Feeling the rhythmic thud of footsteps closing in, Kyle instinctively whirled around.
BAM!!!!
The sudden, brutal sound echoed, arresting his movement mid-turn.
Kyle froze, every muscle in his body taut, his eyes widening in stark, disbelieving surprise.
A werewolf stood scant feet behind him, its fur matted with a horrifying crimson. A gleaming sword blade, impossibly, protruded from its snarling maw, the metal slick with gushing blood.
The demon's eyes, moments before predatory, now held a glazed, shocked look.
"Uh?"
Kyle muttered, shocked.
Before he could fully process the grotesque tableau, Gabriela moved with lightning speed. Her own sword, a slender length of polished steel, flashed in the dappled sunlight as she drew it in a fluid motion from the demon's maw. With a swift, brutal kick, she slammed her boot into the werewolf's side, sending the massive creature sprawling into the ground.
She turned to Kyle, a reassuring smile gracing her lips, her eyes already flicking back towards the demons charging towards them.
Without a word, she moved forward, her sword held ready.
Kyle stared at Gabriela for some seconds. Then, shaking off the lingering shock, he followed her, his own adrenaline starting to pump.
What ensued was a brutal, efficient dance of death. The mere group of twenty-seven individuals, a whirlwind of coordinated violence, tore through the village. Blood sprayed the ground, severed heads tumbled through the air, and dismembered limbs littered the ground. With each precise swing of their weapons, another snarling demon fell silent. Their movements were honed, their strikes lethal, a testament to countless battles fought and won... Well, at least Kyle and his troops.
_
[Ten minutes later.]
The sounds of battle had faded, replaced by the heavy silence of the aftermath.
Kyle slowly moved his gaze across the gruesome tableau of fallen foes, their monstrous forms now still and lifeless. He exhaled softly, a thin plume of vapor in the cool village air.
"Although we were outnumbered four to one, we did good," he muttered, the words barely audible.
'You can start.'
{MS: Congratulations Host... Capacity increased to 67,163.}
{MS: Host gained 50,000 MS coins.}
{MS: Host completed a hidden quest, Discovered.}
{MS: Host is rewarded with 50,000 Ms coins.}
{MS: Host completed a quest; Kill 100 enemies.}
{MS: Host gained 50% increase in all attributes.}
{BS: Host gained 20,000 EXP.}
{BS: Host ranked up to rank 15.}
{MS: Host gained 30,000 MS coins for ranking up to Rank 15.}
{BS: Host gained 30,000 Bs coins for ranking up to Rank 15.}
Kyle nodded slowly and opened his mouth.
'Create one hundred and twenty-five troops. My total number of soldiers should be one hundred and fifty. One hundred archers and fifty foot soldiers.'
{MS: cost: 125,000 metals. 125,000 MS coins. 125,000 cotton. 125 soul cores.}
'Hmm... If I go on with this, I'll have only five thousand MS coins left...' He considered the cost for a fleeting moment, then made his decision. 'Go ahead.'
{MS: training started: Time duration: 2:04:58.}
{BS: Host is advised to upgrade his castle to Lv2.}
{BS: Effect: increase kingdom power, increase training speed, construction speed, and unlock Host profits.}
'Ok...'
Kyle nodded, then a question surfaced. 'But I have a question. Why did you two give me rewards when I entered Rank 15? Why not the ranks below?'
{Host receives rewards as he ranked up. Host will gain his next reward when he enters Rank 30... The higher the rank, the more impressive and rare the rewards.}
Kyle slowly nodded his head.
'What is required to upgrade my castle?'
{BS: 1,000 woods. 1,000 metals. 1,000 stones. 2,000 Gold.}
{MS: Duration: 1:00:00.}
Without hesitation, he commanded, "Do it."
{BS: Done.}
"King Kyle!"
'King?'
The title caught Kyle off guard. Remembering his was now a king, He turned around in mild confusion, seeing Gabriela striding towards him, her expression serious.
"King Kyle, we found the people... But?" Her voice trailed off, a hint of something troubling in her tone.
"What happened?" Kyle asked, his brow furrowing with concern.
"Well...."
Gabriela began, her gaze shifting towards the distance.
____
In the oppressive darkness of a deep cave, the air thick with the stench of fear, despair and blood, Kyle stood before a crudely constructed cage. Inside, huddled together like broken dolls, were men, women, and children. Their bodies were thin and pale, marred by a tapestry of wounds, their faces devoid of life, their eyes hollow.
