“You… You really are something…”

This was what Carla said when she saw the bloodbath in front of her.

Since the beginning, Carla didn’t need to make a move. At first, when they were discovered by one of the expedition’s patrolling group, she had thought that they wouldn’t be able to launch a surprise attack. This would have been a lost in momentum for them. However, when Grey pulled out his gun and fired at them, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

What is this thing? I couldn’t even see what he fired! Magic items like this exist?

Those were her thoughts at that time. She knew that Grey possessed many magical items since he could craft them, but she never saw something like this before.

He nearly killed every one from the patrolling group that caught them in a short amount of time. When she saw one of them running for his life, she wanted to run after him, but Grey stopped her and shook his head. He only told her that they needed to clear everyone else who parted from the main group. Leaving witnesses wasn’t a problem, but being caught off guard by them could be inconvenient. She still insisted that the survivor will warn the main group from their arrival. Grey didn’t even bother answering her and just disappeared from her sight after he asked her to wait for him here.

She did not have any choice in the matter. He was too fast for her, so, she just sat where she was and waited. And before long, he reappeared.

A thin stench of blood penetrated her nostril, but she couldn’t see any on him. Seeing his usual calmness, she already knew that this wasn’t his blood.

They advanced toward the main group location while staying under the cover of the shadow of the forest.

Then, the main group was in their sight, fully prepared to welcome them. Clara whispered to Grey about what he would do now that they were waiting for them. And he just pulled out his gun again without looking at her and aimed at the archers.

He pulled the trigger, and one archer was dead, his head partially destroyed. Carla was shocked once again. Earlier, he could shoot their enemies down with 15 meters separating them, so she wasn’t too shocked by his aiming skills, but this time it was different. There was at least 100 meters distance between them and the main group, and he could aim at the archer’s head on the first try. And then, one shot after another, the archers died unable to dodge or see what killed them.

The whole time, Carla looked at Grey with astonishment in her eyes, and a bit of fear. If he wanted, he could kill her and she wouldn’t even be able to see him, let alone react.

After that, he decided to confront them head on since they put up a magic barrier to obstruct his shots.

By the time Grey and Carla arrived, they had summoned 5 earth golems. This, made Carla bit her lips. Earth golems had tremendous regenerating abilities and could be considered invincible as long as their core wasn’t destroyed. Furthermore, their resistance to fire made them a pain in the ass for her to deal with.

While she was still thinking about how to deal with the golems, a piercing sound was heard. An arrow was coming at them, but never touched his target. It fell at their feet covered in ice.

The arrow was aimed at her and she would have bee it if it weren’t for Grey’s intervention. A cold shiver ran down her spine before her thoughts became clear. She couldn’t be distracted and needed to focus on the battle.

However, Grey kept surprising her. In few seconds, he shattered the mana barrier and prevented the mages from casting their spell. Furthermore, he created a dome of darkness covering them and the main group where everything inside was pitch black.

Being a member of the Headless guild, she had developed something similar to night vision, but there was a gap being able to see with only the glimmer of the moon and being able to see in complete darkness. Inside the dome, she was like everyone else, blind. Everyone, except Grey. He didn’t need to see them, the mana circulating in their body was enough.

Grey whispered to her to not move, no matter what. And a metallic sound came from his position. She knew what it meant. He had drawn out a sword.

Few seconds later, shriek and cries could be heard coming from the main group. She couldn’t see, but she knew what was happening. It was a one-sided battle. They couldn’t retaliate. Those who tried to gather some mana to lighten up the place were killed, those who were still in shock too died fear and unwillingness in their eyes. They were about to be all killed after all they have done.

Three minutes. That’s what it took to kill nearly all of them.

Indeed, the last one standing was the leader of the expedition. After killing everyone else but him, Grey released the black cage, unfolding the slaughter which had taken place earlier. All members either lost their head or were simply cut in half by a blood dripping steel sword. Grey’s coat was drenched in red while his eyes released the same coldness. He turned his head towards the leader and slowly walked toward him.

Each step he took, made the leader’s heart beat faster.

Refusing to die without putting up a fight, the leader bit his tongue and released a vengeful cry.

The taste of iron invaded him, the pain cleared his thoughts while the scene seemed more vivid than ever for him.

He channeled all his mana on body strengthening magic.

Strength boost, agility boost, dexterity boost, endurance boost, iron skin. All the spells he could use, he used them. With his shield and sword ready, he took an offensive stance, waiting for Grey to come closer.

“If you resist, you will only suffer. I just need to inspect your memories, I can promise you that you won’t feel anything.”

And you will cut my neck afterwards you demon!

He didn’t answer Grey, just tightened his grip on his sword.

Grey’s mouth twitched. He didn’t want to waste anymore mana. He kicked the ground at full power and punch right in the leader abdomen, breaking his bones and internal organs, and sending him flying. And before he encountered an obstacle, Grey appeared above him and stomped on his shield shattering his arm.

Although he sustained a tremendous amount of damage, the leader hadn’t fallen unconscious and was still breathing heavily while looking at Grey with his bloodshot eyes.

