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Chapter 4:

Jacob's Point of View

Unknown Location

Bringing my sword up in a strange calmness, I easily decapitated the first manticore. One clean swipe through its neck was all it took. Stepping to the side, I brought my sword up fast enough to make everyone in the clearing freeze. The flying manticore's body tumbled behind me as it rolled limply to a stop.

"Well, that was easy." I said simply as I turned my attention to the frozen group and animals. "Come now. Surely all that bravado hasn't gone away from me killing one little kitty cat?"

"Kill him." The lead elf ordered, and the others began to rush forward.

My eyes focused on everything, and I felt my lust for battle growing. Apparently, the manticores' did as well, because they stopped before reaching me and their ears shot down along with their tails. Turning to look at them directly, I saw each one back away from me a few steps before fleeing in the other direction. Needless to say, this frustrated their handlers.

"Useless pests." The elf said.

To my surprise though, instead of being worried, the group continued to attack. They were much faster than the manticores. In fact, they all made their way over to me in a second or so. Being able to respond correctly was odd, but their movements were even more so. These weren't the abilities of any humans I had ever encountered. New world, new rules, I suppose.

"No need to hold back! We'll kill him and return, after taking his eye!" One of the humans shouted.

All at the same time, the group seemed to change forms into grotesque creatures. Some had their skin fall off, one turned into some manner of beast like creature, and others grew extra limbs. It was at that moment when the leader had several tendrils shoot out his back and stomach. That was definitely not something I was expecting, and it concerned me thoroughly. He was clearly the strongest, and their energies grew from what my eye could tell.

However, my speed had increased, along with my strength. With my sword forward, blocking one of the mutations, I brought my right leg up to kick another who was trying to flank me. My leg crunched into the ribs of one of my attackers and shot him high into the air. They'd become foul creatures that seemed almost demonic.

Twisting my body instinctively, I avoided a blow from a large hammer while bringing my sword through the stomach of another human. He fell in two pieces with a look of shock etched across his face. At the same time, the one I kicked into the air fell back to the ground and laid limply with blood dripping down his chin. The other two fell back, and the leader clearly looked irritated. Although I had to give him credit. He seemed much more cautious now.

"The power to kill two ghouls in an instant and frighten away manticores. Savage beasts that fear little to none." The mutated leader stated as his expression became more nervous. "Perhaps..." Trailing off for a moment as his allies returned to his side, they both looked to him for orders. "Forgive our intrusion. We were wrong." His tune suddenly changed as he became almost frightful of me. "I offer my deepest apologies. What can I do to correct this horrible mistake?"

Not caring about them realizing they were outmatched, I charged as I brought my sword back and prepared to strike. They scattered as I hit nothing but air. The creatures looked at me in fear. Almost as if they realized a horrible truth of sorts. While I would press this issue in most situations, my main concern was not allowing them to leave to report me. First few hours in a new world, and the last thing I wanted was to be an outlaw in some unknown country.

"All of you can die." Was my eventual response as I turned towards them. "You must realize I can't let you go. After killing two of you, I'm sure you'd twist some story of sorts, so you'll have to die here."

"Kill him! Don't let him leave here alive!?? The leader shouted, and all three were immediately upon me.

Jumping in the air as one swooped low with its claws, another tried to grab me with its four arms, and the last shot its tendrils out to pierce my body. Throwing my sword into the ground and using it as a step, I kicked off it. The claws missed me, and so did the four arms, but the tendrils pierced my left arm. Right below my shoulder and above my elbow.

"Does it sting?" The former elf asked me.

Grabbing the tendrils, I ripped them out and noticed the pain was very minuscule. In fact, it was almost nonexistent. Holding the tendrils firm in my grasp unnerved the three creatures who posed as humans and elves. Blood rolled down my arm, but I simply ignored it. This was nothing more than a scratch, even though I knew otherwise, compared to the black hole. Crushing the tendrils got the leader to screech out.

"Does it sting?" I asked back mockingly as the two aids rushed me. "Don't worry." Bring my fist forward against the four-armed creature, I pushed it into its guard. "It won't hurt for long." Sickening cracks could be heard as the arms bent in horrible manners, and the creature was sent flying much like his friend.

A claw swiped at my face, and I let the tendrils go. Grabbing both wrists connected to the clawed creature, I brought my legs up in an instant and kicked its chest as hard as I could. Doing this, while holding his arms, had interesting results. Both arms up until the elbows were in my hands, and the claws were stuck open. The demonic looking creature was now in the crater screaming its head off.

"It is you..." The leader whispered in horror.

"Yes," I said, bored, and dropped the detached limbs. "'It's a me!'"

While I did want to joke further about a certain Italian plumber, I restrained myself as I rushed toward the leader, and picked up my sword in front of him. Jumping away from me, more tendrils shot out from its body, and tried to pierce me again. However, my sword made things a little easier. Slicing through the tendrils, blood spewed everywhere. Writhing on the ground in pain, I walked over to the creature who had reverted to his elvish form.

"Now, I'd like to ask a few questions if you don't mind." Pointing my sword at his throat immediately got his thrashing to slow. "You look like a reasonable elf. Creature. Thing." Then I paused and wiggled my sword slightly. "No. You referred to yourselves as ghouls..."

