《Modern Assassin》


 Chapter 1

    "What was that? Magic?" the apprentice asks, after seeing the electricity streak before his eyes and hearing a sound very similar to thunder. "No. He naturally produces electricity and is able to move faster than the speed of sound because of it. Combine that with his natural almost superhuman strength, he is a formidable foe," Mistress Nyx says. "Thanatos is able to harness the electricity that he produces with nanobots to get his speed and strength, though."


    "Oh...." the apprentice looks puzzled.


    Alright, let''s back up. I was an assassin in training 10 to 12 years old, then became a full fledged assassin from the age of 13 to 18. I "retired" at 19. I say "retired" because I had "died" on a "failed" mission-- but that mission was a success, I just blew up the place and left no witnesses.


    So, to bring you up to date: I have been in hiding for the past ten years. Today at work, some dumbasses decided they were going to attack a warehouse on American soil to hold all employees on shift hostage as well as have some fun with them. What they didn''t know-- hell what no one knew-- was that I have training to kill someone with my thumb and I can be very creative in how to kill somebody. And make the death look accidental and leave no way to trace it back to me.


    Long story short: warehouse was attacked, all my friends were threaten and almost killed or raped, the building was 75% destroyed, and I went berserk and fell back into my assassin role with ease. Should have not faked my death and just became a Shade, Ghoul, or Shadow. But hindsight is 20/20, so no sense in complaining about it now. And there were no civilian casualties, so that''s a win.


    Now I am fighting some people from my clan that have vendettas against me from "dying". It''s a 3 on 1 and my Mistress is just chilling on top of the most stable part of the building with her new apprentice.


    I just reactivated the nanobots in my bloodstream to 1) heal my wounds, 2) give me my wings back, and 3) give me back my power. Yes, I have wings. Get over it. They are made of nanobots, my bone tissue, and blood. You could call me a cyborg, but I am very much still a human.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    I am very proud of my wings: I can fly, use them for offense and defense, or just have a really fucking cool looking cloak. But anyways here I am doing a 3 on 1 and kicking their asses with my Mistress observing from above as she normally does. Mistress Nyx knows I am toying with the three, I don''t want to kill them. Hurting and maiming are okay, but these are my sisters and brother in arms so even then I am very reluctant to hurt them badly or even maim them. Scatty and Tifa are able to keep up with my speed but lack my strength. Zeke lacks my speed but matches my strength. And I trained all three....


    I put about 100 yards between the 4 of us and called out to the Mistress: "Who is the youngling up there with you? Scared I would kill them?"


    "No," she replies. "He is here to watch and learn. As well as to provide medical assistance when needed. We have become much more progressive since you left. And anyways, you never were my equal in battle."


    I grunt in reply, knowing that last bit is true, "So, all it took was me, the most accomplished assassin the Underworld ever produced-- one that was trained by the esteemed Lady of the Night, Nyx herself-- to leave for y''all to incorporate the things I was calling for?" I shake my head in disbelief. "Well then-."


    The fight resumed and they learned the origin of my first name: Lightning Death. All three-- Scatty, Tifa, and Zeke-- were laying at my feet in 5 seconds, groaning in pain. "I''ve gotten slow, 3 people used to take me 1.5 seconds to take out. But that''s usually because I just kill them and not incapacitate them." I gather all three and fly up to Mistress Nyx and the youngling. "Alright, why are you here, truly." My Mistress knows when I am being serious just by how my sentences are structured. In reply, she smiles; knowing it will piss me off. Meaning I already know why she showed up. I groan, "What? I can''t retire?"


    "You took out about 650 highly trained professional troops. With nothing but your hands, feet, and the weapons you managed to get off their corpses. Did you not think we would notice? Especially after your hanging stunt with the tenth troop you killed? So, are you going to come quietly or do I need to kick your ass into submission?" Mistress Nyx asks sweetly. I contemplate what it would mean if we fought: the surrounding buildings would be destroyed and civilian lives would be most definitely lost. "I''ll come quietly." I pick up Scatty and Tifa, while Mistress Nyx carries Zeke and the youngling and we fly off. Oh, did I forget to mention that they have wings like mine as well? I created them; theirs do look newer, however.

 Chapter 2

    I forgot the feelings that flying brings. Pure joy. True freedom. Only downside is I can''t fly as high as I want because I don''t have my face mask. It''s an O2 mask that covers my nose and mouth, my high tech glasses block the wind and has communication abilities.


