Chương 172: Chapter 160-Chosen Fear

Fear. I've felt it hundreds of times before. The first night after I left Ashfall was… A night I won't ever forget. Two Humans found me sleeping behind a dumpster. They were drunk. At least I think they were. It was a blur. What I do remember is that they beat me until I woke up and kept beating me until I fell unconscious again. I didn't understand what I had done wrong. I asked them to stop, but they only hit harder. I barely understood them at all, but I could feel it. What they beat into me. Their anger.

The fear from Ashfall had already scarred me down to my soul, but that beating taught me what it meant to be close to death. It's honestly a miracle that I made it out of that with only a broken leg and fractured skull. I didn't understand why they did that then, but now I do. They saw someone weaker than them. A child who nobody would even glance at. They saw an opportunity to be cruel. To be the worst versions of themselves, and they took it.

Looking at the ruins of the bakery, I grip The Chosen Blade with determination. Pushing past the broken glass and shattered door, I search the area. Carina has to be here. There's no other place she could be.

"CJ, are you sure you're ready for this? This is the man who killed your Mother. He's not the Prideborn, but he'll try to get under your skin," Blue says with a worried tone.

"And he will, but I'm ready for that. I just have to follow the plan," I say with a smile.

"Do you actually have a plan, or are you doing this by ear?" Yellow asks with a hint of disapproval.

"What do you think? Of course I…" I stop as my gaze lands on the blood-stained wood.

"Killing someone is no simple matter. Even in the North, where death is considered a part of our way of life. CJ, you had no other choice. He was going to kill an innocent. You are not at fault here," Blue says. The sound of The Chosen Blade sinking into Edward echoes through my mind.

"There's always a choice, and I made the easy one." Reaching past the bloodstained floorboard, I pick up a hidden handle. The floor lifts up to reveal a set of steps that lead down to the basement. Following the now dried blood, I eventually enter the dimly lit room. A woman with dark brown skin, black hair, and red eyes is strapped to a chair in the middle.

"Carina?" I ask as I step towards her.

"Carlos?" she asks as her head bobs groggily. With haste, I cut her bindings and give her a once-over. She doesn't seem to be hurt other than the marks from the rope. They've obviously drugged her, but even that's wearing off.

"Yeah. It's me. Can you stand? We need to get out of here."

"They did something to me," she says as she slowly paws at her back. Lifting up her shirt, I find a magic circle carved into her back.

"Bear with me. I'm not great with magic," I say as I try to read the runes. This one is the timer. Ten minutes? This must be what Prideborn was talking about. Okay, how do I turn it off? A flood of information rushes through my mind. Okay, this is good. I actually paid attention during that lesson. Let's see. Where is the initiator rune? Scale rune, power rune, initiator rune, mana rune- Initiator rune!

Okay, now I just need to push in enough mana to break up the rune, and then we'll be- A sudden pang of danger comes from upstairs. Grabbing Carina, we barely dodge as a spear stabs through the roof and right into where my head was.

"Hello, again. My Little Red-Eyed Devil. I hope you're fairing well," Alexander says from up above.

"If it isn't the Lap Dog. What, your master finally let you off your leash?" I [Taunt] as I quietly force some mana into the initiator rune. The floorboards creak above me as multiple people move around. Of course he didn't come alone. I'm counting maybe three or four Purists and Alexander. I doubt he brought some random Purists either. This isn't looking good.

"You laugh now, but I wonder if you'll be laughing when I burn you like your mother," he says with an almost audible smile. The initiator rune disperses as I catch my breath. Don't let him get under your skin. The now fully awake Carina blinks in my direction.

"Carlos? What are we going to do?" she asks in a hushed whisper.

"I'm going to create an opening. You need to take that opening and run to the Cathedral. Tell them I sent you. They'll keep you safe," I explain as I push the Leech Dagger into my palm.

"What about you?" she asks as I hand her my cloak.

"Don't worry about me. I have a plan," I say with a devilish smile. The stairs creak. Without hesitation, I [Throw] The Chosen Blade at the spear-wielding Purist. He screams out in pain as he tumbles down the stairs. Rushing towards the exit, I grab the spear. Using the stabbed Purists as a jumping-off point, I fly up the flight of stairs. A pang of danger comes from behind me. Using the spear, I block the incoming sword.

"How unsophisticated," Alexander says as he watches from the side. Catching a reflection in the sword, I see an archer behind me. Pushing off the Sword Purist, I barely dodge as the arrow sinks into the ground.

"Carina, now!" I yell as I [Throw] the spear straight through the bow and into the Archer's hand, pinning him to the wall. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Carina rushes up the stairs and beelines it for outside. At the same time, the Spearman who fell down the stairs climbs out and tries to pull out The Chosen Blade from his thigh. A spark of energy crackles from the blade. He screams in agony as he is frozen stiff.

"Sorry, only Chosen Ones can wield it," I [Lie] as I pull the blade out of his thigh, kicking him back as I do. The moment I step back, two sword-wielding Purists go to attack me at the same time. With a simple Parry, I block one, but the other cuts into my side before I can fully move away.

