"Dammit"


    I cursed out loud as I looked at the man lying on the floor.


    ''No time to waste.'' Throwing this issue at the back of my head I sprinted forward. Bottles littered the dirty corridor, and stains marred the walls.


    For some unimaginable reasons, I was finding this whole situation quite amusing. Weeks ago, I fought a gigantic serpent and a tentacle monster. Now, I''m infiltrating a gang base.


    Does this even make sense?


    "Focus, Asher Focus" I know why I was being so talkative with myself today and sadly it was not for a good reason.


    The corridor was about to end, another gate soon came into view. Slowing down I went to the side to approach it with caution.


    Peeking inside, it was a room with sofas and chairs scattered around. Three people sat drinking, while two slept on the floor or sofa.


    They were ridiculously easy targets.


    ''Eh, I suddenly had an urge to throw a bomb inside.'' Is it normal to feel this way, maybe it''s not.


    But I found such thoughts to be funny.


    Alright no more jokes, I took a deep breath as I looked at them.


    *Thuk!*


    The three inside soon stopped moving– In the blink of an eye, all three had their heart pierced as they fell to the floor.


    The two who were still asleep were not shown mercy either, I kneeled beside the last one of the sleeping figures and stabbed their heart.


    After finishing the work I stood up, my body had no stains of blood and my hands were also clean. I was amazed at how neatly and silently I''d done it.


    The combination of static and Kairosflow was perfect for committing any crime without leaving any traces of evidence behind.


    ''What a scary ability to have, luckily I am its owner.''


    Just as I was admiring myself, I realized a big problem.


    There was nowhere else to go now! I need to go back to the door and take a right turn.


    ''Let''s rest for ten minutes before moving out.''


    I sat on the sofa in a relaxed manner showing no hurry or anxiety, my mind was calm and clear like never before.


    All I did was take deep breaths and kept looking at the ceiling in a dazed manner with no focus whatsoever.


    As some minutes passed my eyes opened.


    "Why is it so serene just sitting here?" I muttered in a sleepy tone.


    I looked at my right hand still holding the purple-tinted blade.


    This artifact had a negative effect!


    I swiftly let go of the sword, letting it fall on the ground immediately.


    I had been using this for more than an hour without realizing its effects, this artifact makes its user mind clouded or fills them with a surge of anger.


    I hadn''t even realized I''d been under its effects since entering this room.


    "I almost messed up."


    Storing it in my bracelet I stood up and left the room.


    So many dead bodies are lying around someone must have seen it by now.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    I ran frantically down the corridor again. My mind was not clear enough but I should be able to manage for now.


    The right corridor came as I entered it unlike before it had many rooms with boxes kept in them. Most rooms were still empty. Crossing them I finally saw a light at the end of it.


    A clear bright light shone at the end of the corridor, I slowed down. My breathing was a bit heavy from all the running. But it also helped unexpectedly– my mind has cleared a lot by now.


    Slowly I got closer and closer to the exit, looking at it from my hiding spot, a chill ran down my spine as I witnessed what was inside.


    A big hall supported by two pillars, at the center of it were people with weapons all over them. At the further corner of the room were prisons with too many to count trapped inside.


    My heart raced, but I remained calm. Looking for any possible way to safely get inside.


    Seeing the boxes at the side of the gate, an idea finally emerged. With a swift and cautious step, I rolled over the ground reaching the corner immediately.


    Hiding behind them, I held them. Slowly dragging them to the left till they covered me perfectly.


    Doing the same thing once again, I tried to peek through the narrow gap between the boxes and the wall, making sure not to be seen by any of the gang members. The chatter in the room grew clearer as I approached, the smell of sweat and metal mingling in the stale air.


    Fifteen of them. I doubted half were Awakeners, but certainty was paramount.


    Even I would have some trouble if all of them started to fight me at once.


    ''Why are there such big curtains on that wall..?'' I looked toward my right side and saw a wall covered in clothes.


