Chapter 8: To Flee or to Fight?

-Damn it, according to the plan, we run, Lyne... Lyne?

Lyne was frozen stiff, unable to move despite Kaega's words.

-Lyne! Lyne!

"What the hell, why isn't she moving again? Should I leave her behind?"

Lyne trembled, unable to move, just staring at the "Head Measurer" in despair.

"No other choice..."

Kaega didn't leave her. He decided to drag her along. Lyne was pulled away without any resistance. The "Head Measurer" followed slowly, deliberately. They ran through the predetermined routes, Kaega pulling Lyne behind him.

-Ha... ha... what's wrong with you now? Lyne, snap out of it!

Though slow, the "Head Measurer" relentlessly pursued them. Reaching a sewer entrance, Kaega stopped, looking at the approaching "Head Measurer."

"Why does he seem so calm despite my provocations? He should have rushed over to tear me to shreds by now."

Kaega entered the sewer first, waiting for him to approach.

"It's time."

He lit a fuse at his feet, which led to the explosive pouches he had set up.

BOOM!

Rumble, rumble, rumble..!

Earth and stone from the sewer entrance collapsed, burying the "Head Measurer." But Kaega knew it wasn't enough, so he immediately ran on. As expected, the "Head Measurer" emerged from the rubble. Though he looked tattered, he continued to follow.

-Lyne! Ha... I can't drag you anymore! Wake up!

Kaega was starting to get exhausted but managed to reach another location where he had placed the mana stones he'd collected from the ruins.

"This thing will be more powerful than Thunder Powder if it explodes, but it's such a waste..."

Mana stones were a form of condensed magic, highly valuable, so no one would use them as explosives like he did.

"Can't wait, I have to create some distance."

He didn't wait for him to get closer and detonated it.

Boom!....

Earth and stone rained down again, blocking the "Head Measurer's" path.

"Now the only escape is the southern sewer gate. I have to get out of here."

He had no strength left to run, so he could only support her as they walked.

-He's after me... leave me and run...

Lyne had started talking again.

-So you can talk now? Then help me run, stop talking nonsense.

-If you leave me, he won't target you anymore.

This time, Kaega lost his composure.

-Lyne, don't you want to take his head? Why are you acting like this now? I wasn't joking when I said I'd help you take his head. If you're like this now, how can you ever take it?

Lyne didn't answer.

As they approached the southern gate...

The "Head Measurer" was standing there, blocking their way. Lyne was still trembling, but this time she could speak.

-You run, I'll...

-Damn it... He's blocking the way here again.

With that, Kaega immediately let go of her hand. The voice in Lyne's head whispered again.

-"He'll betray you in the end."

-No... Don't...

Lyne looked at Kaega standing in front of her. He had let go of her hand. Just as she thought he was about to leave her, a familiar female voice appeared in her head:

-"No... even though he is... ruthless... he has... never... let this place... strip him of his... humanity."

Lyne didn't know if she had actually heard that voice, but now her eyes were wide with surprise as Kaega took the dagger from her hip.

"I hate this choice."

Kaega closed his eyes, then drank a vial of stamina potion he had been hiding for a long time.

-I can't run away alone this time... I'll settle this debt with you later...

Kaega said with a serious look, then threw away the empty vial he had saved for emergencies. Now, in front of Lyne, Kaega stood to fight for the first time.

"At least I still have one secret card I've hidden from Lyne... but damn it, if I take one hit from him, I'll probably die instantly..."

Kaega looked at the "Head Measurer." His mind and instincts were screaming at him to run, but his heart was pounding. He didn't know if it was because of the potion, fear, or something else, but now he had to face him. Not just for the life of the girl behind him, but for his own survival.

He crouched and moved towards the "Head Measurer," swinging from the left.

WHOOSH!!!!!

The swing cut through the air with incredible speed, aimed at Kaega. He stopped short, letting the swing miss.

-A bit too eager to attack, you psycho...

SWISH! THUD!

He attacked again with a slam. Kaega managed to dodge again. At that moment, while he was in an awkward position, he slashed.

