1
The peaceful and most quiet village has been raided by a lone bandit, it was unclear where he came from, but his intentions were evil. Plotting to kidnap the villagers as he tied up a couple of folks, the villagers had an expression of fear.
The bandit managed to lure the villagers and trick them.
Among the tied up villagers, a boy with black hair that reached his eyes, golden wheat eyes, with a gloomy expression. Blake, was also taken. Shivering and trembling, he was frightened the most out of everyone tied up.
"W-we...are going to die, ack!" Blake whispered weakly as he poured in tears.
"Knock it out, Blaky! This isn't bad, right?"
Tied beside Blake, a girl with long white hair, skin as snow, and beautiful ocean blue eyes. She shouted at Blake for being scared, her naive attitude always triggered Blake to the core—Iris.
There was no way of escape, the vine they were tied with was so strong that raw strength couldn't break it, worse case, none of the other villagers were experienced fighters, nor good at divine energy efficiency. Blake and Iris were another story, sadly they didn't have their weapons. Excluding Blake, since he was a martial arts type, but he was completely useless at the moment.
The villagers slowly begun losing hope of survival, Ken wasn't around, nor was Adam present at the moment. There really was lack of security in the village, just farmers trying to make a living. Over the horizon, they saw a small figure approaching their direction, the figure was sprinting. A ray of light ignited their hearts, are we saved? They thought, the figure begun screaming, the words were unclear but it was definitely a call.
The figure finally reached eyes view, to their surprise it was something unexpected.
"Arthur!?" Iris called out, hinting a smile on her face.
A boy with blonde messy hair, brown eyes, placed with a serious expression. Including an animal on his head, Arthur had arrived at the scene with a perplexed look. He was breathing heavily from sprinting, then something caught his attention. The villagers tied up begun violently shaking their body, and turning their head left and right gesturing Arthur to stop.
Arthur quickly followed the gesture having a tensed feeling, the villagers then yelled in unison, " run away, kid! Run away! Turn back immediately!" The sudden shout forced Arthur to go through deep thoughts, what's happening? Who did this? He kept questioning hoping to receive an answer, as fate had it he immediately got what he asked. The villagers shortly fell silent, both their eyes and mouth wide open, staring at Arthur—no, they were staring at something that was behind Arthur.
Before he could turn around, at the corner of his eyes he saw a knife slowly approaching him. The sharp tip aimed at his throat, his heart racing, and his body trembling, Even the small orange cat, Storm was silenced. One wrong move could end him, suddenly a deep voices was heard. " A little kid, l think l just hit a jackpot, ah-ah-ah!" The mysterious voice continued, "now do me a favour, join up your friends, l don't have much time to chat."
"I-l see... that's how it goes, what a drag." Arthur muttered as a sweat dripped down.
Clink!
The sharp knife was thrown away, Storm countered with his claws. Giving Arthur the chance to step back, "thanks Storm, that was a close call." Arthur sounded relived after thanking Strom, then he let out a deep sigh.
The bandit standing infront of Arthur wore an all red clothing that had a large black eye symbol on the upper clothing, black gloves, and a white mask covering his face. The mask was plain, but had holes that allowed the bandit to see. Arthur gasped upon the reveal, his heart pounding louder that he forgot to catch his breath. His eyes wide open, dropping his expression, teeth chattering uncontrollably, while his body trembled as if seeing a ghost.
"Huh!?" He silently questioned, as if knowing the person infront.
He couldn't take a step away, even trying to utter another word made it difficult. What was happening to him? Who was this bandit? What connection might they both have? It was unclear. Then the masked bandit announced, "judging from your determined look, you're challenging me for kidnapping your family. Then l shall happily accept a battle with a snort nose like you, after placing your people in a well known environment, l might get promoted among the Elite seven."
The bandit was stating crap, but there was nothing Arthur could do to save his people. Prime example could be, he wasn't experienced at fighting people that weren't: Ken, Blake, and Iris. Which meant the bandit had a different fighting that he isn't aware of, it was hopeless.
