XX

"This uniform is too small," Dirk complained. "I can hardly breathe!"

"Just deal with it," Emily replied. "You want the whole stronghold attacking us at once?"

Dirk quit complaining, he knew upsetting Emily was just as bad, if not worse than going against Dylan.

The trio were currently raiding the barracks.

Dylan had manage to sneak them in undetected, where they then found the guard barracks and were finding disguises.

Originally, the plan was for Dylan to go and get disguises solo, but after examining the way the stronghold was laid out, he had decided this was a safer course of action.

If they got caught together, he was confident in escaping with Emily, it was his job to insure Dirk didn't return after all.

He didn't want to have to kill the guy directly.

Since so far, he had been respectful after their first encounter.

Once they had all donned their stolen garb, the group decided to split up and try to blend in.

This was an easy task for Dylan and Emily.

The next few days until the attack would go smoothly for them.

Dirk on the other hand, had managed to blow his cover, and was now locked underneath the stronghold in the dungeon.

Dylan used Darkness to visit him along with Emily, informing the large emotional man, that once the fighting started, they would return to break him out.

Emily had managed to find out that Dirk would be held until they received an answer from Crane. She seemed adamant that they find a way to rescue him before the battle, worried that he may just be killed.

However, Dylan convinced her by explaining why the stronghold would benefit more from having more information on their prisoner.

This meant it was safe to assume he would be held there until the forces arrived to attack the stronghold.

All they had to do was wait.

-

Explosions could be heard coming from every end of the stronghold.

Every soldier in the area called to arms, shouts could be heard coming from all of them.

"For the Kingdom of Solice!"

Yes, this was the further most stronghold of the Kingdom of Solice.

Solice was the southern most kingdom between Crane and the Great Lakes.

For thousands of years they defended the human continent from the demons, but due to the invading Kingdom of Crane, they had to pull their forces from the southern border. Creating a temporary cease-fire, one that they weren't sure why the demons agreed too.

'They must be planning something,' the King of Solice thought.

So he just focused on defending their northern border.

Which was now on the verge of losing its final stronghold.

Giving the Kingdom of Crane full rain of the rest of their land leading to the capital.

This was a fight they couldn't lose.

-

Hours had past, and the Solice soldiers had been reduced to their captain and less than ten men.

The fight was all but lost, the Crane forces had overwhelmed them, and now they could only wait to be finished off.

Dylan and Emily had both took out a handful of soldiers, but had now made their way to the dungeons, where Dirk was being kept.

Dylan had told her to remain a bit further back, just incase any soldiers were left down here.

He was fully aware that it was nearly impossible, but needed an excuse to arrive at Dirks cell before her.

He was certain that she was in on it, but still didn't want her there when he did the deed.

Arriving at Dirks cell, Dylan destroyed the lock with a slight swipe of his hand.

The puny lock couldn't withstand anyone above hero-realm, that's why guards were usually stationed here. The battle made it to where Dirk could have realistically escaped, but the young man was far to afraid. His confidence shattered after the interaction with Dylan, and failing to blend in for the mission.

Over the past few days, he had whittled himself down to nothing in his own mind.

Leaving behind the shell of who he was.

Dylan entered the cell, disgusted by the lump of human flesh covered in it's own excrement's.

He had grown to hate the weak, because they only reminded him of himself before gaining power.

The sad man before him, brought forth a rage he normally kept suppressed.

Not only was he weak, but he even went around disrespecting anyone he chose, regardless if he knew their strength. Not to mention, after thinking about what Michael said, Dylan was convinced this man was scum, only using people for his own benefit.

He only held back the Guard as a whole. 

A complete idiot and waste of space.

That's why it was his job to eradicate this man. Remove the problem, that way he can garner rewards, and help keep his cash cow alive.

Dawn Guard was nothing but a means to an end, but if this leech wanted to sabotage his means, he would end it.

With a cold look in his eyes, Dylan brought down Harbinger from the upheld position, carving through Dirks body like butter. 

