Vengeance of the Returner

They all grouped up while Cinzia stood in the center and started conversing.

"Alright, we will be continuing with the journey."

"Aye aye captain!"

Everyone replied in unison while Nix kept quiet and nodded his head.

Cinzia continued her speech after receiving their response.

"Nix will be in the middle and act as a protector for Varde. I will be in the front with Dalia and Eshwar takes the rear. This will be our of formation for now."

And added

"Since we lost our caravan we have to march all the way to the mountain at a steady pace to return as scheduled but our journey will be slowed down we might even return after twenty days."

Nix questioned.

"What?"

"yes I am sorry but the quest will be moving at a slow pace taking the unknown problems that may occur. I will pay an additional ten percent of the amount to be paid."

"Alright"

Nix didn't cause any trouble since he didn't have any business important for him right now, so he accepted the situation.

Soon Cinzia began leading the team at a fast pace and everyone followed her while Nix was finding it hard to match the pace of the group since this was all new to him.

After three hours of marching, they entered a forest. The trees were wide and tall and the sand was dry rather than appearing to be moisture.

Cinzia turned back and announced.

"Alright, it seems some people are feeling exhausted. Let's take a break here."

Eshwar disapproved of her.

"What? Sis, we can still go for two hours."

She clicked her tongue and eyed Nix and drifted her attention towards Eshwar.

"Tch, I said we will take a small break here."

Eshwar and others nodded their heads and agreed and cast their gaze on Nix who showed tiredness even though he didn't complain or asked for a break. They understood him as he appeared to be overly fatigued.

Nix apologized.

"I am sorry for dragging all of you down."

Varde disagreed with Nix.

"Nah bud it's okay. I am a bit tired too."

And Dalia said the same.

"Yes, Me too."

'Damn! These guys are so understanding and friendly. Maybe I can join their clan after this quest.'

Nix was feeling warm after all these days and this was his first time seeing friendly people in outlaws. Who knows? Maybe there are outlaws with moral values out there in the wild. Just like Regulars which contain Malicious people too.

After thirty minutes they continued their march again without a pause.

Varde glanced at Nix as they continued their march and suddenly he questioned.

"Buddy, If you don't mind can I ask you a few questions?"

Nix nodded his head.

Varde smiled and said.

"what were you doing on earth?"

Nix scratched his head and replied.

"Hmm, A college student."

Varde smiled and said.

"Oh Nice, I was working as a part-timer in a petrol bunk back on earth it feels kinda nostalgic to think about those days. Riding bikes, having fun with the homies and that damned petrol smell! Honestly, I miss them, man! And which country are you from?"

'It's not been that long since I entered Empyrean anyway, let's go with the flow.'

He nodded and said

"Yeah, We all miss those days. I am from India. You are from?"

"oh, I am from South Africa."

"It is nice to work with you Varde."

Nix said with a smile and shook hands with Varde.

"Me too man!"

Even though Nix's stats were equivalent to others. His body didn't get a hold of the marching pace since it was all new to him while the others moved without feeling tired or troubled as they were all well experienced.

Cinzia suddenly stopped and turned at others and began speaking in a low tone.

"shh! I sense something."

"Yeah me too"

Dalia agreed with her in a low voice and others agreed except Nix.

Everyone intently observed their surroundings and raised their guards on and continued to be cautious.

"screekk"

With a sound suddenly giant white spiders jumped from the trees.

"Those are silver Arachnaes. Everyone be careful and don't get separated from the formation! Be cautious with their webs. They are thick like metal if you are restrained by the webs then that's the end."

With that, she rushed towards the spider that closed the distance with the team and stabbed it with her spear and the spider froze and turned into a white sculpture made up of Ice.

Nix knitted his brows.

'Ice ! is that her attribute?'

When he turned to his rear. He saw Eshwar attacking the spiders while rotating his spear and after using a few moves to injure the Spider he thrusted his spear's shaft into the ground and his spear released greenish energy inside the ground.

"Boom"

With a sound, a massive spike emerged from the ground and penetrated the spider.

'Damn! What's my attribute then? How can I use it?'

As he witnessed the fight. Several questions popped up inside his mind.

"Screeek"

The spider near Dalia screeched and shot its web and the web was strangely letting out sparks like it was passing current.

"AHhh!"

She screamed in agony as she received some kind of electrical shock that passed through the web and struggled to escape from it.

"Screek"

It shot out an electrical web again. Nix didn't feel an urge to help her even though her eyes showed suffering and her body continued to receive the electrical surge.

"Man Can you please help her man! I will take cover for you if Cinzia scolds you."

Nix nodded his head and scanned his surroundings and there were three spiders two spiders were under Cinzia's and Eshwar's care and one was attacking Dalia.

The spider that attacked Dalia was the massive one.

Nix rushed in recklessly and attacked the spider with his sword. The spider kicked his hand in which he held the sword as a result the sword flew towards a distance.

"Schreek"

with a sound, the spider shot its electrical web towards him. Cinzia and Eshwar continued to fight and slightly turned their attention and found Nix on the ground facing the spider.

At that split moment, his fear made him see the web approaching him in slow motion. He closed his eyes while gritting his teeth. He raised his arm which contained Chains of resentment and inserted his Mana wholly and bombarded his chain with his immense mana.

