Chapter 273: Volume 3 Finale – And I am Strong Enough To Be Cruel! 2
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake walked forward, his face painted in unbridled disgust and fury. He had seen what was left in the city, what littered the mansion of the town lord.
<span style="font-weight:400">He had made a mistake. Too many mistakes while entering the town. Trying to give his students room and time to grow had resulted in more than half of them being injured. One misstep taking their lives if he hadn’t been there to stop it.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was his fault, but this man.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake looked with disdain down at the man in front of him, looking back at Drake with pure hatred and defiance.
<span style="font-weight:400">He was so strong yet so weak. His level was truly the first one Drake had met that was inted. Natto had told him about people using skill stones to progress their skills, how it would help in the short term but quickly hinder their progression, eventually stopping their growth.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake never thought he would meet such a person so soon, and so, <i><span style="font-weight:400">broken</i><span style="font-weight:400">.
<span style="font-weight:400">He bent down, the man, Xavier, still struggling against Drake’s aura on full disy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Let’s see just how over-inted you really are,” Drake said, pulling at the ne around Xavier’s neck.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake scoffed, “How many people did you kill… How many innocent people did you take to reach that level?!” he sneered.
<b>[Xavier Thornsworth Level 28]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y-you’ll regret t-this… you golden prick!” Xavier croaked.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake already directed everyone to evacuate. Telling Sarah and the others to gather and leave within ten minutes, but Drake wasn’t sure if he could contain his anger for that long.
<span style="font-weight:400">His blood boiled. He had been naive, he underestimated the true depravity that was allowed to be in this world he was supposed to call home. Whaty inside men who gained power.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Regret?” Drake growled, “The only thing I <i><span style="font-weight:400">regret</i><span style="font-weight:400"> is allowing those kids I care about to fight against monsters like <i><span style="font-weight:400">you</i><span style="font-weight:400">, thinking they were ready for this life. The only thing I<i><span style="font-weight:400"> regret</i><span style="font-weight:400"> is noting here sooner to wipe you off the face of this. The only thing I <i><span style="font-weight:400">regret</i><span style="font-weight:400"> is not being able to let every innocent person you’ve ever hurt, defiled, and taken advantage of, get their deserved justice.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake turned his head, a cowering group of guards they had collected throughout the city shivered in the rain, looking at his exchange with Xavier.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I know how to deal with sad little men like you. Men who take advantage of anyone they can, beating down on those they deem lesser than, “Drake said, turning his head back down to look Xavier in the eyes, “I’m going to show just how weak you are in front of all those people you lorded your power over. I’m going to make sure that when I’m done with that, I will erase any spec of you being here. Of ever being born, of ever <i><span style="font-weight:400">existing</i><span style="font-weight:400">. No one will remember you. <i><span style="font-weight:400">No one</i><span style="font-weight:400"> will ever spare you a sing miniscule thought again after today.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier struggled desperately against Drake’s aura, a slow realization twisting his face into hopelessness. Until the suppression was gone and he was able to rise, looking at Drake, whose eyes shed blue, yellow, and green.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That little voice saying there’s still hope,” Drake said softly but seemed to silence the surroundings, “It’s lying. Your<i><span style="font-weight:400"> death</i><span style="font-weight:400"> will be in vain,” Drake’s aura and mana exploded out, crushing Xavier back down onto the ground, face first into the mud, “<i><span style="font-weight:400">And I like that.</i><span style="font-weight:400">”
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier’s eyes widened and shook, hearing the bone-chilling voice filled with power right above his head, unable to see Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake released his aura once more, reigning in his skills. But he was already on the verge of falling into a battle frenzy. His blood ignited in a turbulent storm, fighting to be let out to teach this worthless insect what true power really was. What it meant to fight someone who was sharpened by life and death struggle.
<span style="font-weight:400">He shook his head. He was already losing himself again.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake was livid, seeing Kalik nearly killed. Finding Atropos passed out after her fight, and finally returning to see Landin almost killed as well.
