Mantle of the Gods [LitRPG / Slow Burn / FTB Harem]

Trent had arrived.

As far as entrances go, it was pretty dramatic. Dust rained down on everyone there as not all of the dirt was blown out of the hole.

"Always late…" Whisper shook his head and jumped out of the hole. With another jump, he aimed for the street level.

Trent grabbed him by the neck.

Whisper struggled in my teacher's grasp as lightning bolts fell from the sky and hit every one of the Authority Officers. Trent moved over to hover above us and with a single motion, pulled all five of us up and slowly set us on the street next to our RV.

My heart was hammering in my ears as I looked at Gesai. "He knows that this is going to get Mive's attention?"

Gesai shrugged, and Rix and Astrid blinked into sight and floated over to us.

Trent hovered out of the hole, then started gesturing. The hole began to fill in until there was no way to tell that there had ever been anything wrong.

My heart wouldn't slow down as he walked over to us, still holding Whisper by the neck.

"PUT ME DOWN! LET ME GO! THIS IS ABUSE! ASSAULT! IT'S INHUMANE!" Whisper was beating on Trent's arm, but he couldn't break free.

"Be quiet, or I'll freeze your lips shut." Trent glared at the bandit.

"Are you going to kill him?" Rix's hands were shaking as she glared at the blonde man.

"Kill him...?" Trent shook his head. "No, we need him."

"You NEED me?!?" Whisper pulled against the grip again. "That's not...!"

A mask of ice spread across his face.

"I told you to be quiet." Trent walked towards the RV.

"Aren't you afraid that you're going to bring Mive…?"

Trent silenced me with a wave of his hand. The white-haired man motioned inside the RV. "Not out here."

We all piled into the RV. Whisper sat on the floor behind the driver's seat with his arms folded across his chest. Rix leaned against the doorframe across from him and didn't take her glare off of him. Gesai sat in shotgun but had her legs facing the driver's seat, while Oz and Fray sat on the far side of the booth. Ether stretched out on the near side of the booth, and I stood behind the booth with my left arm around her. Astrid moved over to Rix's right side.

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Trent cleared his throat and glared at Astrid. "What you did today was VERY, VERY foolish." He turned to Rix, who was still glaring at Whisper. When snapping his fingers didn't work, he moved in between them. "RIX!"

She slowly looked at him. "He doesn't belong here."

"Why is that?" Trent raised an eyebrow.

"He killed an innocent man! And beat one of our classmates so bad he couldn't walk! He's a Bandit and...!"

"You're every one of those things." Trent silenced her. He shifted his gaze to Astrid. "So are you Miss Crimson Dancer."

Astrid looked like she had just been slapped.

"Yes…" He pulled out his CB and held it out for her to see, which was at an angle where I could see the display as well.

Astrid Harlax - Level 4 - PK

Age: 18, Hair: Red, Eye color: Blue

Skin: Golden, Blood: Red, Height: 5'7"

352 Exp

Shooter

3 Power 8 Defense 12 Speed

6 Magic 4 Recovery 4 Aura

Stat Points: 4

Hide Presence, Shadowstep

Passive: Counter-Attack

"Which means that if you want me to execute him for what he's done, then I have to execute both of you as well." Trent raised an eyebrow. "So I'll ask you again. Do I kill everyone who fits that description in this RV?"

"There's no way that Astrid has been a Bandit." Rix finally moved her gaze over to Trent.

"Really?" Trent smiled, "So which of the Crimson Bandit's crimes do we list first? The part about her being a Vigilante? Or maybe the break-ins at some of the Six's businesses? Or the illegal pit fighting? Smuggling medication to the slums during the plague?" He looked at Astrid. "You've got a four-year list of accomplishments that make him jealous." He motioned at Whisper.

"MhMph!" The gagged man tried to protest.

"But that list of crimes easily classifies you as a bandit." Electricity crackled in his hand. "One last time, Rix. A yes, and I will kill all three of you right here."

"Trent…" Ether had a death grip on my arm, or else I would have gotten in between them. I could see he was serious and she was thinking about it.

"RIX!" I swung my right fist as hard as I could and hit her in the shoulder. "RIX! You are the sword, and I NEED you."

The golden woman blinked back tears. "No."

I hadn't realized that Astrid had stopped breathing until that single word seemed to unlock her lungs and she gasped for air.

Trent extinguished the electricity. "Good. Now swallow whatever resentment you have because we're going to need him for the next few days."

"WHAT!" Rix and Whisper stood up at the same time.

Trent glared at Whisper, and the bandit sat down.

Things were going crazy, but there was something big I felt couldn't wait. "Trent?" I motioned outside. "Aren't you worried that what you did is going to attract Mive?"

The way people looked at the older man told me I hadn't been the only one thinking that.

"Yes." Trent looked sad. "That's exactly what I was trying to do…"