Chapter 2

Deadly threat

Puss were riding towards bandit camp. The lizard named Garo had some more information about this guy called El Diablo Blanco. It seems that he is dangerous. But why there is no information about him? How can it be that Puss haven't heard that name anywhere? And he was in a whole bunch of places. Lots of cities, towns, taverns, lots of criminals he fought and no one ever used that name. Is he some fresh blood in world of crime?

He was fighting those thoughts as he approached the camp. It was late afternoon. Puss left Babienca by the water tub and went to find those headhunters. What he saw was a complete mobilization. Everyone in a camp was moving around with different kind of equipment. Some tents, camp stuff, food, weapons. It looks like they are leaving for a little longer than few days.

Puss looked around. He noticed some lizard with leather vest and a sword by his side. What's surprising is that the lizard was the same high as Puss. Feline approached a reptile.

-"You're looking for sss-something?" - Lizard said harshly as he noticed a guest.

-"Hello. I am indeed." - Puss didn't know how to react to such cold welcome

-"Then you are in wrong place-sss. There's-sss nothing to sss-see here." - Reptile's eyes were cold as his voice. He could kill with his stare. - "You sss-should leave." - Puss felt a little of fear. He usually gets angry and fight such guys but this one wasn't joking. He was a killing machine ready to get rid of anyone who opposed him.

-"Hey, easy Tongue!" - There was a voice behind him. - "This guy is here to help. Am i wright?"

Puss turned around and saw a man he was looking for. Or so he assumed. A Komodo dragon was standing in front of him. A massive lizard taller from Puss by a head was armed with various blades. He also wore a leather vest but he had a three belts. One on his weist and two running acros his torso making an X on his chest. He had two swords by his sides and lots of different knives on his chest. He also had a small crossbow on his back.

The smaller lizard looked at his boss. He just hissed and turned around walking away.

-"Don't worry about him. He doesn't like intruders." - Said the large reptile. - "I'm Garo"

-"It is nice to meet you Garo. I am Puss in Boots." - Puss shook Garo's hand. Despite his size the lizard was pretty friendly. Excluding all his blades.

-"Ah yes. I've heard about you. You are a good fighter"

-"Hehe, yes. I am best swordsman in whole region"

-"Well I doubt that. You see we're after a man who could defeat you without noticing you were fighting him."

-"El Diablo Blanco."

-"So you've heard about him?"

-"I just learned that he even exist. I came here to get some information about him. There was none in the wanted poster. No face, no guilt, just a name."

-"He isn't someone you can describe." - Garo said after a moment of silence.

-"Just try. I must know if he can be a threat."

-"Oh he is. And he is deadly one. He possesed the Eye of Shadows. It allows to cast illusions with just single eye contact. But it's cost is huge. To be able to use it you must spill a lot of blood."

-"So anyone can unlock such eye?"

-"No, it's not skill. It's an artifact. But without a blood sacrifice it's just a glass ball with no effect." - Puss were listening with concern.

-"It's not the worst." - Garo continued - "After a sacrifice you can do simple illusions that effects one person. But El Diablo Blanco wanted more. To gain power he was travelling across the country and killing random people. No one even knew that someone was killed. And finally he decided to make a huge progress. He slaughtered a whole city. He befriended it's citiezens and then he just murdered everyone making leaving bloody mess behind him. Even children payed for his lust of power."

-"Children? Killed just like that?" - Puss were looking in front of him with sadness and anger. He will make this Devil pay for what he had done.

-"How he looks like?"

-"When I first fought him he has just activated the Eye. It was a tall white fox with long spiky hair covering his back. I don't know if it's because of the power he possesed but his eyes were bloody red. Also he had a scar over his left eye going down. But right now he can be anybody. He can change his appearence as he likes."

-"You have fought him?"

-"Yeah. He left me this suvenir." - With that Garo uncovered his right shoulder. A nasty scar were going along his body. The strike almost cut off lizards arm.

-"It reminds me to not underestimate him."

-"Wow. That looks really bad"

-"That's nothing compared to wounds I saw on his victims. I can assure you that he won't just kill you. He will make sure that there's no life in every inch of your body"

Puss was terrified. A prospect that this monster comes to San Lorenzo was horrifying. He must stop this mad man before someone in San Lorenzo get hurt.

