Chapter 13- Dangerous Suspicions!

I sprinted as fast as my legs could take me. I bounded several feet with every step and traversed across the village. Breaking through into the third limit of the Breaking Body stage was showing some effects. The boy that I had saved earlier was slung over my shoulder and screaming. We ran past several buildings and ended up in the entrance to a wooden building. It had several columns and beams that supported the upper floor. However we were lost. I glanced angrily at the culprit over my shoulder.

"Would you shut up! You're not helping right now!!" I yelled at the squirming kid. You don't get recognition for saving anyone anymore.

"Bad! Bad! Monsters! Coming!" The kid spoke in broken speech as he tried to free himself from my grasp. I didn't have time to worry about this kid! As I debated on throwing the kid away two black shadows jumped at us from the nearest roof.

I didn't have time to think. I flicked my wrist and a ball of multicolored flame appeared above my right palm. I apologized to the nice villagers as I set the wooden beam closest to me on fire. It quickly went up in flames as I threw the kid away and charged at the incoming monsters.

The first one runs straight at me while the other flanks around my side. I straighten my hips and give a full charge at the one in front. It immediately pounces in response and I smile at how simple these monsters are. I tuck my upper body down and straighten my right leg as I slide underneath the leaping Nightstalker. The flames on the beam that I had set aflame earlier suddenly came to life and released their grasp of the beam and engulfed the Nightstalker instead.

It released a horrible scream before it was burned to a crisp. The other Nightstalker had dumbly watch the whole ordeal and I took advantage of its confusion by delivering a flying knee to it's cranium. Flames entered its body through the impact and it died a horrible death as well. I coalesced the flames into a large ball that flew behind my back.

They were not the almighty multicolored flame and were just some weak crude flame. However that fact didn't matter to me. I had an epiphany to use my ability to control flames to their max potential, but now wasn't the time to test any hypothesis.

"Hey, wait for me here I'm going to look around real quick." I called out to the boy who was trembling. The boy was looking back and forth between the ball of fire behind my back and the dead Nightstalkers. He stopped screaming and thrashing around, so I guess it's fine.

I climbed up the wooden columns and quickly got up onto the roof. I lieft the ball of flame behind because I wanted to not attract attention from the horde. Anyways I needed a good idea on the situation of the village. Like I had expected It was chaos.

A black wave of Nightstalkers was constantly flowing over the walls designed to keep monsters out. I saw people people fleeing through some of streets while guards were valiantly holding off the unending waves. Sometimes people couldn't run away fast enough or they fought till they were exhausted and then were overwhelmed by the tide disappearing underneath it's surging black waves. Then it rose out of the black tide that overlooked the village on top of the walls.

The 10 foot tall monster was loftily staring down at everyone beneath his swarm. It's features were as clear as day in the setting sun. It had black scales that looked like a lizard on it's belly side and thick black fur that looked like the Nightstalkers' fur. It resembled a human in stature and shape except for it's wolf like head and the abnormally long talons that jutted out from each finger on it's hand.

What confused me even more was that it started to look at my direction and our eyes seemed to lock for a good couple seconds. I shivered at it's black beady eyes that seemed to hold endless hatred and bloodlust. It wasn't the fact that those things scared me, but the fact that it was concentrated solely on me!

I quickly got off the roof as I had found the house I was looking for. It wasn't far from here and on the opposite of the village from the exploding wave of Nightstalkers. When I returned to the ground I found the boy looking at me with sparkling eyes.

"What?"

"Hero..." the boy mumbled to my question.

"Let's get going, it's too dangerous here for you." As I said that the boy immediately got up and came to my side. He was awfully obedient now, so I didn't really mind what he thought. It's not like I want to be a hero; I would normally ignore a simple child dying in front of me if it meant saving my own skin. However I am not a heartless man even if I have killed many I still wouldn't hesitate to save someone given the chance!

I resume on my path to the house after extinguishing the ball of flame. I had to adjust my speed since the boy was following behind me and refused to be carried again. Luckily we didn't run into anymore stray Nightstalkers on our way back. My guess was that those two were sent to scout. As for what they are looking for I can only give a few guesses. I couldn't find anyone to give the boy to on my way, so he had to follow.

"Prince Glen!!" I hear Chad's voice calling out to me and I see him fully armed and jogging over to me. He seems to be informed of the situation already.

"Chad what's wrong?"

