By the time sunlight spilled into the courtyard, Eldros was already awake.
He stepped outside, glanced toward Jarek's side, but the old woman was gone. Not surprised, he decided to explore the outpost.
People noticed him, some curious, others wary after seeing his test in the arena.
He wasn't just another newcomer anymore. He had earned his place in the bloodiest way possible.
The younger ones, especially those lurking in alleyways, gave him resentful stares. Eldros understood the look. Respect here wasn't given freely; it was taken.
But...most of them also looked at him with eyes filled with interest. Since he was strong and ruthless, just what type of loot would he have with him?
He ignored them so long as they didn't block his path.
As he walked, he kept an eye out for a potion store or a bookstore, taking in the outpost's layout.
It was built like a mountain village, narrow alleys, food stalls, tents, and cabins crammed together all inside a mountain.
Stray dogs wandered everywhere, some little more than skin and bone, others with the wild-eyed look of something half-feral. Cats crouched on rooftops and walls, suspicious and watchful.
After a while, he found a large general store with steady traffic. It sold everything, potions, weapons, food, clothing, books.
But before heading inside, he stopped at a nearby food stall where an old man roasted skewers of meat over a smoking brazier.
Eldros ordered two skewers, keeping one eye on the store that was directly opposite. They must have the cleasing potion he needed. It would held to free up some Noxium in the body and speed up the rate at which he could absorb mana.
'...right..I really have to unlock the power of thie rune that's in my soul so that I can start reaping its benefits..'
After his test the previous day, Jarek had helped sell the loot he brought with him In the ruined city for some silver coins. And that was why he wanted buy his first resources to speed up his Art practicing.
Suddenly he turned his eyes upward and frowned. After his fight during the testing the previous day he had felt like some unseen eyes was looking at him.
Worse still, he couldn't be sure. It was like how he would look for cameras before stealing.
He decided to put it at the back of his mind for now.
The scent of charred meat filled the air. He had just taken his first bite when shadows fell over him.
Eldros stiffened immediately and his hand went to the disc on his waist.
Two men stood there.
One tall and lean, the other short and broad-shouldered. Both had the air of killers. The tall one's eyes slid to the meat in Eldros's other hand.
"You've got quick hands," the tall one said with a smirk. "But I don't think your body can keep up yet."
The short one shifted to block the street, his grin revealing a row of rotting teeth, at the same time he kept looking around as if he was waiting for something to happen.
Nearby, a forager muttered, "Soren and Fenric… Skullhowl team, tied to the Ninefold Eclipse. They have some dealing with them."
The meat seller immediately looked away, pretending not to notice.
Eldros didn't move. Both of them were at the second star of the Initiate of the Arcana stage, like him. One he could deal with. Two would be more work than he liked.
"Don't take it personal, kid," Fenric said, smiling as though they were sharing a joke. "It's just a meat, why are you holding on to it so tightly?"
Eldros studied them in silence. In the gangs, hesitation meant death. Here, it was the same. Still, picking a fight in the middle of the street was foolish.
Besides, with the way the short one was looking around it seems their real terget wasn't Eldros. Also, they looked like people who could afford skewers.
They must be after something else.
And he could only think of one person they wanted out into the open like that—Jarek.
If they are also from a team then it might be a rival fight. Eldros had seen this happen again and again in gangs.
'...I bet they have other members hiding around..'
Without a word, he tossed the meat.
Soren snorted. "How about we take that sack as well? It's not like you're using it."
Eldros's face became unreadable but it seems to be covered by think layers of frost.
Fenric caught it and laughed. "Smart boy." They turned and walked away, leaving him with one other skewers and the sting of being robbed.
Eldros was unfamiliar with it. But things like this should have gone with his past life. Not now. Things are going to be done differently!
Eldros finished his food without changing expression. Then he slipped into the alleys, trailing them like a shadow.
If there was one that that Eldros knew how to do, then it was trailing and being unnoticed. It was one of his surviving tactics in the streets back on Earth.
They never noticed. He followed them past the busier streets and down toward the base of the mountain. He followed them everywhere. From their house in the Wing to how they met up with some other members for drinks.
He trailed them like a vengeful ghost.
By nightfall, they split up, Soren stayed by a fire near their tents while Fenric wandered toward the outskirts to relieve himself.
Eldros waited until Fenric was isolated, then moved. He turned his hand into the Hand of the Demon and filled his body with strength.
He had only one shot at this.
Eldros didn't want to fight.
The man heard a faint sound and half-turned, power gathering around him but a hand clamped over his mouth before he could react.
A dagger flashed.
The blade slid across his throat in one clean stroke. Blood fanned out into the night. Fenric's eyes bulged, his legs kicking weakly, but the grip was iron.
Eldros dragged him into the shadows like nothing more than a sack of meat.
Thrown to the ground, Fenric choked on his own blood as Eldros rifled through his pockets, retrieving the sack and his own. Then he waited briefly to see if there were others waiting.
And to confirm that he was truly dead. Then he nodded to himself. He's done a nice job.
By the time he slipped away into the dark, wild dogs had already begun tearing at the corpse.