Slice!

The cut was too shallow, not causing much damage.

-Damn, too shallow!

WHOOSH!!!

CLACK!

He lunged, snapping his jaws quickly, but Kaega managed to dodge once more.

"This thing is still in its first trial, I've never tested its effectiveness."

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

Thud!

The man leaped and shot forward like a stone bullet. Kaega was lucky to be out of his jumping range, but he quickly recoiled and reached out to grab him.

"Damn, he's closed the distance."

Kaega quickly assessed the situation and threw a few pouches of Thunder Powder at him.

-I still have plenty of Thunder Powder.

He didn't manage to grab Kaega, but instead caught the burning pouches.

Boom!

Smoke filled the air. His palm was instantly blown to bits, flesh flying everywhere. But in the hazy smoke before Kaega, he didn't seem to care about his hand. Thud! From within the smoke, he suddenly charged out, ramming his entire body into Kaega. He couldn't avoid it.

-Agh!

He was sent flying, landing near Lyne, only about 3 meters away.

-Kaega! You...

Lyne was stunned by the sight. Kaega couldn't answer anymore; he just lay there, warm blood trickling from his mouth. The "Head Measurer" hand had already regenerated... he slowly approached Lyne.

-No... way...

The more desperate Lyne became, the closer he got.

"He's... let his guard down..." -Kaega's consciousness was fading.

The "Head Measurer" was very close, reaching out to grab her... Her eyes trembled uncontrollably, her legs now frozen and unable to move.

-No!

She closed her eyes, as if unwilling to accept her fate.

"BOOM!!!"

A thunderous explosion echoed in the silent space.

Opening her eyes, Lyne saw the "Head Collector" standing still in front of her. His head was gone; more accurately, it had been blown to pieces.

-Ha... ha... damn it... had to use it ahead of schedule after all... How'd that taste, you monster?

Kaega was struggling to get up, in his hand was a staff made of six bone tubes tied together in a circle, still smoking. Then, he coughed up a large mouthful of blood and passed out, but a victorious smile was still on his lips.

-Kaega! ...Kaega!... Kae...ga...

Lyne's cries reached Kaega's ears, fading and growing distant... His consciousness sank deep into the darkness.

He didn't know how long it had been... darkness surrounded him... Kaega suddenly remembered the feeling of gnawing hunger, a desperate hunger that left him with no strength to move...

Though he wasn't sick at the time... the feeling of helplessness it brought was no different... he was just lying there, the faint light in his eyes slowly dimming, waiting for death. But then...

-Hey, eat this...

A girl with purple hair and a smile as innocent as an angel lost in hell. Her eyes, without a hint of regret, sparkled like stars in the dark night. In her hand was a loaf of old, dry, and hard bread, with traces of mold. But it was the only thing that could save his life at that moment.

He quickly took it. Dry, sour, and tough, that was the simplest way to describe it.

-Eat slowly, you might choke.

The girl was still there, smiling innocently despite her face being smeared with mud and her ragged clothes barely covering her body.

-Who are you? Why are you helping me?

-I'm Lira, I live nearby. You looked so pitiful, I couldn't bear it. I figured this bread wouldn't last much longer anyway, so I gave it to you.

-Then what will you eat?

-It's okay, I have more stored away.

The girl whispered to Kaega that she still had reserves.

"Maybe I..."

A memory flooded back, the voice of a dying old man... Kaega was suddenly jolted back to his senses.

"Hey, brat... don't become someone like me... someone who has to trample on everyone to survive... let yourself... remain human..."

Kaega immediately discarded the thought. He looked at Lira, who was happy that she had saved someone. Her innocent, almost foolish face in the middle of this hell... it made Kaega regret the selfish thought that had just sprouted.

"There are a few eyes watching here."

Kaega quickly realized that a few people were watching them. They seemed to have noticed the conversation. Though he had only eaten a little, he was able to stand up.

-It's not safe here, Lira, we should leave...

