michael.
Those who had bows finally began to use them to shoot down those at the roofs, but the bandits weren`t lazing around either and so many arrows passed the airspace of the alley, fortunately Kyle and his peers had the advantage because they were shooting upwards and also through shutters which stopped most of the arrows shot at them. But some managed to get through, while most of the attackers tried to conquer the stair, but Kyle was a one man stronghold and blocked every attempt to break through his defense. Then they suddenly stopped attacking.
*What the heck is happening?* Kyle asked himself as soon as he noticed it and because he thought of them laying an ambush below for anyone who would try to leave the first floor he stayed up there with his squad.
Sometime later one from the group asked:”Hey, do you smell that?” this remark was followed by many sniffling sounds and then a panic grew loose because the smell was identified as smoke.
“Those Bastards are going to burn down the whole house!” someone shouted in the middle of the forming commotion.
*Damn this is only getting worse* he thought when he saw everyone falling into a state of panic, some even tried to run down the stairs to escape the inferno that would consume the house soon enough, but those where blocked by Kyle.
“Stop, stay here and let me think of something!”
“Are you crazy, let us out already you lowlife” Michael cried out of desperation while he tried to go past Kyle but he only smacked him his backhand in the face.
“Are you crazy?! They are just waiting for us to come out!”
“You bastard, you dare to hit me!? I will show you hell!” Michael shouted laying on the ground and rubbing his red cheek.
*Ähm haven`t I hit him before? No I can`t let him confuse me* Kyle thought when he noticed that the smoke has gotten thicker.
~cough~
*I need to protect me from the smoke*. After he thought that Kyle put a strap of fabric over his mouth he got from the clothes of one of his men, since he wasn`t wearing anything he could rip apart. Kyle was fully armored after all.
*Come on think, think* and while he thought that he looked around frantically to spot a way out and then he remembered something he discarded before,
The doors to both houses adjacent to this one where placed near the wall of the house Kyle and his men were being fumigated. As soon as he noticed that he dashed to one of the walls coating his right fist with mana and then smashing it as hard as he could into the wall while using his charge as an additional power source.
*Come on, please work!* He thought after his fist made contact with the wall and cleanly went through it. Then he pulled it out of the hole he made and looked trough.
*Yes the house adjacent is right there* with that thought in mind he dropped his shield and coated both his fists with mana and while shouting some imprecations using his roaring skill Kyle smashed his fists into the wall repeatedly to widen the hole he made.
As soon as the hole was wide enough Kyle turned around to his subjects and saw them gasping for air while coughing due to the smoke, if Kyle looked more closely he would even be able to see the shine of the fire through the staircase which now got the whole ground floor under control.
Without looking Kyle grabbed two bodies which seemed in dire need of fresh air and threw them through the hole he just made. Those who still had strength helped him recovering everyone.
“Kyle come!” Ardesti shouted because he noticed that Kyle didn`t follow.
“You! Break the wall at the other side of the house and flee! I will hold them all off!” Kyle shouted before he vanished within the smoke.
“Kyle!” Ardesti shouted at him but Kyle didn`t turn around. He just went straight to where he guessed the stairs to be, not before grabbing his shield of course.
~cough~ ~cough~
* You have been intoxicated by smoke
-50% Movement speed
If you don`t breath clean air within 3 Minutes you will become unconscious.
*Damn this had to Happen* And while coughing like crazy Kyle took out the pouch with the lake water and drunk it, because he reasoned that smoke intoxication is just a different form of being poisoned.
And it worked wonders, now Kyle got up because before he drank the water a coughing attack brought him to his knees. Then finally at the stairs he looked down only to see a blazing inferno making its way towards where he was standing.
*Fuck, I`ll die if I go through that!* . So, because he had no other choice Kyle rushed towards a window and just jumped out of it.
The bandits who lighted the remnants of the cupboard on fire where just standing in front of the house watching while the fire first began consuming the cupboard, and then it spread towards the curtains. After them it began consuming the furniture while producing an awful lot of smoke.
After some seconds the bandits could hear some voices shouting and that made them grin because this could only mean that the fire was spotted so they readied their weapons and waited for charred figures which would run out from the door while coughing, in other words easy prey. But nothing like this happened. They just heard a loud bang afterwards but everyone accused the fire then they began laughing because they heard someone swearing.
A minute later they heard another loud sound as if something really heavy fell down. And so they looked to its source and what they saw they would have never dared to dream. It was a fully armored figure with a shield in his left hand which apparently jumped through the window, as soon as he landed the guy tried to grab something at his wrist but apparently it wasn`t there and so the guy just screamed out of frustration.
Then he just turned around and run through the door into the he fire that emanated so much heat that the bandits had to stand in a 10m distance from it.
Then something not even their nightmares could be able to show them happened. The guy who rushed into the house walked casually out of it while now holing a war hammer within his right hand.
“Why isn`t he dead?!” one of the bandits shouted in a panic, after hearing this the figure raised his head and looked at them with eyes that seemed to glow in from deep within. This light was similar to the one of the fire illuminating him from behind, but it was colder than the deepest winter.
Everyone who saw those yes felt shivers running down their spines despite the fire heating the place up. Then the guy produced a roar while pointing towards the bandits with his hammer. This roar seemed to come from a dragon itself:”YOU ARE DEAD!”
After seeing and hearing this the bandits just turned tail and run away while screaming, many even left little puddles behind.
When the fire finally was extinguished the ones who did it noticed tow dents just in front of the house from which the fire apparently was ignited. Those dents where parallel to each other and pointed to the entrance of the alley. Then finally someone voiced what everyone was thinking:”Don`t they look like foot imprints?”
After this all happened the legend of Kyle being a devil contracted by Deltaio to destroy any evil made its way around the slum and then it also reached the ears of Deltaio, who just leaned back after hearing them while smiling. *Yes was truly was the right one for the job*
But Kyle was oblivious to the fact because he logged out after he confirmed that all members of his squad where alright.
Before he logged out he looked at the system message which popped up while he was intimidating the bandits, he discarded it since he had more important things to look out for.
* +1% Fire Resistance
End Chapter 39