Chapter 37
Widespread
A few days later
Afternoon
Elesis's PoV
Days pasted and we still have no idea were those missing people went. We are not even sure if they are even alive or not. People are starting to leave since they worry that they can be the next victims.
People were leaving with the Red Knights that arrived recently along with Lowe. But these guys are cocky for no reason honestly. Disrespecting Elsword and his group since they weren't among their ranks. Even after all they did and still no respect, but they respect me since I'm higher than all them.
They tried to wave us off, saying they had everything under control and we should head home, but we all, well most of us come from Ruben so this involves us either way.
Me, Els l, and Lowe were inside a hotel Lowe waa using for the time being. He had changed after all these years. He had longer silver hair with a small stubble. He also wore actual armor and even got buffer. Guess returning to the Red Knights did him so favors.
"I still can't believe I'm looking at little Elsword." He said messing up Elsword's hair. "I can say the same." Elsword retorted and Lowe glared at him childishly. "Yea he was pretty slim back then huh" i say.
"Ahem." He gets all our attention. "We may have found who maybe responsible behind all these attacks." He says and pulls out a poster from his satchel.
He laid it on the table. It was a painting of a large man with black wavy hair and black assassin armor. "His name is Kain. His origins are still somewhat unkmown, all we have is that he came from the western continent." Lowe says making the poster more flat to view.
"Any particular motives?" Elsword asked. "He is essentially a treasure hunter and hitman." Lowe answers. "He also has his own subordinates and an army of bandits." Oh great, more troubles.
"He may have been hired by another person to come here, but that can be unlikely." Elsword sighs and leans back into the chair. "We have a search on the job so it shouldn't take long to find anything." He assures but we are a bit skeptical.
The Red Knights are good, but can be pretty dumb sometimes. They are no Black Steel soldiers.
Night
I was laying in my room in shorts and a white shirt. Aisha and Eve went out to go do, something i guess. I heard a knock and the door opened. It was Rena in a simple white short dress. "Hey." She smiled and wave. "Yo. need something?" I asked.
She played with her fingers a bit and finally spoke up. "Can we walk together." Huh? with me? "Not to be rude but what about Els?" I asked her. "It feels like we don't really talk." She answers. hmmmm, i guess i can go.
Wally's Memorial Bridge
We walked around the bridge while Rena talked about her adventures with Els and Ai. Alot of crazy stuff happened huh, it still amazes me even after hearing it again.
"Tentacle monsters, giant rats, and weird rocks huh? wish i stayed." I laughed with her. "But all that adventuring really make Els into a fine man i would say. He will be much more reliable this time arou-" I see something.
Just below the bridge, was a torch. It was moving along side the bridge and stopped. "They sound...familiar.." Rena said in a whisper. "Ally or enemy." I asked and she shakes her head. "Not sure, i need to see their face." I nod and watched them a while longer.
They seemed to be struggling with something. The made gestures and quickly left. "Lets go." Rena nods and we track the two.
They were in quite the hurry while keeping their presence hidden. They burnt out the torch from earlier so i have to rely on Rena's incredible hearing.
Shadow Forest
The stopped moving and turned to face our direction. Me and Rena immediately stopped and hid in the trees. "Tch, we were careless for once." The smaller one said. "Cmon out, we aren't stupid ya know." The bigger one said.
We came out the bushes and stared at them. "! that hair!" The smaller one said. "Hey, have we met. before?" The other said and they stared down at Rena. "Who are- wait Uool and Illy?" Rena asked making a scowl.
"Huh, ya know us?" They took off their cloaks. They must be some kind of higher tier bandits or assassin and warrior. "Heh, now i remember, back when we worked for Wally, i know three was three of you runts." Uool said.
"Yea." Illy eyed me down. "I know the red head was a boy, but hey this ones hot." He grins like some old pervert. "Well we gotta take em out since they saw us. Those Red Knights can be a pain in numbers." Uool took out his large black sword and Illy took out his dual red swords.
They charged at us and me and Rena both jumped up. Rena materialized a green bow, heh impressive. I swung my arm down and created an energy sword.
I landed on a tree and Uool charged at me with his sword ready. "Guess I'm on you." I jumped at him and we clashed. "Heh, i don't mind that all." Ew... and his breath stinks.
