Back to the present...
Ten sat on the ledge, staring at the pendant with tired eyes.
Morning had broken, the sun rising above a sleeping village. The streets were empty, shops closed.
At the front of the scene, we see Kazuma, Rin, Toji, Ten, and Harry, getting ready to depart in a horse-drawn carriage driven by a silent-faced driver.
Harn stood in the back, flanked by two guards in official uniforms. He stood in the middle, smirking mockingly.
Harn (mocking):
"Careful not to lose your way."
Kazuma (coldly):
"And you, don't get lost in your own village."
Meanwhile, Ten sat with his arms crossed against his chest, head down, his gaze heavy with sorrow.
The carriage began moving across the vast desert, seemingly endless.
Rin (raising her voice, looking at Ten):
"You don't look okay, Master."
Ten stayed silent, not saying a word.
Rin (calling again, concerned):
"Master? What's wrong? Where did your mind drift off to?"
Harry watched silently, while Kazuma placed a hand on Rin's shoulder. She looked at him, and he gently shook his head.
Rin's eyes were filled with worry and sympathy.
Toji (excitedly, slapping the side of the cart):
"I haven't forgotten yesterday's defeat!"
Harry (surprised):
"Defeat? You fought?"
Toji (eyes sparkling with excitement):
"It was her last victory. She won't taste it again."
Kazuma (sitting cross-legged, narrowing his eyes with sarcasm):
"Idiot. I let her beat you. If it were me, she wouldn't have even touched me."
Toji:
"But I won't lie, she was strong. She caught me off guard with one sentence."
Kazuma (curious):
"Yeah... I figured she said something to you."
Toji (hands behind his head, relaxed):
"She asked if I liked this world..."
Rin (raising her head, puzzled):
"And what does that mean?"
The carriage raced like it was chasing the wind.
Kazuma glanced at Ten and noticed his clenched fist, still staring at the pendant.
Kazuma (raising an eyebrow):
"What are you holding there?"
Ten (calmly):
"It's… the key to this world."
Kazuma (mockingly, as he lays back):
"It's just a pendant... what key are you talking about?"
Ten (serious):
"It might look like a pendant… but to me, it's the soul of this world."
"I'll uncover the secret my uncle hid from me."
Flashback...
As Ten was about to leave his brother's house...
Brother (loudly):
"Don't hand the box to Nelson... it's the last thing left from our family."
Back to the present...
Ten (firmly):
"I'm thinking of not handing the box to Nelson."
Harry (shocked):
"What are you saying? Are you insane?!"
Rin (gently):
"But that decision will bring us trouble…"
Kazuma:
"You know the president trusted us."
Ten (resolute):
"The box belonged to my uncle. I'll protect it with my life."
The carriage entered a wide desert, hills and caves visible in the distance.
Suddenly, Kazuma bumped into Toji, and Rin was thrown from a sudden jolt, while Harry barely stayed upright.
Kazuma (raising his voice, angry):
"If you plan to stop, at least warn us!"
But then, his eyes widened, a bead of sweat ran down his cheek...
Right in front of them stood a group of men in matching black clothes, faces hidden by masks, and a scorpion symbol on their chests.
There were five of them:
One held a long wooden staff, slapping it slowly against his palm.
Another held a knife.
A third had a pistol.
The fourth carried a hammer.
The fifth wielded a massive axe behind his back, hand resting on his neck.
Hammer Guy (gruff voice):
"Hand over the drugs... and we'll let you return safely."
Toji (jumps from the cart, kicking up dust, confidently):
"What drugs? What are you talking about?"
Knife Guy (roughly):
"You heard him… don't play dumb!"
Kazuma (eyes closed):
"We need a plan to escape."
Toji (excited):
"Plans are for the weak… the strong strike first!"
He charged forward.
Harry (shouting):
"Don't rush!!"
The gunman raised his pistol and fired.
Toji smiled confidently, unaware of the bullet's speed…
Boom!
He was shot in his right wrist! He clenched his teeth, closed his right eye in pain, then gripped his injured wrist.
Harry (sweating):
"Foolish idiot!"
Toji could barely stand, but he planted his right foot, left one behind him.
Gunman (calmly):
"Any last words?"
A second bullet — faster.
But suddenly, an ice barrier formed in front of Toji, freezing the bullet mid-air!
Toji opened his left eye in shock…
Rin stood inside the carriage, palm extended, breathing hard.
When the gunman aimed again, she extended her other hand — launching a frozen shard that sealed the gun's barrel in solid ice.
Kazuma (shouting):
"Don't attack yet! I've got a plan!"
Toji walked slowly, limping, trying to endure the pain.
Harry (angry):
"How many times must I tell you not to rush?!"
Toji (head lowered):
"Sorry…"
Harry:
"Sorry doesn't fix stupidity."
The team gathered — even the driver joined them.
Kazuma (pointing at the driver):
"You're the key to the plan… got it?"
The driver said nothing.
Kazuma (confident):
"We'll clear the path. You move."
Then he turned to Rin:
Kazuma:
"Still have strength? You'll cover us."
Rin sat in the carriage, brought her palms together, lowered her head.
Rin (softly):
"And if I fail?"
Kazuma (places hand on her shoulder, smiling):
"Not every plan succeeds… not every person does.
But we'll try."
He pointed to the ground, assigning roles:
Kazuma:
"I'll handle the axe guy.
Harry, take the hammer.
Master Ten… you get the staff wielder."
Ten (curious):
"And me?"
Kazuma (pointing at Toji):
"You'll fight the gunman.
That injury won't stop you, right?"
The heroes took their positions:
Ten at center
Kazuma to the left
Harry to the right
Toji in front of Harry
Rin inside the cart, ready
Driver preparing to charge
The battle begins...
The teams charged.
The cart dashed like an arrow.
Rin's icy aura surrounded it.
The two teams were seconds from clashing!
Kazuma jumped, kicking the air with his left leg, aiming at his enemy…
The axe guy backed up, bent his body, and raised his arm to block the kick.
A strong collision.
Suddenly, the axe guy swung — a surprise strike hit Kazuma's right ankle…
Kazuma winced, eyes shut tight in pain.
Elsewhere...
Ten threw a left punch
My dear brothers and sisters,
I've noticed that the engagement has dropped a bit in the recent chapters.
I kindly ask you to leave a rating or a short feedback ❤️
Another note:
After this arc, I might take a short break from publishing, as I'm still planning the next arc and haven't written it yet.
Enjoy the read!