"What the hell happened there?! What did you think you were doing? Running off alone?!"
A person shouted at me, their eyes glistening, voice cracking.
However, I couldn't help but ignore her questions; my eyes were still fixed on the battlefield.
My throat felt dry, my mind stuck on a single thing.
I could do it alone now. I was strong enough. And with the wide range of Nether's attacks, it would be no problem.
My fingers curled inwards, forming tight fists.
I could save lives by not just protecting the town, but its fighters as well.
I could let them stay with families at night, not worrying their partners or children with the thoughts of them never coming back.
I turned back to the person standing in front of me their eyes dull. As if realizing I truly didn't care what she said.
And when it came to her? I especially didn't care.
After all, she was the one who took off my arm that night.
I brushed past the woman, already heading straight to the meeting room.
I would do this. One way or another.
***
"Absolutely not!"
A voice rang out through the large room, several more voices agreeing with the words.
I rose from my seat, the shouts and murmurs silenced.
"You do not have a choice."
I said calmly, indifferent to their struggles to reason with me.
They were foolish. Couldn't they see? The creatures that were attacking were stronger, the average one was higher in class or rank.
I had to look out for people on the battlefield. It slows me. Makes me hesitate. And reduces Nether's wide area attacks.
And the combatants? Barely worth the trouble.
Sure, they could kill dozens. But what did it matter in front of hundreds?
People started standing up, growing a backbone now of all times.
Before they could get a word out, I slammed my metal-covered fist into the table, fracturing it.
"They are holding me back!"
I finally snarled, them jumping up in shock at my abrupt shift in tone.
Everyone's eyes bore into me, especially my supposed cohort's.
"I can now clear the entire battlefield in seconds! But no! I have to watch out for the people!"
The words once restrained and calm, were now filled with the hidden anger I kept inside me all this time, my tone shifting for the first time in what felt like ages.
"I'm offering protection! I'm offering the fighters to stay at home with their families. To rest, to laugh among them. Before the final battle comes."
The once shout slowly devolved into a murmur.
I breathed audibly, my eyes not leaving the fractured table, watching every piece that fell to the ground.
I sighed heavily, leaving the room without another word.
I had better things to do than argue needlessly.
Just before I reached the massive door of the room, a hand appeared on my right shoulder.
I stopped in my tracks, slowly turning my head.
Chloe.
[Fear] forced itself upon the entire room, the pressure of this level not seen before.
The woman fell to her knees, eyes wide, brimming with tears.
She raised her hands to her throat, as if trying to unblock it.
No. She wasn't trying to unblock it. She was trying to choke herself.
I willed the ability to stop, the entire room falling into tense silence.
"Do not touch me."
Were my last words to the room of so-called important people.
Then I vanished through the door.
***
A platoon of people stood upon a hill, watching with uneasy eyes.
They were staring at a single individual, their onyx armor barely visible in the dark.
"This is a bad idea."
A person murmured, and multiple others agreed. None dared to tell that to the armoured figure, not after the last display.
***
In the same meeting room, the cohort had gathered, the moment perfect to discuss matters privately.
"He's clearly dangerous, egotistical to an extent. And he clearly lied, he's not mute, even if his voice sounds like one of the creatures."
Murmurs spread,
"Could have gotten a memory, like the echo?"
"Possible, yet we should remain cautious of him."
All agreed.
All stood up and left one after the other, only three remaining.
Chloe, Dex, and Rel.
The large man stood up and walked closer towards his fiancée, the short woman doing the same.
All sat close to each other, silent.
Until finally,
"They're fools."
Dex sighed. Rel nodded in agreement, Chloe remaining silent.
"What's the plan? Cause I'm sure as hell not fighting that guy."
At that, Chloe's head raised.
Her eyes, once bright and hopeful, now seemed dulled.
"We join his side if there's a conflict."
Her companions stared at her.
"You're suggesting treason?"
Chloe's pupils trembled slightly, as if recalling something truly horrifying.
"Lady Morgan will understand. Especially if we get him to join Valor."
There was silence for a while after that.
"Why not just run?"
Rel asked.
Both Chloe and Dex shook their heads negatively.
"It would make us a target for him."
Dex answered.
Rel huffed, tugging at her cloak.
"Then why are we here mopping around? It's obvious we don't have another choice."
The couple turned their gazes to the petite woman, eyes wide with surprise.
She simply shrugged, standing up and leaving the room.
***
A hill covered with warriors was watching over a battlefield, on which stood but a single figure.
Across the battlefield, creatures started emerging from the forests, their pace slow and deliberate.
The metal-covered figure raised its head slightly, dark energy starting to shimmer around its form.
Just a moment later, a dragon-like snake appeared, coiled around the figure's armor.
The warriors didn't dare breathe, watching with trembling pupils, be it fear or awe.
Seconds passed, and the creatures finally noticed and started to rush towards the figure.
Only for them to perish.
Brilliant red flames exploded forward, almost a physical wall of heat.
The fighters stationed on the hill covered their faces, sweat droplets forming on them.
The heat was something truly magnificent.
But that was not the last of it.
As the creatures with higher defensive bodies rushed out of the flames, another wave of flames appeared.
This time, a brilliant white, gray in some places.
It rushed over the creatures, they either collapsed or slowed.
And that was the signal for the figure in the dark armor.
The famous darkness-filled blade manifested in their hands, their large frame starting to take slow steps towards the wave of Nightmare creatures.
Alas, they were doomed to die.
At once, the figure dashed forwards! Their body barely a blur to even trained eyes.
A second passed, several creatures falling to the ground, limbs missing.
The figure only seemed to have stopped to admire their own work, before they vanished in a burst of speed once again.
This repeated and repeated, until finally, after ten minutes of fighting. The battlefield fell deathly silent.
The dark blade vanished into nothingness, the handle being placed at the figure's collarbone.
There was pure silence for a long, tense moment, before cheers and cries rang out.
The figure looked around, finally noticing the hill covered in his fellow fighters.
Noticing the attention, the cheers intensified, and whistles were now heard as well.
After all, this was something previously thought impossible.