Ugh, that son of a bitch is too strong, or we are too weak. Whatever the case, we must rescue Annabel, but how do I do that? "Hey, Nero, are you okay, brother?" I proceed to shake poor Nero up, who is barely breathing thanks to the relentless attacks of the Tryglocedons. Damn it, Nero!

  "You fool! Why did you sacrifice yourself to save me? YOU STUPID MORON!" Nero doesn't say a thing and just smiles at me as his eyes start looking less and less alive as he is probably already taking his last breaths in my arms. I'm all alone again; I couldn't protect my entire team again; I've lost them all AGAIN! DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!

  Why do you do this to me, god!? I train and fight every day. I give it my all to improve daily, and it's still not enough! That damn bastard, I heard all he said to Annabel; he is responsible for this! He is responsible for Seras' death and probably Nero's as well! Damn him! I WILL KILL HIM!

  The touch of a hand covered in blood soon reaches the bottom of my jaw, finally forcing me to face my dying friend, Nero. "Alex, fight! Get up and fight; my time is near. Leave me here; I am already dead." Nero says with a barely discernable voice as he coughs blood and takes in deep, restrained breaths.

  "Nero! I can't leave you here! You're my best friend! Please, Nero! I'll take you to the next town, just stay with me! NERO! NEROOOO!" Nero's eyes slowly but surely start closing on me as his body goes completely limp while in my arms, and his breathing entirely stops, but not before he smirks one last time at me.

  "WAIT NO! NEROOOOO!! NEEEEROOOO!!!" My tears quickly drop all over Nero's dying body, all while a deep hatred boils inside of me, all towards that bastard named MARTIGAN! I might only be in the Blue rank for now, but I will rush and train even harder to get past Aquamarine! I will be the one to end him! For Seras! FOR NERO!

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  After a couple of minutes of crying and finally getting enough resolve to move on, I use a low-level earth spell to at least bury Nero at the side of the road since the next town would be a long way to carry his dead corpse around, which would only attract monsters my way.

  {Alex Grunt}

  Damn! My legs hurt like hell, as well as my arms and my hip. I'm lucky to have made it out, but it's not over yet, not until I find that guy and free up Annabel. If it weren't for her, we would have all died. That power she used against those things seems to be strong and fast, but it also seems like it takes a significant toll on her. She got demolished right after.

  I don't know why you landed in our town, kid, but I can promise you one thing: I will find you and rescue you from that man. I just need time. Please resist, kid. I know it'll be hard, but I promise on my friend's grave and over Seras' conscience I will! The closest town to the now destroyed one is about half a day away from this road, so I should be there by sundown if I am in a hurry.

  To be fair, my walking pace is terrible, but I'll be fine once I reach town; the adventurer's guild will bring me back to full health once I tell them what has happened here. With what that man has done to poor Annabel, I doubt he will step foot in another human settlement with an adventurer's guild, especially when I know him now, so it is to expect he won't be going the same way I am.

  What an utterly disgusting specimen he turned out to be: An Aquamarine adventurer who brought about a genocide by proxy. I have to inform the adventurer's guild about him and also try to get the help of the military police on the case. Wait a minute, why would he even let me go? Why would someone who can plan stuff so evil choose to let me go!?

  {Random small beeps intensify}

  What is that noise? Where is that coming from? "I bet you're wondering! Why did he let me go!?" THAT VOICE! It's inside my head! It's that man's wretched voice. "Where are you!?" I yell into the woods, followed by a response from the guy whom I hated the most. "I have already marked you; therefore, you're already a bomb! You should be thanking me for giving you an express pass to meet your dead friends!"

  I am a wha!?

  {LOUD BANG}