I push him off and swung my energy sword horizontally creating an energy wave. "RAAAA!" He swung his sword down cutting it in two. "Heh, enchanted swords are always a pain." I say with a smirk.
3rd PoV
With Elesis
Uool thrust his blade forward. Elesis blocked it, but the sheer force of his strike made her fly into a tree. He jumped up and swung down causing a large shockwave.
Elesis came rolling out the smoke and swung her blade in ark. Uool was quick to react and block the attack. He parried her attack and tried to slash her but she evaded in time.
"OOOOHH!" He came at her like Bull and jumped up. He swung his blade down on her and she blocked it. The ground below her cracked at the pressure and her energy sword began to crack.
"Get off me!" She slide him off and jumped away. She slid her hand along the blade restoring it and charged again.
With Rena
Illy was somewhat having a hard time trying to hit Rena. She had lightning fast reflexes with sharp and accurate shots. Her energy bow could also block his sword slashes which was fortunate since since his blades had been dipped in poison.
"Fight me!" Illy tool out his cross bow and shot a nearby tree Rena was in. She already took off firing arrows at him. He blocked them but they caused an explosion on impact covering him in a dust cloud.
"Freeze." She said and fired a frozen arrow. The arrow hit the ground and froze in block solid. "There you are!" Illy said in the air. He had jumped in time and finally located her.
He jumped onto the tree tops and charged to her. Rena spun her bow and blocked his attacks. "Els is way better swordsman than you. It would be disrespectful to him and Elesis if i lost to you." She pushed him off.
"Vibe shot." Her arrow became an orb of nature energy and fired it at Illy. Illy tried to slash it but it fazed through and into his body. "Wha-!!" He felt his organs bones shake and vibrate. He dropped down and began coughing out blood.
"Wha...did...yo..u...do.." He mustered and Rena stood over him. "Don't worry about it." She said and licked him into to tree. "Your dead anyway." She charged her bow but then felt something at her side.
She jumped away from Uool's downward slash. She jumped over to Elesis and they both stared Uool and Illy down. "Damn you" Uool cursed and held his sword in a close right sword stance.
"We...gotta move..." Illy said slowly getting up. "Tch, right." Uool said and grabbed Illya and put him over his shoulder. "Not gonna be that easy!" Rena said drawing her arrows. "We are prepared..." Illy said and threw a smoke grenade at the same time Rena shot her arrows.
The smoke covered them all and Elesis charged in but saw them already gone. "How is that even..." Rena said looking around. "Not sure but lets hurry back and tell what we found." Elesis said and Rena nod and they began to go back to the city.
With Uool and Illy
Banthus Cave
Uool set Illy down on the floor. His body was still twitching from Rena's earlier attack but it was going down now. "Tch, didn't see that coming." Illy said getting up slowly.
"Now they will know." Uool said punching a wall. "No, we still have some advantages. If we can just find it..." Illy put his hand on his chin. "I'm starting to think we may not. What if it was destroyed in the collapse." Uool said.
"Hmph, We will, trust me." Illy said. They heard a sound behind them and they both turned around. "Look at you two." Kain came out of the shadows of the cave seizing up the both of them.
He had a large bag over his shoulder. "What." Uool said rudely. "I grown tired of your waiting and slow process. I'm doing this my way now." Illy narrowed his eyes under his mask. "And how do you plan to do that." He said and Kain smirked.
"Charges." He said simply. He pulled out a small black box with red runic letters on it. "What happens if we cave it in more?!" Illy shouted. "Relax, it won't do that much." He said smiling at the box.
"With several of these. Ill be able to rob this city. While everyone is in panic, i will have my subordinates rob all the houses. That way, we will money AND power." He finishes.
"When we get down there we won't need money." Illy scoffed. "Tch, suit yourself. Anyhow. I want you to go set these charges around the castle. and inside the cave." Kain put the black box inside the bag and threw it to Uool.
"There about 15 of those o make em count. I have things to go take care of." He leaves with wave. "How is gonna work." Uool says with frown.
"Damn that wally, why did he have to bury it underground." Illy cursed. "Lets go and get this taken care of."
