Having gone through a shortcut, they were well on their way to their next location on the request near the outskirts of Civil, where, from behind them, the roads continue back to Rade, the city that they came from.

The fields were wide enough to see the boundaries of the forests from afar. The air was fresh enough to awaken one's senses, filling you with a chilling sensation that would rouse a feeling of freedom as they looked at the vastness of the land around them.

Upon having walked further up the road, they encountered people walking the opposite way, heading to the roads leading to Rade in droves. Caravans of people migrating from the looks of it.

"What's happening here? Why are there so many people?" Claire asked, looking down the road, seeing even more people moving towards them in an orderly single file line.

"They do not look to be in the best of shape either," Andersen stated, referring to most of the migrants wearing tattered or worn clothing, carrying too few or too many of their belongings with them. Their expressions were melancholic and forlorn, somehow giving off a vague feeling of what they've been through.

Laruse approached one of the migrators, an average looking adult with messy dark hair, carrying what seems to be a heavy barrel containing some valuables.

"Excuse me, but could you tell me what is happening here? Where are these people heading to?"

The man's eyes met with Laruse from the side, but with a deadpan expression, not bothering to show any type of emotion as he continued walking, ignoring Laruse, but having noticed him, deliberately not showing interest.

Not dejected at all, Laruse then came up to another and began asking him, only to be met with a harsh response, "Outta my way, kid! Can't you see that I'm trying to walk here? Damn terrorists..." the old man walked away, disgruntled and clearly irritated.

Just looking at them already stated that something bad or terrible had taken place, yet the party had no knowledge of what truly transpired, and why the people are acting like this.

He attempted once more, asking a young adult, one that seemed to be at least Remuil and the other's age, but much thinner than they are. Not looking physically or mentally fit to do anything but follow the group, bare feet with a minimal piece of tattered clothing.

"I want to ask you something, if you will," he reached out, putting his hand on the young man's shoulder, catching his attention with the same deadpan expression as everybody else.

The young man gave Laruse an antagonizing gaze once he refused to let him go, forcing him to roughly shrug Laruse off, walking away without saying anything.

Before the young man could leave, Zafra quickly ran up to him, grabbing his collar and lifting him up with one arm only saying, "He asked you something, didn't he? Why don't you answer? Are you deaf? Or did whatever happen to you really break you into an empty useless husk of a body?!"

"Zafra, that's going too far! Put him down," Claire angrily shouted as Cecil tried to calm both of them down, drawing the attention of the migrating crowd beside them, sending the party a stare that did not welcome them.

Zafra stared at the young man intently, driving his stare into him and etching it into his mind.

The young man's body then began trembling as he squinted his eyes, dripping tears, developing into a sob. He silently spoke something, suppressing the noise but is unable to until he releases his kept emotions.

"Zafra, let him go. It's alright. He had a reason for being like that," Laruse urged his anger to calm.

"Mom... And Dad, they... They're all gone... I couldn't do anything. I just watched. Why? Why couldn't I do anything..." the young man broke down into tears, truly making Zafra the antagonist in the eyes of the migrators passing by.

Just then, a large burly, dark-skinned man emerged from the crowd, carrying a large sword on his back, wearing a worn-out piece of leather armor.

"Are you thieves or bandits? If so, then you'd best run along before I cut you down from where you stand. The kid's been through a lot. We all have. Just let him be, and move on your own way," the man said with his deep, stern voice, one that contained a substantial amount of vigor, but waning ever so slowly.

"We don't mean any harm! Please forgive my companion's rash actions. We are merely adventurers on a quest. We became curious after seeing such a vast number of migrators and could not help asking, but things simply got out of hand," Andersen stepped forward, becoming a mediator between the two.

Zafra avoided eye contact with the large man, still listening to the conversation.

After confirming their intentions, the large man signaled the moving caravan of migrators to keep moving forward, allowing another person whom he's acquainted with to take charge in the case of an attack.

The large man remained to tell of what happened, introducing himself as Alec, a mercenary that lived in Civil, a city plunged in turmoil due to a forceful subjugation that took the lives of many.

"As some of you might already know, there's a revolution under way, and many have come into terms that it has become necessary for such a thing to happen, only due to the terrorism happening within the city-states. And as a result, the revolutionaries seem to have made an effort to forcibly take the other cities into their union, and that's what happened here in Civil.