Meanwhile in San Lorenzo:

-"You what?!" - Pajuna exclaimed. Few customers looked at two females talking by the bar table.

-"Shhh. Keep it down" - Dulcinea tried to calm down her friend. - "I don't want anyone to know that yet."

-"What about Puss. He needs to know."

-"I tried to tell him but we were interupted. Please promise me that you won't tell anyone." - feline looked at Pajuna with begging look.

-"Right, right. I promise. But you won't be able to keep it in secret for long. Sooner or later someone will notice."

-"I know. But I want to tell Puss first. Anyway, what about that guy who arrived? He was asking about some room for few days."

-"Ah this guy. I gave him a room upstairs. But he is very mysterious. To be honest I don't like the idea of him staying here."

-"Why? What happened?"

-"Well it's probably just my imagination but his eyes are weird. Like he is hidding something. He even didn't want to say his name."

-"Wow. That's weird"

-"I know. Something stinks here."

-"Oh I'm sure he is just shy." - Dulcinea smiled.

-"Then how you explain this?" - Pajuna pointed through a window at black feline having a good time with kids outside. They were running and laughing during a game.

-"Ok, I will talk with him. But I'm sure that he is a good guy."

Dulcinea said a goodbye to her friend and walked outside. She approached the playing group.

-"Kids! How many times I need to repeat?! Don't talk with strangers!" - a laud unpleasant voice called towards them. It was Senora Zapata angry as always. - "Go back here now!"

Kids little upset went to the orphanage leaving Dulcinea with a newcomer.

-"Lovely kids" - Said stranger looking after them. - "You must be Dulcinea right?" - He looked at her. She saw his golden eyes full of kindness. She couldn't see anything strange.

-"Right. And you are?"

-"I'm sorry, I only tell my name to people whom I trust." - Dulcinea was a little shocked. What name required trust? - "But you can call me Nero for now."

As they were talking Puss appeared in a gate. But he wasn't alone. A Komodo Dragon accompanied him.

-"San Lorenzans" - He started as he reached a fountain. - "I have some serious news. There is a dangerous killer walking freely somewhere out there." Citizens started to gather around him. Dulcinea with Nero were standing right next to Puss. - "But this brave lizard is searching for him to protect us all. And not only us. But everyone in the world. He gathered a big group of adventurers to stop this monster. And I decided that I will join them." - Dulcinea gasped - "I promise you that I will make everything I can to help finding El Diablo Blanco. And I will stop him."

Everyone around started to whisper between each other.

-"Do you have a deathwish?" - Nero looked at him as he was an idiot. - "He isn't someone who can be defeated like that."

-"Yes, I do know that. And that is why we go there with a big group of men and great plan."

-"And what's this great plan of yours?"

-"Well... uhm..." - Puss started but he cut in half. He had no idea.

-"Puss can we talk?" - Dulcinea asked him for side. The crowd was gone by now. Everyone just get back to their routine.

-"What happened Dulcinea? Are you concerned about this adventure?"

-"I am Puss. This isn't like your other adventures before. You can get killed" - She took his paws.

-"I will be allright. I am not going alone."

-"Puss please. Stay with me"

-"Going after El Diablo Blanco is suicide, Puss." - Nero said sitting on the egde of the fountain. - "And you have a reasons to live" - he nodded at Dulcinea keeping her hands in front of her. Puss looked at her. She looked at him with begging look.

-"Ehh. Ok. I will stay." - He looked at Dulcinea and smiled. Grey feline returend a smile.

-"Thank you."

-"Boss!" - Someone called. They turned around to see a lizard running their direction. He looked like the one Puss met at the camp but his skin color was slightly different. - "Boss, there was another attack." - Messanger couldn't catch his breath.

-"Easy there. Now tell me what exacly happened?" - Said Garo who was waitng for Puss' responce.

-"El Diablo Blanco's job. Another city destroyed. Two days ago he destroyed San Ricardo"

There was a silent moment. Puss was speachless. He just stood with empty look and opened jaw. The place where was raised. All the people who made him who he was. Gone.

What will Puss do with such terrible news? Will he stay with Dulcinea? Or will he seek for revenge? Find out next week.

Hope you guys enjoy this story for now. Feel free to comment and review.