Chapter 57: - The Leader
The footsteps rang like gongs of a bell without the echo. A feeling of fear piercing its way into everyone's soul.
Some were holding onto their weapons, clutching them so hard that calluses bore their way into their skin. They all stood - eyes prone to the darkness, as if waiting for some monster to crawl out of the shadows.
They were footsteps, made by man, yet here everyone stood expecting some horrid monster to come.
To them, it must have seemed almost impossible. A man? Here? With all this around them?
Never.
As the footsteps drew closer, Lia felt a prickling feeling - a sensation of familiarity. Yet she didn't know where it came from, nor for who it was.
But she had a suspicion.
As the footsteps grew closer, nearly on top of them now, Lia brought herself up next to Randolph, who had his ax raised at the level of his chest.
Lia did not draw her sword, nor did she show any signs of preparing to fight. She just stood there, watching the darkness and waiting for whatever lay behind that blanket of the night to come out. Come into the torch light.
But when the shadow separated from the blanket of darkness, Lia was left wide eyed and surprised.
"Kal?"
Before her stood a man dressed in black, half his face covered by a leather mask. His chest was strapped and covered head to toe in knives and weapons. His face was shrewd, and unlike the unmasked version of him she had seen in the mines, this one showed nothing. Not even emotion.
Hearing his name being called, Kal's eyes slowly drifted to Lia, who now stood in front of the group. A leader of sorts, as the others were still petrified with fear over this new arrival.
Landing his eyes on Lia, Kal nodded his head once in greeting, taking no time in showing his hospitality, as he pointed behind her.
The group of Hunters tensed at Kal's actions, assuming that he was pointing towards them.
However, Lia quickly cleared up the misconception.
"You want us to leave?"
Kal nodded, his point made.
From her side, Lia felt Randolph shift in his footing. Something that a Hunter would only do if they were preparing for an attack, or relaxing themselves.
With Randolph however, she didn't know which was which.
"Lia, do you know this man?"
Turning to Randolph, Lia's mind was filled with complications.
On one hand, she could admit Kal was a summons, but the question would be asked 'who's?' And that was not something Lia had the time to answer, nor did she have the time to come up with a quick lie.
Turning back to Kal, Lia was quiet for several minutes before she cleared her voice and spoke.
"I'll…explain later. Right now I think it's best we head back. Whatever did this could still be out there. If possible we should go back and regro-"
"No."
Randolph's stern voice interrupted her, as the sound of his ax sheathing into his belt became a symbol for the other Hunters to relax. Some, however, still had their eyes trained on Kal, just waiting to see what he would do.
Turning to the group of Hunters, Randolph was silent for a moment, before he cleared his voice, and spoke with an authoritative tone.
The tone of a leader, not willing to take negotiations.
"Listen up. While I don't know what did this, I know one thing for certain."
Randolph pointed to Kal, his gaze firm.
"That man, whoever he is, does not want us to continue down this path. Whether this is out of warning, or out of malice, it doesn't matter. What does matter is the fact that whatever did do this, is probably still out there."
The hushed and muttered voices of fear within the Hunters ranks could be heard like silent whispers accompanying the night air.
"With that…'thing' still out there, it is a danger to us. Not only to these poor Rank F's, but to any of us! That being said…"
His voice trailed off as his eyes passed over every Hunter present. Rank F to A, old or young, experienced or not - he looked to all of them.
"...it is more of a threat to those still in the outpost. A horde is a horde. We can take a horde of goblins, but not whatever this 'thing' was. Something that mows down this horde of goblins like their cannon fodder. Like blades of grass."
He raised his voice, symbolizing the point he was trying to make as it rang out against the trees.
"We, as Hunters, have a responsibility to protect the people in that city. The men, women…children."
The faces of those imagining what could happen to those children turned grim, yet their eyes stayed trained on Randolph, respect seething from their bodies.
To Lia, it looked less like a pep talk, and more like a general, speaking to his army.
'Is this what it looks like to lead an army?'
She never got the answer, as she realized too late that there was no one within their head to speak to. She was alone with her own thoughts.
"Now, whatever is out there, will surely strike again. And honestly speaking, I'd rather have it be one of us, than someone inside those walls. With us, it will get a fight. Hell - we might even take it down with us."
The spirits of the Hunters listening to his words rosed a little at the thought of killing the beast, replacing the grim looks they wore not too long ago.
"So, I'll say this with great pride, but I cannot let that 'thing' - beast wander the woods…I will Hunt it."
Gasps could be heard from many of the Hunters who realized the weight of his words. After all, who could fight against something like this?
Many of their eyes turned to pass over the horrid corpses that littered the forest floor and paved road.