    A drive from Fort Worth to Lubbock is about a four hour drive, the flight there took us about 2 hours. It took us that long because I wanted to see if Scatty''s and Tifa''s flying maneuvers had improved. Those two recovered within the first 30 minutes of us leaving. Zeke only recovered when we landed about 75 miles away from base.


    "I need you to take this," says Mistress Nyx while holding out a pill the size of a NyQuil, but the color is midnight black. I wrinkle my nose in disgust, "There has to be another way. I just got my wings back." The pill neutralizes the nanobots in my bloodstream. Making me a normal human.


    "Sadly, there is not," she says. "When you left, we lost our support with the High Council."


    "Thanks, Death. I had to step in and be a Dealer when you left," Zeke chimes in, in his gruff voice. He was rewarded with a glare from the Mistress for his comment; which promptly shut him up.


    "Any supporters of the old ways still on the council?" I ask, knowing Lady Nyx would understand. She nods, thankfully understanding what I am truly asking.


    "There are," Tifa pipes up, who is silenced by a look from Nyx.


    "There are," repeats Nyx carefully. "Are you saying you will take the pill only if you get to challenge the current ruler of the Underworld?"


    I nod in agreement. "Aye, I am. Who is the current ruler, anyways?"


    My mistress sighs, "Saber of the Black Rose, Seraph."


    Internally, I am panicking. Externally, I appear calm, cool and collected.


    I try to keep my voice level as I say, "Could be a lot worse. It could be Damos."


    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    "He''s dead," Scatty says in her Celtic accent. "Seraph killed him in the last duel for the throne. Damos was the previous ruler. Aoife was forced to watch Seraph behead Damos, then had her eyes removed from her head as a punishment for insubordination." Bitter resentment was apparent in her tone. Aoife, pronounced as E-fa, and Damos were forbidden lovers. Scatty, Nyx and I approved of them being together but Seraph was promised Aoife, so she was forced into that relationship.


    I mad dogged the fuck outta her until she made eye contact with me, I ask her, "Tell me Aoife still lives."  She gives me a curt nod in reply.


    Nyx softly says, "Aoife lives, yes. She does hate you more than these three though."


    "My sister will try to kill you, Master Marethyu," Scathach says, using my formal assassin name, which is pronounced as Mer-eth-ew.


    "Scathach," using Scatty''s full name-- pronouncing it as Sca- Tawk, I say, "she may try to kill me. But I will restore her sight before I kill Seraph. That I promise you."


    I take the pill and shudder. Immediately, my sight goes out, all my senses shut down. I am in a coma for five seconds, but those five seconds feel like five lifetimes. My wings are gone, I feel naked. My eyesight is not sharp anymore, without my glasses I am legally blind.


    All the wounds that I acquired at the warehouse open back up. My left hand is mangled again. I grabbed a pistol by the barrel and the guy pulled the trigger, blowing off my left ring finger and my middle finger was left hanging on by some muscle, skin, and a tendon. I was stabbed in the left kidney, shot in the right shoulder and left knee, numerous cuts, scrapes, and hairline fractures.


    I come to the youngling working on stopping the bleeding and trying to stabilize me. He works with surprising speed and ease, as if he has done this one too many times. "Who trained you?" I ask him.


    "The Lady of Fire," he replies. "Firehawk. My name is Phoenix." Searing pain ignites in my left hand. I look down to see him literally setting my left hand on fire.


    "What did you do to cause this?" he asks.


    "Grabbed a pistol by the barrel and the jackass pulled the trigger," I say. "Never realized it until i popped his eyes out with my thumbs."


    I black out from the pain and come to a while later. I groggily sit up. "Lay down," Phoenix commands me. Mistress Nyx laughs, "You think Scatty and Aoife are stubborn? Try him. Master Death is worse than the Shadow Warrior Twins. I should know, I''ve patched all three of them up."


    "We need to go," I tell them. "Regardless of my wounds, Phoenix. I''ll rest on the way there. Even fifteen minutes of sleep is better than none." With that Mistress Nyx carries me and we land in front of the Underworld main entrance in fifteen minutes.

 Chapter 3

    Ever returned home and expected to be the prodigal son? I never did. But I did expect the respect I had earned, not the jeering, knives, hands, feet and elbows being thrown at me.


    Wreaths of fire enveloped me after walking a few dozen yards past the entrance to protect me as well as make sure I couldn''t escape.


