Read War Of Virtue | Tapas Web Community

The sun is noon, with clear skies and few clouds. The Forest of the Oath is large and dense, possessing giant trees, ferocious creatures that escape human conception, many try to explore its bowels to discover its ancient secrets in the hope of obtaining treasures and a good life, finding only the shortening of their life in the claws of some mystical beast or flora of the place. The mystical and mysterious creatures of the forest notice the presence of invaders, fleeing or hiding, while large predators just don't react. A loud scream echoes scaring the birds away, running between the forest trails they notice a small feline similar to a white lion, with blue crystal on its forehead, behind him a boy with burnt skin, turban, shirtless with a sash of emblem tied at his waist made up of a blue stripe in the center and thick white sides. He screams while running, clearly running away from something.

– DAMN! MANTICHOR! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO BITE THAT GROW'S TAIL?
The little white lion lets out a loud cry.

– MIAAAAWWW!
The boy's name is Fidem. He responds with tears in his eyes.

– NO EXCUSES!
Behind the two, creatures chase them desperately. The creatures are large one meter, no have eyes, pale skin with red spots, large mouths and straight teeth, three-fingered hands, hairless tails and twisted legs. Known as Growlers, they are one of the simplest creatures born from the Calamity conglomerate. Alone they are easy to beat, even a low-rank adventurer can defeat one with some strategy or strength, but when in a group, even high ranks face difficulty.

A creature manages to get close enough to try to bite Fidem's leg, causing him to fall somersaults, knocking over some strange items along the way, stopping when he hits a giant tree trunk. The creatures surround the boy, but do not get closer, because in front of them the creature that had bitten him is lying on the ground with involuntary spasms and part of its head completely destroyed. Fidem is slightly injured from the fall, on his leg a light barrier shines and then disappears. Fidem gets up and speaks to his pursuers.
– Year… D… Don’t think I’ll fall so easily!

Creatures are fearful, approaching slowly. The little lion, Mantichor, jumps in front of Fidem.
– Mantichor!? What are you doing?! Get out!

Mantichor just ignores Fidem. The boy smiles at the courage of his ally, preparing for combat too.

– If that’s the case… Let’s do it!

Observing them from the tops of trees and bushes, a man with closed eyes responds to his ally.

– I've seen enough… Finish them!

Growlers jump together, which makes Fidem close his eyes for a few seconds waiting for the blow that didn't arrive. With a little fear, he slowly opens his eyes, seeing that all the Growlers in front, were already dead from all types of attacks, from spears and arrows, to magical cuts and ice spikes. A blond man with a scar on his face approaches Fidem, clapping his hands for him, he saied.

– What a amenzing show, boy!

Fidem speaks, still astonished.

– W… Who are you?

The man calling Jeff, extends his arms ironically, he said.
– Can't you gess it as soon as you see it, my boy? I am a benefactor. A nobleman who helps the weak and needy, of course with a little gain.

Fidem is still standing there without reacting. Jeff approaches, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder, with a dark look and an evil smile, he saied.

– And of course this rescue service was a courtesy. To show that running away from our “escort” is not possible, perfect for a nobleman.

Fidem gets rid of the man, staying on guard. The man holds the hilt of his sword with a grim face. Fidem says with his fists clenched.

– Who sent you? They didn't catch me aliv! AH!

Fidem falls unconscious after a surprise attack on the back of the head by one of Jeff's henchmen. The man was visibly disappointed by the intrusion and asked in a joking tone.

– Well, what a spoilsport, Miss Junifer.

The young girl who looks no older than 14, black skin, greenish curly hair, lowers her gaze and responds apprehensively.

– A... As you said, if you killed him, we wouldn't have gained anything.

She looks nervous, not looking at Jeff's face. Their attention is lost when another bald henchman was unable to hold the little lion, Matis breaks free and even scratches the face of the mercenary who tried to hold him, fleeing into the woods. The man screamed in anger.

– Oh! Damn chimera!