    ''Is something hidden there?''


    Shaking my head I once again looked at the prisoners, six adults and twelve children.


    There were supposed to be more of them, right?


    My eyes widened as I saw a small girl sitting in the far corner of the prison. Her short brown hair and one-piece dress were all familiar.


    Moving closer, I finally saw her—Lucy, also a captive.


    ''Why is Lucy here?'' I panicked as I searched for any of her injuries but seemingly found her safe for now.


    ''Now that I think about it, I have not seen her for three days now.''


    I gritted my teeth in anger. It was difficult to hold back this feeling. That someone you knew was also going to go through the same thing that happened to Elda.


    The prisoners were not in good condition, they all looked sick and starved. An unknown disgusting scent filled the area near them.


    This smell was so bad that I wanted to puke out of disgust.


    I tried to take a step forward toward them but before that could have happened my cover got blown away by a strong wind, the attack was so sudden that it gave me no time to react pushing me onto the walls.


    *Thud!*


    I got slammed into the wall behind me, the boxes surrounding me all gone by the strong wind.


    "I was waiting for you to come out. Did you think you could hide at such an open site?"


    I raised my head at the familiar sound, and looking I saw him–A man with a small scar over his left eye, it was Kalvus he was slowly walking toward me.


    I tried to stand up, but he didn’t let me. Another strong gust of wind was thrown right toward me. Seeing the attack coming I dodged to the side and abruptly stood up.


    "Huff– Why are you here?" I demanded in a tone full of anger taking out Sword of Repose from my bracelet in an instant.


    Kalvus tilted his head in confusion as if he had just heard something absurd.


    "I can ask you the same thing, Why are you down here Asher?"


    "Oh? I am here for an interview actually." I said in a mocking tone.


    Kalvus blinked taken aback by my response.


    "Did he invite you to join us? No, I can see that happening."


    Kalvus mumbled something under his breath but I couldn''t hear it properly.


    "Let''s just say you did come here for an interview why were you hiding there." He said with a sly smile his sword now resting over his shoulder.


    ''This bastard is enjoying it.''


    "I saw some insects crawling down here so I thought I should crush them. Now that I have answered your question how about you answer mine."


    Kalvus laughed his serious face nowhere to be seen anymore.


    "Oh, I hope you were not calling us insects. But anyway I don''t need to answer your questions. Catch him. We will use him later."


    Kalvus said before walking away, letting his men do the job. Two men came forward following his orders and walked toward Asher.


    *Crackle!*


    "Grah!!"


    Hearing the sound Kalvus turned around his eyes widened in shock. The sword in Asher''s hand expanded into a sword whip with purple-tinged blades at its side.


    But this was not the site that shocked him. His two men were instantly killed without hesitation or fear.


    ''An artifact?'' Kalvus thought as he looked down at his men, their throats sliced down by Asher''s sword whip.


    Kalvus then looked at Asher his eyes again widening in shock as he raised his sword.


    "I thought you don''t like fighting." He said to Asher.


    "I don''t." I shook my head in denial as the sword whip turned back to its normal form the crackling sound filling the hall.


    "Liar," Kalvus said with a smirk as if he found something interesting.


    All the gang members were also ready for the fight, their weapons raised. They didn''t think they would lose.


    How could they when they have an awakened by their side along with so many people?


    *Tak!*


    *Tak!*


    Then all of a sudden all the attention in the hall was toward the pillars at the sudden sound, my eyes moved there as well. Behind it was stairs that I had somehow missed seeing previously.


    Walking down the stairs was a man wearing a simple red shirt and brown pants he looked to be in his fifties.


    "What''s the commotion here? I am trying to sleep."


    He grumbled as he scratched his beard.


    "Boss someone has infiltrated here." A reply soon came from one of the men.


    Looking at him my eyes widened and my face went pale.


    "Gre-th" I whispered my voice shaking with fear.