Night Raven, Midland


    The party continued their way, discussing the events of the day. Xerxes was far more bearable because he had exhausted a huge amount of essence in the markets a few short hours ago.


    For Vanessa and Seshwan this was a relief. He was far more tame when he was in this tired state. They could relax instead of trying to break up fights or stop him from scamming some young travelers.


    The sky had never recovered from Xerxes’ fluctuation in the atmosphere though. Dark clouds? hung low over the city blocking out the afternoon sun. Not a single ray of sunshine penetrated the thick cloud formation.


    As the group walked along they came upon the staging area of the trade caravans.


    Men and women carried luggage and crates to wagons, carts, and large transport sleds. All manner of beasts roamed the area, harnessed and fitted to pull their set modes of transportation.


    Seshwan walked about aimlessly searching for the cart described to him by Diana.


    ''The cart should be red with a canvas tarp covering the cargo.'' Seshwan thought, as he stared into a sea of red carts with canvas tarps. ''Thanks Diana''.


    "Seshwan who are we looking for? What''s the driver''s name?" Vanessa asked. Her expression showed displeasure with all the laborers who walking by, stopping to ogle her. "This place disgusts me."


    "The driver''s name is Orson. He should be a burly man with a grumpy looking face and a big beard. That''s how Diana described him," Seshwan said as he looked around at the passing burly men with angry scowls and large beards.


    ''I''m starting to think Diana may not have been all that helpful'' Seshwan thought.


    "Well, we should ask around. You go that way and I''ll ask those large gentlemen over there. Xerxes..." Seshwan stopped mid-sentence as he realized Xerxes was gone. "Seriously this demon is going to drive me to insanity before my hair’s grey." Seshwan cursed as he looked around for signs of his companion.


    "Little man! You’re the one who busted up my shop earlier!" A merchant shouted from within the crowd.


    Seshwan felt his skin crawl and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. ''For the love of the gods, that better not be Xerxes in trouble.''


    "Hey! What! What are you doing?!?" The merchant shouted, as he came flying out of the crowd, sliding up to Seshwan’s heels when he hit the ground.


    Xerxes was standing within the crowd. Leaning on a crate puking out dark black mucous. A large man stood next to him patting him on the back and handing him a flask.


    "How dare you Orson! Throw me while I was reprimanding his boy?" The merchant angrily spat as he sat up in the dirt.


    Seshwan turned about to confirm all he had heard.


    "Mister merchant?" Seshwan said, tapping the man at his feet on the shoulder.


    "What the hell do you want!?"


    "You''ve been a big help, but you’re really annoying. And I''m having a stressful day. So, could you shut your mouth?" Seshwan said with a smile.


    "The nerve!" The merchant shouted but was cut off by a swift kick to the head by Vanessa.


    "Seshwan, don''t act like a girl! He''s annoying, so shut him up!"


    "You know from you, that''s terrifying. I expect such things from Xerxes or even Elise but come on." Seshwan pleaded.


    "Sorry! I''m edgy from the rat and the bandits earlier. Anyway, I guess that''s Orson." Vanessa pointed toward the man helping Xerxes.


    "Hey, old man? Are you the Orson the midland trades asked us to escort to Lynwood?" Seshwan asked as they approached.


    "I am. And are you three my would-be guard detail? From some newbie guild called Titan shit or something?" Orson asked.


    "It''s Titan Sol actually."


    "Sounds ridiculous."


    Sigh* "Can we discuss this on the way to Lynnwood? I''d like to get a start today if you don''t mind." Seshwan said, annoyed by Orson already.


    "Young guild master, your companion is vomiting black fluids and mucous and you''re concerned about the job still?" Orson asked, puzzled by this teenager before him. ''Clearly this kid’s never heard you are responsible to those you are responsible for.''


    "Xerxes, you okay?" Seshwan asked.


    Xerxes raised his index finger as he spat the last of the mess from his throat.


    "Okay ladies, I''m ready for this. Just some backlash from earlier. I''ll be fine thanks for the drink old man." Xerxes laughed. As he took three steps and collapsed to his knees.


