Chapter 34: No Mercy
Ailith's voice cut through the tense forest air, low and steady. "Rei… can you kill them? I can give you your fee later."
Rei's dark eyes scanned the three figures frozen before him. He tilted his head slightly, weighing the situation, then stepped forward, boots barely crunching on the damp leaves. "It's not like I'm doing it for money," he said flatly, "but… I will." His tone was calm, deliberate, unflinching, as always.
The girl, Althara, started laughing—sharp, piercing, incredulous. "Are you serious? Now?"
Fendrel, the man closest to her, lunged forward. Sword slicing the air, deadly intent clear. Rei's body shifted almost imperceptibly—weight to his toes, a small turn of his shoulders—and the blade shattered mid-swing. He had already moved.
Rei's hand shot out, gripping Fendrel's neck. A subtle step forward, a pivot of his wrist, and Fendrel was forced to his knees, struggling. Rei's movements were smooth, precise, almost casual.
A strange, hollow calm settled over Rei. He had never killed humans since arriving in this world.the one he had killed at first he didn't even know how he killed them because His body had moved reflexively before comprehension—but now, holding the man who abandoned Ailith in the forest, there was nothing. No hesitation. No remorse. Only necessity.
Fendrel thrashed violently. Ailith's voice was crisp, unshaken. "Rei… kill him. I said I will pay."
Rei's grip tightened slightly. With a single, fluid motion, Fendrel's life ended. His body slumped against Rei's arm, limp. Rei let it drop softly to the ground. He straightened, shifting his weight back onto his heels, eyes flicking to the remaining two.
"So… Ailith, I don't have to hold back, right? Or do you need their bodies?"
Ailith's gaze was cold, unreadable. "No. Just do whatever you need. Kill them."
Althara and Kealric froze. Rei's calm efficiency had just eliminated a Level Five before their eyes.
Althara's voice trembled. "Why… why is he that strong?"
She turned sharply, signaling. "Kealric! Attack him! I'll use my skill!"
Rei's mind flickered. A skill… I've never seen one like this. He shifted slightly, a slow pivot of his torso, subtle movement of his legs—ready to counter.
Kealric lunged, sword cutting through the air. Althara shouted, "Activate! Gravity Bind!" Rei's motion slowed for a heartbeat, caught in the invisible force.
The sword struck at his neck. He felt nothing. Not a cut. Not a scratch. The skill held him briefly, but could not stop him.
Rei's weight shifted forward deliberately. One controlled step, pivot of his heel, precise swing of his leg—and Kealric flew backward into the lake. Water erupted violently, splitting in two from the impact. Kealric vanished beneath the waves.
Althara's panic mounted. "Activate! Gravity Bind!" she screamed again. Rei's steps were deliberate now, small, careful. The skill could not touch him.
He advanced slowly. Left foot, right foot, each step measured. Althara felt the presence of death before it reached her, the weight of inevitability pressing down.
"No… no… stop… Ailith, stop him!" she screamed.
Ailith's voice was calm. "You know he won't stop."
Rei's boot connected with her leg—sharp, slicing through muscle cleanly, yet not enough to break bone. Blood dripped. She screamed, staggering backward, clutching her wound.
"Wait! I'll tell you! The one who hired us—please spare me!"
Ailith's eyes flickered slightly. "Who?"
Althara gasped, breath ragged. "The Elder Council of the Zeraths!"
Ailith's face hardened. "I see. That's what I expected. Then… I will spare you."
Althara's relief was palpable, her body trembling. But Rei moved again, step by step, shoulders squared, hands at his sides. He didn't speak. He didn't hesitate. His movements were silent, measured, predatory.
"I never said I'd spare you."
In the next heartbeat, her head was gone, cleanly severed, falling like butter.
Rei's eyes scanned the aftermath, still calculating. He bent slightly, pivoted, and began looting the bodies. Hands precise, movements controlled, gathering coins and items efficiently.
"Hm… they had good stuff," he muttered. "We lost one in the water… a loss, but the rest…"
Ailith's gaze followed him. "So… that's how much?"
Rei counted aloud, eyes moving. "Fifty gold."
"I see," Ailith murmured. "So they were paid… for my assassination attempt."
Rei tilted his head. "So… who are these Zerath people?"
Ailith's face darkened. "I am Ailith Zerath."
Rei's expression remained calm, almost neutral. "So… the assassination was your family's doing?"
Ailith's voice hardened, sharp. "It's a long story, Rei."
"Then make it short," he replied.
Ailith exhaled, faint chuckle. "I wanted freedom, so they expelled me."
Rei's expression stayed unchanged. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
She nodded slightly. "Yes… but they treated me like a thorn in their eyes before that."
Rei exhaled softly, shifting his weight slightly as he adjusted the Raptalians' storage stones. "Ah… so they wanted to expel you anyway, but you gave them an excuse."
"Something like that," Ailith said quietly, her tone almost dismissive.
She sniffed the air, adjusting her stance, shifting weight from one leg to another. "Can we move? The beasts nearby should be arriving from the smell of blood."
Rei stored the Raptalians' corpses with a flick of his wrist, pivoting slightly. "Shall we leave?"
"Yeah. Thanks. I'll pay you fully later, don't worry."
Rei nodded, small step forward, surveying the path. "You can pay anytime. Let's go."
They moved through the forest. Rei's steps were deliberate, light, barely making a sound. Ailith followed, careful to keep pace. She glanced back once. The memory of Rei's merciless efficiency—the lack of hesitation, the precision, the cold calculation—was burned into her mind.
The forest settled around them, quiet now, only the crunch of leaves underfoot marking their departure.