"I'm guessing you can already tell what's going on. Captain and everyone are busy escorting everyone out of the village. We severely miscalculated the size of this Nightstalker horde! I volunteered to stay behind and tell you. Also the alchemists said that your mother would be fine; they just gave us a few medicines to help her. She is being escorted by Jared, the noble, and Harold." Chad was extremely nervous and kept fidgeting. He had my sword in his hand and I took it from him and strapped it to my waist again. He made sure to run over all the important details, but there was one glaring problem.

"I thought you said these guys only hunt at night?" We started to run opposite to the advance of the horde as I asked.

"We don't know... normally monsters similar to Nightstalkers don't group up this large either, or attack when the sun hasn't even set. My guess it that abnormally large one that seems to be the leader." Chad picked up the boy and we increased our speed. What he said had stirred my suspicions. I stopped running and turned around to examine my surroundings.

"Prince Glen! What are you doing hurry up?!" Chad yelled back at me and stopped as well.

"Don't worry, I can escape if I'm pressed for it! Just bring the boy out; I need to make sure of some things before I meet back up!" I yelled without turning back. If my guess is correct then that giant horde's target is myself. That means that I'll continue to endanger mother's life if we keep running. If I'm wrong I'm still confident of running away even if that 10 foot tall Nightstalker attacks.

"Damnit! You're a selfish Prince alright! I can't go back without you or else I would be killed! Screw it, what are you going to do?!" I hear Chad's footsteps and he curses me endlessly as he stops by my side. The boy is behind him as well.

"Hey, Chad's one idiot for staying. However you need to go. You'll only drag us down." I point to the boy who is looking at me with a determined face. He shakes his head side to side saying 'no'.

"Chad, take the boy away."

"I can't leave the Prince alone, it is my duty to bring you back to your escort." Chad is looking all around making sure no Nightstalkers are coming anytime soon.

"Boy, you need to leave. I am no hero, I cannot save you when the going gets rough." I remind the boy again and he simply gives me another determined look. I sigh at these two idiots.

"Alright, hey Chad you said Jared is escorting citizens out. That must mean that the guard captain Garrison is still here. Do you know where he is?" I suddenly turn to Chad and he looks at me weirdly. He has nice resolve in his eyes and tell me to follow him after he picks up the boy.

"Wait, I have an idea." I stop Chad and ask him to put down the boy.

"What's your name?"

"...Cooper..." The boy is embarrassed when he says his name. I go over to a wooden column and break off a large rectangular piece. Take my sword and sharpen it to a point. I repeat this several time till I have exactly twelve around the same size.

"Cooper, you have the most important job. Carry these." I handed Cooper the wooden stakes and we returned following Chad. We ran into several Nightstalker scouts, but they were quickly dispatched by my blade. As we got closer to our destination we saw guards escorting small groups of citizens in the direction we came in. Chad had to talk us out of many confused guards as we passed.

We reached a small encampment that had large wooden stakes sticking out of the ground at various angles. Nightstalkers were pouring in from one side as guards were switching out and continuing the slaughter against the endless Nightstalkers. I could see Garrison yelling orders and guiding citizens who were still in the village out.

"Garrison!" I called out to him as we arrived. Our group drew several looks as we made our way towards Garrison's position. His eyes nearly left his sockets when he saw me coming his way.

"Prince Glen! What are you doing here?!?" Garrison seemed to lose his cool and left his position to rush over here.

"Calm down, I just wanted to confirm something. I won't be in any trouble. Hopefully..." I tried to calm the panicking Garrison in front of me. However my words held no effect on him.

"Prince Glen, no matter what reason you possibly have I cannot allow you to do what you wa..." Garrison's preaching was cut off by a loud scream. Then a 10 foot tall Nightstalker rose out of the waves of Nightstalkers. It was staring right in our direction.

"You three! Come protect Prince Glen! If you fail you'll have to answer to the Queen!" Following Garrison's orders three guards came over to me.

"Prince Glen please don't get in any trouble." Garrison left and started to command the guards. I simple watched the 10 foot tall Nightstalker as it stared back at me. It seemed to give a toothy smile and a shiver ran down my spine.

"Hey you three, I've got a job for you." I broke our line of sight and turned around to Chad, the boy, and three new faces. My suspicions haven't been proven, but this danger needs to be eradicated for mother's safety! I strengthen my resolve and I feel the Qi in my cells begin to settle. I begin to explain my plan to the five in front of me.