Elder
Guild Hall
The team were all at a round table. Elesis and Rena explained what happened to them. "Those two huh. Tch annoying to deal with." Aisha said with a frown. "We should go to shadow forest tomorrow. Check out that cave again." Raven suggested.
"Yea, there can't be anywhere else they could have gone. We will report this to the knights later." Elsword said getting up. "Lets sleep. Goodnight." Elsword yawned. Everyone did as well and turned in for the night.
The Next Day
Eve's PoV
"Seems word already got out huh." Me and Elsword was walking around the city. The Red Knights were already stationed at every corner. They finally began to take the problem seriously.
"It seems they are now on edge. I hear they are more adamant about those missing villagers." Elsword nods. "Too bad we can't join just yet. Seems Lowe wants to take this on himself." Ah Lowe that white haired man. He is strange.
"Lets take a break." Elsword suggests. "I am perfectly fine." He chuckles a bit. "Lets sit back and enjoy the weather for today." He sits on the bench and pats the seat next to him. Might as well.
I sat down and he sighs. "I wonder Eve, what can you do now." He asks me. "Are you questioning my use?" Is he doubting me? i saw this appear a few times in the books Aisha lent me before.
"No, like what new powers you have now. You changed all over these two years. You never told-" I placed my hand on his mouth. "How about we wait and see when." I stare into his eyes. His eyes were a deep red, it was strange as no one bit Elesis had this eye color.
"Alright then." He said with a smile. I removed my hand and turned forward. "Elsword...i would like to thank you..." I say. I feel as if i have properly thanked him, as it in humans culture and standards.
"Why are you thanking me?" He asked looking at me. I didn't turn to him. "I'm just saying it." I say and leans closer. "You sure?". "Positive.". "Just out of the blue?". "I do not know what that means but yes." He scratches his head with a unreadable expression.
"Elsword, tell me." I look at him. "What happened to the boy, Add." Elsword face became stern. "When we got out, he was the last one to come. He said something about our paths meeting again. I don't think he's even on the continent anymore." He said.
"Well that is one less problem. I sit straight. "What is armor from." I asked him. He holds up his armored hand. "It was made from a different region in Henir, Luto crafted for me." It has a very peculiar design.
"Hey guys." Raven walked up to us. "Hey, anything?" Raven shakes his head. "It seems that Lowe doesn't want us involved." Raven said and Elsword sighed. "Where's everyone else." He asked.
"Elesis is still with the knights. She was also calling for you Eve for some kind of planning. Rena, Aisha and Ara are...somewhere". He scratches his hair. "I shall take my leave then." I get up, nod to them and leave.
Afternoon
Raven's PoV
Elsword was mediating so i left to his himself for now. I wandered outside the city getting pass the guards. They were adamant about not letting anyone leave but i don't care honestly.
I sat at the rim of the bridge and looked down at the river. It was quite peaceful. Hard to believe bandits come here. My mechanical arm. It is much stronger now and is one of its kind now instead of prototype.
I need a new sword however. The blade i have now is just fine, but it was given to me by Velder. I have no resentment to them, but i feel as if i should own my own blade to truly call mine.
Some time pasted and i felt a tap on my shoulder. It was that woman from before. She leaned on my back. "So many knights around here jeez." Oh great she is going to complain.
"I don't feel like dealing with a baby." I tell her and try and push her off. She instead pushes me over the rail and i land...right in the water.
"Why..." Why would anyone do this. "I'm not a baby, i came here to give you a hint." She says jumping down. i get out the water and take off my coat. "What is it." She takes off her hood and, she was just as beautiful as it thought she would have been one i caught a glimpse of her. before.
"Those people may die, so you have to hurry. Tomorrow meet me in the shadow forest with your friends. I found the hostages but i fear they may be going to drastic measures soon." She says. She stares at me before smiling. "You like?" She puts her hand on her cheek.
"Ok we will be there." I say turning away. "Aww c'mon don't be that way if you like toppings wait until you see the rest if this-" I cut her off with my human hand. "I get it i get." She mumbles something and pouts. Why is she being so overly familiar.
"Be there!" She shouts one last time and pits back on her hood and leaves. Well that happened.