Kyle shifted his gaze from the pitiful prisoners to the tattered rags that served as their clothing. He exhaled deeply, a wave of grim understanding washing over him.
"These... These guys are monsters!" he hissed out, his voice low and filled with a simmering rage. "And they called me evil and a threat."
He walked closer to the cage, his gaze sweeping over the silent, broken figures within.
A young girl, who looked no older than sixteen, slowly lifted her head. Her blonde hair was matted with dirt and grime, her eyes, though vacant, fixed on him with a chilling lack of emotion. Her thin clothes were ripped and stained, offering little protection.
She moved hesitantly towards the bars of the cage, her unwavering gaze locked on Kyle's.
"It's ok, I'll get you all out," Kyle said quickly, his voice firm yet gentle, hoping to ignite a spark of hope in their deadened eyes.
The twenty-five soldiers stood silently behind him, their torches casting flickering shadows on the cave walls. Gabriela stood slightly to the side, her usual confident demeanor replaced by a solemn stillness.
"No."
The single word, spoken in a weak, barely audible voice, hung in the heavy air. It was the girl who had spoken.
Kyle waited, his heart sinking with a premonition of something terrible. The silence that followed was thick and suffocating.
"Kill us."
The words struck Kyle like a physical blow, stealing the air from his lungs. He stared at the girl in stunned disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend the request. Beside him, he saw Gabriela's own expression mirror his shock.
"I can't do that..." Kyle finally managed to say, his voice rough with emotion. "I'm here to set you free."
"Free?"
The girl's gaze flickered towards the huddled group behind her, a silent acknowledgment of their shared situation. She slowly shook her head, a gesture that spoke volumes of their utter despair.
"There's nothing in this world that will let us stay. We are all still alive because we don't have anything to end our lives with... So we ask of you to kill us." Her voice cracked on the last words.
Kyle raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the fifty gaunt faces within the dim confines of the cage – men, women, and even small children, their eyes reflecting a profound weariness. He looked back down at the girl, his heart heavy with a sorrow he rarely allowed himself to feel.
"What if I take you all to another world?" he asked.
The girl blinked, her vacant eyes widening slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing her features. The stranger's words were incomprehensible, almost fantastical.
"Yes, to another world!" Gabriela interjected, stepping forward, her voice filled with a newfound urgency. "We're currently building our kingdom there. In that world, no one will be after you. You'll be safe, with enough food and everything you will ever need. There's no need to end your lives."
"But you're a demon..." the girl whispered, her gaze fixed on Gabriela with a lingering suspicion. "Won't you kill us later?"
'This girl...' Kyle thought, a pang of unexpected empathy resonating within him. He sighed, then spoke louder, addressing everyone in the cage.
"She is with us. My name is King Nemesis, but you can call me Nemesis. How about we move you guys out of here and take you to my world? No one will ever find you there. You can live in peace."
The girl stared at him for several long seconds, her gaze searching his face for any hint of deceit. Then, her fragile strength seemed to give way, and she collapsed onto the dirt floor of the cage, unconscious.
"This!"
Kyle exclaimed. He gripped the bars of the cage, his power surging. In a matter of seconds, the crude metal began to glow red, then twisted and melted away, leaving the prisoners exposed. He stepped inside, gently scooped up the unconscious girl in his arms, and walked out of the ruined cage.
"Help the rest," he instructed his soldiers, his voice firm.
The twenty-five soldiers nodded in unison and quickly moved to assist the remaining villagers.
Kyle looked down at the girl cradled in his arms, her face pale and fragile. A small, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips, a rare and unexpected sight.
'I promise you, I'll keep you safe,' he thought inwardly, the vow echoing in the silent depths of his mind.
Gabriela watched Kyle as he walked towards the cave entrance, the unconscious girl held protectively in his arms. A faint, almost wistful smile touched her own lips.
'I thought he was completely cold-hearted and ruthless...' she mused, her gaze softening. 'It seems there is some warmth in his heart after all... Maybe just a little, but it's in there.'
The girl in Kyle's arms slowly fluttered her eyelids open. Her blurry gaze focused on the strong, handsome face looking down at her. In a voice barely above a whisper, she muttered a single, chilling word:
"War."