21 Barry (2/2)

The momentum of my strike carried the man's body to the side where my outstretched leg allowed him to gently lay on the ground. Of course, he was dead before he got there.

Silence.

I felt a rush of adrenaline course through me. This is how a true expert kills someone. From the time he began his strike to the time he laid on the ground, not a sound was made. Quicksilver blade was truly astonishing, even after just studying the manual for a brief amount of time while I was fishing, I could already perform a devastating move. Of course, in front of a real expert, I would probably die if I tried performing that at my level, but this thief was an amateur and he died not knowing how it happened.

I headed towards the back of the alley where his companions were waiting for him. As I got there I heard a couple grunts and moans. Looking on the ground I saw 3 dark-clothed figures bound by vines. The vines even covered their mouths keeping them from shouting out. Valerian was leaning against the wall with a smirk on his face.

”What took you so long?”

”Ugh, don't be so smug. Nice job, though.”

I looked down at the three thieves their eyes filled with fear.

”Unfortunately, we only need one of you to remain alive.”

I quickly ran my daggers across two of the thieves necks.

Essence gained +112

Essence gained +129

The last thief began to squirm, his face paling and sweat pouring down. I walked over to him.

”Now, I'm gonna ask my friend to allow you to speak. If you scream you die.”

After he nodded his head I gestured to Valerian. The vine covering the thief's mouth came off.

”I'm... I'm.... I'm.... sorry sir p-p-p-please spare me,” the man stammered uncontrollably.

”Calm down I won't kill you. What's your name?”

”B-B-Barry,” he said as his whole body shook.

”Ok Barry, I need you to do a few things for me. First, I need you to eat this.”

I pulled out a dark purple fruit. I brought it in front of Barry, he clearly looked distraught and didn't want to eat it but after I spun my dagger a couple times he relented.

”Good, now that is the Death Hand Fruit. If after two weeks you don't get the antidote it will feel like death itself has grabbed your heart causing it to explode.”

Of course, there was no such thing as a Death Hand Fruit. The fruit was just one I had bought from the G'eth Village Market. However, since most humans were new to Agartha they were susceptible to these kinds of tricks.

An intense look of fear overcame Barry's face, ”Please, please sir give me the antidote.”

”I can give you the antidote, however, I need you to do a few things for me, Barry.”

”Yes, any...anything you want.”

”Good.”