Jeff puts his hand on his face, letting go of the previous topic. Another henchman approaches and asks, pointing to the bodies of the Growlers.

– Sir? What should we do with the Growlers' bodies?

Jeff looks on with disdain, responding.

– Don't worry.

The henchman insists nervously.

– But sir, the corpses of the Calamity have to be destroyed so as not to generate a stigma on the earth and…

Jeff interrupts him without much thought.

– Just see.

Bodies of creatures begin to evaporate, their corpses crumble into ashes as like they had been burned for a long time. A wind blew the dust away making all remains of the creatures disappear. Jeff started laughing and explained without looking at the scene.

– Ha ha ha! The Oathwood does not tolerate the Calamity, you have just seen a natural purge of the land. All right, all right, let's enjoy it and get back to our previous objective, troop. And ensuring that no more treasure slips out of our hands, right? Miss Junifer?

A silence fills the air. Jeff looks at another young man of your group, around 15 years old, with short black hair, square glasses, and light skin saying.

– Mickael!

The boy promptly stands at attention. Saying quickly.

– Sir, Yes sir!

Jeff saying with a mocking tone.

– Since Miss Junifer was proactive with the prisoner issue, you, being from the same village, aren’t you? Go help her with that.

He nods in a cold sweat. Go to your ally and start tying Fidem. The boy asks Junifer, whispering.

– Are you crazy?

She also answers him in a whisper.

– I only avoided an unnecessary death.

Mickael removes his bow, handing it to Junifer, then Mickael lifts little Fidem, placing him with his hands tied and a gag on his shoulder. Finally saying to Junifer.

– Keep doing something like this and you will only meet death sooner.

Jeff and his bald henchman, whose name is Korjak, are looking at the forest from a high elevation and comparing it with the mysterious map he has. A river runs through the forest and many mounds and ruins of stone arches are scattered across the landscape. Jeff points to Korjak.

– We have already explored this quadrant. That's where we found those treasures last time... Let's go beyond the river and...

The bald man is a little disconcerted and can't help but speak.

– Sir… Why take the child?

Jeff responded without emotion and spontaneously.

– He is noble and aspiring Crusader. I'm sure you'll get a good reward.

Korjak is surprised by the information.

– Is he an aspirant!?

Jeff looking at the landscape, responding without making much of the situation.

– His waist belt, those who wear it are the aspirants from the capital. At the borders, aspirants are already trained as Crusaders. Maybe that's why you don't know.

Korjak becomes more surprised with each revelation from his leader.

– From the Capital!? What is he doing here!?

Only at that moment does Jeff seem to show some interest by laughing and looking at the camp right behind him.

– I don't know Korjak, but this boy followed here, even attracting the attention of Calamity. Whatever it is, it's not something we should get involved in.

Korjak frowns, saying lightly revealing people's basic way of thinking about the Calamity and its monsters.

– The Growlers? Calamity is just a mass of stupid beasts…

Jeff interrupts him by laughing insanely. Putting his hand on his face and looking at Korjak insanely.

– Creatures so stupid… They managed to devour half the world! That we have been at war for over 1000 years! Yes of course! How stupid they are!

He puts his hand on his face, looking at the ground angrily and then returning to his disinterested expression and mocking smile. He hugs Korjak shoulder as he says.

– No… Stupid people are the ones who fight against the inevitable! We should just fight for ourselves, Kojak, enjoy having a good life before this world ends.

Jeff returns to the camp with Korjak, Fidem had his arms tied to his torso and his hands tied, leaving only his feet free to walk. Jeff couldn't help but look at the boy haughtily, saying out loud.

– Wow, what a fierce look, boy. Where is the gratitude for “rescuing him”? Be that as it may, now you are part of it, we are not privileged like the people in the capital. This is the rule of survival here beyond the borders.

Fidem look him irritably without lowering his head. Jeff sits on a supply box and intertwines his fingers and speaks looking at him.

