"Your words will be the death of you, and you'll have only yourself to blame!"

  A powerful charge followed Mikangleo's declaration. I never understood where this man got his throwing knives from, but he manifested three of them out of thin air. He launched two of them at me, and they clashed before dispersing in two directions. I barely had to dodge them since his aim was off.

  He must've accounted for that as he kept one of them in his palm for when he approached. Mikangleo lunged forward, aiming to stick the knife into my chest. Hatred blazed in his eyes as I sidestepped the attempt. No matter where Mikangleo placed his knife for an attack, he would find air instead of my body, which made the man's nose wrinkle even more.

  His attacks were careless and indicative that he had no plan. This man was lashing out from pure rage. I managed to avoid one of his wilder slashes and moved behind him. Mikangleo couldn't react in time as my foot found its way into his back. He staggered from the impact, but that was not enough to cool his fury. He twisted his body and slashed his knife toward my torso. It was dangerous, but I managed to parry his forearm with mine. His attacks were too wide, giving me enough space to use my arm length to disrupt them.

  Mikangleo's eyes widened at my strength as he attempted to push down on my forearm, but my limb didn't budge. I held my breath and matched his gaze. There was no ferocity behind my movements. However, I needed to end this fight before he managed to stab me. I pushed away his forearm, which briefly knocked him off balance, but I saw that glimpse of potential that I had witnessed earlier. As he twirled from my push, his eyes hardened, and a blade whizzed through the air toward my face. I caught it by the blade, and my right hand was gashed as a result. It stung, but it was nothing more than salad dressing to the stifling pain my last opponent had put on me.

  My ears flickered as footsteps appeared to my right. In the brief moment of addressing my pain, Mikangleo had charged me from a blind spot. How the hell he was able to move from in front of me to that spot was a mystery, but it didn't matter in the long term. As soon as he approached me, I turned and slammed my tail into his side. He, amongst others, would likely underestimate how impactful a foxkin's tail to the ribs would be, but Mikangleo would be one of the first to learn that lesson. It would have been as if I hit the man with a roundhouse kick, because he was sent flying backward onto his ass.

  "I'll put you down! I'll kill you! I'll kill you for messing with me?! You don't know a damn thing about me?!" he roared after recovering his footing. "I won't have you looking down on me!"

  Before Mikangleo could perform another attack, I jumped several feet in the air and then crashed a fist down onto the man. I expected him to avoid it, but Mikangleo was soon planted onto the ground. The man was heaped in the accumulating mud as the rain continued to barrage us with drizzles. His arms were bruised from his attempt to shield himself before he moved to his ribs. He bit his lips in frustration, and he began wheezing softly.

  "I-I'm not d-done!" I heard him shout, but his voice was weakened. "I-I will not be talked down to by anyone! Not you or anyone else! I-I can s-still fight!"

  "I will overlook this, too," I said softly as I approached him. "I would say that you were a worthy fight, but a snowball lasted longer in hell than you did in this rain. In a world of magic and strength, Mikangleo, you are merely a human who uses throwing knives. Where is your great equalizer when I am able to catch your blades and overpower you? You may be able to continue the fight, but if I hadn't wanted your head, then I would have had it. The fucker would have had your tongue, and you were helpless to do anything about it. In a world filled with giant beasts, it is foolhardy to rely only on oneself and your ability to use blades."

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  As his hostile gaze shifted my way, I noticed a tear escape the man's visible eye. He shook with rage as he pushed himself to his feet and desperately wiped his eyes with his sleeves.

  "I'm not a coward, and I'm not a fool," He said softly. I was only able to hear that because of my enhanced hearing.

  "Then what are you, Mikangleo? What would my death even gain you? What would you prove from your actions, and who are you trying to prove them to?"

  There was no response as the man continued wiping his tears. Shaking my head, I turned my back to him and moved to where Claire was lying. With the rain picking up, I didn't want her to get unnecessarily wet in her current condition.

  "Silence speaks volumes," I told him as I scooped Claire over my shoulder. It took a second to regain her sword and fix it to her waist, but she achieved it. I draped the cloak over her head to shield her from the drizzle. "You won't answer those questions, but know this. You may return to Astana, but that man, The Ravager, as he is labeled, will kill you once given the chance. He views you as Claire's ally."

  I would point toward Astana on the road with a wooden sign. Following that, I will point in the direction of Sturburg. "Head that way, and your life will be uprooted, but you'll have a better chance at living. It is the optimal route for a coward. Continue running from whatever ghost is haunting you, but know that the Grim Reaper will come eventually. That man is likely persistent, so consider him another thing that you have to run from."

  I watched out of the corner of my eye as Mikangleo weighed his options. His eyes still blazed with hatred as his fists once again clenched. Unfazed by his actions, I would begin my journey toward the path to the Hidden Grotto. My steps splattered the mud beneath my feet, and I reclaimed Cataylst. The mad gace way and I managed to slip, but thanks to my spear, I was able to prevent myself from toppling. I couldn't allow myself to be embarrassed, so I thought of something to say to distract Mikangleo.

  "I would like to point out your best option," I said when I arrived at the familiar yellow road. "The time of running away is over, as the mistress of opportunity has come to your door. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the defining event in your life. You want to prove that you aren't a coward? You want to prove that you aren't a fool? Then your decision should be obvious. Join us, lend Claire your strength, and explore your potential! The yellow brick road is right here, and you'll find me on it if you have the courage."

  It had only been less than a week, but I am returning to the Hidden Grotto. God knows what kind of beast I will find in this venture, but I know one thing: I will spite Valdus! That bastard sent my brothers and me to that place, intending for it to be our tomb, but his short-sightedness has allowed a glimpse of true power in this world. The Lynx has been the toughest opponent I have managed to match gazes with, and I felt envy in my heart for it. Its power was awe-inspiring despite being on the receiving end of its wrath.

  If I had power like that at my command, then I would be able to assist Claire in resolving the threat against her family. For a city to be saved, a man or woman must possess the power to overcome the threats that disrupt it. As Claire's weight burdened my shoulder, I hardened my resolve. Bonner and Q entrusted in my plan to evolve our group, so it only makes sense that I follow through. No matter the danger or the threats we will face, I will keep our new ally safe.

  'Q...Bonner... fear not, my brothers. I'll get it done, no matter what it takes.'

  With no response from the man, I turned and began to travel the yellow dirt road. It was unbearably hot when I traveled there for the first time, but now the humidity was choking the air, and the rain was smoggy. However, that didn't deter me from my path ahead. I will return to where my journey in this world began, alone if need be, to gain the tools I need to start correctly. My ears would flicker as Mikangleo made his decision, and a grin appeared on my face. I'll keep our allies safe.