<span style="font-weight:400">He would correct his mistake. Here and when he went to the summit in just a few days. When he would finally see Atticus.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake came out of his thoughts. Xavier roared loudly as he charged him, his arms glowing red from some kind of skill.
<span style="font-weight:400">He had already been in a fight technically since he began using his aura, his Asuran’s Battle Acuity skill fully ramped up, and allowing him to see Xavier as if moving at half speed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Moving his head slightly to the side, Drake dodged the straight, and threw his open palm t into the man’s face, throwing him backward several feet.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier wore a look of disbelief as blood dripped down his nose and broken lip.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake only sneered back. He could only assume the man hadn''t been struck that hard in some time. That or he had a skill that enhanced his defense, that Drake easily overwhelmed.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">To the death,”</i><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake chanted, increasing his own stats further, “<i><span style="font-weight:400">For the thrill of battle.”</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake’s skills forced his status to balloon, increasing everything by well over 200%.
<span style="font-weight:400">He didn’t wait for Xavier toe out of his stupor and took a step forward, one hand open-palmed. His hand struck the side of Xavier’s face, a thunderous impact sounding out , the impact scattering away the rain.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier gave a pained grunt, his eyes going wide as if he couldn’tprehend what had just happened. Xavier’s face stiffened and he let out a low growl as he tried to counterattack with a skill-enhanced uppercut.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake deflected the blow, using one hand to redirect the t of his knuckles, much like how Kalik fought while in his Tranquility state. And with his other hand, open palmed, he pped Xavier across the other side of the face.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier growled, bloody dribbleing from his mouth.
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-what are you doing?! Aren’t you going to fight me proper?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake’s lip curled into a sneer, “I am giving my all. Putting my all into properly embarrassing you. I told you already, you’re nothing but a sad little man on a sad little throne. I want you to fully understand just how tiny you are. To know that I could end you at any point, but choose to let you live a while longer.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier screamed, trying to rush Drake with both hands extended.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake dropped low, throwing two palms into Xavier’s midsection in quick session, folding the man at the center. Then in one fluid motion, Drake stepped back, spinning and throwing his heel into Xavier’s temple, sending the man to the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier screamed, throwing a fist into the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-i won’t ept this! I worked so hard to get where I am!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake grabbed him by the back of the head, mming it into the ground, his own face emotionless as he raised Xavier’s head again, ramming it into the ground, again and again.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You don’t know the <i><span style="font-weight:400">meaning</i><span style="font-weight:400"> of hard work. You enved thousands, taking the lives of innocents for your own gain… Standing on a mountain of corpses, robbing men, women, and children of their futures!!” Drake growled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You like to talk like you haven’t done the same!” Xavier snapped, throwing a desperate fist at Drake’s face.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake moved his head to the side, the fist passing harmlessly and grabbing Xavier’s elbow in his grip.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re right. I’ve killed thousands. Tens of thousands. And just as many people, <i><span style="font-weight:400">like you</i><span style="font-weight:400">! But we are not the same!” Drake roared, clenching down on Xavier’s elbow, feeling the bones snapping under his grip.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The people I’ve killed deserved it, just like you!” Drake growled.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier screamed in pain, grabbing at his broken arm, but snarled back, “That’s just an excuse! You like it! Just like I do!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake threw his foot into Xavier’s chest, sending him flying back into one of the partition walls.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t need an excuse to take out trash. I will wipe people like you out like cancer from a body. I will exterminate you and anyone like you! I know what I’ve done and I don’t need tojustify my actions to someone like you! The world isn’t ck and white and I don’t pretend to know better. But I do know, right here and right now, <i><span style="font-weight:400">you are wrong!</i><span style="font-weight:400">”
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier didn’t move from where he collided with the partition, forcing Drake to walk over.
<span style="font-weight:400">The man had gone unconscious, notsting even five minutes against Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">Pathetic,</i><span style="font-weight:400">” Drake sneered, pulling a red vial from his inventory and throwing its contents on the man.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier gasped as he came through, his eyes wandering until he found Drake in front of him, arge brick of ck earth floating between them aimed right at his most intimate parts.