    "Firehawk, it''s good to see you!" I recognized the flames immediately. "The flames are so that you can actually stand trial for all your transgressions, Marethyu," the Firehawk says. "Now go to the infirmary." Mistress Nyx and Phoenix follow the two of us, the rest having been disbanded and sent to their respective lodgings. "I did my best while out in the field, Mistress," says Phoenix. "I have heard the stories of how reckless he is, but seeing it in person is something else." Chuckling, Firehawk replies, "I know he had his nanobots reawakened. Mistress Nyx, you wouldn''t know anything about that would you?" Without missing a beat, Nyx replies, "Last I knew, they were dormant. The only thing that could reawaken them is in the infirmary, Lady of Fire."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Once inside the infirmary, the flames dissipated. ¡°Strip,¡± the one simple command from Lilith the Firehawk brings back fond memories. I resist the urge to make a snide remark, I am guessing my face gave me away though since Lilith and Nyx both smacked me. Phoenix just watched with a confused look.


    "Ow. Was that necessary?" I grimace as I rub my head. They both answer simultaneously, "Yes." I stripped off the rags that were once clothes. Immediately, Firehawk tackles me with a hug. Her flames envelope us, completely obscuring us from sight. I can hear Phoenix gasp, being taken aback by the sudden change in the attitude and approach that Firehawk is healing me.


    Firehawk and I were lovers before I was in charge of the Underworld. It wasn''t uncommon for the head healer and the head assassin becoming close friends or something more. When the flames completely surrounded Firehawk and me, her clothes turned into flames. Both of us were completely nude, embracing each other. As our lips met, I feel all of my injuries fully healing and - going further than what I felt was called for - reawakened my nanobots. When we pull away, Firehawk''s robes return and my ebony robes appear on my body. "It''s good to be wearing these again," I say, a determined glint in my eyes. ¡°Now then, onto business. How do I take back over the Underworld from Seraph?¡±

 Chapter 4

    Long plan made simple: get the backing of the High Council then take back the Underworld. Pre-step one is that I have to get back into full shape. My nanobots need an upgrade. That means surgery, a surgery that will take about 16 hours. A surgery that I will be fully conscious and will be feeling every single fucking probe, cut and adjustment.


    Groaning, I make my way to the shower room after the surgery. Got to wash off the blood, now. When I enter the shower room, it¡¯s full of people. Think of a gym washroom, that¡¯s how the shower room is. No privacy, fights breaking out regularly; only there¡¯s no guards. If you start the fight you had better be able to finish it or take the beating. I make my way over to an empty shower stall, but the biggest guy in the room blocks my path. ¡°So you¡¯re Marethyu,¡± the big guy says, he spits when he says my name. Sighing, ¡°Aye, I am. Who are you?¡±  Laughing, he replies, ¡°The guy who¡¯s gonna cream you. That¡¯s all you needa know.¡±


    Sighing again, ¡°Can I wash off the blood first? I¡¯d just slip out of your hands.¡± In response, Muscle Head tries to grab me. I easily side step and do a quick jab to his solarplexius, winding him. ¡°Rule one of the shower room, make sure you can either finish the fight or take the beating like a champ,¡± I say. ¡°Now that''s a punch. I¡¯m Xena and I¡¯m gonna kill you for touching me.¡± Shrugging, I backed under a running shower quick enough to rinse off some of my blood. Stepping out, I dodge under his grab and immediately counter with a kick to his knee. Now in Xena¡¯s guard and with him off balanced, I pepper him with light strikes to his torso; making him back off.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    At this point, I notice that everyone in the room is watching us fight. A couple of people are watching with smirks, others are smiling, all are taking bets. ¡°I call five percent of the winnings when I win!¡± I called out. Xena only took notice of the crowd after I called that out. Laughing, he says,¡±You won¡¯t be getting a drachma. You¡¯ll be dead.¡± Assuming a fighting stance I brace myself for the fight to prove that I still have the skills. A punch comes hurtling towards me after a single step from the man, I take it straight to the chest. Surprise crosses Xena¡¯s face when he feels his hand break on impact. Smiling like the mad man that I am, I break his other arm with four attacks, each attack breaking bone on impact. Dropping low to the ground, a kick to his left shin splinters the fibula and tibula. ¡°Are you done yet, Xena?¡± He looks up at me with fear in his eyes, unable to talk. I grab his jaw and bring his face right to mine. ¡°Tell Seraph I am coming to take back what is rightfully mine.¡± I throw the giant man to the door, I am built like a tall lanky twig. He was a mountain of a man. That is how much the nanobots boost my strength too.


