The scarred man's face contorted into a twisted smirk despite the pain and fear that gripped him. He hissed through bloodied lips, "You think you've won? You and your little friends may have taken us down, but you've only hastened your own doom. The Cult of Diablos runs deeper than you can imagine, and even in death, I serve a purpose."
Epsilon, her curiosity piqued, bent down to examine the scattered red pills that had fallen to the floor. Her gloved hands cautiously picked up one of the capsules, her brow furrowing as she observed it closely.
"These are no ordinary pills," she murmured to herself, her analytical mind kicking into gear. The scarred man had been desperate to consume them, and their nature was clearly significant.
Epsilon's keen intuition and understanding of magic led her to a conclusion. She raised the pill, now held between her gloved fingertips, and said, "It appears these are some form of enchanted drug. They seem to stimulate the source of magic and strength within a person's body."
Kirito fixed a piercing gaze on the scarred man and remarked, "So, this was your escape plan, these enchanted pills?"
The scarred man's defiant grin faltered as he struggled to respond. Before he could utter a word, Epsilon stepped forward, her voice laced with a cold edge. She pointed at Delta, who sat amidst the bloody scene, her predatory gaze never leaving the scarred man.
Epsilon warned, "You see, we have other means to extract information. If you don't cooperate and tell us what we need to know, my feline friend here," she gestured towards Delta, "is quite fond of playing with her food."
The scarred man's eyes widened in fear as he realized the gravity of the situation. With a nervous gulp, he finally stammered, "Okay, okay, I'll talk. Just keep that beast away from me."
The scarred man, his voice trembling, revealed, "The pills... they seem to be mass-produced by some kind of shady company, but I don't know where they come from. The Cult never does anything directly. They have their own ways of setting their plans in motion. I was just a pawn in their game, a disposable piece of the puzzle."
Epsilon and Kirito exchanged knowing glances. It was a valuable piece of information, but there were still many unanswered questions. Epsilon pressed further, "Tell us more about this company. Do you have any leads on their location or their identity?"
The scarred man hesitated, fear still visible in his eyes. He finally continued, "I don't have much information on the company. They keep their operations well hidden, even from their own recruits. I was just given these pills and told to use them when the time came."
Kirito tightened his grip on the man's collar, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. "And what about the Cult of Diablos? How can we find them?"
The scarred man swallowed hard before responding, "The Cult... they operate in the shadows, but they have a few key members who oversee everything. You won't find them easily. You'll need to follow the symbols, the hidden messages, and the whispers in the dark. But beware, they always have a contingency plan in place."
Kirito, his eyes never leaving the scarred man, could sense that there was more to the story. He spoke with a stern tone, "I can tell you're holding back, and this is your last chance to be honest."
The scarred man struggled under Kirito's intense gaze. He stammered, "I swear, I don't know much else! All I heard were whispers among some of the members. They mentioned something about these pills being used to control slaves and tribes in remote places, but I don't know the details, I promise!"
Kirito released his grip on the scarred man's collar and nodded, his expression serious. "Fair enough," he said, acknowledging the limited information they had obtained.
He swiftly delivered a precise blow, knocking the scarred man unconscious with a single strike.
Kirito turned his gaze from the unconscious scarred man to Delta and Epsilon, a serious and contemplative expression on his face. He spoke with a tone of gravity, "You two... you're not ordinary persons. Who are you, really?"
Epsilon started to smirk, ready to boast about their affiliation with the Shadow Garden, but as she met Kirito's unyielding gaze, she realized that this was no ordinary situation. She understood that both sides, hers and Kirito's, were as mysterious as they were powerful. It was clear that Kirito wasn't someone she could withstand alone. So, instead of revealing their true identity, she chose a different approach.
Epsilon dropped her confident facade and met Kirito's serious stare. With a hint of vulnerability in her voice, she said, "We may not be your enemies. That's all you need to know for now."