Alec looked back into the horizon, where the city is supposed to be from the party's knowledge, continuing once the brief reminiscence was finished.

"I lived there, and so did my parents, people who resisted the revolutionaries. It seems that they want to find peace with violence, justifying every horrid act they commit with peace and solidarity. But, we couldn't do anything. We were forced to choose between living, or making a stand and fighting back. You could see clearly what we chose to do. There was no question. Many feared death, and so did I. Civil is no more. I suggest that you turn back before you are seen and captured by soldiers or slave traders passing by."

Alec turned around after bowing, heading back to the group leaving for the same road that the group came from.

But, before he could fully leave, Laruse called him back briefly.

"Rade's under their control as well. They're forcing people into their army. What you're going to be doing from there is up to you and everyone else."

"... Very well. Thank you, friend. I shall keep your words close."

And with that, the group continued on their way.

With all that information in mind, they were in conflict of whether they should continue on with their request at the danger of being caught by the revolutionary army, or turn tail and leave for Zeal.

"I have a bad feeling of what Alec told us. It might be too dangerous, and they might assume us as enemies. There's no way that we can fight off an army, even if it was newly formed," Remuil spoke, lost in thought as he began lagging behind.

"Getting scared because of a measly army? I thought you'd be more than happy to head on in there and try to save as many as you could," Zafra spoke with his normal tone, which seemed condescending.

"Why are you like this anyway, Zafra. You were mostly quiet, but why now of all times?" Claire spoke quizzically, slightly raising her voice in irritation of his rebellious attitude.

"There's no need for you to know. Just let it slide for now. It's just a sudden outburst," he replied, walking slightly ahead of the others.

Claire gave up, sighing dejectedly, leaving a sour taste in her mouth after seemingly giving up.

Cecil then nudged Laruse from his side, the two walking behind a few meters from the group, trying to avoid the awkward atmosphere that has taken shape within the party of five.

"Do you think they'll be alright, Laruse?"

"If they truly are friends and not just party members, then this shouldn't be too much to keep them apart from each other. Besides, they'll need one another sometime in the future."

They reached the outskirts of Civil, looking at the city as it turmoil, screaming, and flames erupted from within, making it look like a ruinous massacre from the outside.

Having already known the gist of what took place, they were still overwhelmed by the sight before them.

From a distance, there seemed to be someone fleeing, a small group consisting of a woman and two young adult males, struggling as armed soldiers were accosting them, threatening them with their weapons.

In that instant, a soldier struck one of the young adults trying to fight back, striking deep into him with his sword, kicking him away as he wiped his blade on the deceased man's clothes.

Unable to watch any longer, Laruse spoke in a low, audible tone, suddenly changing into a dash as he ran down the path and towards the soldiers, still trying to assault the remaining innocents.

Closing the gap quickly, Laruse drew his blade, beheading one of the soldiers, and fluidly moving on to the next with a cut and cleave, connecting every move as if it were meant to be a chain of actions.

Within the span of ten counts, all the soldiers lay dead on the ground, bathing in their own blood as their bodies were eviscerated, unable to even realize that they were dead, and if they did, it had already been too late for their voices to exit their mouths.

His expression was empty as he looked down on the soldiers on the ground, blood dripping from his sword ever so slowly.

That uncharacteristic expression of his dissipated in an instant and was replaced with his usual and reassuring one, a face that the survivors were reluctant to see as they began crying in front of him and the deceased that they were with a while ago.

After calming them down and leading them someplace where they could no longer see the body of their fallen friend, the two spoke of what was happening inside with trembling voices and sobbing eyes. The man, who seemed level-headed, spoke in the woman's stead.

"They're massacring everyone. They let the first group of people escape, then changed their minds and starting hunting people down. We barely escaped thanks to you. If you're planning on going there, don't. Not unless you've got a death wish. They're led by a ruthless general by the name of Ruslan."

Having explained the important things, Laruse told them the way that the escaping party led by Alec, took, lavishing him with gratitude once more for having saved their lives despite the loss.

They began thinking through their options, deciding whether it was worth it going through with the plan, seeing as how dangerous it was becoming for them to even be around here.

As a moment passed, and the afternoon reached its peak. The group had not come to a resolution, but at this time, someone appeared beyond the horizon.

They saw another caravan, but of less numbers, yet armed to the teeth.

