Why Me?

(Lucan sat up and looked around to notice nothing but faint light and emptiness as he looked down and realized he is naked.)
Lucan (Thinking): "So this is what it feels like to be dead, At least I was able to protect Jonathan."

???: "Yes, you are dead and you did protect that little child! (Lucan was startled as he then looked up from the ground and made eye contact with a demon.)
Lucan: "I WENT TO HELL? WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?!?!"
???: "AHAHAHAHAHAHA, NO YOU'RE NOT IN HELL, THIS IS LIMBO MY BOY. I have brought you here for I like you and you have that." (The Imposing Demon pointed at a mark that laid on Lucan's shoulder.)
Lucan: "Oh yeah, I honestly forgot about this its been so long since it happened, That bastard that killed my parents gave this to me."
???: "Very bold of you to say that in front of another demon!"
Lucan: "OH! I DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING BY IT SIR, FORGIVE ME!"
???: "NO LAD, DON'T LOSE THAT TENACITY I LIKE THAT!"
Lucan: "If you don't mind me asking...... Who the hell are you?"
???: "FORGIVE ME LAD!" (The Demon stood up.)

???: "I AM RULTHAGAR THE DEMON KING OF THE SEVEN DIVINE DEMON REALMS, RULER OF THE DEMONIC ARMIES!"
Lucan: "You're the Demon King?!?!?! I thought the guy who killed my parents was the ruler of all Demons."
Rulthagar: "That man is nothing but a poser, He may be strong and very capable. But in the world of the demons, there is 2 realms. The Divine Realm in which I rule over, we serve as protectors of the humans and deal with balance for the gods. Then there is The Shadow Realm, where demons like him and the ones that killed you reside."

Lucan: "Interesting, So you're saying not all demons are bad?"
Rulthagar: "Precisely, I love humans! I believe that you all serve a purpose and are quite entertaining."
Lucan (Thinking): "This guy is nuts, I can't believe this is happening."
Rulthagar: "It is quite useless to speak to yourself lad, I can hear everything you say no matter what! I do not blame you for your observations though, for I am quite crazy BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Lucan: "Not to rush things, considering I have all the time in the world now. But if you don't mind me asking, Why you summoned me here?"
Rulthagar: "Straight to the point, you don't waste time, I like that."
Lucan: "Well I was just a regular human, and a Demon King summoned me to limbo when I died. Yeah I would like to know."
Rulthagar: "In honor of your sacrifice, I have decided to make you my Apostle!"
Lucan: "WHAT?!?!?!? WHY ME?"
Rulthagar: "That is a Silly question for you to be asking me, Go forth and seek the answer for yourself Lad!"
Lucan: "What do you mean, I need more answers."
Rulthagar: "No" (Rulthagar then appeared in Front of Lucan and punched him in the stomach as he went flying and suddenly Lucan could smell ash as he slowly opened his eyes and looked around.)
Lucan: "Where am I?"
(He stood up and looked around as he then realized he was in the clearing where his village once was. As he looked around he then looked at himself and realized he was significantly more muscular and taller, along with tattoo like markings covering his upper arms and back.)

Lucan (Thinking): "I can't believe it.... I'm actually alive once again, everything feels so different but so similar at the same time. I wonder how long its been; from the look of things everything has been burned for quite a while." (Lucan began to walk around as he quickly realized he was not wearing a single article of clothing, he quickly started to walk down the road towards where his cabin once was as he tried to process what was going on.)

(Lucan quickly realized that it was a lot colder then when he first awoke, looking around he quickly figured out that it was just turning winter time in these lands as he started to become cold; as he began to become worried his cabin came into sight.)
Lucan: "Time to find out if my stuff is still there, very likely someone came and collected it all."
(He quickly came to the door and opened it with no issue as he looked around at the barren singular room cabin quickly noticing the lack of his things.)
Lucan: "First things first." (He quickly grabbed some of the furniture that was once his and tossed it into the fire place as he started a quick fire, closing the door as he then walked towards a piece of the floor and lifted it from the ground as a chest came in view and he quickly grinned. He opened it and inside was a set of clothes and a sword.)