"There's nothing l-l... can do... the villagers might get... taken... Ouch!"
"Enough cowering. You might be afraid to fight, but, remember if you fail then it's all your fault. The reason people fighting is because they want to protect something precious, if you fail to put the power you have, then it will hunt you even in the afterlife. Take fear as a factor that forces to overcome it, don't let it be something you'll eternally avoid."
"S-storm... I see. Thanks for reminding me about my purpose, l have a sword, which must be used to protect the weak!" Arthur replied, hinting amusement.
Arthur slowly slid out his light sword from its sheath, facing it at the bandit. Storm stood beside him, licking his paws. The bandit was confused, but he pulled out two knife from his pocket. Both sides were in battle stance, but only one side wins.
The villagers were speechless, but they knew they couldn't do anything to stop Arthur. Even Blake and Iris were just staring, today was the day they'd see Arthur serious in a battle.
"I won't hold back just because you're a kid, l might accidentally kill you, better you join your friends, ah-ah-ah!"
"Thanks for the pity, but l don't need it. Time for fireworks, ready! Storm?" Arthur brushed off the bandits pity, then he called out to Storm letting out a faint smile.
"Let's go! Battle of the human race."
2
It was time for Arthur to put his training to the test, all the skills and techniques he learnt, needed to be used at this moment. That is because he has a priority, protecting his people.
Arthur launched himself forward in full speed, the bandit didn't hesitate approaching his direction. As they reached eye-to-eye, Arthur lightly swung his sword directly at the bandits mask. The bandit blocked it with ease as he held out his knife on his right hand, then immediately moved his left hand at Arthur's face.
Getting freaked out, cling! Storm countered the attack with his claws. Then, they both stepped back. "That was close, thanks Storm."
"Just watch your step."
The bandit didn't waste time and came for round two, swinging his knife left and right repeatedly. Arthur side-stepped, turning around, and blocking his knife barely receiving damage. The bandit quickly went for a thrust with his right hand, Arthur countered by place his sword at his chest facing upwards as it made a clang sound.
Behind the bandit, Strom appeared and scratched his head. The bandit being distracted from the pain, Arthur took advantage sent a heavy swing. The attack missed by an inche sending the bandit back. Without hesitation, Arthur had followed him, leaping in the air and striking the bandits head with his sword. The bandit felt pain, but Arthur didn't use the sharp edges. For some reason he feared cutting.
"I can't cut, won't l mistakenly kill him? Enough with that! His appearance is fuelling me right now."
The bandit sitting on the floor facing his head down, immediately raised his knife upward to strike. Arthur's face scrunched, but the bandit giggled in excitement. Cling! Arthur's expression brushed off as he swiped the bandits attack throwing of his weapon.
Stunned by the quick reaction, the bandit rolled back. He was impressed by Arthur's quick thinking, something someone as small as him shouldn't be able to pull off. The bandit didn't lose his calm, proceeding to take out another knife from his pocket, then immediately throw it directly at Arthur as it travelled swiftly.
"Eck!"
There wasn't time to raise his sword and block, suddenly Strom appeared and caught the knife with his mouth and spited out. The bandit turned his head in confusion, taking advantage of the distraction Arthur stormed forward as he let out a surge of divine energy.
"Hiyah!" He yelled, swinging his sword.
"So you can do that?! Ah-ah-ah!"
The bandit swiped the attack as he also let out an ounce of divine energy, but both their weapons clashed with each other. The Bandit's size could give him an advantage to overpower, but with how much dedication Arthur put to improving his strength, managed to overpower the bandit and sliced his shoulder. "Ah!" The Bandit's shoulder was bleeding as it let out an excruciating pain, hearing the cry, Arthur widened his eyes from his attack.
"I actually cut someone? Now l'll have nightmares! But it didn't completely take him down yet!"