    Everyone is silent after watching what I did. Looking around, ¡°Where¡¯s my five percent? I want it when I leave.¡± I finish rinsing off the blood from the surgery. The money is given to me right as I am leaving. Outside, Scatty hands me my robe. ¡°Did you have to do that kind of show of strength there? You could have done that in one of the sparring rooms.¡± Holding up the small bag of gold, ¡°I would not have gotten this in a sparring room though.¡± Scatty just nods in agreement, and we walk on in silence back to Nyx and Lilith.

 Chapter 5

    Once Scatty and I got back to the infirmary, Lilith asked me, ¡°Who¡¯s ass did you kick? And how bad?¡± Shrugging, ¡°Some guy named Xena. Broke his right forearm, radial in two places; ulna in one place. Shattered his left fibula and tibia. Maybe some broken ribs.¡± Nyx busts out laughing, ¡°Xena has always been a go-getter. Trying to get into Seraph¡¯s and the High Council¡¯s good graces. Speaking of which, someone is here to meet you.¡±


    A door opens and Hades walks out. I immediately bow, left arm behind my back; right across my waist. ¡°Father Hades, too, what do I owe the pleasure?¡±


    Laughing, Hades opened his arms welcoming an embrace, ¡°Give me a hug, before I have to be my stern self out there. It''s good to see you again. It''s been too long, son.¡± I smiled as I embraced Hades, ¡°It has. But that''s what happens when you fake your death to retire.¡±


    Letting go, he stepped back and gave me a stern look. ¡°Marethyu, we all told you there is no retiring from the life of being an Assassin. The only retirement we can afford is actual death. But you did well for ten years.¡± Hades held up his hand to forestall my question. ¡°I kept tabs on you.¡±


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Nyx and Lilith turned towards Hades, death glares of the highest degree. One from a mother and the other from a lover. I started laughing, glad their collective glare was turned from me. Hades just shrugged, ¡°Nyx, you knew he was alive, just not his whereabouts. I''m sorry I couldn''t tell you, Lilith. I wanted to, truly I did. It was for yours and Marethyu¡¯s protection.¡±


    Zeke walked into the room, ¡°The High Council is requ- demanding Marethyu¡¯s presence at once. And you are not allowed to escort him, only the Death Dealers are.¡±


    Seven people followed Zeke into the room after he said his piece. All Death Dealers. Besides Zeke, I used to lead them all. ¡°Who''s number nine of the Dealers?¡± I ask. ¡°Seraph,¡± Hades answered, ¡°and the current leader of the Death Dealers, who is ironically missing in this escort.¡±


    ¡°Move, traitor.¡± A voice I recognized came from behind me followed up with a shove. ¡°Lady Lilith and Mistress Nyx, you both are also coming with us to be questioned by and to stand trial before the Council regarding aiding Marethyu.¡±

 Chapter 6

    As we were being paraded down the hallway towards the council chamber, I glanced back at the Death Dealer that was pushing me along. Cloud, my second in command. I knew I recognized his voice back in the infirmary. He caught me looking, gave me a subtle curt nod then gave me a push to keep up his charade. I stumble, Cloud catches me and says in a low voice, ¡°Just say the word, six of us have your back. We never gave up on you.¡±


    We continue down the hallway for about five more minutes before stopping in front of the doors that lead to the High Council Chamber Room. Doors that are solid ebony wood, twelve feet tall, and a foot and a half thick and carved with all manners of death. I let out a low whistle, ¡°Man, I¡¯ve missed these doors. Still an impressive feat of getting them down here.¡± The doors groaned as they were being pushed open from the inside. I shake my head, ¡°With all our technology, we are still pushing these big ass doors open? Mistress, add that to my to-do list, please!¡± I get glares from the two Dealers that I don¡¯t recognize. ¡°Shut him up, Cloud. Or we will shut him up permanently,¡± one of the two said.


    ¡°Oooh, scary,¡± I say in a mocking tone. The one that didn''t speak reached for his weapon, I stopped him by changing to a deadly serious tone of voice, ¡°All the things you''ve heard about me are true. The only reason why I haven''t escaped nor resisted is because Cloud is the one who is holding me.¡±


    ¡°SILENCE. BRING HIM FORWARD. NOW.¡±


    I shrug and enter the council chamber.


