Walking through the village, Malek felt a certain unease. The road didn't look any more unassuming than normal. He never really paid it much attention in the first place, yet now, his mind couldn't help but wander as he stared at the ground under his feet.
At the end of the road stood a large hill, with its protectors on the other side, hidden from the townsfolk. This wasn't the first battle, yet the people knew nothing of it. They even despised Lucas and Asta, thinking they brought the danger to them.
'To them, all that mattered was waking up tomorrow in the same bed.', being more than enough on the battlefield himself, he felt displeased by the uncaring nature of the average villager. Even if the protectors put their lives on the line, just so they can sleep easy, they never showed appreciation.
Of course, he couldn't criticize them. 'The presence of those two alone made everyone want them gone. They truly believe that the enemy forces won't ransack this place if they fail. Hell, they even think they brought them here.'
Dragging himself into the inn, he was looking for the bottom of one of the mugs, preferably one filled with cheap ale. Drinking a few mugs empty, the bartender realized that Malek looked more down than usual.
"Hey man, you holding up well? I know the whole town looks to you for support, but all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
"You're telling me. I'm just worried about tonight.", Malek didn't mind divulging his worries to the man, it wouldn't have been the first time. "If the army truly comes by.. will they be able to stand up to the task?"
"Well, personally, I don't care much for those bastards, but I do think they had a point. To me, it doesn't make sense to leave our town completely alone. Trusting a stranger is hard, let alone an entire town. Why would they believe our words?", the man spoke true.
He had heard every story from the villager, each side, each perspective, and this was his conclusion. They would have to face the army, whether those two arrived here or not.
"Exactly, then again, it's not like we can do much if they were to come."
"What about Jacob? Isn't he like Rank 2 or something? That's pretty high, no?", the bartender didn't know or cared much for the magic world. To him, all that mattered was keeping his customers happy to come by again.
Malek waved his thoughts away, "No, no. Rank 2's are a dime a dozen. It's only higher up that they become rare. Most students that go to an academy graduate when they achieve Rank 2."
"Hearing you say that makes me fear the world beyond our town, hahaha.", the bartender laughed heartily at his own comment, but Malek had to agree with him. "By the way, Malek, have you made any progress yet with her?"
The bartender had a sly look on his face as he shoved another mug closer to Malek. Taking the mug without hesitation, he drank the entire thing in a single gulp, ad fundum. Roughly placing it back on the counter, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Don't start talking about her, man. I'm trying to forget about my worries, not invigorate them."
"Hahaha, c'mon Malek, what are you worrying about? If the army does come, they'll only find us peaceful peasants. They'll lay down their weapons the moment they notice we aren't a threat. And Jessica has been waiting for ages, man, can't let her get too old before she grows bored with you!"
Malek felt a need to hit the man square in his face, but held back. "Don't talk about her like that!"
"Hahaha! See! It's like she's yours already, why not take your chances? You're not a mage anymore, might as well enjoy the pleasures of a normal human.", the smile on his face couldn't get any wider.
They talked and drank together like they used to when Malek first arrived in this place. He was a broken man back then, lost and without magic, his life felt like it was closing up. It was only after meeting the people here that his heart started to beat once more.
As he tried to get some alone time to reflect, it didn't take long before his past haunted him once more. Before he retired, he had riches no man could dream off, power that was admired by many, and a reputation that others feared. He was a king among his Rank, yet now, all he could do was reminiscence.
'The Demon Archer, recognized by his peers as a powerful mage, now reduced to nothing more than a drunk with mud on his shoes,' Malek lamented his life.
Stuck between accepting the present and a desire for the past, Malek had a daily reminder that he had lost everything. The ache he felt in his knees after walking through the town, his age was catching up with him. When he was a mage, he lived for almost a hundred years, but he reached Rank 3 late.
His body had gone on without mana for far too long. The human body, without magic couldn't sustain itself for so long. He was a dead man walking, waiting for his body to collapse due to overuse. When he retired, he looked around 30, yet now, his body was already reaching the state of a 50-year-old. As the days passed, his body worsened ever so slightly.
Trudging through the street, he struggled with his emotions.
Then again, seeing the house of Jessica on his walk filled his heart with something else than a simmering hatred towards himself. Jessica opened a door for him that he had shut too many times. To love someone again after losing that love so many times was difficult.
Malek realized more than anyone else what he was missing. Jessica loved him, and he also really liked her, but his past kept chaining him down. His emotions to this place were complex. He couldn't be with her, and he knew that all too well. How long would it take before his body gave up on him?