The men were ragged both in image and disposition, wearing armor and blades that seemed tested and dangerous in their hands.

Behind them was a horse-drawn metal cage, and inside the said cage were people, numbering up to five as they got even closer.

The hardened men eyed the group intimidatingly, coming to a halt once the group returned the stare.

"Fancy looking fer a slave? I've got some er'e, fresh and cheap if you’re going to buy one!" A repulsive, large man came forward, grinning mischievously as he came to the group, speaking to Laruse, who he had assumed to be the leader of the group.

Laruse simply took a look at the captives, then back to the man whom he seemed suspicious of, speaking what he thought.

"You wouldn't happen to be slave traders, are you?"

"Aye. Been doing this since I was in my youth. So, what say you? These are quite the exquisite beauties if I may say so myself. It's hard enough to resist temptation. They'd merely go to waste if I can't find a buyer for ‘em. Won't like the idea of giving ‘em to my men for a bit of nightly pleasure, if you know what I mean."

The man glanced back at his men, who seem to be serving as his guards, laughing roughly as they understood what their employer had said.

Laruse glanced back at the party, saying only the words they needed to hear as they readied their arms, arousing suspicion from the guards, who also reached for theirs.

"It's them. Go!"

With that, the group moved in unison with Remuil taking the lead.

The slave master backed away, not realizing that he was their target.

But, their objective was not to take their lives, but to subdue them and possibly hand them to the government of Civil, which was not possible any longer.

The guards dismounted, raging into battle like frenzied animals who had never been taught the proper way to handle a sword, likewise fight with one.

Yet, the group found themselves in a difficult position, seeing as subduing them won't be easily, or not possible at all in this type of situation.

They understood that, in order to win against these kinds of enemies, one must abandon being a pacifist, resolving to end one is a part of human nature.

Claire shot an arrow, lodging it deep into one of the guard's eyes, forcing him to scream in agony as he backed away from the fight, writhing in pain. His life ended as Zafra struck his dagger into the man's heart.

Remuil, on the other hand was facing difficulty, unable to find the resolve from within him to kill someone. Though held in high regard from within the guild, he had never once taken another's life.

So, he did what he could, ramming his body into one of the guards after locking their blades, sending him falling to the ground, where Robin came jumping from Remuil's back, using her weight to impale the man as she descended.

"I guess that's all of them," Andersen remarked, sighing as he wiped his forehead in relief, unable to sense the presence of another one of the slave guards sneaking up behind him.

They called out to him, but they were too late to even make any other attempt to move.

The man brought down his weapon exceptionally fast, almost meeting Andesen's arm. But, Cecil had reacted in time, creating a barrier that impeded the man's attack.

Before he could curse his misfortune, Laruse came in for the kill, cleanly rushing through without making a sound as the man dropped dead without so much as a noise from his mouth.

The others hadn't noticed Laruse and Cecil as well, surprised and relieved that their companion was still safe from harm.

"Thank you, both of you, Cecil, Laruse. I became rather complacent."

"It's fine. As long as you're alright, then there's nothing more to worry about," he smiled upon making sure that Andersen was indeed without harm.

He then approached Cecil, patting her head as he whispered into her ears, "Great work, Cecil. I'm proud of you, as always," causing her to feel too proud, flattered and occupied in her own thoughts.

Laruse came to the back of the large, square metal cage, gripping the cold, metal bars as he peered inside, looking at the state of the captives before destroying the lock with the hilt of his blade.

Slowly, the eyes of the prisoners opened, unable to believe or even understand what was happening.

"You're all free to go," Laruse said, urging the people, dirtied or deathly, to come forward as he held out his hand to them, whereas they reluctantly took it, easing them of the pain that their faces had.

Finally, there was one last person he needed to help out of the cage, a light-skinned woman with long, straight, dark hair, wearing a dirtied white robe that, if clean, would match her regal appearance.

She delicately took Laruse's hand, which filled him with a strange sensation of comforting warmth that came with her expression, that displayed a despondent look, as if she's lost everything like the people of Civil have.

"Thank you," she said with a distinguished voice, one that seemed to be well versed with manners and the such that nobles would partake in. She then separated from Laruse, joining the rest of the former captives being cured by Cecil and Andersen with magic.

Laruse then came to Remuil.

