Laying out on a building in a distant city in a different world I sat there waiting. I have been in this city for a while now. The place was called Rustspell. Though contrary to the name there wasn’t much rust around. I had been staking out of this place looking for someone. His name was IX(Nine), I’ve heard a lot of not-so-good things about him and his little army. I’ve come in contact with them before and it wasn’t fun. Shadow magi isn’t something I enjoyed having to deal with; It was never fun to deal with in general but it seems like now I have to fight an entire army that has it. Not to mention having to deal with the church and the Ectotoria Order.

  Ecto Knights are stupidly strong for no reason and the church has been keeping an eye on me for a while now. They’ve had scouts follow me around, I’ve obviously noticed them a long time ago. I saw no reason to bother them seeing as they weren’t that strong and weren’t much of a threat to me. The only reason the church has scouts following me around was because of an interaction I had with Sol’s Chosen. I didn’t really like that smug piece of shit, he just pushes all the wrong buttons and it just makes me want to kill him. I know I could. I know I could put that man six feet under. But if I kill him there is a high chance that she may retaliate and the last thing I need is a god coming after me. Fuck the Pantheon.

  Returning to my previous line of thought. The reason I was here was to question IX to find out who he is and what his motives are. Then after that, I need to make a long trip to Veritas to make contact with someone of great power. Veritas was a large city governed by thieves and killers. They had a sort of loose code they all had to follow and that was Information was power. If you knew a lot then you would be granted an en-masse of boons. But if you knew things you weren’t supposed to know then you were considered a high-value target. I only knew about this stuff because I have a close friend that used to live there for a long time.

  Speaking of Ectoknights. I heard some loud conversation and what sounded like a sword being drawn. I slid to the edge of the building and hid, I then slowly peaked over the edge to see what looked like a large knight in full body armor and four shadowy figures standing off against each other. I grimaced. If they had a fight right now there would be a lot of innocent casualties. Neither side was the type to care about the lives of the defenseless. As much as I wanted to shut off those feelings of heroism they kept coming back in waves that crashed against my sanity. If I stayed put, people would die and I would just watch.

  “Fuck playing hero. I really need to break this habit or I am just going to jump into a confrontation that I won’t have a chance of winning.”

  “But if I don’t jump in….”

  “Alright, fine!” After having a verbal debate with myself I jumped down into the middle of the altercation that was going to begin.

  Both sides stopped yelling as they laid their eyes on me. I quickly activated [Voltaic Surge] at thirty percent and yelled at both sides.

  “I will put all of you out of commission if you dare start a fight in this peaceful town. If you really need to fight, take it out of the city or I will forcefully remove you...” I emphasized this with a thunderous crack of purple lightning.

  I saw all four of the shadowy fighters flinch at the lightning. The Ectoknight stared at me with an unreadable expression hidden by his helmet. I finally looked him over once more, he was tall with black plate armor with a fancy cape that covered his left side. He carried a large long sword that glowed with dim light along its accents. ‘It looks like a long sword but with its size, it may just be a greatsword.’

  The knight stared for what seemed like years until he relented.

  “Accursed Protector… Know that my departure is only due to your immense latent power… I can see that I’m no match for you at my current level….” He said with a point at me.

  Accursed Protector, what the fuck is this guy on about? Latent power? Like level Or Magi? Maybe it’s that new shakti stuff?

  Questions raced through my mind as the knight stared for a small time longer and then looked at the four shadowy figures.

  “Children of shadows…. Your stay among the land of the fallen will cease to be if you stand in my way. Your siege will fail and your leader’s life will be snuffed out.” He emphasized this with a flourish of his greatsword as he sheathed it, turned about face, took a few steps, and vanished like he was never there.

  As he vanished, I spun to face the shadow boys. “So, why are you all here? Wrong answers only.” I smiled with my presence exuding baleful killing intent.

  I saw all of them tense up as the aura washed over them. None responded but it seemed like they were ready for a fight. I was confident I could take them all down pretty easily. The last ones I fought weren’t too good and I found out that shadows don’t like lightning magi. My magi flared as I spoke once more.

  “No talkers? Shame. I really need to know where your boss is and why you are all here…” I said while quickly devising a plan to beat all four of them with haste.