(Sometime after he was now wearing the clothing as he had the sword in his lap sitting in a chair beside the fire as he partially unsheathed the blade inspecting it.)
Lucan: "Father's sword, I can't believe I may have to use this now."
(Lucan placed it at the beside as he now sat on the bed thinking through everything before he spoke out loud for only himself to hear.)

Lucan: "Its time I grow up and start to go on my own!" (Lucan smiled as he took off his boots and laid out on the bed as he quickly drifted into sleep; A few hours into his sleep he was suddenly awoken by a shriek scream that startled him.)
Lucan: "What in the world was that?" (He quickly put his boots on and threw on a ragged cloak as he fastened his fathers blade to his hip and ran out the cabin looking around to see nothing as he heard it again and quickly ran in the direction of the noise.)

(Lucan ran for what seemed like thirty minutes and still heard the screams and thought about giving up; but something inside him was burning hot and he kept on pushing. Eventually the screams stopped and he fell to his knees huffing and puffing, confused as to what that was.)

???: "Always the noble ones, running even as far as this just to save a damsel in distress."
Lucan: "Who is there? Are you alright, I heard the screaming."
???: "Oh I'm just fine, we ALL are." (Lucan quickly realized he was surrounded by at least a dozen bandits and thieves.)
Lucan: "I see, so I'm simply just a fool who thought he could help someone in distress."
???: "Precisely you brat, although you are quite big this will be easy as pie; try not to kill him boys he will fetch a high price in the slave towns."

Lucan (Thinking): "Slavers? These people are the bottom of the barrel scum and I can't stand them, but it seems that I'm outnumbered and stand no chance. No point in not going out with a fight though." (Lucan drew his sword as the bandits began to laugh.)
???: "BAHAHAHAHA, HE ACTUALLY PLANS TO TRY AND FIGHT US? BIG MISTAKE, ROUGH HIM UP AS MUCH AS YOU WANT BOYS; JUST MAKE SURE HES STILL ALIVE."
(Lucan was sweating buckets as he was nervous as they started their attack and he quickly backed up as one of them jumped at him with a swinging flail as he swung his sword and the man stopped in his tracks.)
Bandit: "What the hell!?!" (The Man dropped his flail and spit out blood as Lucan looked and realizes he cut the man clean in two.)

Lucan: "HAHAHAHA WHOS LAUGHING NO-" (Lucan was punched in the face by a massive armored man as he scowled at the other bandits.)
???: "ENOUGH MESSING AROUND, TAKE HIM AND PUT HIM WITH THE REST." (Lucan drifted in and out of consciousness as the massive man grabbed his sword and looked at it and turned and walked off as he was tied up and carried by 4 men to a wagon filled with young children and women.)

(As Lucan came too he slowly pulled himself up slightly struggling due to his entire body being tied up as he looked around and noticed that the wagon was moving; he quickly realized that he was not alone and there were countless young children and women around him.)
Lucan (Thinking): "What am I going to do, I don't think I can take them all on my own; I have completely no training I was just a regular lumberjack before this."
???: "Hey, are you alright? We saw you get hit pretty hard by the big guy back there." (Lucan was startled as he heard someone whispering to him as he looked over and a woman a few years older then him with pointed ears was talking to him.)
Lucan: "Yeah I am alright, I just don't know what to do; My name is Lucan, what's yours?"
???: "I am Elyndra Aevendell of Larethian, I am a Elven warrior; I was on a mission when these bastards captured me when I was asleep and took me to be sold in the slaver auctions."
Lucan: "Its a pleasure to meet you, and well as you can see as much as it is embarrassing I am not trained with a sword at all."
Elyndra: "Despite that, you cleaved that man clean in two; that's no small feat."
Lucan: "Beginners luck you can say."
Guard: "SHUT UP BACK THERE!" (The Man slammed his fist on the side of the wagon from the wagon seat.)

Elyndra: "Ignore that brute, he's not after anything but a power trip."
Lucan: "I believe we are at his mercy, I don't even have the function of my legs as they have me pretty tight." (Lucan struggled in his restraints as Elyndra chuckled a little bit.)
Elyndra: "I don't think any of them are keen on turning out like their buddy."
Lucan: "I can't do anything on my own, if I had some assistance I could definitely take them all out."
Elyndra: "If you could somehow get my restraints off I could use my magic and take out everyone, you could sit back and watch." (As they spoke, the wagon and the other 2 with it stopped and the guards got down as they looked around to see that the entire convoy has stopped.)
Lucan: "Looks like they are making camp."