Grey gathered mana in his hand and put it on the leader’s forehead.

After getting all the information he wanted from him, a bloody arc appeared in front of him. He had just cut his head.

Status, mana.

Mana 3981/6000

As he feared, he had used over 200 mana since the beginning of this. He couldn’t afford wasting it like this. However, there was a reason for him to act like this.

He appeared in front of the carriage and went in to retrieve the box. After taking it in his hand, he could say that the box weighted around 6 kilograms. The box was locked through a magic array. His eyes showed a faint light of red before the array disappeared completely.

He opened it and saw what was inside. His cores were beating faster in his chest while his hand touched the icy cold object contained in it. A refreshing feeling flowed in his body. It didn’t last long, but it was very comfortable.

Status, mana.

Mana 4031/6000

Seeing his mana, Grey’s mouth curved upward. He hadn’t guessed wrong, those were dragon bones. Someone had found a dragon’s corpse.

Seeing Grey smile at the box, Carla regained her wits and rejoined him.

“Do you know what this is?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

He didn’t answer her. This was something he needed, though it didn’t have use for him now, he couldn’t tell her. If the Headless guild knew what it was, he couldn’t investigate about their origins calmly.

“Let’s go back. We’re done here.”

Carla was dissatisfied by his answer. It clearly meant that he didn’t trust her. Though she couldn’t blame him, it pained her a bit.

And like this, they left this battlefield drenched in blood of only one side.

On their way back, Carla changed her hair and eye color again in order to pass the guards at the gate. Her fame as the princess of the Headless guild wasn’t something she could ignore, so, she needed to hide her specific traits in order to not raise too much suspicion. Grey gave his coat to Carla, who burned both of his and hers to not let any evidence. And he gave her the box with the bones, before parting ways with her, which was hard for her. Not because she would miss him, but Carla’s father instructed them to give each other a kiss on the cheeks each time they meet and part. He personally didn’t care that much, but it took her a whole 10 minutes to get ready this morning. However, this time she only took around 7 minutes.

She improved… But I wonder why would her face turn red each time she does it? Is there something that I miss? It’s just the cheek…

Shaking his head in defeat from understanding a young maiden, Grey directly went to his inn to take a shower.

Arriving at the inn entrance, he saw Maya anxiously waiting in front of the door and Alexia hugging her gently. He waved at them, and their head toward him. Maya’s eyes were red like she cried for a long time while Alexia’s were showing pity.

“Is something wrong?”

“Bahus… He…”

“He was beaten up by some hooligans. The authorities managed to save him, and now he is recuperating in his house.”

Maya was choking on her words and new tears started to appear in the corner of her eyes., so, Alexia needed to intervene. Black lines appeared on Grey’s forehead.

“Let’s go visit him.”

The three of them left toward Bahus’ house. When they arrived, Bahus’ mother welcomed us warmly, happy to see that her son had made new friends. Her eyes were tired and her short brown her were disheveled, seemingly from crying and worrying over her son’s health. Her husband was out in town looking for some medicine to let their son recuperate faster. She led them to Bahus’ bedroom, where they found him lying on his bed in a very bad shape, in a coma.

Grey stood there, analyzing his body. Broken ribs, his limbs were in a strange position due to the bones being also broken. His internal organs were a mess, and his skull had suffered a great amount of damage. Leaving possibilities for brain damage.

“Leave. I’ll take care of him. I need some time to heal completely.”

Hearing him, the three women gave him a strange look. Bahus was crippled. The best that they could do for him was reliving him from his pain and maybe healing his bones at some extent.

“Grey… You shouldn’t…”

“Leave him to me. I will save him, all I need to know is when all of this happened.”

Maya was still unconvinced, but she answered him.

“Something after noon, we had lunch together before he went for his part time job.”

“Okay, then you can leave now. In at most thirty minutes, I promise you that Bahus will recover completely.”

“If-If you can save my son…. I don’t know how I should repay you…”

“It’s fine. I can do it, then I’ll do it.”

He is… my first friend…

After looking at her son one last time, Bahus’ mother left the room accompanied by Maya and Alexia. But before the latter stepped out of the room, Grey stopped her I her tracks by putting his hand on her head.

“What happened today can’t be told to the Bethel. I order you.”

“Y-Yes, young master.”

She was hesitant at first, then accepted his request as if he was her true master. Then, she followed the other two outside after closing the door.

Grey looked at his friend with a hint of hatred in his eyes. Robbers, thieves or even hooligans wouldn’t do this. This was clearly premeditated. They wanted to make him suffer.

The authorities intervened? What a joke… They clearly had already finished what they needed to do.

Grey’s black hair started to change, from their roots, they took an ashen white color. His blue eyes turned blood red, and his face was grimmer than ever.

First, I’ll heal Bahus, then I’ll deal with whoever was behind this.

Grey approached Bahus, and placed his hands on his frail body.

An enormous amount of mana started to gather in his hands. However, this mana was different, it was denser and purer than a normal person’s mana.

“Erase Time.”