NOVEL NEXT 62 – The Power of Thunder and Wind (Part 2)
Chapter 62 - The Power of Thunder and Wind (Part 2)
I slowly opened the door and peeked out. Once I was sure the coast was clear, I stepped out of the room and gently closed the door, leaving Kinue inside. I was still in the basement and noticed that the door leading upstairs was locked.
I glanced at my hands, letting sparks dance between my fingers.
Unfortunately, no using the lightning element... If any survivors report it, they’ll trace it back to me.
I approached the doorknob, generating a small gust of wind, guiding it into the keyhole to manipulate the internal mechanisms, mimicking the action of a key. The lock clicked, and I opened the door.
As soon as it swung open, I saw several armed men sitting on the floor, eating and keeping watch. The house we were in was a bit large, and I realized I was in for some work.
"You’ve made a big mistake..." I said, stepping out from the doorway.
The men looked at me, startled.
"The kid escaped! How?"
"SILENCE!" I commanded, and the windows shattered, sending glass flying as they fell to the floor, paralyzed.
"This is my killing intent personified, and you’re forcing me to revert to my old self. Today, you’ll learn your place... mortals."
A sword of pure lightning formed in my hand.
"It doesn't matter if you see this... because none of you will be leaving here alive," I declared.
Baron Gideon:
I was dining in a room with my butler. I pointed to a goblet, and he rose to fill it.
"That's enough," I said.
We were staying in a mansion I had rented for the months we planned to spend in this territory. I often roamed through various duchies in search of merchandise, usually staying for an extended period. I wasn’t particularly wealthy, but I had noble contacts who loved the goods I brought.
To think that the meeting arranged by Nikolaus Wolves in these lands would lead me to such a valuable piece of merchandise.
"Do you think it will be easy to train that demi-human? They say they’re strong," Jeff said as he returned to his position beside the table.
"Just like with animals, if they don't obey, we give them a good beating until they recognize their master," I replied.
I continued eating, contemplating my next steps.
"Are you planning to put the girl up for auction?"
"I haven't decided yet. If she were just an ordinary demi-human, I might sell her, but she's a mage. I could take advantage of that and have a mage as a servant... and I've never tasted a demi-human woman before."
'BAM!' The windows shattered.
We jumped in surprise, and I stood up, grabbing my sword. Jeff fell to the floor from the impact of the window behind him. Shards of glass scattered everywhere.
"What the—? What the hell happened?" I shouted.
Jeff got up, blood dripping from a cut on his cheek.
"My lord, what's going on?"
We stood up, and a scream echoed from outside.
"Something's happening!" he exclaimed.
I rushed to one of the windows and looked down, seeing some of my men engaged in a fight with someone outside.
"A water mage!" someone yelled.
There was a figure spinning and attacking the men with a spear.
"What the hell is going on? How did this happen?" I demanded.
"My lord, we need to call for reinforcements," Jeff replied, his voice trembling.
As soon as he said that, the door burst open, and several soldiers rushed in.
"What the hell is happening here?" I asked them.
The men entered, but something was off—some of them had a strange look on their faces.
"A woman has invaded the estate and is attacking us. She’s a mage. We came as soon as we heard the commotion," one of them reported.
A mage? This is absurd! Why would a mage be attacking a noble?
"Kill the woman! Do whatever you need to do!" I shouted, my voice cracking with anger.
Jeff approached me, concern etched on his face. "She's not a soldier of this territory, and even if she were, they wouldn't dare do something like this."
"I know! No one would dare touch a noble. Could this have something to do with those children?" I wondered aloud.
Impossible. They were just a bunch of commoners. And even if they were servants of some noble, no noble would take justice into their own hands against another noble. We are protected by the kingdom's laws.
"Who are you!?" one of the soldiers suddenly shouted, breaking me out of my thoughts. I looked over and saw three of them standing in front of a boy at the door. The boy was covered in blood and holding a sword.