Nobody knew of his predicament, but Malek felt it deep down with every step he took. The people here took care of him when he first arrived and helped out. He quickly became the head after divulging all the knowledge he had. Yet seeing the somewhat dilapidated houses and the muddy street, Malek despised his environment.
He had to visit the bakery on a daily basis, otherwise he felt like he was going to starve to death. Every night, his body begged for sleep, constantly reminding him that his life as a mage was over.
Frankly, he loved the people, but hated the town.
Standing in the big open street, everyone was closing up. The children played around their parents as they went back home. The people smiled when they saw him and greeted politely while the children waved and smiled.
Putting up a fake smile himself, he waved back as they all left his sight. The corners of his mouth drooped down the moment they couldn't see him anymore. Staring at the hill in the distance, the sun was slowly setting.
It didn't take long before Malek started to hear the noises of a battle.
'So they've started.', Malek felt an incredibly big desire to join in the fight, but there was absolutely nothing he could do as a retired mage. Now, his entire life was placed in the hands of two strangers and someone he disliked deep down.
The helplessness of the situation frustrated him to no end. Yet at the end of his walk, he was alone. Nobody was sharing in his worries and frustrations. He found it so unfair, to rely on someone else without being able to influence the outcome. Unlike the other villagers, Malek wasn't disillusioned, if the army won, they wouldn't see the next sunrise.
As the noises of battle intensified, there were some unrelated noises coming from behind him. 'Wait, did they split up?', as a former mage who fought in plenty of wars, he knew that there was one thing mages loved more than fighting, and that was scheming.
A classic pincer movement, while easy to execute, could drastically change the outcome of any battle. Before he could realize the predicament they were in, he could hear the galloping of horses in the distance coming closer and closer.
Malek felt his heart cramp up. What should he do? Having lived long enough as a mage, he knew that there was but one option to survive, pleading for mercy. He might be able to talk his way out of it, though frankly, he saw little to no chance of making it out alive.
He froze in place, his mind went into overdrive, yet nothing came up. Fighting back? Out of the question. Hiding? With their willpower, it was impossible. Running away? They were up against mages on horseback, and they were on foot. There was no way out as well.
His eyes quickly darted towards the sky as he could see massive fireballs descent upon his village. The destruction was imminent as the fireballs the size of grown humans obliterated anything they touched. The fire quickly spread to the entire village as the screams of children and adults alike echoed through the village.
Malek felt the cold sweat set in. His back was instantly covered, sticking to his shirt as his mouth quickly dried up. His brain short-circuited as he felt the fear grasp his heart. Everything happened way too fast.
Riders were storming their village, blasting fireballs left and right, destroying the houses and people that were still within. The people who left their houses in time weren't saved in the slightest as the riders quickly killed the old, and herded the rest.
One of these riders managed to get behind Malek, hitting him in his back with a staff that had spikes on the end. Falling to his knees, he felt stinging pain as his cold sweat was replaced with warm blood. His face now partially covered in mud, the taste felt disgusting.
"Get your ass up! Move it!", ordering Malek on top of his horse, he didn't know what to do. He felt like a frail old man, having trouble due to his wound. The rider felt more like a slave driver as he forced Malek with him to the center. Men with axes and spiked maces stood all around a small group of hurt villagers, all children or adults.
Malek was the only older looking one that was left. One of the bandits roughly grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the center. He felt a kick on his lower back, making him groan in agony as he fell down.
The villagers were quick to help him up. Through all the hands and worried faces, Malek recognized Jessica in a heartbeat. 'You're still alive!', Malek wanted to speak, yet his mouth stayed silent, the pain from his back making him mute.
Herded into the town square, they were surrounded by a bunch of barbarians. Each one more powerful than every villager combined. Their shot at freedom was gone, and their lives were in the hands of these brigands.
Malek couldn't even feel angry as his heart was filled with worries about the people here. The houses might've been destroyed, but it's the people that make the town. As long as they could get out of this alive, they would be able to rebuild what was lost.
"Heh, this is a pretty good catch.", one of the riders said, salivating at some of the women. The boss, still on his horse, overlooked the numbers and nodded in agreement. "The children will be easily sold off to a nearby mage.", he couldn't help think that this would be a decent profit.
Hearing that Malek instantly knew what they were here for. They weren't part of the army, or perhaps they were simply hired to perform a task the military couldn't be bothered with. Either way, Malek knew their lives were forfeit.
"Boss, what about the women?", one stated, not even thinking of the men since those are always sold as workers or slaves.
"The women?", staring at the remaining women they all had looks of fear in their eyes, awaiting his words. Their lives were in the hands of these brigands, each one smelled of cheap booze and sweat, only aided by the scent of their houses burning around them.
