Chapter 66

“Halt! All newcomers need to pay a toll before we let you through.” A man called out to the pair as they began to walk forward.

Blocking their path were an assortment of rough looking individuals. Their leader was a large, bearded man in heavy armor, displaying a variety of scratches and damage from its use. There were more than two dozen of the rugged and gruff looking men, each holding cudgels or clubs.

Before meeting Wil, Astrid would likely have been nervous and scared around these ruffians. But her short time in his company had shown her what a truly terrifying person he was in combat. Unlike these men, she knew that they were now facing a demon, a violent barbarian who would not take kindly to being threatened.

Wil gave them all a quick glance, reaching out with his senses to determine their ranks. Ranging from Rank 3 for the majority, and their leader being a Rank 5, Wil completely dismissed them as opportunists, looking to bully them into making some quick coin.

Wil didn’t slow down his steps, and Astrid followed closely behind him.

“Are you blind! There are dozens of us! Pay the toll and let us pick through the girl’s belongings, then we’ll let you go. Otherwise, don’t blame us when we get rough about it!” The leader roared, gesturing to his gang to move forward and stop them.

“I don’t have time for this shit.” Wil hissed angrily, surprising the crowd. Even the leader was taken aback by his hostile response.

Wil flared his mana, the energy within his core as eager as always to respond. Ever since his encounter with the Dragon Turtle, his mana had started to change. Growing stronger, more responsive, and constantly restless, the changes were becoming further visible as his power exploded around him.

His mana had previously been silver inside his core, like mercury, but changed color externally based on the magic he was using. Now, however, his mana was changing, coloring a deep, Azure blue in his core, with streaks of silver.

With a shout, Wil’s power exploded around him, his powerful magic stronger than his Rank 7 strength would suggest. Blue waves of energy erupted from around him, stirring the sands into a whirlwind around him, while Astrid was sheltered safety within the vortex.

The gang of ruffians were pushed back, stumbling against the sheer weight and power of the mana arrayed against them. Most were unable to withstand the power, falling back, while a few of those that were closer to him were flung away, their bodies clearing the ground, before landing heavily and rolling backwards.

Even drained from his efforts against the Wyrm, Wil had more than enough mana remaining to deal with minor irritants like these, and he didn’t even bother to use actual magic, or his summons, just using sheer force to open a path forward.

The crowd was shocked, and many cleared a large space around the dangerous foreigner and the beautiful woman he was guarding. Even those that were greedy for spoils, gave up on the thought of risking their lives for a chance at the pair’s riches.

“Inform the young master!” The leader shouted, shoving one of his champions away. The man scurried cross the ground, before taking off in a run for the interior.

Astrid’s walked closely behind the enraged Wil, the path ahead clear. Like standing in the eye of the storm, she was completely unaffected by the swirling power around them. Even her long hair only blew slightly as stray gusts of wind ruffled the strands occasionally.

‘What amazing control.’ She thought, watching as Wil slowly reigned in his power, letting those swirling energies fade, withdrawing what mana he could back into his nearly depleted core. It spoke to his restraint that no one was injured during his display, merely pushing the crowd back.

‘Maybe he’s not completely a barbarian. Just uncivilized.’

The leader of the gang was no where to be seen, having run away once he realized he was no match for the young man in front of him. Several of his group remained, cowering on the ground as Wil ignored them.

“Ready?” Wil asked, his anger gone, replaced with the cocky grin he first wore when they met. He even held out his arm, like a gentleman waiting to escort his lady on a stroll.

Rolling her eyes, she nodded her head, straightening her clothing unnecessarily, before placing her hand lightly on his arm. She blushed slightly as he chuckled at her, turning towards the path to the interior. Astrid’s last sight of the outskirts were of people watching them warily as they left, their campsites in disarray from Wil’s mana.

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From Rank 3 to 4 on the outskirts, to Rank 5 and 6, the strength and quality of the people they encountered rose as they traveled towards the center. Every available place was taken by individuals, starting with small campsite shared amongst close companions, to massive, silk pavilions occupied by a single, wealthy person and their guards.

Wil and Astrid ploughed their way through all obstacles, barely slowing down as the traipsed straight through campsites, or barged into covered pavilions, shoving guards and well-dressed popinjays out of the way in their hurry to get closer to the Source of Mana in the Center.

Astrid flushed red in embarrassment as Wil ripped through a large, silk tent that blocked their path, its walls stretching to join others, making it difficult to avoid. Wil didn’t even bother trying, simply raising his leg, and sending a kick at one of the poles, collapsing a large section, and the trapping the occupants within under the heavy, falling silks.

Not slowing, Wil ignored their shouts and kept marching, while Astrid spared a glance to see a man and a woman, interrupted during their intimacies, clad in nothing but what the gods had given them. Blushing red, she hurried after Wil, keeping her eyes on his back while they left the couple behind.

With every step, Wil could feel the mana growing stronger, and each breath he took pulled the ambient mana into his lungs and down towards his core. The mana here was eager to respond, his core like a black hole, desperately drawing upon energy around him.

There trip went largely uninterrupted, a single, massive swell of mana from Wil was often enough to drive everyone away from him. It was only when they reached the areas claimed by their fellow test takers that they started to run into trouble.

They had just arrived at a relatively open area, a path worn in the sand that led between dozens of tents, when a shout from the side caught Wil’s attention.

“It’s them, Milord! They ignored the toll, and even cursed your name, young master Declan! I explained who we worked for, but the foreign devil just attacked, laughing, and cursing you, Milord!” It was the bearded leader of the ruffians Wil and Astrid had seen at the outskirts.

Clearly, he had found a fat thigh to latch onto to, spouting lies in order to get revenge.

In the company of the bearded man was a group of young men and women, opulently dressed in fine armors and silk robes, their leader was a young man, incredibly handsome, with pale skin and delicate features. His face was powdered with makeup, his lips and fingernails painted red as he held a delicate fan in one hand.

Behind him was a large group of servants, carrying trays of food, pitchers of ale and wine, and large parasols to shield them from the sun.

“Who the hell is this idiot? A clown?” Wil said, ignoring the bearded man and turning to ask Astrid. The group of young men and women scowled fiercely at the comment, one young man cursing and nearly drawing his blade, before the young master, Declan, waved him to stop.

“He is Declan, Son of Delman, Lord Protector of the Northern Ridgemark, Foreigner! It would be best for you to hold your tongue, lest the young master cut it out!” A young woman spoke from amongst the group. Dressed in leather armor, with a thin saber at her hip, she was also wearing fine silk robes to shield her from the heat.

The group each had a stylized, silver ‘AG’ badge on their bodies. These were some of the local recruits that would be Wil’s peers, if they passed.

Wil continued to ignore them, simply looking at Astrid for an explanation.

“I am…familiar with him, Wil. He comes from the far north, his father is a famous adventurer, like my mother. He retired to a lordship at Ridgemark.” She said softy, nodding her head politely at the group.

“Well, the apple fell far from the tree on that one, didn’t it.” Wil said, shaking his head at Astrid, before turning back to the assembled group.

Garman had trained him to deal with delicate situations like this before in Aachen. It required a deft touch.

“Piss off, you’re in the way.”