The girl, without any suspicion, followed Kaega. They walked through alleys, but then hit a dead end. Pursuers on the left, someone approaching from behind, and the right was not safe either...

"No other choice."

Kaega crouched down.

-Lira, get on my back.

Lira quickly climbed onto his back.

-Hold on tight.

-Okay!

Though Kaega wasn't particularly strong at the time, for him, climbing these brick and stone buildings was not a problem.

-Hahahaha.

The girl, Lira, laughed happily on his back, and the two of them escaped from that place.

After that, for a whole year, Kaega often visited Lira... the two of them developed a close relationship, like family. Kaega always protected that innocence, not allowing this place to tarnish his only companion, who was also the last remaining part of his "humanity."

But then... one day, Kaega no longer saw Lira at their meeting spot. For the first few days, he kept going back, but she was nowhere to be found... He searched all over Aquila, infiltrated all four major guilds, hid in the shadows to observe every Blood Wolf sacrifice and every Faith God execution, but he couldn't find her.

Another year passed.

Kaega could now easily find food in this place. He always carried the rusty knife of someone who had lost a fight for food. He was still searching... his eyes growing more and more hopeless.

-Looks like I won't find anything today....

Kaega jumped down from a rooftop.

-"HELLO~ KAEGA....."

A cold voice behind him, like the moan of a howling wind. Kaega quickly turned around. Behind him was a man in a cloak that covered his entire body.

"This person gives me a bad feeling..."

Kaega was about to run, but something stopped him. Curiosity.

-Who are you? How do you know my name?

The figure laughed, a sound that was a grotesque combination of a man's and a woman's voice, impossible to describe. But it spoke.

-I am a dealer, and you are a very promising client.

-What are you selling or buying....?

-I can sell everything.... power... status.... money.... everything you currently dream of.

-And the price?

-It is the one thing you have sworn never to discard. The thing that currently defines who you are.

-What do you mean... my humanity... or me as a person?

-Hahaha.....

The figure just laughed, not answering. Kaega began to observe him.

"His skin is patched together from many different pieces.... a Morveth."

-You don't know yet... only when you are about to die will you know the price... so, do you want to make a deal with me?

Kaega had no intention of dealing with him and quickly refused.

-Hah... you will accept my offer soon enough......

With that, he slowly walked away... Kaega also turned and left.

"I will never deal with the likes of you."

Kaega didn't look back. Another day, he was running... running because he had stolen some money from some wandering rats after they had looted it from the corpse of a foolish merchant who had haggled over the price of bodyguards in this city. A hand grabbed Kaega at a four-way intersection, and he vanished from the sight of his pursuers.

Kaega immediately looked at the person who had stopped him... a girl with purple hair.

-It's you, Lira... where have you been for the past year? Why are you here?

-Shh, keep your voice down, Kaega. I was looking for you because of this....

After that, the two of them moved to a place Lira called her home. It was a room hidden inside a wall. Inside was a map and a piece of paper with information.

"The head of a member of the Blood Cult is worth 400 gold from the Hunter's Guild."

-Kaega, do you see this?

-Lira, but.....

-Look, it's a huge bounty. We can leave Aquila with that money and have a life that's no longer a living hell.

Kaega looked at Lira. Her innocent eyes and cheerful smile from a year ago were gone. Standing before him was a survivor. Kaega's heart grew cold... He didn't know what had happened to her in the past year...

"How did you become like this... Lira."

But even though he knew Lira was no longer the girl she used to be, she had saved his life. Kaega closed his eyes, as if wanting to forget what was happening, hoping it was just a dream. But when he opened his eyes, there was no more hesitation.

-Kaega, please help me. I believe with your abilities, we can take the head of a Blood Cult member.

Kaega's eyes softened... he couldn't refuse her... though he wanted to escape the truth, it was no longer possible. Kaega could only reply....

-Alright, we'll kill one and take the money to leave Aquila.

Lira looked at Kaega with a calculating and ruthless smile. The two of them planned together. Kaega went to find some greedy, easily manipulated rats, made some empty promises, and gathered them into a group. He armed them with rusty knives, and they all ambushed a figure in a red cloak with a bone emblem, a proof of their identity.