There was absolutely no resistance, as if he swung his blade through the air.

A cry was heard, but not from the lifeless body in front of him.

Emily stood behind him screaming, along with five other officers. All soldiers who had just won the stronghold, and hand-picked members of the Guard.

"Why??!" she wailed. "Oh god no! Not him too, I already lost everyone else!"

Dylan was confused.

'Why is she freaking out?' he thought. 'And why is she saying she lost everyone else already?'

"Oh fuck"  he muttered.

Before he could respond, Emily rushed him.

"I'll fucking kill you!"

She was firing blasts of fire mana at him. 

Turns out she was a fire mage, but Dylan couldn't revel in the thought too long, since fire mages usually fight by causing giant explosions.

The same could be said for Emily, and the explosions she was currently hurling at him were absolutely insane.

He was constantly using flash step to avoid the huge bursts of fire mana. Trying to understand the situation better, he used the destruction of Emily's attacks, to make his way past her and the other officers.

The only thing he could come up with, was that Emily wasn't in on the mission and the other officers weren't informed. That would mean he basically just murdered a member of the guard unjustly in front of other officers.

This was bad news!

Upon reaching the outside of the dungeon, he made his way towards the common area of the stronghold. Hoping to just blast his way out with Focus Burst's.

'I wonder where Violet is?' he thought.

He had sent her out to gain some EXP, but he didn't know exactly where she went. He could feel the connection, meaning she was alive at least.

As he was nearing the area with the other soldiers, a voice was heard over the entire stronghold.

"Grain Wolf Silver is wanted for the death of a fellow officer! Every soldier in attendance is to attempt to subdue him and bring him in for trial."

"Dead or alive!"

'Fuck,' Dylan thought. 'Now the whole place after me.'

As if on que, every soldier left in the stronghold descended upon him.

"Braver!"

Dylan unleashed a Focus Burst and flew from the attempted dog-pile.

With a basic Braver, his burst was still powerful enough to send him flying at insane speeds.

Over the next few minutes, he was assaulted by dozens of mana powered attacks and projectiles. Barely managing to dodge each one, while never managing to land a deciding blow on one of the officers.

The officers where the only ones engaging him close enough to counter attack, the remaining soldiers just fired spells and arrows at him.

Just as he avoided an attack fired by one officer, Emily showed up, surrounded by dozens of mini-supernovas.

This was concentrated fire mana constantly imploding on itself. Creating small bombs that she could control at will.

Dylan didn't want to kill Emily, but he wasn't going down without a fight!

"Berserk!"

As his strength doubled, he used a flash step to appear behind Emily.

"Devour!"

Dylan used his weapons innate ability to absorb the fire mana from Emily's bombs. Doubling his intelligence stat.

Now with both of his buffs, Dylan unleashed a Focus Burst directly at Emily, Causing a massive explosion upon impact.

He didn't have time to confirm her death however, as fifteen different officers attack him at once.

"Braver!"

Dylan decided to activate Braver and unleash a giant bolt of lightning from the heavens, obliterating everything around him.

(Host received 5650 experience for killing 12 hero-tier humans and 5 ancestor-tier humans )

Dylan had wiped out over a dozen officers, but before he had a chance to escape, a huge pillar of earth mana descended upon him.

The giant pillar held to much mana for his Devour skill to affect it, meaning he had to take it head on.

Just as he had this realization, he seen a familiar man who seemed to be casting the attack.

"Michael!" Dylan screamed with rage.

He felt the sensation of leveling up just as the pillar made contact, and everything faded to black.

-SYSTEM DATA-

Name: Dylan/Grain Wolf Silver

Age: 15 years 7 months (post-Gate)

Race: Human/???

Level: 14

Skills: Focus Burst(lv.5) Darkness(lv.5) Lightning(lv.5) Berserk (lv.4) Devour(lv3.) Intimidate(lv.2)

Strength: 46

Agility: 43

Intelligence: 50

Dexterity: 40

Faith: 10

EXP: 0/7500