Valeo tried to remember when Himrick left, but the fight has his attention, he knew Himrick wasn't there in the crowd when Na'shando attacked, now that he had a name to put on the figure he couldn't help but boil a little everytime he heard or thought about that man.
It was him who got Laylana killed, it was his fault Valeo got the blame for his genocide, Valeo took deep breaths. He'll eventually confront Na'shando-
"And kill him..."
Valeo chose to ignore the mysterious voice, when he reached the cabin and reached for the door he jolted back in surprise from a shout inside.
"I CAN'T LOSE YOU TOO!"
It was Cho cho, the shouting continued with Kim and Anastasia being heard as well.
"Best not to disturb."
A voice spoke behind him making trump around, a turtle that looked like it seen the years pass had a wrinkle smile on its face.
"Come young one, join us for morning meal."
The turtle turned and walked back to the camp, the smell of cooked meat reaching Valeo's nostrils and made his stomach yearn for the food.
Everyone stopped eating when Valeo entered the center, human, Ani-folk, Undead, all of them just sat there staring at him, his breathing became heavy and sweat started to build, just when was about to leave the people erupt in cheers.
They sat down next to him and started to include him in their conversations, they all thanked him for saving them.
"Thank you so much, we don't know what would've happened if- never mind that."
"Thank you so much for getting us out that wither world of a place."
Valeo was starting to get overwhelmed until the turtle ushered them away.
"Sorry about that young one, we felt bad for our misguided fear, they just wanted to properly thank you."
The turtle sat down as the crowd of people did their morning routines.
"What's your name?"
"Valeo."
* * *
Anastasia saw this from the window and smiled a little, she didn't know him very well but she knew he'd deserved the praise.
"IT'S FOR YOUR SAFETY!"
Her smile vanished when the shouting continued, they have been at this for at least two hours in Anastasia's estimate.
"ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY, YOU JUST GOT KIDNAPPED AND NOW YOU WANNA PLAY ADVENTURER?"
"MOM I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET HURT BECAUSE OF ME, YOUR IN DANGER JUST BEING ASSOCIATED WITH ME!"
Anastasia rubbed her temples feeling a headache, she tried to mediate both sides but ultimately got ignored.
"BY CHIME'S GRACE YOU ARE YOUR FATHER'S CHILD, YOUR SO FUCKING STUBBORN AND IDIOTIC!"
The shouting continued for another hour, it was stopped when they all heard a explosion from outside, all three rushed outside to see Valeo fighting against a blonde man draped in dark leather clothing, Valeo was slowly leading him away from the campsite.
The campsite was a catastrophe, multiple looked severely injured.
"Who the fuck is that?"
Anastasia harshly asked while running to the hurt crowd.
"Fuck that I know, I'm going to help him, just stay here and take care the people."
Kim said while pressing a few buttons on his mechanical arm, Cho cho was about to protest but Anastasia stopped her.
"Mama Cho cho I need help, trust Kim."
Anastasia said while applying emergency first aid to a bleeding human woman.
Cho cho between Anastasia and Kim before reluctantly helping the ghoul girl with the people.
* * *
Rage was building up Valeo as he blocked a slash to his abdomen, this man randomly appeared and launched an attack on him and the people around him.
"And here I thought the big bad Tyrant was a ruthless machine of destruction, I never expected for someone of your reputation to mingle with...creatures."
Valeo charged at the man but cleaved a log in two when he reached him.
"What th-"
Valeo grabbed the short dagger of the man that was aimed for his head.
"At least you have good reflexes, this isn't my usual forte but, I just don't think you'll be able to handle me at my best."
The smugness from the man ticked Valeo off, the man replaced himself with another log before the ball of red and orange energy but him.
"My my."
The man was face them on the other side of the clearing.
"I was saving you for later, Sun's blessed."
The smoke cleared to show Kim glaring at the man, his mechanical arm out stretched coursing with the same red and orange energy.