    ¡î¡î¡î


    Politics have always bored me. So I''m standing before the twelve members of the High Council in the center of the council chamber, not hiding the fact I''m bored as they debate my punishment. Seraph is standing in front of me, growing more furious by the minute. Only two want me killed. Three want me to become a Shade otherwise known as a teacher; another four want me to become their guard, a Ghoul. The last three want me to take back over the clan, the Underworld, and correct everything that Seraph has fucked up.


    During one of their breaks, I smirk at Seraph, ¡°Not going the way you wanted it, is it? Did you never realize how much support I had with the Council? They approved my retirement plan.¡± Seraph lunged at me, but Hades intercepted him. ¡°Don''t do something reckless. You''ll get your fight soon enough.¡± Hades kept walking to his throne. The rest of the council took their seats. ¡°We will hear now from Marethyu. Speak and state your intentions and conditions of your return to the Underworld.¡±


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    I give a wicked smile to Seraph. ¡°Lord Hades and the rest of the High Council. My intention is to take back what was once mine. My condition is to challenge your champion, Seraph of the Black Rose. Winner takes all.¡±


    Silence, stunned silence. The silence was broken by five people laughing, one being Seraph and the other four were his backers. Seraph started laughing harder when he realized I was being serious.


    ¡°SILENCE,¡± Hades¡¯ voice boomed. ¡°If you are unable to silence yourself, you will be removed from this chamber room. As I said, Seraph. You''ll get your fight.¡± Hades looked at the rest of the council; everyone nodding in agreement or shrugging. ¡°We Council of the Underworld have heard and accept your request, Marethyu. ¡°Seraph, do you accept?¡± He nods. ¡°What time do you want your duel?¡±


    ¡°Right fucking now.¡± I can almost see the steam escaping his nostrils as Seraph is breathing heavily.


    ¡°Denied. Kronos, what time shall we have this duel?¡±


    ¡°High moon rise, in three days¡¯ time,¡± came the raspy voice. The council murmurs in agreement.


    ¡°Marethyu, where do you want this duel to take place?¡±


    I smirk as I say, ¡°The only place suitable for a duel, The Arena. With the whole guild watching.¡±


    ¡°I find these terms of combat acceptable,¡± a whispered voice echoed in the council chamber. ¡°No further requests shall be had. In three days¡¯ time, Seraph of the Black Rose shall fight Marethyu, Master of the Night, to the death to claim the title of the ruler of the Underworld. Father Chaos has spoken.¡±


    The council remains frozen in their seats. I spoke first, ¡°Father Chaos has spoken, so it shall be.¡±


    Hades nodded, and the council echoed, ¡°So it shall be. Thus the council has ended. Everyone is dismissed!¡±

 Chapter 7

    ¡°So what now?¡± Scathach asks. ¡°We have three days to prepare.¡±


    ¡°Technically it''s three and a half days, since the duel will be at midnight, child,¡± Hades says as he enters the infirmary. ¡°Marethyu, I know you have already set things in motion. What''s your plan? Was it your intention to get Father Chaos involved?¡±


    ¡°Actually, no. I thought he had died in his sleep years ago. Cortana, are you awake yet?¡±


    A hologram of a woman, the color of her skin a very pale blue almost white,  her hair is black, and the constant stream of data that covers her body makes it look like she''s not completely naked, appeared in the middle of the room, ¡°I woke up the moment you reawakened your nanobots, Master. Very risky, mind you. But you did design it so that I would wake up and help stabilize the connection.¡± She smiles at me, ¡°It''s good to have you back, Master Marethyu. Everything is being prepared now; Daedalus will need to see you before he starts actually working on anything.¡±


    I turn to face Hades with an eyebrow raised, ¡°Is that an answer enough for you, Father of the Underworld?¡± He chuckles and nods.


    ¡î¡î¡î


    ¡°I''ve told you countless times, Seraph, I will not-.¡± Daedalus sat dumbfounded when he looked up and saw me standing before him. Daedalus had not aged well, balding, his eyes didn''t have the light they once did, but seeing me did help a little bit. Being paralyzed from the waist down wasn''t doing him justice either. Anger hardened my expression, ¡°Who put you in that chair, Master Inventor Daedalus?¡±


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    He sighed, ¡°Seraph; and he broke the work bench so I wouldn''t be able to fix my spine. Even went so far as to ¡°forget¡± to tell Lilith until it was too late to heal it.¡± Daedalus did the air quotes when he said the word ¡®forgot¡¯. ¡°The only one able to repair the work bench at this point would be¡­¡± His voice trailed off what my return meant. ¡°Cortana, is my work bench functional again?¡±


    ¡°I am actively working on it, Master Daedalus. He did a surprising amount of damage.¡± Cortana appeared on the arm rest of Daedalus¡¯ chair.


