Series: The Mountain: Book 1: The Awakening

Final Outcome

Plunging into the sea of poorly equipped men, Liam swung the slender blade too and fro, cutting the mercenaries down like ripened barley fields in the heights of spring. Guided by blind rage, he slashed at the ill-prepared men, who could do nothing else but accept their morbid fate. As his rampage slowed with the dwindling of the mercenary group, the villagers trembled in fear thinking they too would fall to the ferocity of the newcomer's blade. With the last hired sword's body dropping to the scorched, earthen floor, Liam suddenly snapped out of his murderous stupor. Staring at the carnage that lay before him, a fresh wave of Void Essence washed over his body, not only replenishing the spent aura but also relieving the built up fatigue from the previous battle. 

Rejuvenated, Liam swung his blade, splattering the town's square with the blood of its invaders. Aura still emanating violently off of his body, he strode toward the cowering merchant, blade in hand. Halfway there to his target, Liam stopped in front of the trembling villagers as they huddled together, trying to preserve their warmth within the sudden drop in temperature. Approaching the grizzly bearded villager that had spoken out earlier, Liam raised his sword to the man's face, who held up his arms in a futile attempt to shield himself. Biting down hard on his tongue, the man closed his eyes as he braced himself for what seemed to be an impending death. However, even after hearing the swish of a blade, he felt no pain nor any other indication that he'd been struck. Confused by the new the development, he opened his eyes only to see a young boy entombed within an ominous aura staring down at him. Much to his surprise, he massaged his sore, bruised wrists as he realized the earlier sword movement was in fact the severing of his binds. 

"Free the others," Liam said, temperature lowering even further as he spoke. 

Nodding slowly, the man retrieved a knife from a fallen mercenary, wondering who their saviour was as he busied himself with the removal of the securely bound ropes from his fellow villagers. Satisfied with the man's quick actions, Liam continued his path towards the quivering merchant, stepping over the fresh remains of the late mercenary group. 

"Y-you, stay away!" the merchant shouted as Liam drew nearer. 

"Who are you?" the merchant asked as he noticed Liam's movements did not show any sign of slowing down, "Who sent you? Was it Cleo?"

Stopping just short of the round man, Liam eyed his surroundings, noticing the absence of the merchant's other bodyguard.

"It was him!" the merchant exclaimed, mistaking Liam's halting for confirmation, "I knew I couldn't trust that snake! How much did he offer, ten, no twenty gold? Whatever the price may be, I'll double it!"

Pulling out a small leather pouch from one of his oversized sleeves, he threw it at Liam's feet, spilling ornately crafted, gold and silver coins from its open mouth as it fell. Retrieving the bag, Liam stared at what was probably capable of purchasing a small castle or miles of fertile farmland. Hefting the pouch, he threw a glance at the now freed villagers who in turn stared back at him with worried expressions written all over their faces. 

"Don't worry about them," the merchant laughed, thinking Liam was swayed by the exorbitant amount of money in his hands, "Think about how you'll spend all this money."

Just as the situation seemed to have taken a dire turn for the recently freed villagers, Liam tossed the money bag to the grizzly bearded man, who unexpectedly caught it in surprise. 

"What's the meaning of this," the merchant roared.

"I don't need your money," Liam replied, air visibly shivering around him as he spoke. 

"You'll regret not taking my offer," the merchant shouted, "Do it now Tylan!"

As soon as the order was given, the merchant's second bodyguard jumped out from behind the remnants of a burnt house, aura blade in hand as he rushed towards Liam, covering the distance in an instant. Closing in for the kill, the burly man swung his blade down on Liam's neck, expecting to decapitate him in one strike. Unfortunately for him, the moment his aura blade collided with Liam's still explosive, black energy, it shattered, aura dissipating as his sword turned into fine black sand. With the failure of the surprise attack being apparent, the bodyguard attempted a secondary attack, however, this time, Liam was prepared. Mimicking his attacker's movements, Liam buried his blade into his enemy's neck, beheading him cleanly with a slightly diagonal cut.