    "Great. Okay Orson let''s go." Seshwan said disregarding Xerxes’ current state.


    Vanessa bent down and poked Xerxes in the side of the face. Before whispering in his ear. "If you don''t pull it together, Demon, I''m going to sell you to a research guild as spare parts. I''m sure they would love to experiment with your tissue."


    Xerxes blinked hard and stood back up. "Woman, you dare to call me a demon. That''s laughable."


    Orson looked at the three with complete disbelief. ''This is a guild? They''re completely dysfunctional! We are all going to die before we get to Lynnwood.'' Orson cracked a smile as he thought. ''I can''t wait to see what will happen."


    "Alright Master Seshwan the Exiled, let''s set off."


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Seshwan walked silently next to Orson leading the way through the busy staging area to the cart. Vanessa followed behind with Xerxes leaning on her for support.


    "Vanessa, thank you," Xerxes mumbled.


    "You saved me in the market. You brought out your demon even though you knew the risk of backlash was high. So, don''t thank me. I''d say we''re even.” Vanessa replied.  Her cheeks were red from the embarrassment of having to say such a thing.


    Xerxes laughed. "Look who''s all embarrassed, that''s? cute."


    Vanessa dropped Xerxes onto the road the moment he finished speaking.


    At the cart, the group loaded up their gear and laid Xerxes in the back with the cargo. Vanessa took time to train and relax in the back of the wagon sitting atop the pile of cargo.


    Seshwan rode up front next to Orson as they set off.


    It was two days of constant driving before Xerxes regained his strength enough to stand and participate in any duties. Though they didn''t encounter any bandits, Seshwan constantly had the feeling that he was being watched from the sides of the roads.


    After the third day, the group had made their way to the edge of the Lynnwood city limits. Standing on the road in the distance were hundreds of men. Everyone was wearing poorly maintained armor and their weapons were shabby and broken.


    At the head of the large company, five men stood atop a barricade. One of the men was Grackus of the Silver moon bandits. In the center was a man in fine armour. Golden plate mail covered his whole body. He stood taller than the others, like a mountain above a forest. The tank of a man carried a large stone maul.


    Orson stood up looking over toward the bandit army before them.


    "Good guild master. Those are the tyrannical bandit lords of Lynwood; how do you wish to proceed? They will no doubt insist we hand over all our cargo. And your friend Vanessa."


    "That won''t happen. I''ve thought this through and I''m sure we can fight them. Those five at the front are the only true issue. Xerxes can manage with three at least. I''ll let Vanessa kill Grackus as a personal gift. Lastly, I take it that''s their leader? I have a plan for him." Seshwan explained as he took off his armour.


    Seshwan walked forward with his sword in the sheath. Flanking him on either side were Xerxes and Vanessa both without weapons.


    Orson looked on in disbelief as the three approached the barricade. "This kid''s nuts!" He couldn''t help saying as he watched.


    Seshwan stopped fifty meters from the barricades. "I am Seshwan the Exiled of the guild Titan Sol. I''m here to see your leader, more correctly to challenge him to a duel."


    A warm hum started in Seshwan''s ear. "You think he will go for this instead of killing us?" Xerxes asked.


    The large man jumped to the ground, shaking the forest surrounding them. "I am Soros Toth, bandit lord of the midland bandit’s union. I accept your challenge. What would you have? Three versus three?"


    "Exactly"


    Soros laughed as the other four bandit leaders landed next to him with a handful of underlings.


    "Sorry boy, but I don''t do fair fights. So, we will just kill you and the old man and take what you have. Maybe not kill the girl. I''d like to have some fun with her."


    "Well then fine. Have it your way." Seshwan said with a grin.


    Seshwan tossed his sword to Xerxes. With a nod, the three stepped toward their opponents. The ground below Seshwan trembled as stone armour formed over his torso and legs. Vanessa disappeared into the air. Xerxes enveloped himself in red lightning as he laughingly accelerated into the enemy lines.