-Come on, brothers, if we can kill him, we'll get 400 gold.

-First, the decoy goes in to distract him.

-He's let his guard down, the assassination team moves in.

-Assassination failed, flank him and push him towards the ambush.

-Prepare to throw knives.....

A long battle ensued. The mage was powerful, but against the overwhelming numbers of the rats under Kaega's command, the Blood Cult mage died.

But it wasn't over. When everyone had gathered, Kaega retreated deep into the shadows and began to watch the show. As expected, faced with the greed of the people of this place, they began to fight over the corpse.

-I lured him here, the bounty should be mine....

-I slashed his leg so he couldn't run, the money should be mine....

-I'm the one who killed him. I'll take his head....

-I took a hit for you so you could kill him.....

They began to glare at each other. Then a fool started the show by cutting off the head and taking the emblem, intending to leave alone. Kaega wasn't worried, because immediately someone killed him and took the head. Kaega, in the shadows, watched the madness of this city unfold. He wondered if he had made a mistake that day by refusing that man...

In the end, one last person, breathing heavily, held the head and the emblem over the pile of corpses of those who had fought together to obtain it.

-Ha... ha... hahaha.... in the end, no one can-.

Before he could finish, his throat was slit by a knife. The one who did it was Kaega. The man clutched his throat, looking at Kaega in disbelief. Then he fell, unable to say anything but a few groans. Kaega didn't look at him, but picked up the head and the emblem and returned to Lira's place.

"In the end, does it even exist here?"

When Kaega returned, the secret wall had been broken down. He quickly ran inside, but Lira was gone. It was a mess inside, but he found a clue: footprints.

-"WE MEET AGAIN, KAEGA~"

A familiar, cold voice.

-LIRA, WHERE IS SHE? DID YOU HIDE HER?

The Morveth looked at the furious Kaega and laughed.

-No~ we never force a deal, we just.... appear when you need us.....

-THEN TELL ME, WHERE IS LIRA?

The Morveth laughed... a chilling smile... he made an offer...

-Why do you have to worry about that girl... you know... if you abandon her now... with that head and emblem, you can completely... CHANGE YOUR LIFE...

-SHUT UP AND TELL ME WHERE LIRA IS!

Kaega ignored the Morveth's temptations. His eyes were furious, as if about to unleash a fire that could burn the figure before him to ashes. His anger was suppressing his usual calculations and reasoning.

The Morveth seemed a little startled... as if surprised, but then he laughed again.

-hahaha.... well, well... that girl... is she that important to you? She was taken by the guild of the man you just killed. The Blood Cult... and tonight, she will be chosen as a sacrifice....

Hearing this, for the first time, Kaega felt despair... a Blood Cult mage had been able to single-handedly fight off a hundred men as strong as or stronger than him for an hour, and he had almost turned the tables and escaped...

"That man could even... open a portal while being crushed by overwhelming numbers."

And now he had to go to a stronghold of a bunch of madmen like that, alone...

-You're desperate..... what's wrong, should we make a deal now.... but this time, I'll sell you.... POWER..enough for you to save the girl alone~.

-What do I have to trade with you anymore?

-No~... you still have it.....

Kaega couldn't believe his ears. His desperate eyes seemed to be filled with a new light... his hand was slowly reaching for the man...

"Don't... become someone like me..."

Kaega's eyes snapped open... he pulled his hand back, to the Morveth's surprise. His mind was calm again.

"If I want to save her, I don't necessarily have to fight."

-No... I will not deal with you.....

His hand tightened around the bone emblem of the Blood Cult... But now Kaega's eyes were clear and determined... the Morveth was stunned by the person before him. He said his last words as Kaega turned his back to follow the tracks.

-Are you... sure you won't regret this...?

Kaega didn't answer... he was determined to leave without looking back, his eyes burning with the fire of his will.

"Even if I have to sacrifice my own life... I must save her..."