"So, does that mean the request has been fulfilled?" he asked, looking at the trembling slave master, bound and locked up by Zafra in his own cage, then guarded by Robin.

"It seems so. That's the only thing we came here for. All we need to do now is to go back with this man to Zeal and to mark the request as finished- "

As Remuil and Laruse talked about what happened thus far, the same girl that Laruse took notice of, had come in the middle of their conversation, introducing a formal atmosphere.

"Excuse me, but I wanted to thank you for rescuing the others and I. I'd like to introduce myself before anything else. My name is Julia France. I am the daughter of a distinguished, or should I say, formerly distinguished merchant in the City-states," bowing after her introduction.

"It's nice to meet you, Miss France. You seem to be looking better now. My name is Remuil Enraf, an adventurer of the guild in Zeal," Remuil spoke first with confidence, but suddenly stuttering as he continued to stare at her with a dumbfounded face.

"May I ask who did all of this?" she pointed to the bodies of the guards lying everywhere.

"Everyone pitched in. It wasn't easy since we weren't used to doing something like this, but he's the most outstanding one out of everyone here. I doubt you'll be able to find anyone like him," Remuil boasted, pointing at Laruse as he puffed his chest.

"Me? I didn't do anything at all. Didn't you just say that we all worked together?" he scratched the back of his head, looking at Remuil with a confused face.

"Still trying to be modest? I'm still convinced that you're somehow Laruse the demon replica, but you're just hiding it."

"From how you're singing praise of him, he must truly be something else," said Julia, looking sternly at Laruse, who is now feeling rather awkward, not knowing what to do or say.

"It was amazing I tell you! Believe it or not, he defeated Yavelian envoy and his lord, and fought almost evenly with a demon's disciple, saving us!" Julia's eyes widened with each one of the feats Remuil boasts of.

But, she glanced at him, looking rather doubtful as she thought of him as plain and normal. Just another flashy adventurer with large ambitions. Yet, he did not display such an attitude. So it all became odd to her as she continued assessing Laruse.

"Uhm, is everything alright?" he became conscious of her stare, becoming rather suspicious.

"If what he says are indeed real, then I would like to ask you of something. A request if you will. You are acquainted with a guild, yes?" her eyes lit up as she declared her intentions.

"What's this about so suddenly?"

"Please save my sister. She's been taken captive by the revolutionaries. I would go there myself, but I don't have the means to do so. I am utterly powerless against such odds. But you are unnatural. Your peers hold you in high regard. I shall reward you handsomely," she urged him on, only being met with silence as he is unable to clearly process what is developing.

"Wai-stop, I need to think about- "

"Please! If gold is not enough, then I will give you all I have, including me if I am to your liking," she gently pressed herself up to him, tempting Laruse, where he, and Remuil, gulped, and slowly backed away.

"Fine, fine! I'll do it. Just calm down for a bit, alright? What's with the sudden desperation?"

"But we don't have much time. Who knows what they could be doing to her. She might be sold off by slave traders or violated like the rest of the unfortunate women and girls in the city!" she suddenly lost a bit of her composure.

"I guess I have no other choice. What does she look like anyway?"

". She's wearing a white dress. Her hair is long and golden."

"Any more information? I don't think I'd be thorough enough without much to go with."

"Don't worry. I will be accompanying you," she stared firmly into his eyes, showing the conviction behind her words.

"Weren't you just captured by a slave trader? It'd be better if I go by myself. I don't plan on taking down an entire army. I'll just be sneaking around."

"I'd be much more capable if I had a bow and some arrows to go along with it. Who knows, I might even be a good asset to you," she kept her confident look, not giving Laruse much to think about, or argue about at this point.

"Where are you going to find a bow and arrow then?"

"I'll leave it to you, of course. Now, let us go. There's no time to waste," she briskly walked ahead without waiting for him to say anything else. Laruse merely sighed in resignment.

"How troublesome. Leave it to me, she says. How trustworthy for someone you just met," he mumbled to himself, trying to think of a way to handle this if worse does come to worse.

Suddenly, Cecil came towards them, saying that she had helped all of the captives recover as much as they could, and that rest was the only thing left.

"Listen, Cecil. I want you to go back to Zeal without me."

"What? Why so suddenly?" perplexed, she glanced back and forth between Laruse, Remuil, and Julia, trying to figure out what's wrong.

"Just do it, please. I'll meet you there once I'm done. Something sudden came up."

"Wait, Laruse. Are you serious? Only you two? It's too dangerous!" Remuil yelled out to them, already leaving for their destination.

"My point exactly. Just do as I say, and it'll all come out fine! I'll manage somehow!" Laruse replied with a loud tone.

Remuil then approached the party, repeating what Laruse had told them.

"That's simply reckless! What is he thinking? Even if it's only rescuing one girl, that's a high ordeal. We already know how brutally they treated the civilians of the city," Claire argued, pinching her temple in disagreement.

"What do you think about this, Miss Cecil," Andersen looked to her for an answer.

"That's just who Laruse is sometimes. I've been with him for quite a long time, but he's rather unpredictable and predictable at the same time. He'll follow his morals, then ignore it if he sees the need to do so. But, I agree with you. It is rather dangerous.

Upon reaching the gates, they immediately spotted a handful of guards scouting the upper ramparts, oblivious of their presence, which they hid with the small amount of time that they had.

The sun was beginning to set, and their vision was getting worse and worse over time. Their opportunity to make the rescue effort easy was on the verge.

Laruse took a peek from the side of the wall they hid by, seeing the full effect of the damages the army had done to the city.

Bodies of people, innocents from the looks of it, were all scattered on the ground, with puddles of blood, either fresh or dried, forming from under them, painting the ground with a thick scarlet hue. Crows started thier feast, coming in flocks, like a scene from a bloody aftermath, similar to a large scale war.

The various buildings and structures were continuously burning; its crackling sound was loud enough to be heard from where they were.

It was catastrophic, and any attempts at rebuilding the city may take a long amount of time, maybe even longer in the distant future.

The soldiers could be seen loitering, moving around here and there, seemingly taking a break from their victory, looting the corpses and entering any buildings that were unaffected by the fire.

"Let us keep moving. I shall lead you to where we were separated," Julia hurried, swiftly changing points of vantage, as if skilled in this type of work.

Laruse followed, trying his best to conceal the sound of his steps, which would echo on the ground if it were silent enough, and if the soldiers listened closely.

They entered an empty alleyway, not spared by the damages, devastated as more bodies could be seen decorating the walls and stone floors with their blood.

There were even some women or other females who were naked, presumably deceased as their nether regions were bloodied and their bodies covered in various scars, bruises, and wounds all across their body, destroying their beauty, and sometimes, what made them look human.

"I can't believe this. They were beyond correct about saying that they're ruthless," Laruse avoided eye contact with one who had her eye open, the other missing, and her body, being covered in flies, violated inhumanly.

They continued to move on until the two of them came to a crossroads leading to another section of a narrow alleyway. Yet the roads beside them led to the main streets, where the sounds of guards laughing heartily could be heard, the clanking of their metal boots getting louder, indicating that they were getting closer.

"There must be more than a single platoon. This'll be bad if they find us," Laruse started glancing back and forth, trying to find another route besides the one they came from.

He approached a wooden door that was slightly ajar, pushing it slowly, creating an unpleasant creaking sound, introducing them to a gut-wrenching, rotten odor that one could only describe as 'putrid'.

Hearing the group getting closer, he pulled the disgusted Julia into the house, covering her mouth with his hand and forcing her back to a wall, using his other hand to gesture silence.

He took a small peek through the window to their side, making sure that the army began passing them.

"Hey, did you hear that?"

"What?"

"Hmph, maybe it was just my imagination."

"Ha! Just means that you're getting old! Just retire already why don't you?!"

They laughed, passing by after a moment of suspicion. After their voices could not be heard anymore, Laruse pulled Julia out of the house, not daring to say what he saw before they entered, seeing as it might only make her faint.

"Let's keep moving. It'll be difficult when it gets dark," Laruse said, receiving a nod from Julia, who looked at Laruse as if he had a secret she wanted to know about.

After having passed through more alleyways and narrowly avoiding more soldiers, nearly making it to the heart of the residential area and the commercial area in the city.

"This is it. That's where we were separated."

Julia pointed to a ruined mansion across the street, where a group of soldiers were loitering in front of.

Obnoxiously loud and excessive, they spoke confidently, not realizing that there were some who were listening in form them in the shadows of the alleys.

"Hey, are there any more women around here? I'm bored to death. Can't find anything to do around here."

"Yeah, the whole things a giant mess. Too bad though, the general took all the beauties inside the city Keep and is saving them for later. Lucky bastard. He let the others go too. Now there's no one left. Either dead or being used by someone else."

"Why don't we sneak in and bag ourselves one. We'll be in and out before the general notices."

"That's a terrible idea. You sure are stupid. But what about that aide of his, the one he's always pushing around and beating up whenever he wants to?"

"Oh, that hot aide of his. Dunno why she's so quiet though. If you're really desperate, let's try and 'persuade' her. Don't think she'll mind either way. Her mind seems already broken."

They laughed mischievously amongst themselves, disgusting Laruse, who held in his anger.

He withdrew further in the shadows, taking an alternate route which seemed to go deeper into the heart of the city.

As Julia walked beside him, she noticed that his pace was getting quicker and quicker, yet he was silent.

"You're rather collected and obvious despite being a professional," she said with a normal tone of her voice.

"Who said I was professional. I'm fine anyway. We just have to keep moving while we have the luxury of time."

"Indeed. Follow me. I know where the Keep of the town is."

The sun had nearly set, and they have arrived to the heart of the city, its courtyard surrounded by tents and soldiers wandering about, mingling with others as they rest their bodies.

"How do we get in?" asked Julia, surveying the area as closely as she could.

Laruse kept a steady eye in front of him, focusing on the platform at the front of the Keep.

He couldn't believe what he saw, making him rub his eyes, then taking a second glance just to be sure that he wasn't being betrayed by his own eyes.

From afar, he could see an inhuman practice taking place. Many people wearing dirtied clothes were lined up, both men and women, and some looking to be of the youth.

One man was dragged to the front, then brutalized as they pinned him to the ground.

The soldiers on the platform could be heard screaming out an incantation, "Down with the opposers!" then quickly bringing down his weapon upon the innocent man, decapitating him even before he could scream out in pain.

His heart then began to beat loudly, enough that every other sound around him had been blocked out, and the only thing he could hear was his own heart beating, and a high-pitch metallic sound screeching, getting louder and louder.

He breathed in and out, calming himself as he regained his composure.

"Are you alright?" asked Julia, looking terrified as if she saw something horrid and terrifying.

He reassured her by placing his hand on her shoulder, looking sternly into her eyes, different from his aloof expression.

"What do we do? It's not going to be wise to simply attack them with hatred in mind. We have to think things through."

"Right..."

As he replied, he could hear the loud screams of innocent people, howling in pain and agony as they are being tortured and played with, and other unprecedented things that could not be done by someone called a human, but a demon.

(I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do for you).

He gripped his fists tightly, restraining the entity inside him that's been urging him to unleash himself once more and revel in the past that he once lived through.

What's more, a loud, regal voice echoed through every part of the Keep and its surroundings, silencing the crowds of soldiers who all looked to him.

The tanned man wore a set of dark-like knight armor, emerging from the door of the Keep with three naked girls in tow, held with a line of rope tied on their wrists. And behind him was a pale girl with dark long hair, wearing the same design of knightly armor as the man.

"Enjoying yourselves, huh?"

A boisterous voice filled with zeal bellowed out, instantly catching Laruse and Julia's attention.

Julia in particular, gasped for air as she could not believe what she saw.

"It's... her!" she pointed to one of the three girls tied up.

One of them shyly hid, an elegant, flawless, and beautiful female possessing long blonde hair, along with a young, well-developed body that stood out amongst the crowd, drawing attentions far and wide.

"Enjoy this while it lasts! We'll be going back to ransack another city, got that?"

He spoke, putting his foot before them and leaning forward, staring at his army.

"But for now, we'll be celebrating!"

His announcement was followed by a roar from his soldiers, which burst out in cheers, not containing an ounce of disagreement. At the same time, he drew all three girls towards him, playing with them as he retreated back into the Keep.

"He went back in. This is going to be quite difficult. I thought we had a chance since he came outdoors," Julia cursed after. Dismayed that her plan, which she formulated instantly, had been nulled.

"I have an idea. Just stay here and out of sight. Wait for me, I'll be back right away."

Laruse left without another word, going back towards the direction that they came from, working with what little light he had as the darkness began setting in.

Upon reaching the alleyway where a mansion stood across, he peeked, catching sight of his targets standing by the front door.