(Elyndra was quiet now as she turned away and Lucan was curious as to why as the bandits were now setting up tents and making multiple fires.)

Several Hours later

(A Drunken Bandit came wondering over to the wagon as he fiddled with the keys and slowly opened the gate to it and licked his lips.)

Bandit: "Which one of you ladies wishes to spend the night with me, Hehehehe trust me you'll enjoy it."
Lucan (Thinking): "This guy is disgusting, he's going to force himself on one of these innocent women?"
(Right as Lucan was about to open his mouth and say something, Elyndra headbutts the bandit as he stumbles back and gets angry as he grabs her by the hair and drags her out.)
Bandit: "Feisty and eager I see, I guess you'll do for the night."

(The Bandit drags Elyndra to a medium sized tent as he tosses her inside and steps in after her, placing his cup of grog and taking his armor off now down his under clothes as she looked up at him and slowly looked away with a miserable look on her face as he then got angry and forcefully grabbed her chin and turned her head back.)
Bandit: "You're gonna enjoy this when I am down with you; you filthy elf."
Elyndra: "..."
(The Bandit undid his belt as he started to rip Elyndra's clothing and licking his lips even more as she slowly lost all her fight and realized it was useless as the bindings were enchanted with magic dispelling properties.)

Elyndra (Thinking): "At least I spared the other women these foul men captured from having to go through this.... at least for now." (Just as Elyndra fully gave up and the man was about to deflower and physically abuse her, the man slowly raised from his feet as he grasped at his throat and she looked shocked as a massive shadowy figure was shown standing behind the man slowly choking the life from him with barely a peep.)

(A Few minutes prior to the shadowy figure saving Elyndra, Lucan was show tossing back and forth as he could not settle with what he just saw happen, feeling useless that he can't help her and everyone else they have captured.)
Woman: "Don't beat yourself up sir, we are use to it by now; They choose someone every time they stop, he won't be the only one to do it tonight." (The Woman looked at Lucan with a smile.)
Elf Woman: "Yeah, at least we know they don't just take women and children now; you're proof of that, they are just bad people."
Lucan: "....I'm sorry that I couldn't beat them and save you all; I'm a poor excuse of a man and an even sadder excuse of a swordsman."
Woman: "Don't beat yourself up, you're still young and you have your whole life ahead of you; just make sure to get out of here when you can."
Lucan (Under his breath): "I'm going to kill all these bastards." (as Lucan said this, he suddenly began to feel an urge of unrelenting anger build up in him as the markings on his upper arms and back started to glow and the ropes slowly started to burn and he was able to stand up in the wagon as he had a angry look on his face; he approached the gate to the wagon and ripped it off. He jumped off and marched over to the tent where Elyndra was dragged off too.)

Present time

Elyndra: "Ho- How did you get out of your restraints?" (Elyndra looked a bit startled as she watched Lucan snap the neck of the Bandit and toss his body aside like a sack of potatoes."
Lucan: "To tell you the truth, I don't know; What I do know is these guys need to be dealt with. Lets get you back to the wagon, I want you to protect the others while I deal with them."
Elyndra: "I can help you! Cut my restraints."
Lucan: "No, This is my fight; I must regain my honor and protect those that can't." (Lucan looked at the exposed Elyndra as he grabbed a nearby cloth and ripped it in half handing the half to her as she was slightly flustered and covered herself as Lucan helped her up and cut her restraints and handed her the bandits sword.)
Lucan: "You go protect the women and children, I shall deal with these bastards."

(Lucan marched off into the darkness as Elyndra looked on in disbelief.)
Elyndra: "That is not the same man I saw battle early today; he's far more serious and dangerous right now."
(Lucan walked right into the tent with four bandits in and they all jumped to their feet half drunk and grabbed their swords.)
Bandit 1: "How the hell did you get out of your restraints you stupid oaf"
Bandit 2: "Seems as if you got a death wish; the boss is gonna have to forgive us."
(The four bandits surround Lucan as he has an angry scowl on his face, the first bandit lunging in as Lucan grabs the sword with his bare hand and headbutts the man, shattering his nose and knocking out four teeth. Two more bandits dive after him as he grabs the arm of the first one and swings him into the side of the second and then grabs the third and fourth and smashes their heads together.)

