Chapter 5.2

The torch that Arin had originally arrived with had already been reduced to embers in the span of time he had spent unconscious. He placed his sword on the ground and took out another piece of wood to serve as his torch. Although there was a dim light around him the newly lit torch allowed him to get a better look at his body.

Luckily the rocks that flew from the explosion like shrapnel's had not pierce any of his vital organs. His body was mostly covered with light scratches with the exception of a relatively deeper cut on his right thigh and the bite from the fox. Thankfully none of his wounds seemed to be infected but he wrapped the more concerning ones any way.

After Arin was done patching himself, He started to explore his surroundings.

" Amazing ! " Despite witnessing the fight, as someone who admired watching fierce duels that took place in the desert capital, a fight of this caliber was way beyond his wildest dreams. It had quite literally distorted the landscape.

As he walked his eyes caught a glimpse of an object lying on the ground. Arin raised his torch higher to get a better look, his pupils constricted instantly.

A crisp black corpse lay underneath a roughly shaped rock that covered its lower torso. Any sign of the existence of skin had been thoroughly removed. The eye sockets and nasal cavity caved into darkness that sent shivers up his spine.

As Arin turned to move away a rough sensation gripped on to his legs that made him yelp in surprise (and the obvious cowardice)" AAaah. "

He looked down to fin the burnt hand of the corpse was now gripping his leg. Instinctively he tried to pull his leg free but the burnt hand clutched on to him fiercely. Arin swung the sword in his hand but it merely scratched its opponent !

His gaze landed on the skull that slowly turned to face him, its eye sockets looked in his eyes. ' Finish hi-m ' a weak voice crept into the recesses of his minds and shortly afterwards the hand clinging on to him dropped.

His legs buckled and he fell on the ground, his heart was racing like the speed of runaway horse.

" Fini..sh, Wh..at.. does that even mean ? " his breathing steadily calmed down and for the first time he realized that the ground around him was littered with assorted detached limbs. Decapitated heads, floors that were covered with the paste that had once been organs and everything was died red with blood !

" Oh ship " the pieces came together, He had witnessed eight mighty warriors facing off their opponent yet now all of them were brutally massacred. Various pieces of the beautifully painting a sickening picture.

" Eurrgggh!!! "The bitter acid filled his mouth as he emptied his stomachs contents on the ground.

Instantly he stood up to run as far as he could before he too suffered the fate that had befallen the warriors.

Finish him.....That clearly meant whatever devil they were up against had still not perished. But in the same moment he was reminded of the bravery and courage that allowed them to stand firm in the face of evil.

In that moment an irrelevant memory pooped up. A younger version of himself that lay in the sweet embrace of his mother. Her gently soothing words as she wiped his wounds " Our legacy is to forever defend "

the moments of helplessness that he felt as he saw his mother's funeral take place and his fathers reluctance to question her mysterious death. All of it inspired him to refine his swordsmanship and seek an extraordinary prowess's that would allow him to protect his close ones.

Having strengthened his resolve, Arin turned back to face whatever hell awaited him. But never did he expect that as soon as he turned around, young boy stood a few meters away from him. His eyes scrutinizing his entire being !