Their expressions turned grim once again.
"Yes, I plan to Hunt the creature. So that those in the Outpost can sleep soundly tonight. I hope I won't be alone. But if I am to die alone, then I will die with honor."
His words were like stones that pummeled the hearts of those present.
Lia could tell that each person here held an astounding amount of respect for Randolph, but many were hesitant - no doubt with families of their own.
Before anyone could respond, their minds still muddled and filled with doubts, Lia took charge, stepping forward.
"I don't know what much I can offer you. But I hope my sword is enough."
Randolph's eyes were stern, unmoving - the eyes of a leader. But Lia could see something shift beneath those eyes.
A glance of thanks, or a measure of pride?
Neither.
If being with Cain had taught her one thing, it was this: 'No man offers respect so easily, nor will they offer solace to anyone. But if you're careful and quiet, make the right choices when necessary, you'll see how far respect can go.'
Respect. That was what she saw. Though only a glint, it was enough.
From behind her, she could hear Rian and Lukali take their places beside her, willing to throw their lives into this once again.
Nodding his head, Randolph turned to the group, waiting.
After a while, several more came forward, raising their own weapons before them, symbolizing their will to join hands with Randolph and hunt this creature down.
Though many stayed behind, in total, Lia counted at least ten had joined them. Counting Randolph and her party, the total was 14. A small number, but compared to the twenty that came with them in the first place, it wasn't bad.
The rest either were too scared, or had their own families to think about, which Randolph did not bother to question.
"Those of you going back, please take the dead with you. Least we have wolves having a midnight snack on Beck's brother and his friends."
Reminding them that Beck's brother was among the dead, the few that remained didn't put up a fight, and calmly loaded the bodies into a two wheeled wagon they had brought with them.
One the left over people had left, carrying the bodies with them, Randolph turned to those who had stayed.
"I cannot guarantee we will live through this. Nor can I guarantee that we'll kill this beast. But I do know that if I am to die, I'm glad to go out fighting with you all."
Smiles grew on the faces of those present, including Lia, who found his words to be lifting.
'This is what a true leader looks like.'
She thought to herself, realized that her words sounded far too much like Cain's when he would have commented on something like this.
'I've got to be careful I don't turn out like him.'
She shook her head, the thought somewhat sad now that Cain wasn't here.
Surely she knew this was Cain's work, but she also knew that whatever had made Cain send Kal out to warn them, meant that there was in fact some monster out there. Something that posed a threat even to her, to the point where Cain stepped in himself.
Armed with this knowledge, she joined Randolph, knowing that when she met Cain again, he would either be done with the monster, or the living beast would provide a clear explanation.
At least she hoped.
Turning to Randolph, he glanced at her, his suspicion gone.
"Do you think you can deal with your friend?"
He was referring to Kal, who was currently blocking the path, his stance ready and tense.
Lia could tell the others didn't want to get any closer, knowing that it was dangerous for them to do so, given they didn't know him, nor did they know how strong he was.
Nodding her head, Lia's eyes trained themselves on Kal, who looked off into the distance, wary of anyone who approached.
She took a few steps, and soon she was standing before him, his body towering above her short one.
Though Lia was on the shorter side, she could still be considered tall. If it wasn't for the fact that Kal was the same height as Cain, who was at least a head taller than her, she would have been fine.
As she stared up, directly into his eyes, Lia felt some imposing sense of fear.
Perhaps it was because Cain was not with her, or perhaps it was because of Kal's strength - which she had seen - that made her afraid.
She knew how well he could kill. In fact, if he wanted to, he could kill everyone standing here, before they ever knew they were dead.
Including her.
"Kal…please move."
Nothing.
No movement, no sound. Nothing. His eyes showed no emotion as they poured deep into her soul.
"Kal. Move."
She said more sternly, seeing that her first attempt had failed.
Again, nothing.
Yet, as Lia was preparing to ask once again, Kal raised his arm, pointing off into the distance - back to the outpost.
His motion was slow, emphasizing each movement he made. His eyes were so cold and empty, Lia felt she would get frozen in place just from looking into them.
"You want us to leave. I know. But Cain is out there somewhere, along with that monster."
Kal tilted his head, his eyes showing just a slight change in confusion.
'Of course he would be confused. He knows that I know this was all Cain. But he'll just have to play along.'
"I can't leave him alone. So…move."
Her voice was stern and authoritative. To the others present, it looked like she - a rabbit - was staring down a panther of the night. Someone that could kill her easily. She just didn't know it.
But she did. Which was why she was so willing to be stern with Kal, knowing that he could not hurt her.
As if reading her mind, Kal's hand flashed silver, a glint in the moonlight, and suddenly, he was clutching a dagger at his side.