  They all shifted into the shadows as they tried to bolt off in different directions. I was surprised they didn’t just try and jump me, they really had the numbers advantage. I guess they knew better. Seeing them all split I decided I really only needed one of them. I darted off after one that melted into the shadows of an alley going away from the exit of the town. Lightning sparked around me as I started to increase my power output. I rapidly increased [Voltaic Surge] to 90% and flashed off after the assassin.

  It didn’t take long at all as I dashed up behind the shadow man and kicked as hard as I could. With a deafening crack and boom, I sent the man tumbling at high speed into a nearby building. I sped out of the alley and looked around for any bystanders, Luckily, there was no one to be found. How Delightfully perfect. I lowered my output to 30% as I walked to the crater I created in the building. It was a rundown building with rot prevalent everywhere I looked.

  Ah yes, a destructible rotted wooden house, even more perfect. I walked over to the groaning crumpled man and picked him up. I brought him to his feet and slowly walked him over to the rotten old table. After a bit of struggling, I used my full strength to smash him through the table.

  “Do you feel like talking now or do I have to find more shit to smash you through?” I asked with an evil smile. The man just sneered and spat blood into my face.

  “O-Over my dead body.” He said quietly.

  I grabbed onto the man once more and didn’t even bother getting him to walk as my power bolted to 90%. I launched the man through a wall at full force. He tumbled into the next room; blood now leaking from his mouth. My power dropped back down to 30% as I walked over to the man and firmly planted my foot on his chest. A crack sounded from the man’s chest as he started to cough up blood.

  “What was that? It seems like you are close to dead already. Maybe you should start talking. And fast.” I emphasized this by stomping hard on his hand, shattering it.

  He yelled in pain and coughed up more blood. “You bastard..”

  “Try again.” I said as I lightly started to add pressure on the already shattered hand. “Why are you here, and Who is IX?”

  The man tried to speak but the moment the first syllable of IX came out shadows seeped from his body and quickly wrapped around his head. I quickly removed my foot and watched in horror as his entire body became wrapped in a shadow cocoon. There were a few seconds of silence only filled with eldritch whispers as the man was devoured by his own power.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  It seems like the situation is truly dire then. This IX has the ability to gift shadow magi like a curse. This is truly unsettling. I stepped further away as the shadow burst from the man’s body. There was nothing left of the man… only his bones remained. And I watched as even the bones started to crumple away into dust.

  I know I was quite cruel to that man but I can’t help but be angry at what IX was doing to his own men. I felt my power spike and I angrily punched a nearby wall. It exploded with a concussive boom and I looked out into the street.

  “IX… Why? Why do that to those who are loyal to you? Why put them to death for just uttering your name-” as those words left my mouth I felt a powerful gaze land upon me. I quickly looked at where I felt it from and far outside of town on the large hill that overlooked the town, I saw what looked like two men.

  That must be that bastard IX. But who is the second man?

  My thoughts ended fast as time slowed all around me.

  [Intrinsic Skill: Comeback Time]

  I slowly looked to my left and a fist was traveling straight for my face. I leaned back just to be out of the way as time resumed. I quickly looked back up to where IX was; he was there alone as he walked away.

  “So you must be IX’s right-hand man. But sadly he must know the saying. ‘If you want something done, you should just do it yourself.’ “

  “You make it sound like you will be alive after I’m done with you.” The man said.

  “And you are?”

  “Umbra. But sadly you won’t be alive to remember it.”

  “Oh is that so? What makes you so confident? I defeated one of your lackeys already.”

  “So you managed to beat one, Pft, like that matters now,” Umbra said as he started to circle me. He raised a hand and snapped. Soon after three more men rose from the shadows nearby.

  “Four against one, that's no fair.” I fake pouted as I activated [Voltaic Surge] at 50%. Sadly I couldn’t keep this up for too long…

  Life was never anything I really cared for. It just kept pushing with or without you. So I did the same. I regrettably did that to everyone I knew. Which sadly left me where I was now. Bored. I was currently on shift at The Whispering Tales Cafe. This little place only ever got customers during the work rush and after schools let out. At the current time. It was about 7:56 am; the beginning of my shift.

  There were only ever two people that came this early to the cafe. The bell on the door sang its chime and an old man walked in.

  “Mr. Key! You came to get your usual?" I asked as I leaned on the counter.