    The area became a brawl. Xerxes used [Flash] to evade strikes and lash out with force to cripple the underlings that came out first. He also used the sword as a club to break the bandits before him.


    Seshwan slowly walked through the bandits whose swords and Spears reflected off his stone armour. This was only the first stage of the [Tectonic Shell]. Normal bandits couldn''t even scratch him.


    Throwing the odd bandit out of the way Seshwan arrived within six meters of Soros Toth.


    "An earth user? Good." Toth laughed as he raised his stone maul.


    With a powerful swing, Toth sent a strike directed to Seshwan''s head. It connected with a crash! A Dust cloud consumed the two.


    To his surprise, the maul had come to a complete stop. The strike had been blocked! Seshwan was standing directly in front of him sparking with lighting. The maul had collided and been fused with a statue of stone.


    Seshwan struck Soros'' inner thigh before he could react. An electric shock was sent throughout his body as he released his grip on the maul.


    ''This little bastard does feel strong but he has two essences. I better take him more seriously'' Soros thought? in a panic, moving away from the stick that had hit a gap in his armour.


    "Not bad kid. But I''m not even started yet. I''ll burn you and your friends to ash!" Soros shouted as he erupted into steam and fire.


    ''Shit! He''s at least peak journeyman stage in fire essence.'' Seshwan thought as he flashed back three meters.


    Elsewhere Xerxes had not drawn the sword though he made short work of the bandits without it. Striking vitals and shocking others. Till three were still standing.  The bosses.


    "I am Cryo"


    "I am Rapture"


    "I am Bart"


    The three bosses announced as each powered up and activated their real guards.


    Xerxes smiled as he rested the sword across his shoulders. "You gents are aware I killed that journeyman stage bandit you sent to Night Raven. Like in less than a second. You three aren''t even worth the use of my demon. I''m confident this time, I don''t need him."


    Xerxes drew the sword. This time the blade was not the usual bright steel long sword. The blade refracted and fluxed in the light. It had become a black steel blade that overflowed with demonic essence.


    "Boys, this is a curse.  If it touches you, you''ll die. Now let''s begin."


    As Xerxes went to work fighting the three journeymen bandits Grackus, stood in shock watching the same scene as he had experienced nearly a week before. The men lay scattered and broken. This time he had nowhere to run to.


    As he panicked and tried to plan what he would do next, a sharp pain hit the tendons in his legs. He could no longer control his muscles as he fell to the ground.


    Vanessa appeared standing above him a small blade of energy on her finger.


    "It''s a wonder what this essence can be used for. Seshwan over there inspired Xerxes and myself to start making up new ways to use it. This whole fight is just a test for us." Vanessa said as she sat on Grackus'' back.


    With every? struggling move he made, she slashed across his tendons reducing him to a motionless mass that could do nothing but cry for mercy.


    "Grackus, you''re a bandit leader. I''m just making you experience the suffering you''ve inflicted on others. Nothing personal. Now be good and stay quiet as my friends? kill your boss and comrades."


    Grackus was physically disabled by a woman. He had no choice but to die in agony.


    He drew all his energy into his main essence realm. A burning feeling filled his body as he attempted to force his limbs to move.


    ''If I can''t fight, I''ll try to kill this bitch at least.'' He thought.


    "Oh, you''re planning to suicide by forcing your essence to explode. How noble. But I think not..." Vanessa said.


    She drew back her arm and punched into Grackus'' back, snapping his spine in two places and rupturing two of his essence realms.


    Grackus felt his body going cold, all his energy left his body. ''Fuck I couldn''t even do this. Please just let me die.''


    "One down," Vanessa said smiling.


    Xerxes made short work of the three other bosses. They lay on the ground in heaps bleeding. Their bodies blackened and decayed around the strike marks on their bodies.


    All that remained was Seshwan, who was allowing Soros to power himself up fully.


    ''He''s never solidified his cultivation. He may be almost an expert but he''s unstable.'' Seshwan smirked as he watched his opponent draw in more energy.


