Storm took a combat ready stance as the men approached him.
Since they haven't yet drawn their weapons, Storm decided not to call up Fulgur, who was currently still coiled around his arm.
As the first man reached him, Storm ducked underneath the blow and struck him in the belly, denting his plate armor and driving the wind out of him. As the man doubled over, Storm grabbed his head and twisted it around 180 degrees, killing him in the process.
The townspeople screamed as the man dropped to the ground dead.
His companions hesitated briefly, but Storm didn't give them a chance to reconsider their choices. He had tasted blood, and he wouldn't stop now until he was fully sated.
He closed the distance between himself and the nearest man and drove his arm right through the plate armor, the man's chest underneath and out the man's back.
The man coughed up blood and stared at Storm in fear.
"Monst..." started the man.
Before he could finish, Storm ripped his arm out of the man's body and he fell over.
"He isn't human!!!" Called the leader of the group.
The remaining men all drew their weapons when they realized the danger Storm posed.
Out of the corner of his eye, Storm saw a mage preparing to cast a spell at him.
"Fulgur!!" Called Storm.
The Djinn immediately answered his summons.
He flew from his arm and opened his jaws as he closed on the mage.Flying right through the mage's chest and out his back.
The mage stared in shock at the large hole through his chest before collapsing.
Fulgur twisted back through the air towards Storm before stopping just above his shoulder.
He curled up his coils like a serpent trying to defend itself, bared his fangs and hissed at the remaining men. The lightning that made up his body flared up and began to arc at anything coming too close to him.
The remaining men all rushed toward him at once to try and overwhelm him with sheer numbers. But before they could even reach him, a kunai and chain flew at one of the men and struck him in the chest.
Leyocan flew through the air at high speed and delivered a flying kick to the man's face.
"You just can't help but start trouble wherever you go, can you!!?" Yelled Leyocan.
"I seem to recall getting into plenty of trouble with you!!" Retorted Storm.
"That's because you attract it like water does with lightning!! Nothing interesting happens when I'm by myself!!" Replied Leyocan.
With Leyocan joining the battle, they quickly dispatched the remaining men.
Storm looked around but didn't see the leader of the men that started the fight among the dead.
He found him frantically trying to run away.
"Monsters!! The Order will find you and slaughter you like the beasts you are!!" Yelled the man.
Storm prepared to fire a lightning bolt at the man but Leyocan raised his hand to stop him.
"I've got him." Said Leyocan.
He dissappeared from Storm's side, only to step out of a shadow in front of the fleeing man.
Before he could do anything, Leyocan slashed at the man neck and beheaded him.
Storm stared at his friend in shock.
"You couldn't do that before? Did your father teach you how to do that?"
Leyocan shook his head.
"It's a long story."
Storm looked around and saw the old man still laying on the ground. Storm extended a hand for the man. The man recoiled and began to shake in fear.
"I'm not going to hurt you!" Said Storm.
"Stay back!! Don't touch me!!" Yelled the man.
Leyocan placed a hand on Storm's shoulder.
"Come on, Storm, He won't accept help from us right now." Said Leyocan sadly.
Storm looked down at his blood covered body in shame.He unhooked the pouch that held the remainder of his gold and tossed it at the man's feet, who flinched in response.
"I'm sorry." said Storm sadly.
He turned towards the well and washed the blood from his body, before leaving the village without saying another word.
Leyocan and Fulgur followed close behind in silence.
"Storm?!" Said Leyocan.
Causing him to flinch as he realized this wasn't the first time his name was called. They were currently standing at the outskirts of the town.
"Sorry, Leyocan. My mind was wandering." Responded Storm.
"Are you all right?" Asked Leyocan.
"He feared me, even after I helped him? Why?"
"Most people are like this, they think violence is attractive from a distance and admire it's practitioners. But the moment they see it up close, they are disgusted and feared by it." Explained Leyocan.
"It's never troubled me before, nor you or any of the hunters I've ever fought?" Stated Storm.
"That's because we've gotten used to it by now." Stated Leyocan
"Does that make us monsters?" Asked Storm.
"To them it does, but we make this sacrifice anyway. So that they can live normal lives without ever having to experience what we go through. "
"Would Orian think the same of me if I ever had to do this in front of him?" Asked Storm.
Leyocan hesitated as he considered how to respond.
From what I understand, dragons live harder lives than the rest of us. Ultimately you are still predators, who are accustomed to hunting to fill your bellies." Explained Leyocan.
" 'Hunting' and 'killing' is different. " replied Storm
"I won't lie to you Storm, he might be frightened at first. But you're still his father. Such a bond is not easily broken. " Explained Leyocan.
Storm nodded his head in thanks at his friend's reassurance before changing back to the topic at hand.
He quickly filled Leyocan in on the information Sarge had provided.
"I've got a lead on the Order. A high ranked commander is currently overseeing their activities from a fort on the outskirts of the city.
Could you sneak into the fort and kidnap the commander without being noticed?" Asked Storm.
Leyocan immediately shook his head.
"If it was a simple assassination, yes. But getting him out without being seen is impossible, And as strong as you and I might be. We can't take on an entire fort of highly trained hunters by ourselves. "
"So, what do you suggest we do?" Asked Storm.
"I suppose we can go investigate this 'spirit' ally, but I don't think that will be enough.
We might have to return home and come back with a larger force." Explained Leyocan.