    ¡°Cortana, I need that work bench functional ASAP.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Master,¡± she says then disappears.


    I close my eyes and take in a calming breath of air, then let it out slowly. I do this several times before opening my eyes and looking at my old friend Daedalus. Lilith took hold of my hand while I was calming myself down. ¡°Wrath is not useful right now. I''ll pull that out later when I tear Seraph apart in the Arena. Now, Daedalus my Ole friend, what do you have for me?¡±


    His eyes started gleaming, ¡°I''ve just the thing¡­¡±


    ¡î¡î¡î


    Several hours later, my scythe is repaired, Daedalus¡¯ spine is fixed, and Lilith and I made a pill to restore Aoife¡¯s sight.


    I go to the training room with my loyal Death Dealers. I look at all of them, ¡°No holding back. I have to be back in my prime shape to face Seraph.¡± All nine of them nod and take a fighting stance surrounding me. Scythe in hand, I relax and smile; my signal to nine of the closest people I have ever worked with. They attack me in unison.

 Chapter 8

    I spit out a mouthful of blood. My scythe is on the other side of the room. Again. ¡°Come on, I ain''t got all day,¡± I growl through clenched teeth. It was half way through day two of the three days. My nine Death Dealers look at each other with concern. They have been beating me black and blue for the past eighteen hours with no breaks besides water and restroom breaks.


    Cloud hefts his giant sword and sighs before rushing me. I close my eyes and take a deep breath in. I widen my stance, raise my arms up, my hands open and palms down. I can feel the bones in my left arm being knitted back together by the nanobots. I open my eyes as the sword comes down. I side step the strike, block another from Zeke. Push Tifa into Shade, forcing him to drop his weapon to prevent from skewering her with his pike. I kick Cloud''s knee, immobilizing him momentarily by breaking it. Scatty and I trade three blows before I kick her square in the chest and send her flying back several yards.


    Phobos slashes his swords at me, I dodge one and I twist when I see the other coming behind the first so that instead of getting fully stabbed in the stomach, he only pierces the very edge between my hip bone and the bottom of my ribs. Now I''m too close for his long swords to be of use. He drops his swords and goes for a pair of daggers, I catch his wrists and break both simultaneously. His eyes widen when he feels my right foot land on top of his left knee. I use Phobos as a springboard. He falls back, unconscious from being kicked in the jaw by me.


    I land and look at the last three Dealers. These three are the newest ones, ones I never worked with until now. ¡°Come on Merlin, Callahan, Seareth.¡± My arm is fully repaired now, I point at them and beckon them on. The rest of the Dealers know they''ve been defeated this bout and stay back and tend to their wounds. Cloud grunts in pain after Scatty resets his knee so it can heal correctly.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Merlin is fast, he leads the charge with twin daggers. Callahan follows up with a pair of sai. Seareth stays back a ways, being able to do so with a quarterstaff. I stand in place and just dodge Merlin''s and Callahan''s attacks.


    Mistress Nyx and Lilith walk in as this is happening. Lilith shakes her head and heads over to check on the injured. Nyx calls out, ¡°Stop playing with your food and finish it. You won''t get any faster by sparring with those three.¡±


    I scowl and kick out Merlin''s legs from under him, punch Callahan in the stomach. Then I leap at Seareth, who manages to actually hit me in the head with the quarterstaff. It doesn''t stop me from tackling her to the ground and straddling her chest. I pin her arms to her side with my legs. ¡°If you wanted to actually stop me, Seareth. You should have put more force behind that strike.¡± I stand up and offer her my hand. ¡°I know you three don''t have the anger and feeling of betrayal the other six have, but to fight me, you need ferocity.¡± Seareth takes my hand and I pull her to her feet.


    Seraph¡¯s three loyal Death Dealers walk into the sparring room, ¡°Marethyu, we challenge you to a spar.¡± The room freezes, we were not alone in the room as it was a massive room in the complex but the challenge was clearly heard by everyone present.