– But I'm truly curious, of all you could bring, just a pipe dream? I know that children have a fantasy view of reality, but chimeras are just animals incapable of surviving without their owners. Or did you think that because she looks like a beast, she is one? Children and their pets.

Fidem, after hearing all this, starts to laugh. Sparking Jeff's curiosity and slightly irritating him. He orders Junifer to remove the gag with a gesture and asks irritably.

– What's funny kid?

Fidem, coughing a little from being gagged for a long time, responds.

– So you are not someone sent from the Protesters? You have no idea what Mantichor is. He is much more capable than you can imagine. I came here to find Salem! I will find the treasure of Virtues to end the Calamity and…

ROWAR!!!

Interrupting what Fidem was saying, a loud roar is heard far from the camp, almost everyone is alarmed, Jeff was remaining calm, walking towards the boy, he says with a little regret.

– Kids… Did you come here believing in this fairy tale?

Taking the boy by the collar, he lifts him up with just one arm.

– Listen here, boy. Is this all a lie, heroes who purged the Calamity with just a touch? Who trapped evil for 1000 years? Wake up, if Salem Castle existed, it was destroyed by the Calamity and all the Virtues are now in the stomach of that beast.

knowing that Fidem didn't respond, he threw the boy to the ground, walking away. He says it with knowledge acquired from years of expeditions.

– That roar was a Natural Beast from the Oath Forest. I'm sorry to say, but your dear Mantis must already be...

Jeff stops talking when he notices at the front of the group, the little Lion jumping from the treetops, with the Crystal on his forehead.

– How curious. He survived and came back, but why?Oh crap...

Behind Mantiz are two large bipedal beings, about 4 meters tall, with long, tapered heads, pointed teeth, frontal eyes, with large tails and primitive aspects with the body completely covered in feathers. The two creatures look at the entire group, releasing a roar. Jeff still manages to say in dismay.

– Oh shit. Damn chimera.

The creatures advance violently, the mercenaries spread out and launch attacks from multiple sides. A wizard prepares a spell, but before he can do anything, he is snatched by one of the creatures. An irritated Jeff passes the commands to the group, which is now in complete chaos. Fidem takes advantage of this moment to escape, running away from his captors. He runs without stopping in one direction until he reaches a type of cliff where the river flows violently below. Fidem stops running, looking around him. The bush begins to shake and Mantis emerges from the undergrowth meowing after him.

– Mantichor! I knew you would make it! Now help me!

Fidem turns around and the tiny chimera scratches the ropes that tie him, which break, quickly releasing him. Fidem screams.

– Air! finally!

Behind him a familiar voice shouts tiredly, coming to corner him. It's Mickael's voice.

– Stop!

Fidem just turns around in dismay.

– What happened now?

Junifer is on one side trying to flank Fidem, while Mikael aims an arrow at the boy even closer to the trees. Fidem raises his fists says again.

– You don't give up, do you?

Mickael insists with his active stance.

– We don’t want to hurt you! Just surrendering is better!

Fidem responds by taking small steps back.

– That's not going to happen.

Everyone looks at each other apprehensively. Both Mickael and Junifer don't want to fight, so remembering what his ally said Mickael lowers the bow and arrow first, disarming himself and with his hands outstretched he speaks more friendly.

– Okay, look…

BAAM!

– MICKAEL!!!

Junifer screams, noticing the surprise attack of one of the creatures on her ally. Mickael is hit in the side by the tail of one of the large T-Rex that remained following them from the camp. Junifer runs to her companion, realizing he is still alive. The creature focuses on them, giving Fidem the perfect opportunity to escape. Fidem turns around, but takes a special brooch from his shoulder. The blue emblem and gold details shine with a fine energy. He says squeezing the talisman.

– My enemy is Calamity, a Virtue protects everyone!

He runs towards the two fallen, pulling them towards the cliff. Junifer asks, amazed at Fidem's strength.

- What are you doing?!

Fidem shouts while holding his emblem, closing his eyes.

– Saving your lives!

So everyone falls down the cliff, and disappears into the waters of the river, carried away by the current.