Sofia couldn't take it anymore. She barged into Fein's room, her face pale with fear. "We have to get out of here," she said.
Fein nodded, his expression calm. "I agree. We'll leave first thing in the morning."
But as they tried to leave, they discovered that the old man had locked them in. Panic set in, and they realized that they were trapped in the mansion with the ghostly caretaker.
The night dragged on, and they heard strange noises coming from the walls. Aoi cried softly, and Voli tried to comfort her, but even he was shaking with fear.
Finally, morning came, and they managed to break down the door. They ran to the carriage, and Williams whipped the horses into a frenzy. The old man stood in the doorway, watching them go, his crooked smile now a full-blown grin.
As they drove away, they saw the old man transform into a ghostly figure, his cackling laughter echoing through the mist.
Fein looked at the old man directly in the eye. He could feel the S-rank degu energy on its body. He didn't act as he saw that the old man doesn't really have malicious intention, but he was just scaring them.
Suddenly, the old man winked, which made Fein chuckle. Unfortunately, Sofia and the other didn't know about this.
...
The rough road stretched before them, the winds picking up and the skies threatening a storm. The carriage bounced and shook as they traveled, the wheels struggling to stay on the narrow path. Fein sat on one side, his eyes scanning the surroundings, while Sofia looked out the other, her hand resting protectively on her sword. Aoi and Voli were sitting across from them, their eyes closed as they meditated, while Williams concentrated on the road ahead.
Suddenly, a group of mercenaries appeared in front of them, blocking their path. The mercenaries wore rugged armor, their faces covered with scars and tattoos. They looked like they had seen many battles and were not to be messed with.
Fein quickly realized that these mercenaries were not going to let them pass without a fight. He stood up from his seat, unsheathing his sword, and prepared himself for the confrontation. Sofia did the same, her expression resolute.
"What do you want?" Fein asked, his voice low and firm.
One of the mercenaries stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "We're here to collect the toll for this road," he said, a wicked grin on his face.
Fein narrowed his eyes. "There's no toll for this road. It's a public road."
The mercenary chuckled. "That's where you're wrong. We own this road now. And if you want to pass, you'll have to pay up."
Fein shook his head. "I'm afraid we can't do that. We need to get to Kraken Island as soon as possible."
The mercenaries laughed, drawing their swords. "Then I guess we'll have to take it from you."
The mercenaries charged forward, their axes held high. William stepped forward to meet them, his karate stance low and ready. The first axe-wielder swung his weapon down, but William sidestepped and delivered a swift punch to the man's gut. As he doubled over in pain, William followed up with a powerful kick that sent him tumbling backwards.
Meanwhile, Aoi had taken to the air, leaping up onto a nearby tree branch. She summoned a flurry of snow and ice, sending it hurtling towards the mercenaries. One of them tried to block it with a wind wall, but the freezing snow easily penetrated through, freezing his arm solid. Another mercenary attempted to strike her with his axe, but she easily dodged his clumsy attack, landing gracefully back on the ground.
Sofia twirled her Purple Destruction Scythe in a figure-eight pattern, creating a powerful gust of wind that sent the remaining mercenaries stumbling backwards. She charged forward, her weapon gleaming in the sunlight, and swung it towards them with all her might. The axe-wielders tried to block her attack with their own weapons, but the scythe cut through them like butter, leaving them defenseless.
One of the mercenaries, realizing the futility of their situation, attempted to flee. Aoi quickly conjured a wall of ice, blocking his path. He turned back towards the group, only to find himself staring down the blade of Sofia's scythe. The other mercenaries lay defeated on the ground, moaning in pain.
The group caught their breath, their hearts still pounding from the intense fight. They exchanged glances.
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
"Nice fight guys!" Fein, who didn't join the fight, gave them a thumbs up and smile. Then he looked at Williams. "I didn't expect you to know Karate. What's your ability, by the way? I didn't see you use it..."
"I can sharpen my nails to the level that could almost cut diamonds. I rarely use it since it's dangerous." William scratched his head nervously. In front of Fein, the youngest S-rank with a high position in QWERTY Organization, leader of Eyes of the Dark Knights, and rule of the Underworld in the South, he couldn't help but feel small.
...
Fein and his group finally arrived at Kraken Island. William had to bid his goodbye to them as he had other things to attend to. The moment they stepped onto the island's shores, they felt a cold, eerie feeling. The atmosphere was thick with mist, and the trees seemed to have a life of their own, with branches swaying as if they were reaching out to the group.
Fein looked around, his eyes taking in the surroundings. The island was unlike anything he had seen before. The trees were tall, and the leaves were a deep shade of green, but they had a withered look to them, like they had been left unattended for years. The sand on the shore was black, and the waves were rough and choppy.
As they walked deeper into the island, they noticed that the air was damp and musty. The silence was almost deafening, with only the sound of their footsteps and the rustling of the leaves. Sofia tightened her grip on her scythe, ready for whatever danger might come their way. Aoi flew above them, scanning the area for any possible threats.
Voli, on the other hand, was calm and collected. His fur was standing on end, but he seemed unfazed by the environment. Fein looked at his tamed beast and nodded, silently acknowledging that he was ready for anything.
"Be careful, everyone," Fein said, his voice low and serious. "We don't know what kind of danger we might face here."
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