    I raise an eyebrow and give Nyx a questioning look. She nods in approval. ¡°Mistress Nyx, what are the rules and regulations regarding death in spars? I know broken bones are permitted, but I don''t remember anything about killing in a training spar.¡±


    ¡°Accidental death is frowned upon, so avoid killing them. Maiming is allowed along with the broken bones and breaking their will,¡± Nyx looks at me. ¡°As your mistress and mentor, I am telling you to break their will. Remind them of who you are.¡±


    Everyone, about a hundred of them, in the room line the edges of the room in anticipation of the 3v1 sparring match.


    I grin, ¡°I''m fired up now.¡±

 Chapter 9

    I close my eyes and take a deep, calming breath; widen my stance; and crouch low to the ground. I open my eyes and launch myself at them with so much force, I leave a crater in the floor. Two of the three jump to the side while the last one doesn''t move and meets my punch head on with a punch of his own. When our fists collide, I splinter all the bones in his hand and forearm. He collapses to his knees, holding his obliterated arm to his chest as he looks up at me. I grab his chin and hold him up to eye level, ¡°I am Marethyu, the master of this guild. You three will pay even more after I defeat Seraph than with just your will.¡±


    Still holding the guy, I pivot and throw him at the one on my left and catch the kick the one on the right aimed at me. I push him back before turning back to the one on the left.


    He backs up a little, ¡°Aren''t you going to ask us for our names, Marethyu?¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°No, I just want to know which three Death Dealers y¡¯all replaced. The three of you are not worth my time.¡±


    Clearly angered by my words, Number Two claps his hands together. As he separates his hands, a staff made of black flames appears in his hands.


    Everyone that is along the sides of the rooms huddle against the sides of the walls. Those loyal to me stay where they are, knowing Nyx and I will protect everyone from the stray attacks.


    Number Three follows suit, this time the weapon is dual swords made of black lightning. I start laughing, holding onto my stomach, I manage to get out, ¡°Ooooh, Mom they''re scared and think the Shadow Elements will give them an edge.¡± I double over laughing again.


    Nyx, looking amused, ¡°I will now correct myself. Kill all three. Show them how a true Elementalist fights.¡±


    I stop laughing, ¡°I don''t need my elements to finish these three.¡±

 Chapter 10

    Number 3 attacks me with his fire staff. I crack my neck, and catch it one handed. The guy looks at me in complete shock. I use the force behind his own attack to flip him into Number 1. Number 1 was trying to sneak behind me and stab me with a pair of sai. Number 2 stops and takes in the situation, ¡°I''m guessing it''s too late to try to talk things over?¡± I smile wickedly in reply.


    Nyx says, ¡°By presenting yourselves as Elementalists, you signed your own death certificates. Marethyu and myself are the only ones allowed by Father Chaos to train others in the Dark Arts of the Elements.¡±


    ¡°The first person who tells me who trained you, shall live,¡± I look over the three. ¡°Now don''t all answer at once.¡±


    After a long pause and the three looking at each other, Number 2 says, ¡°It was Ares.¡±


    ¡°You fool!¡±


    ¡°Idiot! You just condemn your family!¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°Ares, eh?¡± I look over at my Dealers. I point at Number 2. ¡°Protect his family.¡± They nod and leave the room, carrying out my orders. My form flickers then I appear next to him, ¡°Goodnight.¡± I clap both of my hands over his ears, knocking him out from the sudden pressure change to his ear drums. I casually throw the 250 pounds of muscle over to where Nyx and the rest of my people are.


    I turn to face the remaining two, ¡°Now, you two shall die.¡±


    My form flickers again, this time electricity crackling on the ground and across my whole body, I appear next to Number 3. ¡°What-.¡± He looks down at his chest, a hole where his heart used to be. My right hand bloody, holding his heart intact a few inches away from his chest. The veins and arteries still connect his heart to his body. With a savage tug, I tear his heart away from the veins and arteries. I crush his heart in my fist before moving onto Number One. This time I appear behind him, my hand erupts from his chest. His heart speared on my fingers. I spread my fingers and destroyed his heart. After my arm is removed from his chest cavity, he drops dead to the floor.


    I survey the room, everybody present is kneeling besides Lilith and Nyx. I raise an eyebrow, ¡°None of that, no one is greater than I for we are all equals.¡±


    I walk over to Lilith who is already prepared with fire to cleanse the blood and gore off my right arm. ¡°Time to go make some things for the rest of the time I have before my fight with Seraph.¡±