"You! How did you escape? Whose sword is that?" Jeff demanded, his voice laced with disbelief.
The boy had a cold, calculated expression as he answered calmly, "I took this sword from one of your soldiers."
Took it? Does that mean he killed a soldier?
"Kill him! Kill that brat!" I ordered, feeling a surge of rage and fear.
One of my men raised his sword to strike, but the boy deflected the blow with ease, twisting his body to the side before leaping and rolling backward.
"What did he just do!?" one of the soldiers gasped, as the other fell to his knees, clutching his neck. Blood poured between his fingers.
He slit the soldier's throat? How is he this fast?
"You two still have a chance. Think carefully," the boy said to the remaining soldiers, his calmness even more terrifying.
They exchanged nervous glances.
"You're dead, kid!" one of them shouted, raising his sword in fury.
Suddenly, the boy surged forward, leaping into the room and landing effortlessly on the table.
"There's only one left. Are you sure?" he asked, his gaze challenging the two soldiers.
"One? What are you talking about? There are two of us!" one of the soldiers retorted, confused.
The boy kicked something, and a gust of wind swept through the room.
"Ah!" The soldier screamed as he fell to the ground, thrashing desperately.
"Now there's just one," the boy said, his voice devoid of any emotion.
"Damn it!" Jeff cursed, horrified by what he was witnessing.
The boy had kicked a fork, now embedded in the neck of one of the soldiers, who lay on the ground, writhing as blood gushed out.
"This kid is a mage!" I shouted, grabbing my sword. "Kill him!"
"Kill the boy!" Jeff echoed, his voice trembling.
The remaining soldier charged with his sword drawn, but the boy leaped off the table with a gust of wind, landing behind him. The boy pointed his sword at the man.
"Last chance," he said, his voice eerily calm.
"You're dead, kid!" the soldier yelled, swinging his sword with all his might. But the blade struck something invisible.
"A wind barrier," the boy explained, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
With a swift motion, the boy tossed his sword into the air and then struck the soldier's blade, sending it flying away. He spun, grabbed the soldier’s arm, and with precise technique, hurled him against the wall.
This boy... he’s just a child! How can he fight so well?
The sword fell back into his hand, and with one fluid movement, he slashed the soldier across the head, driving the blade deep.
"Being a wind transmitter is really useful. I can make up for my lack of strength by propelling my weapon with the wind," the boy said, pulling the sword out of the soldier's skull, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Stay back!" my butler shouted, his voice quaking with fear.
The boy's expression grew serious as he stared at us, his piercing eyes filled with determination.
"I am a noble!" I exclaimed, trying to regain control. "You cannot touch me!"
My butler shot me a desperate look before leaping out of the second-story window.
"Coward!" I shouted, but the words felt hollow.
The boy dropped the sword to the ground, as if he no longer needed it.
"You're screwed, kid! Threatening a noble is punishable by death in this kingdom," I threatened, but my voice wavered.
He stopped in his tracks and looked at me with intensity.
"W-w-what is this!?" My body began to tremble, and I dropped my sword involuntarily. A terrible fear gripped me, emanating from that boy.
He took a step toward me, and I recoiled, trying to brace myself against the wall.
"I'm warning you, if you touch me, you're finished! I'm a noble!" I stammered, nearly panicking.
He paused for a moment, staring directly into my eyes.
"Do you care when you kill an ant?" he asked, his voice icy.
The boy began to walk slowly toward me.
"Do you care when you step on a bug?"
Each of his steps made me feel weaker, my body buckling under an invisible pressure.
"Do you care when you squash a mosquito?"
He drew even closer, that serious, merciless gaze fixed on me.
"Why should I care about you or your nobility?"
"I'm a baron! You can’t touch me!" I screamed, desperation overtaking me.
He pointed a finger at me, and I collapsed to the floor, unable to resist. He took a step closer and crouched down, bringing his face close to mine.
"Recognize your insignificance, INFERIOR BEING!" he said, and in that moment, I knew my life was in his hands.