"Hm, it seems you aren't very talkative." The man said, "It's good for business and makes you feel all mysterious and strong, but if I were you, I'd drop the act in front of a senior-"
Without speaking a word, Ashton leapt at the man. Whether the man was unprepared or weak, Ashton's punch landed on his face sending the former on a trip outside the city walls.
Everyone stared at Ashton as if he had a personality disorder. Just a moment ago, he was trying to stop unnecessary fights, but now he had started one himself.
Even Anna was confused. Unlike Ashton, she had no idea why Ashton was so furious all of a sudden. Anna did not remember who kidnapped her because she was drugged and couldn't see their faces, let alone a tiny tattoo. In her eyes, the fourth and the second seat holders were the ones who kidnapped her.
As for the man's lackeys, they weren't going to stay still while some punk attacked their boss. However, a moment later, they were too scared to move when they saw two shadowy figures crawl out of Ashton's shadow.
"Your command, master?" Sven and Raven simultaneously mumbled.
"Protect Anna till I'm gone," Ashton replied in his emotionally void voice, "If anyone makes a move, do with them whatever you wish but make sure they die."
Anna got scared looking at Ashton. For him to react this way, the man from before must have done something terrible.
"Ash, what's wrong?" She softly mumbled so that no one else but Ashton could hear her.
"Oh, nothing much." Ashton was momentarily back to being sunny as he replied, "That fucker owes me a debt, and I'm settling it today."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHaving said his piece, Ashton spurted out his vampiric wings and followed the man from before. No one dared to move in his absence, not the crowd or even the soldiers.
Sven and Raven were undead soldiers blindly loyal to their master. Ashton's mood affected them, and since he was pissed beyond the limit, so were his servants.
***
Back outside...
"C-Cough, cough…!"
The man with the eye patch slowly tried to regain his balance. His plans were in disarray, not because of his lack of planning but because the information given to him by the clan master was entirely off the mark.
"How could a C-grade brawler throw a punch like that?"
The man struggled to get back on his feet while coughing up bloody saliva. Being a member of the Cult of Cosmos, he knew everything that happened on planet Euphoria a few months ago.
The Metal sharks required a succubus for some experiments, and when the cultists found one on Euphoria, they decided to collaborate with the sharks and kidnap her.
However, due to the foolishness of the second and fourth seatholders, not only did they fail, their branch of the cult took a hit they were still trying to recover.
That's why when the man saw Ashton and a succubus back in Kernel tower, they planned to take back their lost honour by kidnapping the succubus for good. After all, taking down a C-rank brawler was no big deal for them.
Sadly the cult's 'latest' information appeared to be outdated, and now his life was in danger.
"Chet, I need to get away from here as soon as possible."
The man was about to make a break for it with Ashton landed in front of him with a loud thud. His eyes were colder than they had ever been, and just looking at him was like staring at the Grim reaper.
"That symbol on your shoulder, which group does it belong to?" Ashton asked while slowly approaching the man.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about, man! You must have mistaken me for someone else. But since I'm kind and y-you most likely don't want trouble, how about we- ARGH! YOU PSYCHOTIC BASTARD!!!"
Ashton hurled another [Wind Blade] in the man's direction, cutting yet another slice off his left ear.
"I have no interest in hearing your rambling," He said, "If you want to live, then answer me or else I wouldn't hesitate before killing you."
"Kill me? W-Who will give you your answers then?" The man yelled while holding onto his ears.
"So, you do know something. That's all I wanted to know; you can die now."
Ashton aimed for the man's neck and shot another [Wind Blade], but this time, it was deflected at the last moment.
"As much as I would love to see some bloodshed, let's leave it for when the beasts appear, shall we?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmA muscular, ruddy-skinned man with dark blue eyes was standing between Ashton and his prey. The man was also carrying a blue blade which he probably used to deflect Ashton's attack to save the bastard's life.
"I'm Nico Vercetti, the Supreme Commander of Zanna, and as you can see," Nico mumbled while wiping sweat off his face, "I had to stop my training in the middle to stop two paid mercenaries from killing each other."
Nico then stared down both Ashton and the guy with the eyepatch before turning back to Ashton, "Although, it looks like you were the only one doing the job correctly."
[Ashton, he's an A-Grade warrior, calm down before you do something stupid.]
However, Ashton paid no attention to Astaroth's words.
"I don't think this matter concerns the city," Ashton replied in a calm yet firm way, "That man pay for what-"
"I'm afraid you don't understand the situation you are in, kid,"
Suddenly, Nico's bubbly personality was replaced with hostility. At the same time, Ashton was surrounded by six more A-grade humans. All of whom had their weapons pointed at him.
Nico continued, "Every mercenary we have employed is under the city's protection, including you and him. If you have to settle your differences, do so after finishing the job we are paying you for."
Nico then left, and the others followed their leader, but not without giving Ashton a piece of their mind.
"Normally, I would have killed the one causing a ruckus to teach everyone a lesson, but I'll make an exception, as it would be a waste to kill a strong guy like yourself." The bald man wielding dual energy blades remarked while others laughed.
"Supreme commander doesn't give second chances all that often," A woman approached Ashton as the group left, "Being chivalrous is good, but not to the point of being stupid. See you tomorrow. As for you, Cyclops bastard, get out of here before I kill you myself!"