"Getting sloppy already? Your mother lasted longer than this," Alexander taunts me as he stands there, his blade not even drawn. Drawing Stabby, I duelwield my two swords. The clanging of metal against metal fills the bakery as I match the Purists blow for blow. In the middle of parrying, I sense danger from behind. Letting go mid-swing, I [Throw] The Chosen Blade straight into the shoulder of the Archer who got free from his previous impalement. The sword I was going to block comes crashing down on my neck.

Tilting my head, I'm barely able to catch it with my horn.

"Admirable block, but you seemed to have forgotten someone," Alexander reminds me. Looking back, I barely catch a glimpse of the silver of the blade as it goes into my back. The one I stabbed in the thigh! He got back up again!? With my free hand, I [Throw] my Leech Dagger into his eye. He screams in pain as he tears his sword out of my back. Blood spills everywhere as I struggle to stay standing. The sword-wielding Purists back off as I hold my sides.

"It's interesting, isn't it? You bleed red instead of black. Vashrins bleed black. You look like a Vashrin, but aren't one fully. For a second I thought you might be deserving of my mercy, but have you noticed?" he asks as I wobble to my left.

"Notice what you fucking asshole?"

"Your eyes. They have a tinge of purple. It seems even being only half a Vashrin is too much. A real shame."

"Fuck off. I'm not going to go psycho," I say as the archer pulls his shoulder out of The Chosen Blade.

"That's what they all say. Don't hurt me. I haven't done anything. I have a family. The thing is, your kind will always be a threat. You'll always fall to [Level Mania]. You're a scourge upon this God-given world of ours," he says with a cold, methodical tone. With a weak nod, I pretend to fall. Rolling into the fall, I grab the Archer and slam him into the wall. At the same time, I grab The Chosen Blade and book it. Running on pure adrenaline, I weave through the back alleys. The way I am now, I won't get far.

They'll catch up to me, and I'll truly know the meaning of death. Luckily for me, I don't have to go far.

"There's nowhere for you to go. Not with an injury like that. Trust me. I've seen plenty die from that in minutes. You aren't any different," he says as his voice grows closer. Focusing my blurry vision, I spot the doors I was looking for. Pushing myself as far as I can go, I crash through the doors. I'll have to [Gamble] everything on this working. Every bit of mana. Now lying on the floor, I look up as Alexander and two of his Purists enter the room.

"You disappoint me, my Little Red-Eyed Devil. I thought you would put up far more of a fight. Kill him," he orders with a scowl. Lying on the floor, I look over at the damage they've taken.

"Before you kill me. I want to ask you something. You owe me that much, Alexander." Alexander stops midstride.

"I suppose I do. After all we've been through so much together."

"You spout on and on about how I'm a stain on this world, but you're working for a Demon. Don't you think you're a hypocrite?" Alexander cracks a smile.

"I suppose your small mind would see it like that. As far as I'm concerned, you are the biggest threat to the greater good. The Prideborn is a foolish tool that can be controlled. A tool that I will use against your rot, but do not worry. Once I've dealt with you, I'll take care of the Demon."

"Your pride knows no bounds, but you've forgotten something. Carina will tell the Empire the truth about what you did to Ashfall, to my mother, and all those people," I say loud and clear. Cackling laughter echoes out from Alexander's body.

"You think one woman's word will be enough to ruin me. I'm Alexander Argent. The next Headmaster of Sylvian University. I own your sniveling nobility. The Emperor is wrapped around my word. Even the church can not touch me. You sacrificed your life for nothing. Just like your mother. She fought us. With her very last breath, she fought. Yet in the end it was my blade that cut her down and threw her on that pile to be burned." My face is cast in shadow.

"I… I… I can't believe you're so stupid," I [Taunt] as my wounds begin to close and a rush of mana washes through me.

"How are you doing that?" he asks in disbelief.

"You would think that a leader of the Purists would be more careful not to confess their crimes," I say as I look around with ease.

"What are you speaking of?"

"Welcome to the Food Bank. There has been a string of robberies, so the staff spent a good amount of their budget on a new security system. It has visual and audio," I say with a devilish smile.

"You have laughed enough. Kill him and destroy the security system," Alexander says as he looks at me with anger in his eyes.

"Are you sure about that? I think these guys might have something else to say." The front doors burst open as a contingent of guards comes bulldozing in.

"In the name of the crown, Freeze!"

"What amazing timing. Almost as if it was planned. Arrest them," I say as Alexander stares me down.

"The charges won't stick. I'll be free before long," he says as the guards swiftly disarm the Purists. With a hefty swing, I punch the living daylights out of him as he crumples to the ground like the old man he truly is.

"Don't worry. It's the word of Alexander Argent. Don't you know who he is?" I [Taunt] as I collapse on one of the chairs. Fucking hell. That one was close. I've got to thank Kat for doing so much crime in this part of the city. Otherwise their response time would have been a tad bit late. I wonder how the others are doing? +1 CHA +2 CON +2 INT Skill <Throw> has Leveled Up Skill <Gamble> has Leveled Up