He took a breath in, then came out from the shadows, emerging with confidence as he stared menacingly at the soldiers, who immediately caught wind of him, becoming rather suspicious and wary, making them reach for their weapons.

"Who the hell are you? A survivor?"

"I guess we have someone to play with them," the man approached Laruse with a smile, unsheathing his weapon after assuming that he was a survivor of those who resisted the invasion.

"Just be careful. He's armed. I'll let you handle this. I'm tired," the man closed his eyes, sitting on the ground.

Within a few seconds of him closing his eyes, he hears the sound of wind being cut, and something being cleanly slashed off something, or someone.

"Done already? Thought you'd want to play with him for a bit more?" he spoke with his eyes still closed, unaware. There was no answer, leading him to open his eyes to a gruesome sight, one that woke his entire being.

Before he could even begin to scream, Laruse, resembling a demon under the now dark night sky, rushed the man, ramming his fist into him, creating a satisfying crunching noise.

Meanwhile, Julia kept watch, anxious as she periodically looked back and forth to make her she was safe from being discovered.

Suddenly, a shadow from behind her appeared, whereas she immediately felt its presence, preparing herself as she tensed her body, then turning her body, using her elbow as a way to incapacitate the enemy behind her as he got close enough.

Yet, her surprise attack was flawed as the man arched his stomach backwards, avoiding it, then grabbing her wrist and cuffing her mouth with his hands, inching his face towards hers.

"! .a..rus?!"

Her voice was muffled as she spoke.

"Shh, it's me. Calm yourself," he removed his hand gently, making sure that she'd already calmed down, then retreating a few steps back.

She looked at him, identifying his new attire to be an armor set worn by the same soldiers, with the exception of a helmet.

"Here, take this."

Laruse then handed her a bow and a quiver with a handful of arrows.

"Thank you. Now, how should we get in?"

"We don't. You stay here and stand guard. I'll head inside and free everyone that I can."

"That's reckless."

"That's what the uniform is for. There's no time for debates. besides, taking this request was reckless enough. I'll go in now, or never."

She cast her sights downwards, bitterly nodding with his statement.

"Don't worry. No harm will come to your sister. I promise you with my life," Laruse managed a smile, putting his hand on his chest.

He left without saying anything else, boldly emerging from the shadows and into the large encampment of soldiers.

He passed them by, avoiding making eye contact with any one, keeping a firm sight on the door a few meters ahead of him.

Yet, he displayed a rather aloof face, trying to minimize suspicion amongst the soldiers surrounding him.

"Hey, you!" suddenly, he was halted by a large man, coated in the stench of booze, who put his arm around Laruse with a strange familiarity.

"You a new recruit? Haven't seen your face here before."

"Uhm, ah, yes! I'm a new recruit. The name's Laruse," he made a friendly face, trying to keep up his disguise, which was in peril of being discovered.

"Where are you going in such a hurry? Come, drink a- hic- few more with us! hic!"

"I'll have to decline for now. Here, how about you sit down," he guided the uneasy man towards the ground where the rest of his group who were passed out, were sleeping.

After having put him down on the ground, the man immediately slept, putting Laruse at ease as he breathed a sigh of relief, continuing his way towards the Keep.

But, before he could enter, he had to pass through the mess of people and blood, whom of which, had been mercilessly eviscerated and maimed by the same soldiers he encountered.

Having passed them, he entered without any more distractions coming upon him as most of the soldiers had become too drunk to even hold a decent conversation, let alone walk around with a specific goal in mind.

Closing the door, he immediately ascended the stairs, following a low pitch sound that began to get louder and louder as Laruse got closer to the main room where the girls were supposedly being held.

The Keep itself wasn't that extraordinary. Carrying the image of a simple government office, furnished normally like any other home, save for the carpets and other decorations, making this place distinguished from the other houses in the area.

Finally, he seemed to have reached the door where the moans of the girls were the loudest, filled with ecstasy, then pain, followed by the extravagant boasting of a prideful man who seems to be the one forcing the moans and grunts out of the women.

He listened closely before making his move, hearing the voice of the buff man from inside saying, "Alright, now it's your turn. I've been looking forward with you. It feels like your special, different somehow. I like that," then a soft yell for help could be heard, enough to motivate Laruse.

He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, closing his eyes and balancing out his breathing. He then kicked the door open, creating a loud bang that nearly took the double doors out from their hinges.