"I'm not telling you anything! The queen will kill me!" He shouted back in a pained tone.

"Mmh. A queen, you say?" The ghoul merely gritted his teeth. "So... I know what a ghoul is where I'm from, but what is it here?"

"..."

Sighing, I continued. "No response, huh?" The ghoul looked me in the eyes, and I merely pushed my sword through his neck. "Since you won't talk, maybe your buddy will." His head fell from his body and rolled slightly as my gaze looked up towards the trees. "How about you come down here, and we make this easier on both of us?" I called out.

The red energy signature that was in the tree line quickly shot off. Sighing, I wondered how well I could chase after it. Although, after these five, it would likely be easier than I expected. Looking at my arm for a moment to make sure I would be okay, I noticed it wasn't bleeding much. Shaking my arm to check to see if it hurt, I was pleasantly surprised to feel no pain. Maybe my adrenaline was still high, and that's why, but I wasn't sure.

Looking toward the trees, I put my sword on my back and started running through the forest. Small blips of red energy told me where the ally of those five ghouls was. I followed it at a decent distance. Given how powerful I was, I was interested in where it would lead me. So, I got quiet and did my best to move around more carefully.

Despite being in armor, I felt my body shift easily enough, where I was making little to no noise. Almost as if it was second nature. Of course, I'd been trained formally before. A few times, but this was a brand-new body, and yet was moving exactly how I envisioned. Not many can say that. Then again, I don't know any others who have been given a new body.

To my surprise, I'd been running for quite a while. So had the ghoul. In fact, it showed no signs of stopping. This was concerning to me. I figured it would return to whatever base that was nearby, but I was clearly wrong. Maybe it decided to completely ignore the base that the others were from and wanted to bring this to someone else's attention. The former elf leader said they were nearby. At our speed, and after how long we'd been running, we were long passed any base they might've had.

In one quick motion, I lurched forward and began to slam through the forest, not worrying about what was in the way. At the same time, I drew my sword, brought it back, and launched it like a javelin as I got closer to the running ghoul. It tore through trees, branches, and leaves before I heard a startled yelp not too far in front of me. Homing in on the energy signature, I came to a stop in front of it, and I watched.

Clearly startled at my sudden and rather brutish appearance, it quickly got into a defensive position. This is where it became more interesting. The creature was cloaked in your typical black cloak for sneaking around and wearing a flat red mask with strange markings. Aside from being a living creature, and likely a ghoul, no other details could be seen.

"Just let me go!" It begged.

"Go where?" I questioned back as I began to circle the runner. "Having you report on me killing your buddies isn't exactly how I'd like to start this 'new life' of mine. Believe me, I wasn't looking for trouble in this instance. Your friends started it."

"Yet, you had no problems killing them after they surrendered?" It sounded female.

Scoffing at that, I replied. "They realized I was a bigger threat than they first thought. Seemed to mix me up with someone else too. Real shame that I likely killed them because of a misunderstanding." Then I shrugged. "I don't feel sorry about it. Self-defense and all that jazz." Was my dull reply.

Her fists shook in anger. "You can't do this! The queen will hear about this!"

A smirk made its way to my face. "That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid." Holding out my hands in front of her, I continued. "However, I am willing to make you a deal."

"A deal?" She asked back, almost hopeful.

"A deal." I confirmed. "I will release you 'if' you tell me where the closest town is. You see, I'm terribly lost. Much like I told your friends. Sadly, they did not believe me." There were many things I was still in the dark about, and I needed answers.

"..."

She seemed reluctant to answer. "Don't believe me? I am unarmed. Surely we can agree that if I was going to kill you, I would've done it back near the crater."

It was impossible to know what she might've been thinking behind that mask. However, it never moved as it kept facing me. Odd, considering how it didn't have any slots for the eyes to look through. Maybe another magical item that you didn't need slits in the mask to see through. There was too much about this world that I didn't know, and I wasn't dropped anywhere that would help.

"North of here is a town. It's at the base of a mountain on the outside of this forest. You'll know when you see it because there is a massive city all up and down the mountain in its entirety." She informed me. "At the base is a more rural town where you can get in easily without worrying about the guards."

"Is that so?" The cloaked ghoul nodded. "Thank you." I said as I looked up towards the Sun and then elsewhere. "Which way is North?" Pointing off to the side, I glanced that way for a moment. ??You've been most helpful."

"So, you'll release me?" She inquired.

I nodded. "I will."

Sagging in relief, the ghoul turned its back on me, and I darted forward. Once her guard was down, it was easy. Wrapping my arm around her neck startled her, and she began thrashing around in horror. Trying to hit me didn't help. I was more than willing to take a few hits.

"You promised to release me!" She cried out helplessly.

"And so, I shall." Was my quiet reply as I twisted her neck violently. "Be released from this unfair and cruel world." I told her dead body and removed my arms, which made her fall limply to the ground. "As I said before, self-defense. You and your ilk were foolish to come after me." I said as I crouched down next to her body. "Had I been anyone else, I likely would've died, and none of you would've cared. Life's been a bitch to me no matter where I go. Why should it be any different for you?"