"Damnit! I shouldn't have underestimated you, snort nose. What a majestic move, you were taught well! But do you think it's all it will take to bring me down!?"
"I don't care, I'll keep cutting through! Until the people l care about are safe."
"Wake up to reality, kid. In this world you work alone, and care about yourself! Try defending others and feel betrayed!" The bandit stated, not showing any signs of mercy, but the thirst to kill.
The bandit and Arthur went through their back and forth, then suddenly, beneath the bandit revealed a bright yellow circle that was expanding. The air around them reeked of murderous intent as the yellow circle expanded till it reached where Arthur was standing, his face scrunching even more.
Dum-dum!
Arthur knew full well what that yellow circle meant, "domain!" He realised he was at the domains range, looking directly at Strom who seemed unfazed, he shouted his lungs out. "Storm! Be careful, he has just unleashed a domain."
"What? How do you know?"
"Nevermind, hang on tight, it's going to be a bumpy ride!"
The bandit raised his knife in the air, as a guest of wind circulated around him. "Silent cut!" The bandit shouted, as his body propelled forward with impressive speed. As he reached the end of his domain, a strong impact was created with the wind.
"It's over for you, kid... Huh? What the hell! How did you...!"
The Bandit's attack was meant to cut anything infront within his domain. His attack was aimed at Arthur and Storm, looking around after the attack, he spotted both not around. As he looked forward at the villagers side, Arthur was standing with his sword faced at the bandits direction unharmed. Arthur was breathing heavily, and his brown eyes glaring at the bandit without blinking.
"How did you dodge my attack? That's impossible!"
"I-l guess... Blah! Shoot, my body..." Arthur replied coughing out blood.
The attack didn't entirely miss, it barely cut Arthur's stomach, but the impact caused his stomach to open up a little. Fear, panic. His body kept trembling, was he going to die? He pretended to be okay, avoiding his friends from getting worried, also avoiding the enemy from thinking he's weakened.
"Arthur... You're bleeding! You've to stop fighting, you're still too young to—" Strom advised him, but shortly got interrupted.
"If l use my wounds as an excuse to give up, then my declaration would be a joke. I've the power to protect, so..."
I promised to change my attitude, in my old life l had power that could erase poverty, yet l chose to satisfy my foolish desires. Now, with this second chance, l must use power for it's purpose.
That's why...
"I must use what l have, stand back, Storm!"
"Huh? What are the planning in your current condition?"
"My trump card!"
".... Fine! Humans sure are quite complicated to understand."
Arthur still feeling pain from the cut in his stomach, he took one step forward. "Look who's discriminative, call me Arthur would ya?" A bright yellow circle formed beneath his feet, the circle expanded reaching the bandits position. Arthur's cage surged a large amount of divine energy causing an overdrive. "It grew bigger?"
Facing his sword backwards, a "Z" was formed in the floor, his body kept charging up more energy as it kept heating up. Moving another step, Arthur instantly launched himself forward his entire body covered in the yellow energy like aura, the bandit watched him move in a zigzag pattern, unable to read his next move. The bandit clueless watched his surroundings until.
"Flowing flower: Z move!"
Arthur appeared infront of the bandit, and cleaved through him.
The Bandit's upper body had been several injured with a Z shape cut, as he kept losing blood. His mask snapped as the attack also reached his face. He was flabbergasted not even letting out a cry, stunned by the fact he was taken down by a kid, feeling embarrassed and unable to say anything even moving his body. The bandit dropped to the ground, as blood pool formed.
Arthur watched with a slight hint of excitement, his body couldn't muster the strength to stand up, he watched as his body dropped to the ground. His vision slowly blurred, but, Arthur could see a black figure standing infront staring down at him, he couldn't make out who it was as his mind refused to fun
ction. It wasn't Storm, nor Blake or Iris, but....who?
"Out..." The figure whispered.
Arthur's vision blacked out, and was unconscious.