Vayu forced himself to stay upright, despite the pain he was feeling in his muscles. He couldn't show weakness — not here, not now, because the moment he showed weakness, they will kill him "I'm giving you all a chance" he said, his voice loud and mocking "Run".
"HAhahahahaa" one of the attendant started laughing and said "Kid, do you think we have a choice?, and even if we had a option, we wouldn't run from a child" they weren't villagers Vayu thought "Are you people from the forest?" he asked, taking long breaths trying to stabilize his body, buying as much time as he could "So what if we are" the man replied, this confirmed Vayu's suspicion that they were definitely people who have come from the forest.
"Let me handle him", One of the men stepped forward, moving with slow and deliberate steps toward Vayu. Vayu had already used Overdrive, if he used it now, he would harm himself. Every movement felt painful, still he clenched his teeth, tightened his grip around the daggers, and braced himself. The man circled him like a predator. This man was the same attendant who'd trailed behind him after the orders of the first elder, the day Vayu transferred the meat. The attendant's hatred had been brewing for months. He had watched Vayu ,a mere trainee — receive favors and attention, the attendant felt, he deserved that after years of loyal service to the First Elder. The attendant had tried to investigate Vayu's method from the training instructor, but the instructor reported this to the First Elder and he was scolded a lot because of a boy, who had not completed a year in her faction. The humiliation he felt was unbearable to him, so when the second elder's attendant offered him to join him in this mission he agreed instantly. But the condition on which he joined was, a seat at the elders' table and the first elder serving him as his personal attendant, if the plan succeeded he will get his revenge. When the attendant had followed him, he had seen Vayu collapse after his technique ended. He didn't understand much about martial arts, so he wasn't sure whether he would be granted the seat of a Elder or not. But when he saw Vayu use that technique once more, he realized the boy was at his weakest and a idea came into his mind, If I kill him now, I'll be the one to complete the mission, and no one will ever look down on me again.
Before anyone could react, he stepped forward and said coldly, "Let me handle him", determined to end it by himself, he advanced toward Vayu. Vayu, although was exhausted, had used these brief moments to steady his breathing. The attendant swung his dagger and Vayu parried it with all he had. What caught Vayu off guard wasn't the attack, but the lack of strength behind it. At first, he thought the man had made a mistake, but when the next strike came, it confirmed his suspicion. This man didn't know how to fight he thought, then Vayu noticed other things, his breathing was ragged, movements stiff and uncoordinated, his swings were big. Seeing an opportunity, Vayu chose not to end it immediately and began to parry each attack make it look like he was barely hanging there, keeping his defenses light and controlled, using the time to steady his own breathing and started recovering his strength. Each clang of metal felt slower and more predictable. The others attendants who were watching grew impatient.
"What are you doing?! Finish him already!" one of them shouted.
"I'm trying!" the attendant barked back, his tone showed panic "He just won't die quietly!"
That moment of frustration was all Vayu needed. As the attendant lunged again, overextending his arm, Vayu deflected the dagger, sidestepped and in one fluid motion drove his own blade deep into the man's abdomen. The attendant froze in place. Before he could move, Vayu's hands shot up, gripping his neck tightly — and with one sharp twist he snapped his neck, CRACK! — then there was total silence and the attendants body went limp.
Vayu bent forward, both hand on his knees, his chest heaving. His muscles screamed, for a brief moment, he allowed himself a breath of relief, but then he heard it. The rustle of leaves and the sound of feet against dirt. Vayu turned around, but it was already too late. He saw a figure leaping toward him — flying through the air. BAM! A brutal dropkick slammed into him as he crossed his arms to block it, the impact rattling through his bones and sending him skidding backward across the ground. His boots dug into the dirt, barely holding his stance when— Bam! Another dropkick — this time from behind. Pain exploded in his back; his balance broke. His torso bent forward uncontrollably as he stumbled, struggling to stay upright. But before he could plant his feet, a third dropkick crashed into him, harder and faster than before.
Vayu hit the ground face-first, dust rising around him. The world spun for a second as he tasted blood in his mouth, his arms trembling as he tried to push himself up. Around him, the remaining eight attendants tightened their circle. Vayu tried to rise, but a boot slammed into his face, pinning him down to the earth, as the man started twisting his boot over Vayu's face, his hands shot up grabbing the boot with both hands he tried to remove the foot but his hands felt hollow as if there was no power left in them, he laid there, helpless.
The man above him laughed "Is that it, boy?" he taunted "quickly gather their bodies and kill everyone"
"No!" Vayu shouted, his voice hoarse, the boot drove into his cheek, harder this time. "I'll kill them all in front of you" the man snarled. "And then I'll kill you".
With no other choice left and nothing to lose, Vayu forced himself to use Overdrive once again as his heart started beating faster and faster. Pain flared through his limbs, but he had no other option so he gritted his teeth and let the energy flow in his hands. The man snickered "Try all you want" Vayu grabbed his foot once again his hands firm, lifted it off his face and shoved it backward with all the power he could gather. The man lost his balance falling backwards and Vayu got up, standing straight. The seven attendants attacked him together, their weapons aimed at him slashing from every angle, and Vayu was in the midst of all. He saw the attacks coming his hands moving on his own deflecting all the crucial blows. For a moment it looked like he might fight his way out of this, But it was too much for him and soon their attacks overwhelmed him. Even as he blocked one strike, another landed — if he deflected one attack, another attack came from his back. The hits multiplied faster than he could defend himself. Blows after blows stacked upon him, until breathing itself became a battle and he fell down.
"Wait, I want him alive" said the attendant who had fallen down. They pummeled him into the dirt. He tried to rise, to fight back, but his hand didn't move, his limbs felt lifeless. Then the man came close to him, grabbed his hair and lifted his head then put his finger before his nose checking his breathing, he laughed "hahahaah" finding Vayu alive "death wont come to you easily, you will see them all die one by one" he slammed his head into dirt "Tie him to the tree" the attendant ordered coldly.
Two men grabbed Vayu by the arms, dragging his battered body across the dirt. His knees scraped the ground, leaving faint trails of blood as they pulled him to the nearest tree. The rough bark pressed against his back, digging into his torn clothes and bruised skin. One of them began tying his wrists, But the rope wasn't long enough.
"Tch, not enough to bind him properly"
"I'll get more" said the second man, moving towards the camp to get more rope, leaving Vayu alone with the man behind him, tightening the knots.
The forest was quiet, but a faint rustle of leaves in the distance broke the silence, followed by a soft thud. The man who was tying Vayu's hands lost his grip.
Vayu lifted his head weakly, his breathing shallow and turned his head to the side, his eyes catching the faint silhouette that stepped out from the shadows.
A flicker of disbelief crossed his face as he whispered "...Aspen?"