The chain split into four chains and pierced the web swiftly while coated with Red flames. The chain began burning violently and penetrated the Spider's belly and the flames surged inside it.

"Schreeekkkkk!"

The spider screamed and its belly bloated and burst out like a bomb.

Nix didn't understand how that happened but, he was glad that it worked out. He was practicing many moves but nothing worked out when he was training but it worked out now.

Varde, Dalia, Eshwar everybody showed amazement as their jaws dropped. They thought Nix would get attacked or restrained. And there seemed to be something else that made them surprised.

He picked up the sword and released Dalia. Cinzia finished two more spiders that appeared and stepped towards Dalia while glaring at Nix.

She looked at Dalia and asked.

"You okay?"

"Yes"

Dalia turned towards Nix and thanked him.

"Thanks, Nix"

Nix nodded his head and drifted his attention towards Cinzia.

"I am sorry for ignoring your orders but, Varde asked me to help."

Varde and Eshwar rushed towards them.

"Commander I was the one who asked him to help him since you were battling."

She sighed.

"hah, It's okay. But, I need to talk to him alone."

Eshwar intervened this time.

"But, He didn't do anything wrong..."

"I said I need to talk to him alone. Tch, you people just believe people easily. Don't find it suspicious that he used an attribute?"

They just dropped their heads and walked away while Varde patted his shoulder and walked near him and whispered.

"Buddy I am sorry because of me you are in trouble with the commander again. Who knows maybe she's gonna kiss you for your valorous deed in private."

He just teased him and walked away. If he said she was gonna attack him it would have been more reasonable since she appeared to be a woman who would prefer a sword over a flower.

As they all left Cinzia and Nix walked to a certain distance without speaking to each other. Suddenly she pushed him and suddenly a surge of energy restrained him from moving.

"Who are you? We asked for a level three guy but You used an attribute that shows you are a level four. Others may not have noticed but I noticed, so answer me."

" "

"Answer Me, you Bastard! If you don't feel like answering I will kill you here!"

She placed her halberd on his Neck.

"Whoa! Whoa! calm down first."

"Then answer me are you from The Zerast? You scums have already destroyed our fucking clan and you are still not satisfied with that?. We are just merely a fucking team now! You come out of nowhere and try to gain my member's trust...slowly sugar coat them and finally backstab them. Do you think I will stay put?...."

'Who the fuck are Zerast?'

Nix was strangely calm now as he faced life or death situations, again and again, he didn't feel fear.

'What nonsense is she spouting about?'

He began yelling at her as he felt annoying.

" Calm down first! Let me speak! How can I answer if you keep on speaking?"

"Okay, Explain to me who you are and what's your class? and which clan you worked in your past, and on what mission you are here?"

Nix's face turned serious.

" Alright straight-faced leader! I will answer your question but, can I trust you? I mean until now I didn't do anything wrong to you and your members. If you don't want me to participate in the quest. It's okay I understand. I'll leave but can you loosen the pressure? "

"First answer my question and let's see If I should let you live."

"Hah, Okay I haven't received a class yet and it's been more or less a month since I entered Empyrean and I am not in any clan. About fire attribute. The attribute is attached to my weapon. It's something I got from burning the slaves from the slave slaughterhouse owned by Zerast."

Cinzia was surprised by his reply.

'Yes, I kinda find his moves pathetic but, The attribute is what makes me doubt him and he wouldn't have revealed his attribute. Is he perhaps trying to earn my trust?'

Her face turned more annoyed and her eyebrows twitched and her eyes turned red in anger.

"What? Are you telling me that you are the one that burned down the building in Barani? Do you think I am some kind of dumbass to believe that shit? And fuck your lies! you can't battle without a class here. The lie about your chain is so blatant."

Nix's face stiff as she drew her halberd close to his neck to slice. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as he wasn't able to escape from her.

She sighed and released him.

"hah, anyway You helped my clan members."

Nix began talking.

"Ahh why you gotta be like that?"

She smirked and replied.

"It's my way of surviving. If you want me to believe you. Make me believe in you."

'I can't just go back from here alone. If I tag along with this team I might gain experience and earn some money since I came this long why should I back out now? But, honestly, she is annoying'

"Alright so, I am good for now?"

Nix enquired.

She nodded and walked towards the tent.

"Hah, whatever"

He mumbled and walked towards the tent. Varde walked towards Nix with a curious face as his eyes sparkled in anticipation.

"Buddy, did she praise you? Or did she scold you?"

Nix smirked and replied.

" Ahh man, we just had some love talk."

"Haha, Do you think I would believe something like that?"

He smiled and said.

"Bruh! All that matters is the size down there."

Cinzia glared at the two guys. She sighed and walked away as the two guys continued with their dirty talk.

Varde laughed and patted Nix.

"Haha, Dude you got zero percent sense of humor. That's for sure"

Nix looked at him seriously.

" I am serious here. But, Dangg man! she is sexy!"

Varde smiled and said.

"Is that so? I haven't seen her dating anybody ever since I met her but, If you wanna try just go at it. Note! She is a hard one. Dude, many men tried asking her out."

"Ohh, Well whatever..."

'Well she is sexy and kinda attractive but, damn! she is annoying and cold as hell.'

He inwardly thought.

Nix got friendly with Varde strangely and showed some interest in talking with him. They passed out jokes and spent their night as they both chose shifts at the same time.