Scratching his chin slightly, the man entertained his companions. "Well, nobles are always looking for concubines, but we should make sure the goods aren't defective."
"Hahaha! That's right boss! What kind of merchants would we be if we didn't do proper quality assurance?", the men all laughed heartily as the women started to fear the worst. The husbands and men started to pull the women to the center of the group as they tried to block the invaders off.
Malek was hurt, the pain from his back and knees were killing him. The mud on his face hadn't dried yet as he heard the conversation play out before him. Bending his knees, and ignoring the wound, he forced his legs to obey, slowly standing up. Joined by the fellow men, they had everything on the line here, but most didn't care anymore.
Even Malek had a small change of heart. Deep down inside, he knew that whatever they were doing was not only useless, it also put their own lives in danger. It was a futile attempt at resistance that would only be met with an even harder suppression, if they even deemed them worthy of life in the first place.
Knowing full well that this was a pointless endeavor, he stood strong, for his morals forced him to follow reason. 'If there are any Gods watching, save us.', the only thing Malek could do, was praying to Gods he didn't believe in.
The men formed a circle around the women, but many were covered in sweat and wounds. What could they even hope to achieve?
The riders quickly rushed the group, like barbarians, they gutted anyone trying to put up even the slightest amount of resistance, terrorizing the rest to stop their resistance. A single man tried to fight back, but received the blunt force off an axe straight to his temple, knocking him out in an instant.
Multiple women were pulled from the group, one of which was Jessica. Malek felt a rush of adrenaline as his feet rushed to her side, but as he stepped forward, a mace was planted on his chest, almost breaking his sternum.
Falling back on the ground, he saw Jessica scream for help, yelling his name as a way to give him strength.
"Malek! Help me! Get your hands off of me!", Jessica struggled with all her might, but against four mages who trained on a daily basis, she stood no chance. It took only a few seconds before she was overpowered. Stripped naked, she was tied to a makeshift stone table the mages conjured in an instant.
Watching on from the ground, Malek stared at the scene rapidly evolving in front of him. The men didn't hold back in the slightest as they used her body in every way imaginable. No matter how much she struggled, it was futile.
Her holes filled with pulsating meat, her breast squeezed to their limits, she was being used as entertainment for the brutes. Jessica fought back as much as she could, even bitting the open air or anything that came near her, but that only resulted in her face being punched in.
As the men toyed with her body, they all laughed their hearts out. "Hey boss! She was a virgin! I should've let you taken the first turn, my bad!"
"It's fine, it's fine, first come, first served!", the boss smiled widely, unaware of the unruly state of the man on the ground.
Jessica screamed her lungs out, but the mages quickly put a stop to that. Everyone watched on in horror to see what was being done to her, yet none dare to intervene. Malek hadn't said a word as he could only stare, burning the images into his mind.
Every second felt like an eternity as he saw Jessica's tear filled face. Some men joined in, taking their turn to enjoy her before letting someone else get a chance at entertaining themselves.
Not a thought went through his mind as he couldn't process what was happening. As if his mind was looking for any kind of distraction, he heard the murmurs from behind him clear as day.
"Oh Goddess! Please protect us from this!"
"Gods above! Hear our plea!"
"Mighty ones, save us from our fate!"
Each praying to whatever gods they believed in, they all pleaded to be saved. The invaders laughed at their attempts, ridiculing the ridiculousness.
"Hahaha! You think some grand God will come to save you peasants?! Hahaha, that's the best thing I've ever heard!"
They used the women to their fullest until one of the men who had just finished realized something. "Hey boss, we fucked her up a bit too much, don't think a healing spell will fix this kind of stuff."
"We have plenty, get rid of her if you don't think the nobles will want them."
The man nodded before dragging Jessica from the table and ditching her on the muddy ground. Her body was covered in scratches as blood, sweat, mud and semen mixed into a terrible concoction of fluids as her body lay in front of Malek.
Not a tear had reached his eyes as he stared at her beaten face. The beauty that once solidified her position as the maiden of the town was disfigured, brutalized to the point it was unrecognizable.
Malek instinctively reached out with his hand, wanting to caress her face. Suddenly, a mace was dropped on her head, turning it into mush. The blood splattered all around, covering Malek's face as he stared at the remains of what was once his love.
The prayers behind him had only intensified with the death of Jessica. Yet Malek couldn't understand it anymore. His mind had long lost its capability to think rationally as his heart had been beating nonstop. Emotions were dulled as he reached for the bloody remains.