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-what are you doing?” Xavier stammered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Giving justice,” Drake said coldly, the brick rising into the air, “<i><span style="font-weight:400">Downforce.”</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">The brick ignited in fire, bubbling into magma, yet keeping its form as if it was red-hot metal instead of earth. Then mmed into the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier’s eyes crossed, his mouth letting out a silent scream as the smell of burning flesh and sizzling rain fell on the smoldering brick.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake dismissed the spell, grabbing Xavier by the throat and pping him across the face several times until the man came to.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Now to kill some time for my wife and kids to exit this god-forsaken city. I’ll ask you some questions. Who is this Count I keep hearing about?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“F-fuck you…” Xavier spat.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake raised a hand, one finger glowing red from his Martial skill.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you sure you don’t want to tell me?” Drake brought Xavier’s face close, “Look me in the eyes and tell me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier’s eyes shook seeing the seriousness in Drake’s.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-I don’t- Ahhhh!!!” Xavier screamed in agony, Drake thrusting his finger into his eye socket.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t lie to me. Seeing the things in this city and knowing what I do. I know you have a name. Give it to me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier screamed, unable to hear Drake’s question.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake dropped the man, turning to the men and women guards, raising a hand into the air, a red magic circle forming as he gazed down at them with cold eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“How about you lot? Do you have a name?” Drake asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">The magic circle sparked a fireball that instantly turned a shade of blue, then white, steam hissing off the top, the rain turning to steam instantly as the fireball turned into an infernal sun above Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t know anything!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I was forced into this!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-I swear to god I know nothing! Please!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Please, please! Don’t kill us! We were just following orders!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Why do they always resort to lying and begging,” Drake muttered, bringing his hand down in a chopping motion, the massive ball of fire colliding with the people.
<span style="font-weight:400">Tens of notifications flooded Drake’s vision as he turned away, walking back to the man still scrambling on the ground holding his face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you ready to tell me yet?” Drake asked, fed up with the whole ordeal.
<span style="font-weight:400">He had suppressed his Asuran blood, leaving him feeling empty and hollow. An expectant fight turned into nothing more than a one-sided killing of immoral, corrupt, liars who let their authority and power over helpless innocents go to their heads.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier didn’t answer, only screaming as he rolled from side to side.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake grabbed another vial of red, unconcerned with any sort of potion poisoning for the man. Throwing just enough to heal Xavier’s eye, but nothing else.
<span style="font-weight:400">Grabbing Xavier by the hair, Drake summoned a bright green magic circle at his feet, rising into the air with a gust of wind.
<span style="font-weight:400">They rose into the air and Drake was able to see the city in full view. Looking at one of the gates he saw a mass of people exiting.
<span style="font-weight:400">“This should be good enough then.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake snapped his fingers, conjuring five magic circles of blue, water shooting out of them like tentacles and restraining Xavier. One of them moved to cover his eyes, washing away the blood, then quickly froze over forcing his eyes open.
<span style="font-weight:400">“This city is your legacy, right? The only thing you have to leave behind,” Drake said, his hair reverting back to normal as twenty magic circles formed around him, ten of water, ten of ice.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Watch as I eradicate it from <i><span style="font-weight:400">my</i><span style="font-weight:400">.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake gave a flourish of his arm, summoning four magic circles of soil brown, the twenty he summoned before hovering around him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">Heretical Endowment, Duo, Ice, Water, Ten Fold.”</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">The spells of water and ice vanished, and Drake’s hair turned white with blue streaks swimming through it.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake’s body wrenched in pain, rejecting the overexertion of his buffing skill. Coughing, a line of blood ran down the side of his mouth.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I won’t forget the pain this ce has brought on Quetz, Clotho, and Atropos. And the thousands of others you’ve enved here.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake poured power into his spikes of earth, the mana reced almost instantaneously by his ten times increased regeneration from his water endowment.