Lucan: "You should plan the next time you attack; attacking blind will get you killed." (Lucan rips some of the bandits shirt and wraps his hand that was bleeding from the blade and walks out as every bandit in the camp was now alerted as they had heard the screams of the four that Lucan brutally beat.)

Bandit: "Stop you fool, we will cut you down where you stand."
Lucan: "Then do it, all you idiots do is talk; that's why I just dispatched four of your friends."
Bandit: "You Bastard, you're going to die tonight and its going to be a brutal one."
(The Bandit leader in full armor ducks under the entrance to his tent as he marches up and the other bandits part to make a path for him.)
Lucan: "I assume you're the leader? I'd like my sword back and for you all to leave the women and go."
???: "I am the leader and what gives you the right to command me around boy? Do you know who I am?"
Lucan: "No and nor do I give a shit you're nothing but scum that needs to be wiped from the face of the planet."
???: "You're talking to a former Knight Marshal of the great empire Kael "The Black Fang" Veynar and you will show me respect BOY!" (The Man drew his sword as he quickly stutter stepped and slashed Lucan now standing behind him.)
Lucan: "I can see why you're a former knight marshal." (Lucan said this then dropped to one knee as the cut opened across his chest and gushed blood out.)
Kael: "Far too cocky for a runt that can't even properly hold a sword."
Lucan (Thinking): "Damn that hurt, he purposely hit a non vital spot just to taunt me?!?"
Kael: "I am going to give you a slow death boy, and you're going to beg me for mercy."
Lucan: "Maybe I will, but if I win this fight all your men will run into the woods and never return to this camp."
Kael: "I like your guts kid, fine if I shall fall all my men will drop their arms and run into the woods."

Lucan: "Good, I just needed your conformation that they would follow through with it." (Lucan slowly rose to his feet and flipped to face the Knight as he clenched his fist and rushed him swinging for his head with a flurry of rights and left as all the bandits and the prisoners looked on, including Elyndra who was standing in front of all the wagons sword drawn.)
Kael: "You're sloppy boy, you have no chance of even landing a single blow on me with how slow you are." (Kael slashed down as Lucan barely dodged and threw a spinning back fist connecting with Kael's jaw as Kael stumbled back and grabbed his face now even more furious.)

Kael: "Thats THE LAST HIT YOU'LL GET ON ME BOY! I AM GOING TO END THIS NOW!" (Kael pulled back his sword as he charged some strange aura into it and had a cocky grin on his face.)
Kael: "BEHOLD THE POWER OF A TRUE SWORD MASTER, DIVINE DEMONS I CALL UPON YOU TO ENCHANT MY SWORD WITH YOUR ENDLESS RAGE AND POWER AND ALLOW ME TO STRIKE DOWN MY FOES IN YOUR HONOR!" (Kael screamed this as he charged Lucan and leaped into the air spinning his body and looking to plunge his sword deep into Lucan's heart as Lucan barely dodged and it plunged all the the way through his left shoulder.)
Lucan (Thinking): "Gaah, I'm not sure if I can win this. I know what I need to do."
Kael: "Stupid choice boy, now you're going to hurt even longer." (Kael attempted to pull his sword out as Lucan grabbed the handle and forced it to stay in and grabbed Kael's other hand as Kael looked into his face startled as Lucan then ferociously headbutted Kael over and over as he started to drift in and out of consciousness.)
Bandit: "There is no way! He's about to best the boss!"

Kael (Thinking): "There is no way, Me the great Black Fang is going to lose to a commoner!"
(Kael attempted to look at Lucan as they were no separated, but it was too late as Lucan pulled the blade from his own shoulder with his right arm and drove it through Kael's throat as he spit out a bunch of blood and fell to his knees.)
Kael: "Be- Bested by a simple commoner." (Kael face planted as the rest of the bandits stared at the bloody and heavy breathing Lucan as they remembered the deal and slowly laid down their arms and retreated into the woods until there was no one left in sight.)
Lucan: "That's what you get you bastard." (Lucan said this as he dropped the blade and attempted to turn to check on the prisoners before his legs became weak.)
Lucan: "I think I am just going to take a quick nap." (Lucan collapsed as his eyes slowly closed.)