Jack was left in the care of Chloe, the town’s best healer. She would watch over him till he regained consciousness. Aside from the few drops of poison in Jack’s bloodstream, he was expected to make a full recovery. No healing magic needed.

Kastu had his bag full of many items. Potions. Spare daggers. Smoke Bombs. Poisoned smoke bombs. Bandages and more.

He even had a few magic gems, each containing a certain spell within.

It wasn’t likely that he would have to use everything he brought, but it was better safe than sorry.

His nature was paranoid to the depths of his mind.

He set foot inside the church, greeting the Nun as he passed by.

“Hey. I’m back again.”

“Very good to see you. Please stay safe in those tunnels.”

Katsu set his sights on a single door ahead. This would lead him back into the tunnel system below, where he would deal with the pests.

However, he stopped for a moment when he saw who was standing aside, waiting. The familiar form of a white-haired girl. Amaya.

She couldn’t see through his helmet form where she was standing, but if she could, she’d see a face of utter disappointment.

“What are you doing here?” Katsu asked.

“I want to go with you. I need to avenge the people I was with.”

“That’s stupid. There’s no need for that. Just leave it to me. I guarantee they’ll be avenged.”

They didn’t call him the ‘Swordsman of Venage’ for nothing.

His voice said it all, anything down there would die by his blade.

But Amaya disagreed with him.

“No. It’s not the same. I want to avenge them with my own hands. If you won’t let me go with you, I’ll just go on my own.”

She was just bluffing, but Katsu fell for it.

“Fine. If you’ll end up going either way, it’s better if you come with me. But if you don't listen to me while we’re down there, it might cost our lives.”

His sentence ended off with a dark tone. It was true though.

Amaya had witnessed first hand, the Gnolls traveled in large numbers and had strength like a shadow bear. Not to mention the Elder Gnolls, being tougher than multiple bears.

Amaya stuck her hand outward, clenching the air tightly.

“I’m fine with that. Just promise me you’ll let me kill a few.”

“If you’re capable.”

____________

Slash!

The final Gnoll split in half, falling into a mess of its own blood.

Monstered corpses laid scattered through the tunnel, all had been slain by Katsu, no sheathing his blade.

“There were five Elders this time.” He mumbled.

The Gnolls had increased security. Or at least tried to.

Katsu went on, quietly cracking one of the doors, allowing him to see inside.

An incredibly large room, thriving with many Gnolls.

Whispering, Katsu looked at Amaya.

“Light all the poisoned smoke bombs. We’ll trap them inside.”

Amaya scratched her head, a sweat running down her face.

“Wouldn’t the poison affect us too when we go in?”

“No. It’s a special poison. It’ll only affect monsters. Hurry before one of them see us.”

All in one go, Amaya lit the smoke bombs, tossing them into the room.

Right after, Katsu pulled the door shut, using a spell to seal it shut..

“Now they won’t be able to get out.”

Thump! Bump! Bump!

The Gnolls on the other side were pounding on the door, desperate to get out. Desperate to breathe.

This was the death they deserved.

“Just curious. What Does the poison do exactly?” Amaya asked.

Katsu kept the answer short and simple.

“It kills them.”

“I know that. I’m asking how.”

“By making them suffer. First, it causes their lungs to inflame, then their airways will close up. They’ll spend their last moment gasping until they can’t breathe anymore. Until their hearts stop, they’ll wish they weren't killers.”

It wasn’t quite as bad as Amaya expected it to be. She was hoping it would be worse, like making them experience unbearable pain as they died a slow death.

But it made sense, it was quicker to have them suffocate.

Katsu finally unsealed the door after some waiting, and the both of them entered.

Gnolls laid scattered, all through-out the gigantic room.

The place was basically a factory, weapons and armor laying around. Along with black-smithing materials.

The Gnolls were really becoming more advanced. Or was someone pulling the strings?

Kastu paced around, investigating every object and item he spotted.

He snatched a juicy-red fruit off a table, but tossed it away when he realized it was just a berry.

Meanwhile, Amaya was also snooping around. A certain piece of clothing caught her eye. Though it wasn’t anything special.

A black cloak.

In Amaya’s eyes, this was awesome.

“It’s just like what an adventurer would wear. I kinda like it.”

She squinted, taking a closer look.

Attached on the shoulder was a small emblem, with the symbol of a claw.

“These monsters even came up with their own logo.” she murmured.

“What? Let me look at that.” Katsu approached her side.

He knew the meaning of the emblem as soon as he saw it.

It belonged to a local criminal group. The Claws.

‘They're behind this. I get it now.’ Katsu thought.

It all made sense now. They had been teachinch the Gnoll how to modernize themselves.

As for the motive, it was clear. However, Katsu was going to find out, one way or another.

The familiar voice of Jackal Redwinn spoke out loud.

“I knew something was off when it got quiet. Who the hell are y-”

The surprise hit him hard, he completely froze. Upon recognizing the both of them, his lips twisted into a grim smile, “Oho. You guys just made the biggest mistake. The BIGGEST mistake.”

A very loud, sharp whistle left his lips, nearly strong enough to break glass. A call for back-up. Out the tunnel behind him, bulky forms emerged.

One. Two. Three. Four. And more.

There were over twenty Elder Gnolls all together, each at Jackal's command. Safe to assume, he was the leader, in charge of every single Gnoll in the system.

Wide grin, Jackal held up his arms like he had already won.

“You’ll both be just another victim. Never making it out of these tunnels.”

He chuckled then sighed, “My Gnolls have magic at their disposal. You’re not prepared for them.”

The number of opponents and the ability to use magic, this was a serious situation.

At least, it would’ve been.

Katsu had a way to deal with their magic.

“This’ll solve one problem.”

He hurled a gem at the ground, causing it to shatter apart. As it did, a barrier leaked out covering the room’s entirety.

An anti-magic barrier, it would disperse any and all spells nearby.

This made the battle about raw skill and strength.

“ I’ll keep the Gnolls busy. You handle their leader.”

Katsu wasn’t exactly confident he could win against that many. But he could keep up until their leader was defeated. Then they would surely back down.

This would be Amaya's job, but she was hesitant.

Could she even face Jackal? Last time she almost died.

Katsu gave a slight shove to her back, filling her with a sudden energy.

“Go on. I know you have it in you.”

Without Amaya knowing, he had casted an enhancment spell on her; this would improve her reflexes.

Amaya took a deep breath before proceeding forward.

A fierce look in her eye.

She kept a grip on her sword, ready to unsheath it.