Kirito, surprisingly, didn't doubt Epsilon's response. He felt a strange sense of understanding and connection as if their paths were bound to cross again in the intricate web of fate. With a slight smile, he said, "Very well. Our paths may indeed cross again. Until then, take care."
In an instant, Kirito vanished, leaving Epsilon, Delta, and the unconscious scarred man behind.
Epsilon stood in the room, contemplating her next steps. She knew she had important information to report to her superiors in the Shadow Garden. As she began to gather her thoughts, she couldn't help but feel torn between two significant revelations.
In a hushed voice, she mused to herself, "The Cult of Diablos and their sinister drug operation is a grave threat we must address. But this boy's involvement in all of this... he's an enigmatic and powerful figure, one we should be extremely cautious of. The Shadow Garden needs to know about both, but we'll have to be strategic in how we handle this delicate situation."
One week later...
Kirito, seated at a corner table in the library, clenched his teeth as he carefully unravelled the bandages from his arm. The pain surged through him, and he bit down on his lip to stifle any audible groans. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he exposed the wound he had received during the battle with the bandits.
He took a book and he hastily flipped through the pages. He sought knowledge, a way to aid in his healing process.
Finally, he found the incantation he was looking for. Concentrating his energy on his wounded arm, he whispered the words from the book with a deep focus, "Heal."
A warm, soothing sensation flowed through him as the magic of the incantation began to mend his injury. The pain gradually subsided, and the wound closed up, leaving only a faint scar as a reminder of the battle. With a sigh of relief, Kirito leaned back in his chair, grateful for his newfound ability.
Kirito glanced at the ancient tome on the library table, its pages filled with intricate symbols and incantations. With a wince of pain, he carefully examined the passage he had been studying. He muttered to himself, "Healing magic... it's a complex art, one that's difficult to master at a high level."
As he continued reading, the text explained the various branches of healing magic, each with its own unique characteristics and application. "Restorative, Regeneration, Enhancement and Purification Magic.
If only I had a mentor, someone who was excellent in magic in order to help me."
Then, Kirito's ears perked up as he overheard the hushed conversation between the two men at a nearby table. Their words sent a chill down his spine, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of moral outrage.
The first man leaned closer to his companion and whispered, "You won't believe the fine slave I acquired last week. She's from the Beastkin race, a tribe of rabbits, they said. She's got those delicate ears, soft fur, and those cute, twitching noses."
The second man nodded in agreement, a sinister glint in his eye. "Oh, I know what you mean. I bought one from the same tribe, a male this time. Those Beastkin slaves are something else, aren't they? They're docile, obedient, and so easy to control."
Kirito clenched his fists under the table, his anger and disgust rising.
Kirito, his jaw tight with frustration, muttered to himself as he continued to overhear the conversation, "In a world like this, where slavery is an unfortunate reality, it doesn't make it any less disgusting. It's a vile practice that needs to be challenged and abolished, even in this medieval era. These innocent beings deserve freedom and respect."
As Kirito listened to the conversation, the mention of "slaves" and "tribes" triggered a realization in his mind. He couldn't help but connect the dots with the information the scarred man had reluctantly shared with him a week ago.
His expression hardened as he realized the significance of the connection. The scarred man had mentioned something about the red pills being used to control slaves and tribes in remote places. The conversation he was overhearing in the library seemed to confirm that the scarred man's information was not just a vague detail but a cruel reality.
A fire of determination burned in Kirito's eyes as he recognized that this was the Cult of Diablos' doing. It was a cruel and unjust system that needed to be challenged and dismantled.
Kirito, fueled by a sense of justice and determination, couldn't sit idly by. He decided to take direct action and confront the two men who were discussing the acquisition of Beastkin slaves. With a firm resolve, he stood up from his corner table and walked purposefully towards them.