Something had clicked in his heart, a sudden but impossible to deny feeling had nestled deep inside, his hatred solidified. A flood of anger flowed through his veins as he simply grabbed what was left over from the gray matter that once held so much love.
Grasping it tight, his face contorted into one of pure visceral fury. His heart had been going so fast he had long lost control over it, yet now, it felt as if he finally felt it beat. Slow, rhythmic, deep heartbeats that he had long forgotten.
The ground started to shake as the fire that was covering the houses started to change direction. Wind flowed through the village, converging all towards Malek. The riders looked around them to see what was happening.
Mana converged at such a high speed that not even the leader of the invaders could fully grasp the situation. Fires arose from Malek's form, his hands deeply engraved into the earth.
Malek slowly got up, not because of his weakened knees or wounded back. The barbarians quickly understood what was happening, and weren't going to let things be. One invader hurriedly approached Malek, swinging his mace straight towards his head.
Catching it in one hand, the spikes on the ball bent. The man tried to pull his mace back, but it was stuck. Not only that, but the mace itself started to glow dangerously red as it melted in Malek's hands.
The riders realized they weren't going to be able to deal with Malek without magic, so each raised their arm to cast a spell, but they were already way too late. As the spells made their way forward they suddenly sped up. Instantly converting into pure mana, Malek's body absorbed it like the fire's around him.
They quickly realized magic would only feed the man's core. But without magic and weapons, what could they even do?
Malek slowly raised his hand as his aura started to leak out. Bit by bit, the invaders were being pressured. At first, they couldn't speak, then they couldn't move. It didn't take long before they fell to the ground, clutching their knees as they tried to get back up.
Their bodies were being forced into the ground as the mud started to dry up from the heat Malek was exuding. Flames started to appear around him as his body caught fire, but he felt no pain. The riders didn't have the same luck as they felt their bodies burn. Their skin cauterized, their bodies didn't melt, Malek made certain that their pain would last as long as he could possibly stretch it.
The screams wanted to come out, yet couldn't. Malek stood in silence as he stared over them, their faces carrying clear signs of pain, but the only noise was from the fire transforming their bodies into ash. It didn't take long before Malek couldn't hold back anymore and unleashed his aura to the fullest, turning every last one of the invaders into a puddle of mashed up bones and blood.
Standing there, Malek felt like his anger wasn't controllable anymore. Taking a step forward, he felt his feet enter a small puddle of warm irony liquid as he saw the body of Jessica had also turned into a mess of compressed guts. Turning around, each and every villager suffered the same fate as the invaders did.
"No.....no..", Malek's anger was hit with a wave of sorrow as he realized what he did. Letting his anger run wild, he forgot to control his aura. His sadness quickly converged with his anger, it slowly turned into despair.
Malek felt his hatred peak as he realized his own inadequacy made him kill every last one of his friends and family. Having no-one to direct his anger to, he reached for the sky as he screamed out. A furious roar against the heavens above!
"To Gods, those that hear me! The Monsters up high! Why have you forsaken us! For what reason do you allow this to happen!"
Malek felt rage so genuine, he wanted to completely overwrite the world, turn it into ash for it to be born anew. Praying and pleading to Gods Malek didn't believe in, he wanted to scream out his anger in fury at this world.
Why was it always so unfair, why did it have to be him? Why the villagers? They did nothing wrong, and yet, they were punished for the sole reason of being weak. Malek's aura stretched out, covering as much as he could.
Seeing that there were still enemies on the other side of the hill, Malek started to walk to the top. Step by step, he walked through the crumbling village, as most roofs and walls had collapsed at this point.
Each step, he was reminded of the people he saw here. The children excitingly waving at him, the adults who had respect for him and were always polite to him. Now nothing but blood and ash remained. Step by step, foot by foot, he made his way to the top of the hill.
Memories flashed before his eyes as he saw Jessica sit in the morning sun preparing their breakfast. Summoning his bow, he saw the soldiers of the enemy troops surrounding Lucas and Asta.
Visualizing each and every one of them in his mind, he calculated the perfect trajectory as he summoned an arrow containing enough power to blast a Peak Rank 3 to bits. It contained all his pent-up frustrations and anger.
Aiming his bow up high, he unleashed all his hatred and sorrow into the bolt. Letting it fly high, it split into tens of individual arrows, each taking their own trajectory as they pierced the enemies straight in their hearts before exploding, turning their bodies inside out.
Malek turned his head, but Jessica was no longer there, only grass that was caught on fire due to his presence. Seeing the explosion go off in the distance, his fury went with it. Malek was able to calm down for but a moment as he still felt his heart ache for more destruction.