    Soros presented as a peak journeyman stage cultivator, but he was sub-par. He had flaws in his refinement of essence. The energy he drew in was just that. Potential-less energy that did nothing but to make the opponent think they are facing a strong cultivation. A cultivation with no foundation will always crumble.


    Seshwan could see through this trick easily. Dashing toward Toth, the heat coming from his skin was hot but it barely managed to singe the ground around him. To Seshwan this was no worse than a hot summer''s day.


    To Soros’ surprise, Seshwan appeared below him and delivered a strike to the point in his leg he had hit before, forcing his concentration to be broken. His leg gave way under the force of the punch.


    ‘Impossible! My body is strong and my armour is thick. How could he do this?’ Soros panicked.


    Seshwan struck the other leg in the same spot twice in succession, hoping for the same outcome. But this time he was met with a counter.


    Soros shifted the leg back and grabbed hold of Seshwan around his chest. Soros proceeded to squeeze as hard as he could.


    Seshwan felt his ribs cracking from the pressure, as he coughed out a mouthful of blood. ‘not good, I messed up.’


    “Now little boy I’ll kill you and your friends for harming my lieutenants!” Soros shouted.


    “What a joke” Seshwan managed to blurt out as he felt like he’d be snapped in half.


    Energy from within his Central Essence realm burned white hot. Power flowed through Seshwan’s body.


    Soros looked down at his opponent and realized he had changed. One of his eyes had become an Emerald green light, the area of skin surrounding the eye was cracked and emitted a bright green lustre.


    “What the hell is this?!” Soros shouted in shock, he had never seen this before. This wasn’t a real guard he had ever seen.


    Seshwan reached out and grabbed ahold of Soros’ chest plate. A burst of energy lightning coursed through the armour, numbing Soros’ whole body.


    The grip on Seshwan was loosened. Quickly using Flash to escape back, Seshwan landed and formed a complete stone Realguard.


    “So you are a dual essence user… I thought it was a cheap trick before. Regardless, prepare to die!” Soros roared as he charged toward Seshwan, ready to strike.


    His massive fist swung toward Seshwan, but it didn’t connect with him. A thick stone wall manifested before Seshwan. Toth’s fist struck it with immense force. Smashing it to rubble.


    Seshwan jumped, landing on Soros’ extended arm near and resting on the stone wall. The weight of the stone real guard was like a mountain landing on an egg. Toth’s arm made contact with the stone wall. His elbow locked, and the arm folded backward. Blood and broken bone punched through gaps in his crushed armor.


    Soros let out a shriek as his Realguard began to backlash, he had lost concentration and the energy now began to tear him apart.


    Seshwan punched Soro''s chest, connecting with the force of a landslide and crushing the breastplate. Soros was launched off his feet and landed on his back. Blood leaked from his eyes and ears. He could taste copper as he struggled to move. He couldn’t feel his legs anymore and his vision had begun to become hazy.


    “Before you die, tell me, who put you up to this. You no bandit lord. Who backed you? Who gave you that half-assed cultivation method? Tell me?!” Seshwan yelled. He walked over to Soros and sat on his chest. The weight bent the already crushed chest plate further.


    “It was…” Soros coughed out a mouthful of blood as he tried to speak. “It was an Imperial, he said we were to destabilize the merchant’s guild in the area. I swear that’s all I know.” Soros said, gasping for air.


    “An imperial eh? Who?” Seshwan questioned.


    “That’s all…. *cough cough*…*blah*” Soros vomited more blood one last time before he stopped breathing.


    “Shit, he died.” Xerxes said, walking up behind Seshwan, “Sesh what’s up with your eye?”


    “What do you mean?” Seshwan asked as he deactivated his real guard.


    Seshwan’s vision went hazy; his head was swimming and he felt faint. His eyes returned to normal as he collapsed to the ground next to Soros. As if in the distance, he could barely hear faint voices.


    “Seshwan! Hey!” Xerxes shouted as Seshwan passed out and collapsed. ‘I guess he overdid it.’