CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 60- ENEMIES THAT AREN’T ENEMIES (PART 2)

Chapter 60- Enemies That Aren’t Enemies (Part 2)

The shift in the conversation made the man visibly frown as he stared at Jack. He didn’t know why, but the boy gave him a feeling of unease he couldn’t shake. Just staring at him was enough to send chills down his spine.

That, however, only made him more wary as he gripped his weapon tightly. Something was very wrong with this group, and he had to figure out what it was. They could be there to kill him, as far as he is concerned, and he can’t allow that.

Staring at his people, he signaled with his eyes, and they understood immediately.

"I will come down to talk. But you better not do anything funny, monster. Or we will have a problem," the man said coldly.

"... As I said, I’m not intending to attack you or your group. We are simply passing by," Jack replied.

"I don’t care. You are all a threat."

’Hm, that is odd. What does he even mean?’ Jack frowned as he watched the man turn and walk away. Something told him there was some sort of misunderstanding, though he couldn’t tell exactly what it was.

In any case, the man clearly didn’t trust them, and it could become a problem. Still, Jack assumed they wouldn’t be foolish enough to start a pointless fight when they were so clearly outnumbered.

A few moments later, the man emerged from a doorway, a big sword resting on his shoulder. He wore leather armor, indicating he had already killed a good number of monsters.

’Hm, judging from his aura... He should be level six or seven... That is pretty decent considering the timeframe,’ Jack analyzed silently, taking in every detail of the man’s appearance.

The man stopped a good distance away and glared at Jack.

"So, you said your group is passing by? Where are you heading?"

"Some training. What about you and your group? Who are you?"

"I’m the only one allowed to ask questions, bastard. Shut up," he said, pointing his sword at Jack. "You should know your place."

"What is your problem?" Luna stepped forward. She was barely able to hold herself back from reacting to him insulting her friend. Nobody was allowed to do that under her watch.

"It’s okay, Luna," Jack said. "Listen. I won’t take that as an offense. We are all very tense here, and we don’t want things to escalate into a problem we can avoid. We will move on and leave you and your group alone. How about that?"

"..."

"I will take that as an acceptance." The boy sighed and turned to speak to Luna—only for his senses to suddenly spike.

Swish

Instinctively, Jack moved and swung his sword, cutting an arrow in half before it could lodge in his back.

Then, before he could even understand what had happened, he heard fast footsteps behind him as the man lunged, swinging his sword down.

"DIE!!!"

CLANG

Jack changed his grip and deflected the attack, pushing the man back several steps. He then looked at Luna.

"Luna!"

She was already moving, dashing toward the building where the archers were.

At the same time, three more arrows were launched toward Jack while the man attacked from up ahead, leaving him little room to escape. Everything happened in a split second—way faster than most people could react.

’Annoying.’

SIZZLE

Manifesting lightning in his hand, Jack charged it up and blasted it toward the man. Simultaneously, he channeled Aether through his body, took quick steps, dodged two arrows, and sliced through the third with ease.

"Aaaagh!"

The man was launched several dozen feet as he slammed into the wall; his stomach burned and his body spasmed in pain. He clenched his teeth.

"WHAT THE HELL?!!"

"How did he do that?!"

"He dodged three arrows... What—"

The archers were completely shocked. To them, the boy had moved like a flash; their leader had fallen, and their projectiles had been sliced in half. What kind of power was that?

No human should be able to move that fast. These arrows weren’t even normal to begin with. They were imbued with Aether to make them faster and more dangerous. It needed a super-fast reaction to even see them, let alone slice through them.

"We can’t stay here! His friend is coming up here!"

"No! We have to kill her or we are screwed!"

"Kill?! Did you not see what the bastard just did?!"

"So what?! We can’t run and leave the boss alone! Keep firing!"

Meanwhile, panic spread through the crowd as people scattered, afraid of being hit by stray arrows. Many ran to the corner to hide while others stood frozen in fear.

"Hermann! Move them out of the way!" Jack ordered coldly. "Don’t let anyone stand around here. I will take care of the rest."

"On it!"

The general didn’t wait. He quickly instructed his soldiers to move. The military men were already practiced at controlling crowds, so the process happened immediately as they gathered people up and tried to calm them.

Seeing that, Jack turned to the injured man and walked up. The latter flinched and tried to grab his sword, only for Jack to kick it away.

"Attacking me was never a good idea, even though I came here not asking for any fights," Jack said as he grabbed the man by the collar and lifted him as if he were nothing. The man clenched his teeth and struggled.

"Why make it such a problem, huh? Are you stupid?"

"You’re... a... monster!!" the man spat through gritted teeth.

"Monster? I’m a human," Jack said. "Can’t you see that?"

"Nobody... is... alive... You’re... dead... All of you... are dead..."

"Huh?" Jack frowned deeply. He didn’t understand what the man was saying. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Ugh..."

Swish

At that moment, Jack felt several more arrows fly toward him. He quickly dropped the man and cut them down with his sword.

"Just stop this nonsense."

Luna reached the rooftop, using her gravity to crush everyone there to the ground with sheer force.

"Did I make it in time?" Without glancing at the group, she rushed to the edge and looked at Jack. A long sigh of relief left her when she saw he was fine.

Then she glared coldly at the archers. Her happiness turned into deep anger and hatred.

"Spare... us... please..."

"My body is getting... crushed!"

"Spare you?" Luna asked, her voice completely apathetic. "You aimed your arrows at Jack and tried to kill him. Had he not been strong enough, he would’ve been dead. I won’t spare you... Even if he does, I will personally make sure you never breathe again. I will make you regret ever even thinking about doing such a thing, you worthless scum."

Her words were not empty threats—they felt heavy and inevitable. The weight of each syllable seemed to press on their bodies down even more. They knew, without needing to ask, that she meant every word she said. Staring into her emotionless, terrifying eyes proved that even more.

A dangerous glint flashed there, one that almost looked... crazed. That of someone ready to kill.