Arthur's plan was simple: create chaos and escape in the midst of it. He needed to twist the situation into a tangled mess, making it impossible for anyone to notice him slipping away. His plan relied on one key factor: the device the soldiers used to report to their commander.
From his observations, Arthur discovered a crucial flaw in the device. While it allowed for instantaneous communication over long distances, it couldn't send multiple commands at once. This meant that not everyone could send or receive directions simultaneously. Arthur's theory was confirmed when he received a different command than the soldiers he had encountered earlier.
Which meant one thing, the commander didn't know which device belonged to which soldier, making it possible for Arthur to send fake reports. But he knew this strategy wouldn't go unnoticed for long. To increase his chances of success, Arthur needed to acquire at least three more devices, which meant eliminating six more soldiers.
Arthur's brows furrowed, his expression turning grim as he thought of the task ahead.
He was currently in the middle route, watching another pair of soldiers with calculating eyes. The dim light of the lantern cast flickering shadows on the walls, making it seem like the darkness itself was moving. It had been 10 minutes since he confirmed his theory about the device, and he had immediately set out to execute the rest of his plan. His targets were a pair of rangers, both equipped with crossbows. He had tailed them for a while, managing to sneak up undetected. The sound of their muted conversations and the creaking of their leather armor echoed as they patrolled the streets.
Grabbing his dagger, Arthur took aim and threw.
Thwip!
The blade sank into the soldier's throat, blood sprayed from the wound as the soldier fell. The lantern in his grasp crashed to the ground, its light flickering before extinguishing, plunging the area into darkness. The sudden loss of light left his partner disoriented, his eyes struggling to adapt to the darkness.
"What just happened?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with alarm. Arthur didn't hesitate, moving quickly with his axe in hand. The sound of his footsteps echoed off the walls as he closed in.
Thwark!
A quick slash across the soldier's neck sent his head flying, leaving him unable to scream. Blood sprayed from the stump, hot and viscous, as the body crumpled to the ground with a dull thud.
The street was once more engulfed in darkness and silence after the demise of the soldiers. Arthur stood still, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.
"I'm so tired," he muttered, wincing as he glanced at his battered body.
"My heart feels like it's about to explode, and...my body's a wreck." Pain shot through his left arm with every movement, a harsh reminder of the toll his body had taken.
"But I can't afford to stop now, I'll make it back home no matter what."
Gritting his teeth, Arthur forced himself to move, his body screaming in protest. Using his axe, he chopped off the soldier's hand. Repeating the process; he ripped a strip of cloth from the soldier's uniform and fashioned a makeshift tourniquet. Finally, he took the device and the crossbow with its quiver before leaving the alley.
.....
Meanwhile, Gab's command center had descended into chaos.
"Sir! Sir! Group 8 found dead, current location; middle route!" one report blared. "Sir Gab! Group 12, found dead in the right wing, sir!" another voice shouted.
"Group 9 found dead, sir, what do we do?!"
Gab's eyes darted wildly between the multiple devices, his mind racing. His usual composure had given way to frustration. "Just what is going on?" he ranted, biting his fingernail anxiously as his foot tapped out a rapid rhythm. "How is he doing this? Is he really not alone?" he pondered, his anxiety boiling over as he ripped the nail right off his finger, blood spilling from the wound.
A tentative voice interrupted his thoughts, emanating from one of the devices. "Sir? Awaiting your command, sir?"
A vein bulged on Gab's forehead as his frustration reached a breaking point.
"Will you shut uppppp!!!" he bellowed, slamming his fists on the table.
"I can't f***king think!!!"
The voice on the device apologized hastily, "I'm sorry, sir," before disconnecting.
Gab's anger still simmering, he growled, "Dammit, he really isn't alone. That f**king runt!" His eyes locked onto a distant device, and after a moment's hesitation, he picked it up.
"Trant," he barked, but was met with silence.
"I know you can hear me," he snarled, his patience nonexistent.
A lazy voice responded, "Yeah, yeah, I'm here. What is it?"
Gab's tone turned urgent. "He's not alone." Trant's amusement was palpable. "Hohhh? The most activity is on the right, only one group remains."
His excitement grew. "That means the strongest people are there too."
"Leave the gates for now," Gab ordered. "I'll make my way there to guard it."
Trant's sinister laughter echoed through the comms. "Ahahahahahahhahaa, I get to kill them all, right?"
Gab's response was curt. "Leave two alive. I need to ask them a few questions."
The transmission ended, leaving Gab alone with his thoughts. His brows remained knitted in a deep frown.
"Dammit." With a burst of anger, he stood up, stormed out of the room, and slammed the door behind him.
...,.
Thud!