"Shut your mouth, what do you want?"
"But didn't you want my mouth to be shut?"
Another blast was shot at the blonde man making him replace himself with Valeo.
"SHIT!"
Valeo was sent flying at a tree turning it into splinters, Kim had to duck and weave sword swipes from the man as Valeo got his bearings together.
He rushed the man's left and swung his gunbai looking to bisect him, seeing Kim was swapped in his place Valeo turned his gunbai to its flat side in a split second.
"Oh dear."
The man had a hand over his mouth while looking at the recovering Kim, Valeo made distance landing next to Kim who got up and dust himself off.
"Chime's grace that hurt, but I got a plan."
Valeo nodded not taking his eyes of the cocky blonde man.
"Just did you did last time."
Valeo was confused but nodded anyways and charged at the man once more.
"Huh, I honestly thought you were smarter than that Tyrant."
The man replaced himself with Kim once more when the gunbai was inches away from his neck, but his eye widen and a ball of the red and orange energy was floating in front of him.
"Oh shi-"
He was sent flying by the explosion, tumbling across the ground both Valeo and Kim charged at him not giving him a chance to recuperate.
"ENOUGH!"
The man quickly got up and was covered in dirt and blood, he let out a burst of yellow essence exploded from him in a wave, Valeo and Kim was sent flying but they landed on their feet.
"YOU FILTHY CREATURES HAD THE AUDACITY TO HURT ME!"
Both Kim and Valeo looked at each other with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh, that's how a fight works."
Kim said charging his arm but still had a confused expression with Valeo getting a ready stance sharing the same face
The man charged at the duo marginally faster then what they were expecting, Valeo could only block as the man's relentless assault continued, Kim moved away from them and aimed his arm the man.
"Crap I can't get a good sho-WHOA!"
He rolled away from a ball of essence aimed straight at him.
"I AM ANTONIO THE SHADE, THE SHADOW OF THE LADY, I WILL NOT BE BESTED BY THE LIKES OF YOU!"
Valeo did a low spin kick making the now named Antonio lose his footing, Valeo grabbed his leg with both right arms and slammed Antonio into the ground.
Spikes shot out the foot Valeo held piercing his hand but he did not let go but instead flung him twords Kim who shot a ball of energy from his mechanical arm at incoming blonde.
A log was replaced upon contact with the ball of energy sending splinters everywhere, they both looked around for the man but found nothing.
"Is he...gone?"
Valeo strained his ears to try to hear Antonio but got the nothing in return.
"We think so."
Kim sat down his breathing heavy, Valeo mimicked his action and let out a sigh in relief, once their eyes meet they couldn't help but laugh.
It happened in a split second but it felt like centuries for Valeo, Antonio appeared behind Kim a knife covered in yellow essence poised to stab him in the head.
"Please Valeo...save him."
A black and white blur zipped past Kim stunning him for a solid second, when he turned around to see what just happened Kim stared in awe at the sight.
Valeo was enveloped in a black and white aura that thrashed around like the wind, he held Antonio by the neck against a broken tree.
"Why can't I use swap, WHY CAN'T I USE MY ROLE!?"
Antonio's eyes widen in horror.
"Why can't I feel his presence either, is the true power of the Tyrant?"
Valeo interrupted his inner monologue by slamming him into the ground, he slowly did it over and over again.
"Yes....yes...YES!"
"VALEO!"
Valeo stopped what he was doing and saw Kim standing next to him, before he tried to say anything a stone was replaced in Valeo's hand.
Both went on edge and got ready, but after a couple minutes nothing happened, the black and white aura dissipated and Kim's arm stopped flowing with its energy.
"Looks like he won't be joining us anytime soon."
Kim said while he pressed a few things on his arm.
"By the way, what was that all about?"
Kim asked nodding his head at the small crater Valeo made with Antonio's limp body.
"We....we don't know."