<span style="font-weight:400">The spikes grew to massive pirs of ck earth, four pirs the size of buildings hovering in the air.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake’s arms spread out, shaking as if holding the weight of the pirs up with sheer will.
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-what are you doing! Hey! S-stop! I said stop!!” Xavier pleaded, his personality taking a turn.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A great man once said, be strong enough to be gentle. But I am no great man. And I am strong enough to be <i><span style="font-weight:400">cruel… Your world, will know pain.”</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">The pirs dropped, nting themselves into the center of the city with thunderous crashes, kicking up debris and dust, even in the pouring rain.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake’s arms shook as he began infusing his mana into the pirs again, forcing them into the earth below.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">SHINRA TENSEI!!!”</i><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake bellowed, his voice carrying over the area.
<span style="font-weight:400">He had embedded half of the pirs into the ground, half still above and towering over the small structures on the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">With his words, Drake visibly paled but pushed through, his regeneration kicking in enough to keep the spell, bringing the drain on his status down to a trickle.
<span style="font-weight:400">The pirs began to rumble and carve out the ground, shoving the ground out and churning the earth as they began tearing through the city. Anything and everything was overturned and began moving with the massive pirs as if the earth had turned into an ocean and an enormous wave was building across it.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake began sweating, his arms shaking with a tumultuous roar of effort.
<span style="font-weight:400">The sound of earth scraping against earth began to build into a crescendo as if the tes beneath the earth themselves were being forcibly moved.
<span style="font-weight:400">And after a full strenuous minute, Drake was finished. His body was torn to shambles from the inside from overloading his system with the forced enhancement beyond anything he had attempted before. Blood leaking from every orifice and pore on his body.
<span style="font-weight:400">The city of Sandal. Was no more.
<span style="font-weight:400">Left in the aftermath was only a field of rubble and upturned earth, not even therge walled partitions remained.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier was quiet, his mouth hung open, gaping as if he were a fish out of water, in pure disbelief of what he had just witnessed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake could no longer hold him or Xavier up and they began to descend to the ground in a near free fall. And just before they crashed into the earth, Drake summoned two pirs of water, allowing the tops to ripple and break the surface tension.
<span style="font-weight:400">The two crashed into the pirs falling to the bottoms safely.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake dismissed them quickly, pulling hisst potion from his inventory and letting the warm liquid slide down his throat as he gasped for air.
<span style="font-weight:400">Sitting on the ground, a few minutester he saw a group headed by Sah Ul’ run to meet him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Patriarch!” Sah Ul’ shouted with worry evident on her face.
<span style="font-weight:400">He waved her off and pointed to Xavier.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sit him up,” he instructed, “The name of the Count. You have nothing left,” Drake said scowling.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier’s eyes had gone dull and lifeless. He smirked,ughing like he had lost his mind.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Haha! You want a name…? Fine! I don’t care anymore! That bastard can burn in hell with me for lying to me! His name is Ferdinand Smith, the leader of the New Colonies!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake pointed a hand at Xavier’s head, firing a bullet of ice and killing him instantly, a hole between his eyes.
<b>[You have killed Xavier Thornsworth Level 28] [Experience Earned, 761 Nobility Points have been awarded]</b>
<b>[Quest Complete. Bringing the House Down]</b>
<b>[You have imed ownership of Sandal]</b>
<b>[You now im ownership of three different Anchoring Crystals]</b>
<b>[Congrattions! You have increased to Elemental Miller Level 29] [140 Free Points have been awarded]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake’s hand fell next to him, his bodypletely spent as Sah Ul’ slung an arm under him to help him up.
<span style="font-weight:400">But just when he thought the worst was over, his pocket vibrated. The long-rangemunication crystal turning on.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake struggled but removed it from his pants pocket.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What is it? Kind of a bad time-”
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">Drake…”</i><span style="font-weight:400"> Natto’s voice came out in a cold tone from the crystal.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What happened?” He replied, hearing the seriousness in her voice.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">Return to the city now. Mikhail just returned…”</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">There was a long pause before Natto’s next words came through the crystal.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">“Rvul is dead.”</i>