It didn't move, and neither did he. It wasn't a threat, or an attempt on her life. It was a sign of strength, or power.
She had none here.
Gulping down her fear, Lia firmed her resolve, thinking back to how she could get around him.
And then it clicked.
Breathing in a deep sigh, Lia closed her eyes. She searched deep within her soul, the same way Kal had taught her many nights ago.
She locked on to one thought, one small but powerful thought, and let it take over her mind. She let it fill the crevices of her consciousness. The cracks, the corners - everything. Soon, it was all she could see within her mind.
A dull gray thought, whose power she could never know, but was overwhelming her to this very moment.
She secretly activated the skill Vox Aeterna - or as Cain called it - Endless Void.
The place her party got its name from.
It was her first time using this skill, but Lia already felt so familiar with it, as it overtook her senses and vision.
Unbeknownst to her or anyone else, her eyes had changed from red, to a deep black, the rings of color that once filled her eyes were now only a white ring in a sea of black.
Even Kal, who could see this unlike the others, tensed at the feeling of Endless Void overtaking his senses.
At once, Lia spoke, though no words came from her mouth, silence insured after she finished.
Only Kal could hear what she said, as that was the true power to Vox Aeterna.
'The Endless Voice.'
Kal thought as Lia's words played over again and again in his mind. Even before he knew it, he felt himself stepping to the side, his body tense and locked in fear.
One word replaying like a suffocating feeling. A deep, disturbingly dark voice one would never wish to hear again in their lives.
"Move."
***
The sounds of the horde were loud, their scurrying, disgusting voices filled the air. The sounds of hundreds of feet scurrying across the floor was somewhat of a headache.
He didn't like the sound.
In fact, if he could choose, he would have had every single goblin's head explode. But alas, it would break down negotiations.
The old fort was small on the outside, but large on the inside.
Little knew about this old stone fort built into the mountain side. And for those that did, possibly were already dead.
'Bandits wouldn't last long against these bugs.'
Though the man hated to admit it, these goblins did in fact pose quite a threat to humans, including himself when he was in his youth. He still remembered those days vividly.
Suddenly a restless thought, seeing its chance, flooded his mind. But just as soon as it entered, he pushed it away.
Before him sat a large goblin, perched upon a throne made of stone. Around him stood nearly a dozen goblin warriors, their armor tough and rigid.
Not something you would see with goblins.
Around him, titans stood towering above the hobgoblins, goblins, and shamans. As for the lone warlock in the corner, to the right of the throne, the man knew little about it.
Though goblins did not possess the ability to harness the power of summons - something reserved specifically for Humans and other Humanoid creatures (elves, dwarfs, nymphs and fairies). Though rare, it was still the only species that could harness the power of summons.
However, for goblins and other slightly intelligent monsters, they were born with mana, though what little they could use was sometime less effective as simply smashing your opponent to bits, it was much more than the humans or other humanoids could do, as they had no access to the little mana in the air.
Sighing, the man made a small mental note of the warlock. Perhaps it would be useful later if the warlock posed a problem, though its shivering body told the man it would not.
In fact, nearly every goblin was scared, though they had gained some confidence, now that they stood before their king, however, it didn't stop them from shaking only slightly.
When the man stopped to wonder why, he finally realized he was holding the head of the goblin warrior who had been guarding the front gate.
'Is that why they're afraid. There's like fifteen of them here, and they're scared because I killed one?'
As the man's thoughts ran amuck within his brain, displaying his laid back attitude and appearance openly, the goblin king grunted, silencing the room.
"Human, I don't know who you are, or why you are here. But I will give you this one chance to leave now, or else you -"
"Wow, a goblin that talks. I guess you really are a king."
The goblins froze in shock at a mere human interrupting their king.
Though to the man, it meant nothing. The goblin king was at least on the level of a troll if not a little bit over. Ogre? Perhaps.
Though the man had already dealt with one while being here, he remembered vividly the feeling of punching through its guts.
Smiling a devilish smile, the man peered up at the goblin king, dropping the head of the warrior to the ground.
"I didn't come here to hear your pleas of mercy or threats. I came to ask you something."
Raising an eyebrow, the goblin king questioned what this human was saying, before finding it amusing he only came here to speak.
"Hmm…very well then human. This amuses me. Speak, and I will answer before I kill you."
Sitting down, and crossing his legs, the man thought for a moment before muttering out loud, heard clearly by the goblins in the hall as his words echoed out through the chamber.
"Well sh*t."
The man shrugged with a nonchalant attitude.
"I didn't think this far ahead."
Cain smiled, as he stared on at the goblin king, seated upon his soon to be empty throne.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone