Path Of A King

Alvren Of The Chaos

Chapter 6

We rode for what seemed like a really long time, the carriage wasn't all that comfortable and my body was numb. It had been 3 hours since we left Blackthorn, heading northwest to the Darkwood forest. The beel flowers grew in abundance near the tree line.
"Hey Emily . . . are you a noble?"
I asked
"Yes, I am. I belong to house Zolckster. My family rules over Ester near the border. My grandmother and grandfather didn't particularly take a liking to me. My mother died giving birth to me and I don't know who my father is. My grandparents didn't even tell me my mother's name. When I turned seven years old, I was sent to Blackthorn by my family and lived under the care of a maid named Chesley Ronn who raised me until she passed away when I turned fourteen. I was left with a house and a chest full of coin that was given to me through my father's will according to my nana Chelsey. Part of the reason why Lord Roderick wants to wed me to his son Leren is that Ester is known for extreme wealth so uniting house Baylor and house Zolckster is in his best interest for Lord Baylor."
Emily explained.
"Hey listen, I was thinking of moving out of Blackthorn and traveling east but only after we level up a bit more. It'll have to be before two months because I'm not letting Lord Baylor wed you to his son."
I boldly told Emily.
"I'll follow you anywhere Hiroki! I don't ever want to be separated from you."
Emily said while reaching for my hand.
"I'm happy you feel that way, I wouldn't want to be separated from you either!"
I said.

**************

We arrived at our destination near the tree line of the Darkwood forest north of Blackthorn. Emily and I dismounted the carriage and set the brake on the wheels so that the horses wouldn't be able to run away. From the view we had of the area, we could already see the Beel flowers growing in abundance. I took out a set of woven baskets and began to walk toward the flowers with Emily by my side. About 60 meters away from the tree line, Emily began to harvest the flowers and placed them in her basket. I also had begun to harvest the flower until both of our baskets were full. The beel flower was surprisingly very hard to cut from the stem, even with the assistance of our very sharp daggers. The Beel flower had a large 35cm head with silvered color petals, Erika had mentioned that mixing the flower with iron ore created a special hardened metal that was used in the creation of steel blades.

**************

We finished filling up twenty large baskets and began to fill our last pair of baskets when we suddenly heard voices coming from inside the tree line to the west. One by one, people appeared out of the forest until a total of five people appeared. The people looked like adventures, appearing panicked and full of fear like they had just gone through a difficult battle. My eyes came into contact with a woman who appeared to lead the group of people. In a sudden realization, I remembered that this group of people were the adventures who exited the adventurers guild built in Blackthorn just before Emily and I entered.
"Hiroki . . . Who are they?"
Emily wondered.
"I don't know but I think I remember seeing them in Blackthorn."
I explained.
Emily had expressed curiosity at the people who had suddenly appeared out of the Darkwood Forest but with good reason. People have gone missing out here and bandits are very common on rural roads. It isn't unheard of that adventurers kill fellow adventures that have just registered to cut the competition early on. The group of people began to run toward us, and naturally, it startled both of us. Reaching behind me, I grabbed the hilt of my sword to prepare for a possible assault. In video games from the earth, they would call this situation PvP. When the group of people got near enough for us to hear each other I yelled out to them and waited for a response.
"Who are you!?"
I yelled.
"My name is Syki Desly . . . We don't have time! We have to leave right now! Please let us ride with you on the carriage!"
Syki said with haste.
"Wait, what are you talking about? Why do we have to leave immediately?"
I asked.
"We are being chased by a man in Bronze armor who wants to kill us! His name is Alvren of the Chaos and he is a very strong and dangerous man. He already killed one of us already! A man by the name of Erien Stevol. Now, please! Let's leave immediately I don't know how long my Ice bringer's last attack will hold him."
Syki pleaded.
I turned to look at Emily, she nodded in agreement deciding that we should listen to the sudden request of the five adventurers that had come from the Forest. We packed the baskets on the carriage as fast as we could and placed them in one corner to make room for the five adventurers who would board. As we all were about to board the carriage, the strange man in bronze armor appeared out of the tree line. It was the man they called Alvren! With a sudden leap, he landed 10 meters away from us.
"So this is where you are, humans! Oh, you've brought me more of you, how pleasant."
Said Alvren.
"No! Impossible! How did he catch up so soon!? Berym, Meli, Norma, and Lylia form a defense line right away!"
Ordered Syki.
"Emily . . . Take the carriage and leave right away this seems like a dangerous situation. I'll stay and help these guys as much as I can, now go!"
I explained.
"No! I'm not leaving without you Hiroki! I'm staying with you . . . I don't care if the situation is dangerous."
Emily argued.
"Look Emily, I don't know what I w . . ."
I said without completing my argument.
Alvren suddenly appeared behind Emily. Without delay, I ran as fast as I could and drew my sword out of the sheath. Alvren was about to strike Emily with his arm when I somehow reached her in time, grabbing her hand I pulled Emily out of the way while meeting Alvren's arm with my sword. The clash between my sword and Alvren's bronze-covered arm created a strong shock wave that blew the carriage and horses away with ease causing the horses to get free. While my sword was locked with Alvren's arm, the tall man wearing iron armor swung his battle axe with tremendous force, hitting Alvren in the shoulder. Alvren flew to the right with the impact received by the iron armor adventurer's axe. The axe was glowing in a red light as was the man in the iron armor. Arrows cloaked with a green glow landed where Alvren lay on the ground, the woman with a war bow had started launching a vigorous attack of arrows toward Alvren. Afterward, another woman with red hair swung her sword to the ground causing a fissure to open under Alvren causing him to fall inside. The fissure closed as soon as Alvren fell inside. I stood next to Emily watching all of the adventurers launch attacks toward Alvren. A cloud of dust surrounded the area where the fissure had occurred.
"Did we get him?"
Syki questioned.
Alvren's hand broke through the ground and he simply walked himself out from being underground.
"Enough!! I'm done with this little game, humans!"
Alvren yelled.
Feeling like a powerful immeasurable weight, our bodies felt heavy and all of us dropped to our knees. The sudden pressure exerted by Alvren felt like gravity had increased threefold. Alvren appeared out of the cloud of dust walking calmly towards all seven of us who still hadn't managed to stand up under the strong pressure. The iron armored man was the first one who was approached by Alvren, without warning Alvren extended his arm and stabbed the man in the chest just narrowly missing his heart. The man fell to the ground as expected.
"Berym! No!"
Yelled Norma.
Berym lay on the ground motionless, the ground turned red as more of Berym's blood poured out of the inflicted wound. Alvren set his eyes on his next victim, this time it was the woman with the bow, her left hand was grabbed by Alvren. The monstrous grip was enough to crush her arm in an instant. The woman screamed at the top of her lungs and fell unconscious under extreme pain.
"Meli. . . ."
Whispered Norma
"Meli!! "
Yelled Syki
Norma regained herself and screamed as she saw how Meli was about to be crushed by Alvren's foot. She had frozen after Berym had been stabbed by Alvren.
"Silence! Human filth!"
Alvren ordered.
A powerful, round mass of bronze hit Norma in her abdomen, causing a crushing sound that was a result of her organs and ribs being destroyed by Alvren's fist.
"You Fucker!! Damn bastard! I'll kill you if you don't leave them alone!"
Syki yelled uncontrollably.
Norma fell unconscious, her body created a sound similar to meat when it fell on the ground. Alvren walked to the shouting adventurer. Syki was shouting and flailing on the ground. The moment when you cornered a wild animal is when it became most dangerous.
"bastard, bastard, bastard, bastard!!! I'll kill you!!!"
Syki yelled.
"Enough of your pointless shouting! Human filth!"
Alvren yelled
Alvren stood next to Syki, raising his foot just above her head. Suddenly, Syki stabbed Alvren in the foot with a dagger. The area around the dagger froze rendering Alvren unable to move.
"You whore! You'll regret that!"
Alvren yelled with rage.
"Lylia now!"
Syki ordered.
The last woman named Lylia launched her twin swords with all of her strength toward Alvren. The swords traveled at an incredible speed almost making the swords look like they disappeared only leaving a brief trail of red light. The destination of the swords was Alvren with the intention of decapitation.
"A mere weak attack is nothing!"
Alvren said mockingly.
Lylia's swords approached and Alvren simply raised his hand. Alvren's hand disappeared momentarily and the sound of metal hitting metal was heard.
"Whaa... W-What? I-Impossible!
Exclaimed Lylia.
"No!"
Syki said in astonishment.
"I'll leave you woman until the end. Then I'll take my time doing things until you beg me to kill you."
Alvren said with a wide smile.
Alvren turned his attention to the both of us, walking calmly while humming under his breath. Alvren smiled as he stood behind me and kicked me towards Emily,
"I can't allow him to hurt Emily!"
With great pain in my body, I used all the strength I had to stand up. A cold feeling suddenly struck me. As I looked down I could see something had pierced through my back and out of my chest. No!! It had gone further than that!!! It had also reached Emily. Alvren's bronze armored arm had pierced the both of us together. Blood started to spill out as Alvren retracted his arm out of us, pain immediately shot through my whole body and I started to get blurry vision along with extreme dizziness. I fell to my knees and Emily lay on the ground.
"I-I'm sorry Emily! I couldn't protect you even though I promised I would."
I said with tears.
"It's . . . okay, Hiroki . . . As long as I'm with you, I don't blame you for anything so please don't cry. We are together and that makes me happy."
Emily said while smiling and placing her hand on my cheek.
I touched her hand with both of mine and my tears fell on her chest. I leaned closer and lifted Emily towards me and kissed her. The final kiss conveyed our strong love. I held onto Emily as her body slowly slumped as she lost consciousness. I lowered her gently.
" No. . . .No! Emily!!!"
I cried.
A storm of thoughts rushed into my head, no! I can't let her die I have to do something! anything!
" There must be a way for me to save her!"
I got up and turned to face Alvren, it took all of my willpower and I didn't know how much longer I could keep standing. I was losing so much blood from the hole in my chest.
"First you defy my pressure, then you walk even though you shouldn't be able to! Now, you defy me by not dying! I pierced your chest, you should not be alive. Astounding! My master will surely be interested in you."
Said Alvren.
"I-I don't care about myself but I can't forgive someone who has hurt Emily! Ugh . . . cough I'll kill you, I promise you that!"
I said.
I Fell down to one of my knees, I picked up my sword from the ground and stood up once more. I prepared myself to engage in combat with Alvren. I swung my sword towards Alvren who block my attack with his arm, kicking Alvren in a surprise attack, I managed to find an opening and swung my sword cutting part of Alvren's ear off. I had aimed for his head but Alvren had managed to move slightly at the last second. Alvren rapidly stood up and kicked me with a single strong hit making me lose my balance and fall to the ground. I rose up from the ground on one knee. My vision began to shut down, my body was at its limit and I was about to lose consciousness. No! Please, just a little more time, I can't die just yet! I turned around to look back at Emily, her eyes stared off blankly until I saw them blink. She's still alive! I-I need to save her at all costs!
My body became covered in a pitch black Aura.
"What is hap . . . . Cough. What is this light. . . .?"
I exclaimed.
Confused about the situation, I stood up and turned to face Alvren once more. This time Alvren stared back at me flabbergasted. My wounds suddenly started to heal even the fairy soul armor started to repair itself around my chest.
"Impossible! How are you doing that? to have such pure dark magic is unheard of! Could it be your. . . . No! There must be a different explanation."
Alvren yelled.
Alvren launched a rapid attack toward me but I blocked him with my sword. I grabbed Alvren by his forearm and kicked him on his right leg instantly breaking it. Alvren yelled and fell to the ground, I didn't waste any time and instantly stomped on his other leg bending the bronze armor flat on the ground. Alvren yelled out again in pain as both of his legs had been completely crushed flat. I approached the agonizing Alvren and suddenly a heavy pressure activated around us but this pressure was different, it belonged to me. Alvren's bronze armor began to bend under the immense pressure that I exerted. An ear-piercing screech of metal being crushed resounded. The bronze armor on Alvren's chest finally gave in and was completely crushed flat on the ground along with his head. Alvren's head left a bloody scene of broken bones and what had been his brain. Alvren was crushed flat on the ground. The pressure ceased and the pitch-black aura around my body began to disappear. I quickly turned around and ran toward Emily only to find her covered in a similar pitch-black glow. Emily started to move around, the wound on her chest disappeared and the armor repaired itself as it did on me.
"Emily are you okay!?"
I asked.
"Hiroki? Y-Yes . . . I'm fine though I thought I was going to die. We both had wounds on our chest because that man pierced us with his arm, how did we heal?"
Emily asked.
"I don't know but I am glad your okay, let me help you up."
I said.
"Thank you, Hiroki! I'm glad that your okay as well."
Emily said while she held my hand.
"We should help these adventurers by giving them some of the health elixirs we bought at the potions shop."
I said
I ran to the carriage which was now on its side. The horses had been freed off their harnesses when I fought Alvren. I looked around at the things that had been scattered on the ground and found one of our packs. Thankfully the potions were intact, I ran back to Emily.
"The potions are fine."
I said.
"I'll get started with both of these women, go help the others, Hiroki."
I gave Emily some of the potions and we both began to check on the conditions of the five adventurers who were covered in wounds that Alvren had inflicted. I started with the red-haired woman. I turned her around to check her pulse. Good, so you are still alive. I opened the potion bottle and poured the contents inside the woman's mouth. The woman began to glow but I wasn't sure if she was healing I checked her pulse once more and it seem to be getting better so I moved on to the girl who had used the bow to attack Alvren. I poured the elixir in a similar manner as I did with the red-haired woman with the same effect. I finally moved on to the man who wore the iron armor and had managed to strike Alvren with an axe. I couldn't see his face because his helm covered his face. I took off the helmet and revealed a beast man with red fur and a scar on his left cheek that ran up to the eye stopping right underneath the eyebrow. So. . . . he's a demi-human? I administered the potion and when I was done I placed his helmet back on. except for Syki and the woman who threw the swords at Alvren the others were still unconscious. I walked towards the flipped carriage and sat beside it. I looked around and saw Emily talking to both of the women. The carriage cast a shadow that blocked the hot sun so the shade felt good. Perhaps because of the fight or because of the near-death experience I went through, I closed my eyes and dozed off.