That Night
That Night I told everyone we should head to the forest again. "The knights will stop us." Eve says. "Someone told me where the kidnaps may be and the bandits are planning something big." Everyone practically raised their eyebrows in unison.
"Who." Elesis asked. "I'm not sure myself...But we have to go to the forest tomorrow." Everyone gave complicated looks. I dont blame them them, not much to build on from what i said.
"Fine, we get past the guards and explore the forest." Elesis concluded. She looked to Elsword and he nods.
What do that person have in mind.
3rd PoV
Uool and Illy were done setting the charges. They had to kill a few knights to stay hidden but it was nothing they could not have handled. They went back to the cave and set the charges around the hostage cell.
"With this, we are done." Illy said exhausted. "Lets go sleep." Uool dragged himself out the cave. "Lets sleep in the forest, if anything comes, we kill it." Illy said and Uool nods.
The next Day
Aisha's PoV
We made it to the shadow forest and began our search. The place was still dark even though it was noon.
All kind of plants were here. Eve was very interested in them since she would take a part of them and give it to Moby and Remy to hold onto.
"Quite interesting." Yea that's what you said about the last one..Well as long she doesn't give blank stares and enjoy herself I'm ok. She is a nasod so she has immunity to like everything biological.
We wondered around the forest for a while not finding anything. We search the forest first then we go to the cave again. "Heeeey." Who the- oh..
Someone was in the trees. They had a dark brown cloak in with a hood. "Who are you?" They came down in front of us. "Girls like you shouldn't be wandering the forest you know." Its a woman. "We can handle ourselves." Eve said. Agreed, what's gonna happen, a tree comes to life? we've seen worse.
"Well if you say so." She says. I know so. "Do you know of any bandit activity around this area." Eve asked and they hummed. "I mean, i can help you." She says and nods to herself.
She lead us around the forest to the cave. We saw some Red Knights around but she seemed to have wanted to steer clear of them. We met with Raven, Rena and Elesis. Raven eyes widen when he saw the woman and she chuckled when she saw him as well.
"c'mon in." She guided us inside. It was just a plain cave. Nothing specail and didn't even go in far. "Nothing is here." Eve is always so blunt. "Yea, but if we did this~" She kicked the wall ahead of us and it broke down. It lead deeper huh?
"How did you know?" Elesis asked. "This place was raided a few years ago by mercenaries and Guards." Huh so they finally got rid of them but not all of them.
We headed in and followed her until she told us to hide and listen. Drilling, lots of drilling. It was low but the sound was there. "Drillers?" Raven asked. "Think its nasods?" i asked Eve and she nods. "Must be."
We sneaked in further and confirmed our suspicions. Black and grey nasods were drilling a tunnel. Some were carrying rocks and rubbish. Seems like they are tunneling but to where?
"So what now." Rena asked. "Take them out." The person said. "Before we fight, who are you exactly." I asked her and she took off her hood.
She had curly long blonde hair with green eyes. What stuck out the moat however, were her ears. "Your...a.." An elf? but i though- "C'mon ill tell later." She jumps up and charges. "Well she better..." Rena summoned her bow and charged with everyone.
3rd PoV
With Ara
In another area of the forest, Ara was fighting enraged forest spirits along with the guardian of forest, Ent.
She was being swarmed with tentacles and magical projectiles. She also could not deal fatal damage to Ent, as he would use the spirits around him to heal his injures.
"Storm!" Ara spun her spear, creating a energy storm around her. She charged at Ent with her claws out and tore off his arm with one swipe. The spirits jumped to action as they glowed and entered Ent's arm and made it grow back.
"Eun, what can i do." Ara asked. (Seems that even if we take out those spirits, more and more will come making this endless.) Eun rationalized. Even if they could, these were forest spirits, they came from the plants of the forest and can return as many times unless the forest was destroyed.
(Someone comes. Oh how lucky you are~) Ara looked up at the energy she sensed suddenly. Elsword came from the trees and cut a clean cut off of Ent's lower body.
He fell down and the spirits tried to restore him but couldn't, something was blocking them to getting inside Ent. "Burn out." Elsword made a hand sign with his hand and fired a fire ball from his mouth and consumed Ent in it.
