"That's right, you should be able to do at least this much, otherwise you wouldn't be deserving of the name Black demon." Kromel spoke into Hanon's dark palm which still held his face against the tree.
He smiled as blood dripped down from the side of his head.
Without giving him a moment to catch his breath, Hanon pulled back his hand, gripping Kromel's jaw tightly between his fingers. He slammed it against the tree again, and again, and again.
When he finally loosened his grip, the man was still, giving no reaction. His back then slid down the tree as though the life had been sucked out of him.
"Is it over?" Zilel observed the motionless body of the Thornsleeper. 'Guess a Protector is a protector after all.'
"You did it sir Hanon, you saved me. I will compensate you handsomely when we return back to…" Krazel did not finish when they heard a voice.
All eyes turned towards the direction of the speaker. It belonged to none other than Kromel.
'What? He's still conscious?'
"It's painful when you keep smashing someone's head repeatedly into a tree, you know? There has to be a better way to kill a person."
"Just stay dead already, why do you even want to kill me anyway. It's not like I've wronged you or anything. Tell me, what did I ever do to you?" The merchant could contain his frustration no longer. Ever since he had the vision that he had been marked for death, he had not been able to get a proper sleep. But he had to appear strong. After all, he was Krazel, the great merchant. Many lives depend on him, so how could he show any signs of weakness?
When all is said and done, there was only so many times he could pretend everything was fine.
"Quiet down, noisy old man. How am I supposed to know what the authorities are thinking? Just think of it as being unlucky. You won't be going anywhere anyway, so prepare yourself. The effect of the pill lasts for an entire day. After I take care of this Ishnore bastard, you're next." Kromel glared annoyingly at the merchant as he spoke.
"I won't die, no. I can't die. Many people depend on me to live. I have to live." Krazel shot back.
Aeloria looked at the merchant and could see the desperation in his eyes.
Kromel sighed but said nothing. His gaze shifted to Hanon, observing the Protector standing before him.
'I didn't hold back my attack, the blood is still flowing down the side of his head. He should've lost consciousness by now, so how is he still standing?'
That was when he began, Kromel started reciting his words.
Hanon dashed forward in an attempt to stop him before he could finish, but an invisible force pushed him away, sending him stumbling backwards.
When a Thornsleeper is in the middle of reciting their oath, nothing could harm them.
"The darkness belongs to you. Oh great night weaver. In the deepest black is where true peace lies. Grant me the strength to offer this sacrifice to you. Oh, great enemy of light, your servant calls onto you. Kromel, Black-night."
'Wait, he has also reached the stage of black?' Zilel stared in shock as the Thornsleeper also began to transform.
Unlike Hanon, his skin did not change, however, shadowy darkness engulfed him like living cloak. His entire body was shrouded in darkness.
Without giving him the time to fully synchronize, Hanon charged in.
'Things are getting annoying, I should step in and help him finish quickly.' That was the plan, but before Aeloria could execute the thought in her head, two figures jumped down from the branches of the oak as though they'd always been there.
One pinned Hanon to the ground before he could reach Kromel, using the force of his descent, while the other stabbed exactly between his spine where the scales did not reach.
Hanon's face twisted in agony but he did not make a sound.
Krazel stared blankly as the person who was supposed to save him bled on the ground.
He pulled back to stab again but four claws slammed his face into the ground.
The other figure holding Hanon down leapt back as he observed the maiden now standing before him.
"Are you alright?" Ignoring the Thornsleepers, she knelt beside Hanon who's scales began to fade away like dust in the wind.
'When… did she move from there. Don't tell me she was unaffected by the pill from the start.' Zilel watched the scene in wonder. He was powerless to interfere and could only put his trust in the protector to turn the situation around. But just as he thought the situation was hopeless after new figures arrived, Aeloria stepped forth. 'Looks like sir Ramius was right after all. There really was more than one of them.'
"Don't worry, Aeloria, I'll be fine. I just need to rest a little bit." Hanon said as he skin turned to normal again, the scales on his skin falling off like dry leaves and fading away into the wind.
"Who is that?" One of the new figures asked, pointing at Aeloria as he watched his friend who's face had been smashed get up without a scratch.
"Kromel, you were taking too long so we had to step in, but to think there was another monster hidden right under our noses."
"Dargo, I suggest we take care of her first." One of the two new figures said to the one who's face had been smashed by Aeloria.
"Don't be too hasty, Moseah, we should not look down on her, that is the feeling I'm getting right now." Kromel said to the other figure as he fell in step beside them.
"Why are you so on edge? It is true that I was taken aback by her earlier surprise attack, but that won't happen again. There's no way she could best the three of us working together," Moseah studied Aeloria intensely as she carried Hanon effortlessly back to where Krazel and Zilel were lying.
"I hear you, but being cautious won't harm us. It's best we don't take chances." 'I can tell that her earlier attack wasn't meant to kill me but to prevent me from delivering my second attack. Yet it was that powerful.'
"Fine, do what you want. Let's just finish up and return. We've wasted too much time because the target stayed in Norco for too long." Moseah took off his gloves as he prepared to attack.
'They've been watching me for that long? And there were three of them the entire time?' Krazel studied the Thornsleepers with eyes devoid of any hope, then turned to Aeloria. 'I can tell she knows a thing or two about fighting, but I don't think she can take them all on her own.'