Time went by quickly and soon, the shadow of the sun was retreating fast. Maxwell hurriedly packed up as he began his walk back to the stables.
A voice was coming from inside the stables before he arrived, carrying hate words and threats. "You little piece of trash, you'll be sorry when I'm done with you."
"Is Sir Maxwell really alright?"
"You'd better get lost now, coming here to look for trouble."
"Is Sir Maxwell really okay?"
Slap. Slap!
Two resounding slaps were heard from outside in between the ongoing conversation.
A young boy about the same age as Maxwell, stood there in front of Drake. His body size was a hulk mass with a visible difference in height he stood taller than Drake as he had on his face a smile that made him look mentally unstable.
Constantine was his name. Maxwell's Butler.
Maxwell preferred to call him family since they grew up together and were extremely close to each other. If one didn't know the truth he would say both were biological brothers.
Constantine chose to stay with Maxwell even after he was crippled instead of getting along with his life and joining the Gillette Household academy to train his Cultivation.
Constantine almost had a beat up every day because of Maxwell, at times replacing himself with Maxwell. Always acting like a foolish child.
Constantine's background was unknown among the Gillette Households. He was brought home by Maxwell's father from Eden when he was just above 1 year. His strange behaviour and beast-like eyes raised suspicion among the Gillette Household, but Viktor used his position as Lord to allow him to stay.
Viktor named him, taught him how to speak, walk and read. He was treated like the son of the Lord. A year later, Maxwell was born. Constantine took Maxwell as his brother, taking good care of him and acting as his protector. Then...
Maxwell was a quick learner, and his potential began to unfold quickly as he cultivated it. The protector soon became protected since Constantine had no experience in cultivation.
Until Maxwell lost everything and was crippled. Both their lives fell into hell.
Constantine would step up whenever Maxwell was facing an opponent. He didn't care about how strong or powerful the opponent was he would always stand up for Maxwell.
Maxwell was moved by the memories of him and Constantine and knew it was his turn. "I dare you, Drake, to touch him once more."
"Sir Maxwell!" Constantine called out. "You are okay." He said putting on a weird smile.
Constantine's body was already covered in bruises and dirt. Anyone could tell he had taken a serious beating already.
When Constantine discovered that Vincent had attacked Maxwell, he rushed out to take revenge for Maxwell.
It was during the hot afternoon when Constantine found Vincent at the Martial training centre. He tried to approach when he was surrounded by a group of people who beat him till he was half dead. Only then was he let go. He could not even get close to Vincent.
He rushed back to the stables and when he couldn't find Maxwell, he began to panic, nearly getting into another fight with Drake. When Drake finally told him of Maxwell's whereabouts, he just smiled as he let Drake mistreat him.
Drake looked at Maxwell with disdain. "Your ego seems to have grown, bastard. You dare challenge me?" Another slap landed on Constantine while Drake watched to see Maxwell's reaction. "Now I've hit him, what can you do about it?"
"Stables steward Drake, you dare to challenge me. You must be tired of this job?"
Drake just listened to Maxwell's threats as he began to rain loads of slaps on Constantine. "I've hit him again and again, what do you think you can do about it?"
Slap! Slap!
Constantine was just at Level 10, Bronze Rank. Against Drake who was already at Level 7, Bronze Rank. There was no way he could resist the attack.
Constantine was already scared that if he tried to escape from Drake's beating, Maxwell might just end up in his place. Hence he just stood there and allowed Drake to hit him whichever way he liked.
Blood soon started seeping from the side of the mouth of the already swollen Constantine's face.
Maxwell just watched while Drake had his way. Anger grew inside Maxwell, threatening to blow up at any minute.
The slap was soon followed by a kick at Constantine. "You dare to challenge me, I'm coming for you next."
Drake pulled out a whip, raising it high into the air and sending it straight for Maxwell's direction.
Maxwell didn't bother to dodge the attack, he just clenched his fist as the end of the whip landed on his chest. The pain seethes through his teeth. "Drake! I've finished cutting the 10 canes of grass already."
"Huh!" Drake answered, he didn't know why Maxwell suddenly informed him of the grass. He simply acknowledged with a nod.
"Crackle!"
"Congratulations, Player Maxwell Gillette, for completing the quest. Reward: 50 XP added."
His XP bar quickly filled up. Maxwell wasn't sure it would work but it did so...
"Crackle!"
Another notification sound went off.
"Congratulations, Player Maxwell Gillette, for Levelling Up. Level 7, Bronze Rank."
Maxwell's face lit up after the notification. The level difference between himself and Gregory was much since Gregory was already at Level 3, Bronze Rank. He couldn't possibly defend himself that long if he were to attack him but here was Drake, currently at the same level as him. He should get what he deserves.
Maxwell sent out a smashing punch with all the might of a Level 7, Bronze Rank. Anger, acting as his fuel. Drake didn't see it coming, so before he could defend himself against it, he was already knocked back flying.
Drake had been at Level 7, Bronze Rank for a very long time, thus he had reached his limits, which was the basic for the Level 7, Bronze Rank. The pain from the attack by Maxwell was much but he managed to endure it.
"You dare to take a punch at me, you bastard?" Drake said as he rushed back at Maxwell for a proper confrontation.
Maxwell's lips just curled into a devilish smile as he approached Drake too. "You shall meet a new fate today."
Maxwell didn't dare to make an attack against Drake before now since he was at Level 10, Bronze Rank. But now, the odds were different.
Watching Constantine getting beaten up and not acting would be childish since he was now on the same level as Drake.
Maxwell quickly activated his Martial Technique
"Dragon Beast Palm!" He conceded in his mind.
Drake also threw out a punch, but his was just an ordinary move without any Martial Technique backing it up. He never attempted to learn a Martial Technique and the difference was very clear between himself and Maxwell. He was a commoner.
The sound of both punches colliding ended with the shattering sound of bones fracturing.
All it took was a punch! This was the leverage a Martial Technique had over just a normal Technique. When two opponents came clashing even on the same level, it was who had the better Martial Technique that was the deciding factor in winning.
Drake suddenly lost all his courage in front of Maxwell as fear was now palpable. He began to retreat in pain. "But... You... You... You're supposed... To be crippled? How is it even possible?"
"Here!" Maxwell landed a quick slap on his face. "Again!" Another slap followed.
Maxwell rained down a series of slaps continuously on Drake till he was disoriented. Drake could no longer raise his head to look up at Maxwell. Fear was his new coat, before Maxwell landed a finishing kick that sent him flying into one of the horses' sheds.
Drake had fainted.
Maxwell let him go for now since he still needed him alive to give him quests; otherwise, Drake would be a dead man by now.
Constantine had maintained his position all this while without even saying a word. Then, like a child, he began to praise Maxwell.
"Sir Maxwell is truly full of surprises!"