  “Yes indeed, I’ve been feeling like I need my morning Tea.” Mr. Key said as he found a seat near the window.

  “Comin’ Right up.” I started his usual, Ginseng Tea with a small bit of sugar and a tiny bit of honey. “So how are the cats doing?” I asked with interest.

  Mr. Key chuckled lightly and smiled, “Those energetic balls of fluff have been happy and playing with anything they can find. This morning I found one of the little rascals in the cabinet in the bathroom. I haven’t the faintest idea of how he found himself in there.”

  “They sound like a wonderful handful,” I said, chuckling to myself. The pot started steaming loudly and I quickly came over and carefully picked up the hot kettle and poured the tea. I then added the sugar and brought the cup to the old man. “Careful it's still quite hot.”

  As I gave Key the tea the Bell chimed loudly once more. A girl with amber hair emerged from the doorway.

  “Kaz! You know what I came here for! I need it now. Come on, Hop to it!” She giggled as she went to take a seat at the counter on a stool.

  “Summer, calm yourself, I’ll be with you in a sec.” I sighed with a smile.

  “I’m good sonny boy. I’ll let you know later today when you can come to pick up one of those energetic kittens.” The old man said as he handed me the money for his order. It came up to $2.40.

  “Bet. Enjoy your tea. Let me go deal with her.” I smiled. I left the old man to his tea as I went back behind the counter to make her usual. After a few minutes of her fidgeting and telling me about various goofy things; I finished her order and handed her 3 cheese pretzels and a sweet tea. She quickly took her food and gave me $13.68. A bit extra by thirty cents.

  “Why the extra?” I asked curious. “You feeling nice today?” I teased.

  She looked up from her food and grinned. “Maybe.”

  “You, and your indirect answers…”

  She giggled and resumed eating.

  Man, I wish the roles were reversed cause I like cheese pretzels. A lot. Maybe it was her who made me enjoy them. Speaking of which…

  She smiled as she offered me a pretzel. “I know you like em’ too~,” she said in a sing-song voice.

  I stared at the offered pretzel. I really want to take it but I know this must be a trap of some kind…

  “Hmmm, you don’t usually offer your food… What’s going on here?” I said skeptically.

  She pouted. “Am I not allowed to offer my friend food without pretenses?”

  “You are allowed to but it’s unlike you to share like this…” I said as I reached for the pretzel.

  The moment my hand grazed it she retracted it. "On second thought, maybe there is a pretense behind this offer of mine…" She stared at me for one Long moment. She smiled, "If I give you this pretzel… you have to go to a movie with me tomorrow at 7."

  I blinked. "A date?" An evil smile spread across my face. "A date with me!? You really must be in a good mood or planning something devious. You wanted to see that new superhero movie 'No Limit'?"

  "N-No," A blush forms, "It's not a date it's just a possibly romantic outing between friends." Her blush slowly subsides.

  "So a date." I grinned.

  She ignores what I said and continued. "Anyways~, Yeah, that is the movie I wanted to see, I've been following the main character for a while. The company made a comic series and this is the first movie of three. I really hope this one will be good!" She said excitedly.

  There is absolutely no way she asked me on a date… I didn't even know she was interested in me…

  "You sound like you really like the comics, should I give 'em a read?" I asked genuinely curious.

  "Oh yes! I wholeheartedly think you should read the series. It's really good! I've been hooked for the past few months." She beamed happily.

  Few months?

  "How come this is the first time I've heard you talk about it?"

  "Oh, it's because I was waiting for the movie to be in theaters because it covers the first three volumes of the comics." She said as she started to spin on the stool.

  So she has been planning this for a while now…

  "So I can skip the first three volumes then? Or should I still read them to compare them to the movie?"

  "The latter, mostly because the movie might change things to make sense in that continuity."

  "Alright, I'll check it out when I'm off." I chuckled and came from behind the counter.

  “Here.” She got up and offered a pretzel.

  “Thanks, I’ll be back in a second.” I took the offered pretzel and took a bite while I went to the backroom.

  I leaned on the wall hard as my heart pounded in my chest. I’m surprised I survived that long with her blatantly flirting with me. False confidence is a lifesaver…

  I put out my left and smacked it as hard as I could with my right hand.

  A loud crisp slap sounded as I winced in pain. Focus you still have more hours left.

  And with that, I finally got up and walked out of the backroom.