"You made that look easy." Ara smiled at him. "You were just too cautious." He said with a smirk. "Ah yes, I'm sorry." She slightly bowed her head. "Ah you don't have to-!" They both jumped away from a bomb that was thrown.
They came down and looked ahead and saw Uool and illy. Elsword scoffed and raised his sword. "Didn't think i would have met you this soon huh." Illy and Uool laughed and drew their weapons.
"I knew the red head was here." Uool said grinning under his mask. Uool charged at Elsword and swung his sword down. Elsword jumped back to evade the attack and swung his sword horizontally.
Uool blocked the attack and shoulder charge him into a tree. Illy took out his crossbow and shot bolts at Ara, who just deflected them. "Summon." She spins her spear behind her and several ki spears form behind her aimed at Illy.
Illy jumped up to avoid the spears, but was still grazed by them due to their speed and sharpness. He jumped in the air and drew his twin swords and came down at Ara. "RAAAAAA!" Illy began a full on barrage of strikes but was being parried by Ara.
Uool tried to grab Elsword's sword but found the weight to be unbearable. "Bad move." Elsword pulled the blade from Uool's grasp, cutting Uool's palms and slicing his shoulder. Blood gushed as Uool's eyes widened at how his armor was cut so easily.
Elsword kicked him away and ran over to Ara to assist. Ara parried Illy's last attack and clawed his chest. She ducked under for Elsword to come through and punch him away.
"Did you guys even train..." Elsword swung his sword on his back. "Shut up boy..." Illy got up slowly on his feet. Uool also came back to his side. A beeping sound then came on and Illy looked at his wrist. "Damn! the cave!" Uool began to sprint back to the cave while Illy shot more bolts at them.
Uool and Illy were running back to the cave with Ara and Elsword on their trail. Ara had turned over to Eun for better mobility in the forest. Illy could only fire bolts at them in hopes of slowing them down. "Damn, how could this have happened!" Illy cursed.
Banthus Cave
Uool and Illy ran into the cave and found that many of the bandits and nasod workers were dead on the ground. "Uool, take care of them, ill go." Illy rushed ahead. Uool drew his sword and went into a his sword stance.
Elsword and Eun stopped in fornt of Uool. "Your the defence? you will die you know." Elsword warned glaring at him. "Heh, I'm tougher than i look." Eun laughed at his statement. "You? you wouldn't win even if both of you were to be present." She spun her spear and pointed it at Uool. "Come."
With Rena and Aisha.
Rena, Aisha, Raven, Eve, Elesis, and Amelia were walking in underground rooms. "Here they are." Amelia says and kicks open an iron door.
The iron door revealed familiar faces to Aisha, Rena and Elesis. "Ann! Hagus!" Rena cheered. "You guys!" They ran over to the crew. "Finally. Free." Some Elves said in relief. "Why did they kidnap you guys?" Raven asked. "I believe as some sort of plan." a young man said.
"I believe there is something on the other side of this cell." Hagus said. "Lets check it out." Rena said. She and Aisha went out and looked in the other room. The broke down the door and saw it was a simple room with some boxes but one thing stood out.
A small black box with red runic letters. "Hey Eve!" Aisha called out. "Yes." Eve came and Aisha gave her the box. "What is it?" She asked and Eve began scanning the box. The box began glowing and Eve eyes widened. "Its-" A large explosion occurred inside the cave.
Large explosions were occurring all around the city at Wally's old Castle. Everyone tis in panic and tries to run away from what was happening. Animals that were hiding was running all over the forest in panic and shock.
In the city, Wally's Castle was destroyed and was now a large hole. Kain was on a building looking over the city as it was now in a large scale panic. "Now boys le-" He heard strange sounds and looked down and his eyes widened.
Nasods, began climbing out of the hole with some even flying out. "What?!" The nasods began destroying buildings and attacking the people.
The knights sprang forth to protect the people and fight the nasods. Kain stood on the building with his small bandit group awaiting orders. He clenches his fist and teeth.
"Tch, this is quite the predicament..."
An
Sorry this was so late.
Was very busy so i was kinda writing on small segments each day.
I feel this chapter was rushed and feel free to tell me.
Enjoy your day and or night.