The two men, engrossed in their conversation, didn't notice Kirito's approach until he was right in front of them. He spoke in a calm but commanding tone, "Gentlemen, I couldn't help but overhear your discussion about the Beastkin slaves. I have a few questions for you, and I hope you'll answer them truthfully."
The men, taken aback by Kirito's sudden appearance, exchanged wary glances but nodded reluctantly.
Kirito continued, "Can you tell me where these Beastkin slaves are from, which tribe they belong to, and where they were captured or purchased?"
Somewhere far away days later...
As the sun rose, the two Beastkin stood amidst the ruins of a village, now reduced to smouldering ashes. The male, with glossy jet-black fur and stoic features, gazed back at the devastation.
"If only I had more power," he muttered, his voice carrying a hint of regret.
Beside him, the female Beastkin, her snow-white hair and blue eyes framed by long fox ears and tails, snuggled close to him, seeking comfort in his presence.
"You already fought well," she assured him, trying to offer solace.
His anger flared, causing her fox ears to shiver and hang down. "If only I had more power, they wouldn't have been taken away," he lamented.
"No, it's not your fault," she insisted, her voice gentle yet firm.
"Shut up, SHUT UP!" he snapped, his voice laced with frustration.
His outburst left her momentarily stunned. She spoke softly, trying to mend the rift between them. "It's fine."
He hung his head, his glossy black fur seeming to absorb the weight of their situation. "It was my suggestion. That if we have this power, we can overcome the war without choosing sides."
The girl looked at him surprised, "Power?"
What the man took out was a blood-red tablet.
"It's the source of power. If you consume it, you will gain tremendous power. But everyone was against it, they said that instead of relying on such a pill, let's work together and overcome this war. Those fools, I should have killed them sooner."
The girl took a step back from the grumbling Beastkin.
"Gettan..?"
"Say, the one who killed your mother was me."
"What are you saying?"
Her mother was attacked by the enemy tribe and disappeared. She hoped that she would still be alive somewhere.
"Because that woman refused, my plan broke down. If only we had accepted those pills, we would be under the Cult's protection and survived."
"Cult? Hey Gettan, I'm an idiot, so I don't understand what you're saying. You are joking, right?"
"Yukime, Is it a thing to joke about!? I cut her head off from behind! If only that woman didn't exist...."
"Gettan, you're lying ..right?"
Yukime took another step back further.
"There was nothing we could do to protect you and the village from war; it was the only option."
"N.No... don't come near me.!"
"Why are you rejecting me? Now, let's start our revenge."
Saying so, Gettan handed Yukime the red pill.
"You should drink this too, to not be deprived we must deprive them first. Obtain this power, we will slaughter those who have taken it away from us! If you don't keep depriving, they will keep depriving you."
"No, don't come any closer!!"
Yukime finally turned back and ran away.
"Even you are rejecting me!!!"
An impact ran through Yukime's back. She fell face down, her back was cut by a naginata, and her blood kept spilling out.
"Don't reject the power."
"Why, Gettan...."
"Don't be afraid to take revenge. You must snatch it for yourself or it will get taken away from you."
"No, stop."
"You still refuse!?"
Gettan swung his naginata down on Yukime's back as she crawled away.
The wounds inflicted were not deep, but the relentless strikes continued on Yukime's back. Gettan, the male wolf-like Beastkin pressed his foot down on Yukime's back as she writhed in pain. He leaned closer and whispered into her ear, "Now, take this, and let's seek our revenge together."
Yukime responded with a defiant "Noo..." This word of denial marked the end of her pained resistance.
As Yukime lay there, battered and on the brink of unconsciousness, she suddenly saw a figure emerging from afar. A tall guy with a black coat billowing behind him, his hand clutching a gleaming sword. His eyes were filled with concern as he rushed toward her.
Yukime's vision blurred, and her consciousness began to fade. The last thing she saw before succumbing to darkness was the mysterious man's desperate expression, a glimmer of hope amid her despair.
Kirito had arrived there now...