“Yeh no doubt” said an other from the top

I tensed up, my instincts urged me to take Ari and flee. I quickly grabbed her hand.

“We have to go now!” 

“You ain’t going nowhere” a dark hooded silhouette dropped in front of me. He was faster than the blink of an eye.

Three others followed and cornered us.

Chills went down my spine, as I took a glimpse at Ari who was trembling with fear. 

“Sorry kid but you have to die. Orders from the higher ups” said the hooded man in front of me.

“What are you talking about?” I asked with a trembling voice

He quickly unsheathed a dagger from the back of his waist and slashed it at me. With a quick step I dodged. 

My instincts saved me from that one.

“Oi oi oi, captain. this ant has moves”  said one of the hooded assassins.

The leader started walking to wards and in a flash he skipped the distance and punched me in my gut.

It hurts like shit.

I tried to regain my senses and as I clenched my fist to hit him back, he struck me in my chin with his knee.

I felt dizzy, I tried to turn around to check on Ari. 

My eyes widened up as I saw the other three ganging up on her. 

One of them grabbed her hand and forcefully uncovered her hood. “What the fuck?” he said “AI boss, she’s an elf” 

“Ahahah what a catch!” said another.

She was yelling, crying and struggling to free herself.

The leader strode toward me, his expression twisted with malice as he leaned in close. "Didn't know you were hiding an elf kid. Don't you know that's a crime?" With a menacing glare, he then turned his attention to Ada.

I quickly pushed myself up with my legs and head butted his back, throwing him off balance. As I tried to follow with another attack, one of the assailants lunged at me and grabbed me by the neck, holding his dagger dangerously close to my face.

"Take care of him," commanded the leader, gesturing towards me as he rose himself up. "I’ll deal with the elf myself."

"Running away?" I mocked him.

"Know your place, kid," he growled, his gaze filled with bloodthirsty intent.

As their blows rained down upon me, my body bent in agony, each strike accompanied by their sickening laughs. As they were toying with my body, blood sprayed from my mouth. Yet all I could see was his grip on her delicate cheeks, his fingers intensely digging into her skin. Tears streamed down her face, mirroring the anguish in her eyes as she pleaded silently for mercy.

I have to save her…

A fist crashed into my stomach.. 

I have to free her…

A knife sliced my arm.. it hurts… 

I have to get to her…She’s crying…

“YOU BASTARD, LEAVE HER” I screamed

He smiled back at me as he grabbed her silver hair up, making her scream. “Finish him and follow up, I’ll take this elf to sir Randolph”

“Randolph??” I thought to myself as punches hammered down on me “Randolph Vermont??”

I was losing force to resist.  My eyes started shutting down.. Everything blurred as I saw her teary eyes looking at me..Asking me to help her..

I have to get up..I have to… 

My eyes shut down.

Is this all I'm capable of? Standing here, paralyzed while he takes her away?

A blurry image of her smile flashed through my mind. "Good job, Lu," her soft, innocent voice echoed in my thoughts. "Look, I'm a grumpy magical beast," an image of her playfully imitating a beast with her adorable chubby face shimmered in my mind. 

It's my fault... Those words I said to her… Why do I keep pushing people away? Am I destined to be alone forever? 

NO! 

Yeah, I don’t deserve to be with her…

NO!

I didn’t deserve this second chance..

NO! IF I DIE WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HER?

Maybe, If I had more power.. If I was just a bit stronger.. 

ahhhh *Sigh*

If..If..If.. always with the damn Ifs. 

When will I learn.. When will I stop bei..

「 Do you seek power ? 」

.. huh?

「 Do you seek power ? 」

..what is this voice

「 Do you seek power ? 」

Yes

「 Why ? 」

..What do you mean why

I want to save Ari

「 That’s it ? 」

What more do you..

「 What will happen when you save her ? 」

What are you talking about.. She would survive..

「 And then what ? 」

Then.. I can see her smile again..

「 Are you going to forgive them ? 」

Who are you talking about.. The assassins? of course not. Not after they..

Suddenly, Countless thoughts scrolled through my brain..

I recalled how they grabbed her tiny hand and dropped down her hood.

..They hurt her

I recalled how he grabbed her cheeks and forced himself on her.

..THEY HURT ARI

I recalled he grabbed her hair and made her scream.

..THEY MADE HER SCREAM

I recalled the look on her face as my vision blurred. A tear dropping down from her innocent eyes.

..THEY..MADE..HER..CRY 

Rage filled my heart. Wrath wrapped my heart. Fury boiled my blood.

「 Are you going to forgive them ? 」

..no

「 Then what ? 」

..I will kill them.

..I will massacre them.

..I will erase them from this world.

「 Good 」

Suddenly, brightness flooded my thoughts. Golden rays of light erupted from every pore of my body, streaming out from my eyes, mouth, and even my nose and ears. 

The beams shined through the entire alley, extending upward reaching the sky.

A moment later, I slowly opened my eyes. My body trembled with fear, as I observed the scene before me.

The three assassins that were ganging up on me vanished with traces of burn on the ground.

“Were..they..vaporized?” I thought to myself.

Suddenly I heard Ari screaming. I turned to my right to see their leader with his left arm burned to ashes as he stood there looking at me with open surprised eyes.

He loosened his right arm and let go of Ari. “You bastard you can..”  

“LUKAAAAAAA” I heard Gav yelling from far away. 

The leader quickly escaped in a flash as he saw Gav running towards us.