From where he was, Marcus could see the massive frame of another Vorathis Minx. And then another.
There were two of them. Both were drawn by the scent of blood and the death of their kin. Their nostrils flared as their eyes locked onto him. The two of them let out a deafening furious bellow that shook the ground.
One was already enough to fill Marcus with dread. With the state of his body, he couldn't even muster the strength to walk, let alone run.
He was unwilling to accept this, though. Gritting his teeth, he tried and struggled to move his legs, all to no avail.
This can't be it! I'm not dying here. Not like this, I still don't know who set me up and who I'm supposed to give my vengeance to.
His unwillingness and desperation this time couldn't support him as his body still refused to move.
Just when one of the Minx's lunged forward, a blade lined with blue plasma energy on its edge, tore across the air and slammed into the head of the Vorathis Minx. A loud impact followed, and the Minx collapsed mid-charge. On the other side of its skull, a gaping hole the size of a grown man yawned open.
The beast didn't have a chance of resisting, nor did it expect anything like that. But it was too late for it to regret as its life was slipping through it.
Before the second Vorathis Minx could react to what had happened, an arrow infused with similar plasma energy, pierced through the head of the Minx, blowing a sizable hole through its head and sending it crashing to the ground.
Just like that?
Though Marcus knew what those weapons were, and who usually wielded them, he found it a bit absurd that the Vorathis Minxs were killed so easily after he had suffered a bit to take one down. The beasts had crashed close by.
And just like when he had killed the first Minx, thin threads surged towards, albeit these ones were less powerful. They slowly filled Marcus's limbs with strength, just enough for him to be able to move properly again.
However, his muscles were still fatigued.
Before he could grow accustomed to the return of his mobility, he heard rustling from the nearby bushes. Moments later, uniformed men emerged from the foliage.
First there were, and then eight, then a dozen. Eventually, three more joined them, forming a well-armed group.
"That crazy hawkeyed bitch stole my kill." One of the soldiers grumbled as he walked over to the Minx with the blade lodged in its skull. He yanked the weapon free and casually wiped the blood from its edge.
"I dare you to say to her face, Waldolf," another said with a grin on his face. "Bet she'd shoot your balls clean off."
"You would like that wouldn't you?" Waldolf sneered. "Still looking for someone to join your nut-less life?"
Laughter rippled through the group.
"At least you killed one she got the other." Another officer offered. "Looks like a draw to me."
Then Waldolf's gaze shifted. He pointed his blade toward Marcus.
"Hey! Who let their puppy wander off?"
Something about being called a lost puppy didn't sit well with Marcus, nonetheless, his expression remained impassive. He simply stared at Waldolf, unmoved.
"Oh, he must be the other Iron Marshal that those trembling rookies said they lost." Someone muttered.
"The Empire really needs to rethink who they hand this rank to. It's becoming a damn joke. More than half of these so-called Iron Marshals are an embarrassment to the rest of us Marshals" Waldolf spat, truly disgusted.
His brain seems to match his body… all muscle and no sense. Marcus thought, keeping his composure.
Even though he had recovered enough strength to move around, he was still careful not to do so. His senses were telling him that every soldier present was just as strong as the Vorathis Minx he killed, if not stronger.
Moreover, Marcus could see faint data hovering above each soldier's head—just like it had with the minx. This time though, only their race and names were visible. Their levels were obscured, displayed as three question marks.
"At least this one was able to kill a Vorathis Minx on his own…" A smooth feminine voice cut in.
The speaker stepped forward. She was a tall, lean woman clad in the same military gear that hugged her frame. "And seemingly without a weapon," She added as she observed the corpse and noted the nature of the injuries on it.
She had a bow hanging across her shoulder, and a quiver filled with faintly glowing arrows hung at her back. The arrows were identical to the ones that felled the second Vorathis Minx.
It was then that the others noticed that there was a third beast dead in the area.
Several of them let out low whistles. "Well damn… You must be one tough puppy." One of them said, visibly intrigued. "What type of MGP did you take?"
Many of them were impressed, their surprise was genuine. For someone to kill a Vorathis Minx barehanded—especially without exuding any notable energy signature—was beyond uncommon. They quickly assumed he must have used some form of enhancement pill.
"I doubt if he used any… or at least none we're familiar with," the female soldier said calmly as her gaze locked onto Marcus. "No visible signs of withdrawal. Pupils are clear, no twitching, and his skin tone is stable. His breathing is also even."
Her eyes narrowed as she continued to assess him. The longer she stared the more curious and cautious she became.
Keeyah. he read her name hovering faintly above her head, feeling irritated with the way she was scrutinizing him.
"Killing a Minx barehanded wouldn't be a challenge for me either," Waldolf scoffed and stepped closer. But that would just be a dumb waste of time. He's nothing special."
"He should be an Awakened," A deep voice cut through the conversation.
A man in uniform stepped out of the bush. His presence was enough to shift the atmosphere. He wasn't the tallest amongst them, but something about him made him look larger than life. With rough brown hair and an eye patch over one eye, he walked with the relaxed confidence of someone who had seen far too much and survived all of it.
He smiled slightly as he spoke, but there was weight behind it—a pressure that made the wind seem still.
Everyone reacted instantly.
Including Marcus. Strained and saluted in perfect unison.
His instincts screamed that this man was more dangerous than the Vorathis Minx. His uniform bore the insignias that marked him as a Lead Sentinel, a rank well above the others present.
"According to the reports I received, a significant number of False Pages were being transported to the Second Ring today," he said with a steady but piercing voice. "Tell me… did you happen to 'find' one?"
His gaze sharpened.
"You are aware, of course, that theft of military property would make you liable for court-martial… if found guilty… right?"