The sound echoed through the streets, followed by the scent of blood and sweat. A soldier crumpled to the ground, his eyes frozen in terror. The surviving soldier's gaze darted towards his fallen comrade, then to the figure responsible for the murder, his voice shaking. "What the hell are you?"
The figure loomed, shrouded in shadows, its black cloak stained with blood. The wind gusted, revealing four human hands dangling from its waist, each grasping a glowing device that pulsed with a deep, crimson light. The air seemed to vibrate with malevolent energy, making the soldier's skin crawl. A bloodied axe hung at the figure's hip, and a crossbow was trained on the soldier, its aim unwavering.
"Please spare me," the soldier begged, tears and snot streaming down his face. His voice cracked as he dropped to his knees.
"Drop the device you have and get out," the figure commanded, its voice low and emotionless.
The soldier hastily discarded his device and scrambled to his feet, his footsteps echoing through the deserted streets. Arthur watched him disappear into the darkness, his expression unyielding.
A fleeting thought crossed his mind: "Should I have killed him?" He rubbed his temples, the cool night air doing little to calm his racing thoughts. "No... I don't kill mindlessly."
With a deep breath, Arthur turned away, the silence of the night swallowing him whole. That was the last of the soldier pair in the middle route; all that was left was to go right through the gate. He didn't know if his plan worked. For all he knew, the person guarding the gate was still there. Whoever was there was definitely not to be trifled with, and in his current state, he knew he couldn't win. Slowly he walked, his guard remained active; every sound made his hairs stand.
....
As I walked, each step felt like a jolt of electricity, searing pain shooting through my legs. Through my blurry vision, I could make out outlines of the gate.
"C'mon," I urged myself, dragging my feet forward.
Then, I saw it – the empty gate. A smile crept onto my face.
"Ahahaha, my plan actually worked." I forced my legs to move faster, my heart racing with the uncertainty of how long the gate would stay unguarded.
"OIIIIIIIIIII... WHO ARE YOU?!" Suddenly, a loud thunderous voice boomed behind me.
I didn't turn back;I didn't dare to, I just ran.
"I ASKED YOU A F**KING QUESTION."The voice bellowed again, its fury echoing through the night air.
It sounded like it was miles behind me, but I could hear him running.
"Dammit," I muttered, forcing every ounce of energy left in me. My legs tensed as I forced myself to move. I ran, with everything I had left. The footsteps behind me sounded closer, but I didn't stop running. Even when I got past the gate, I didn't stop. I'll lose him in the forest; he can't catch me there. Jumping over a fallen tree, I crash-landed on my left arm. But I couldn't feel it or think of anything else. I just kept running. Thunk! My foot hit a stone, and I lost my footing. I fell, rolling through the snow before hitting a tree.
Everything turned black.
.....…...
Trant's gaze remained fixed on the forest behind the gate. The figure he chased, though he couldn't make out who it was, was sure it was the person they were after. "Running in the forest alone this late at night, how bold," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. He turned away, his smile growing. "I'll be sure to find you," he declared.
Trant faced the men he had gathered, his expression serious. "Close the gates," he commanded. The men nodded, their faces set with determination, and began to move towards the gates. They sprang into action, their footsteps echoing through the night air as they worked to secure the entrance. The creaking of the old wooden gates and the clanking of the metal hinges filled the silence.
Meanwhile, Gab approached, a lamp in hand, his brow furrowed in confusion. He had been watching from a distance, and now he walked towards Trant, his footsteps crunching on the ground. "What's going on here?" he asked, watching as the men closed the gates.
Trant's smile never wavered. "I'm closing the gates," he replied, his tone dripping with mockery.
Gab's face darkened. "Trant! What is the meaning of this?!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the night air. "Answer me!"
Trant chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "Kekeke, for someone who claims to be so smart, to be blinded this much by your emotions. You are nothing but a child."
Gab's gaze snapped between Trant and the men, his eyes blazing with anger. His face turned red, veins bulging on his forehead as he realized what had happened. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Trant's words hung in the air.
Trant observed him, his smile growing wider. "He played you, just like a fool...Ahahahahahahha." Laughter erupted from him, mocking his partner.
Gab's teeth ground together, his fists clenched. "Dammit," he yelled, slamming the lantern onto the ground, shattering it. The sound of breaking glass was like a crack of thunder, and the smell of oil and smoke wafted up from the wreckage. The soldiers didn't dare stare, focusing on their task as their superior flew into a fit of rage. Gab's eyes turned bloodshot, his grip so tight that his nails dug into his flesh, blood dripping out.
"I'm going to rip him to pieces," he swore, before turning around and walking into the darkness, the gate shutting behind him.