Once upon a time, there was a man. The man had strong will, whenever he was faced with adversity, he will never run from it and decide to face it. He was someone who pursued strength and challenges, He really is not after the rewards, he was just there for the challenge.
Filled with pride, The Man decided to challenge the heavens itself. And the heavens, who found the man arrogant, decided to clip the man's wings as he was [ Cursed ] and damned for eternity.
The same man from the literatures 30 years ago is infront of me....The man known for being ruthless and destroyed an entire country alone was here. Is he here to kill me? He did say he was looking for me.....is it really to kill me?
Tension filled my body, as Anxiety crept up unto me. I had never felt so anxious before, not even infront of the Pig that I fought earlier, in which by the way the strongest one I fought to a battle of Death or maybe sparrings in The Academy.
The vibes that Li Sheng was giving off infront of me was yeah, truly scary. Despite his carefree attitude, I really could still feel the presence of someone great in him. I cannot even see any openings, and my senses are telling me to run away right this instant.
But how? I cannot even fucking move. All I could do is freeze up as I gripped Geoffrey tightly. I could feel splinters prickling my palm from how firm my grip on Geoffrey was.
"W-what do you want from me?"
Fucking finally, I managed to speak out a few words as I stared into the terrifying man infront of me. The Man meanwhile, just mused at my behavior as his lips curled up further and turned into a sly smile.
"Hmmm~ Maybe your head? Haha, you do fetch off for quite a high price"
Feeling creeps rising up into my body, I decided to make a run for it. Just like what I did in the Sacred Hall. I cannot win against this monster even if I had not sustained damages from the pighead, so with my little bit of strength, I decided to run away from it.
With geoffrey on my grip, I trek through the verdant forest despite the heavy rain as I felt my stomach hurting from the damage that I received earlier. Shit, why now? Give me more time please....
The rain was heavy, so I was soaked, and the more I was soaked, the heavier I got because of my clothes absorbing the water. Thinking that I should never be held down, while running, I swiftly removed my shirt and Traversed through the bushes, and after a few minutes of running, I finally decided to settle somewhere and hide on a large tree trunk.
"Haaa....haaa, that guy did not follow me nor did I hear him following. I must have lost him.....but I cannot be complacent, I will hide here for now"
I took a moment to catch my breathe as I stared at Geoffrey on my hand and then on my stomach, In there...I could see a slight bruise from the Pighead strike earlier. If I had not trained my body, then I might have not survived that strike. Thankfully I did so.
I stared at the black spot by my abdominal muscles and tried to touch it only for me to wince in pain.
"Oh? Are you a narcissist trying to admire your own body? Ahem, I totally understand that. I have been through that phase"
Breaking me out of my thoughts was the familiar voice, and when I turned to where it came from I saw Li Sheng emerge out from the bushes with WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT A FUCKING PARASOL? Why the fuck....no HOW THE FUCK DOES HE HAVE THAT.
Li Sheng chuckled as he walked towards me, the puddles underneath his feet would splash as he got closer and closer.
Then he stopped a few centimeters from me.
"Hello again?"
Without any hesitation, I launched a surprise attack at him by swiftly swinging Geoffrey right onto his face, with that speed there is no way someone can dodge it on time. He was also close to me so the chances of it hitting is great.
But I was wrong.
Li Sheng dodged the sword just by a hair's breadth by leaning back slightly as he went back to his previous position with a smile.
Not dismayed from him dodging my attack, I delivered another swift strike back by swinging back Geoffrey to follow the trajectory that he just passed through earlier.
This time though, instead of dodging, Li Sheng raised his free hand as he extended his index finger and stopped Geoffrey's trajectory just by the tip of his fingernail.
What the fuck...that couldn't be stopped that easily.
"Hm~"
Humming, Li Sheng chuckled as the tip of his fingernail lit up a purplish hue.
"Quite a good friend you have here, but unfortunately....his journey ends here"
Li Sheng chuckled as the purplish energy wrapped around Geoffrey, and not giving me time to process what was going on....Geoffrey was shattered into splinters.
"NOOOOO! GEOFFREY!!"
I cried out as despair welled inside me, My only friend in this place after everything was taken away from me. My only partner...the one who helped me cope with loneliness.
"NOOOOOOOOO"
Tears welled up in my already swollen eyes, as I felt snot coming on my shattered nose. I knelt down on the ground to catch the pieces of Geoffrey.
"Too bad. He was weak."
Without any hint of remorse on his voice, Li Sheng stared at me kneeling on the muddy puddles as I held out the splinters of Geoffrey on my hand. He stared at me crying, but I did not feel any mockery on his gaze.
Looking up, I glared at him. With hate flaring in me, I no longer felt fear as I decided to tackle him. Grabbing the collars of his robe, I roared out hateful words to him.
"I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU"
I tried to push him down, but for some reason I can't....He was strong. I was just an ant pushing a boulder.
"Woah chill, it's just a stick"
Li Sheng chuckled as he rolled his eyes and then with a light press of his palm, he pushed me down to the ground which caused me to fall on my rear as I felt powerless.
I really am helpless huh....pathetic.
"Just...kill me...."
I muttered, I felt nothing anymore. I lost everything, Geoffrey was my only friend in this place. But even he was gone....He said it was just a stick...haha why am I crying over a stick? Why?
I recalled the things that happened to me these past few days. My family threw me out thinking it is better than killing me off. My friends....from the Academy, in The Sacred Hall. They were staring at me with disgust and condemn. I lost everyone...I was left with nothing. I worked hard to become a Hero, but instead of becoming one....I was branded as Evil in the end Hahahahaha...why...is this happening to me? Why? Am I really just crying over a stick now? Ah, I get it now.
Feeling a stinging sensation hit my chest, I felt my eyes burning as it got wet. I was not crying over a stick. I just...needed a reason. I needed a reason to cry and hate someone.
"Damn it all...."
I uttered one last time as I sobbed in despair.
—————
Holding the Parasol and staring down at the crying figure of Rauke, Li Sheng's gaze softened as his smile grew. He was seeing ghosts in Rauke's figure right now. Then as if discarding the ghosts, He chuckled and lightly kicked Rauke's crying figure on the ground.
"Now now, stop crying. I'll buy you a new toy."
Li Sheng chuckled as he saw Rauke look at him with tears covering his eyes, he looked like someone who had lost all hope and is only waiting for someone to end his life. Too bad, Li Sheng is not here to do that.
With a musing smile on his face, he let out a sigh by his nostril as he then looked away.
"I am not here to kill you, I am here to take you in as my Disciple...."
His voice, lit up a light on Rauke's gaze.
"From now on, you are no longer Rauke Enidryll. You are now, Roanoke. The Hero of the Damned"
Li Sheng chuckled as anticipation was welling up inside Rauke...no, Roanoke.