4 The First Victim (1/2)

15 years later

Fang leaped through the trees, jumping off each branch with a wild abandon. Tilting forward, he somersaulted and landed on his feet. The wind gently breezed across his shoulders as he stepped forward onto the soft grass. With a smile he stepped forth.

A pack of banshee wolves prowled around the entrance of a cave. They had never forgotten their earlier humiliation after that pitiful human had come in and ruined everything for them. Gritting their teeth, they sighed.

Fang smiled. It was time to see how much he had grown. It had been fifteen years since he had first come to this very cave. He would never have come back if not for the fact that these pesky wolves had been coming down to the village and destroying crops. This hurt his farming business and thus he was here to teach them a lesson. Those who stood in the way of his peaceful life would be exterminated!

Smiling devilishly, he began to creep out slowly. Suddenly, there was a loud bang.

A strong man leaped out in front of the wolves. He wore extravagant clothes and carried a sword with a foreboding aura. Grinning, he drew the weapon out, it's glittering splendor shocking both the wolves and Fang.

”Oh no....this man is what we fear the most...a protagonist!” the wolves collectively thought.

”Hmmm...what an interesting sword. It should be worth quite a bit of money.” Fang thought.

”AH HA HA HA! I am Liu Xiong, from the Heavenly Sword Sect! You fiendish wolves are murdering all of these poor villagers! I shall liberate them from this menace, gain riches, and become the strongest cultivator in the entire land!” he shouted.

”&*@!...this dude is definitely a protagonist!” both parties thought instinctively.

The wolves whimpered and Liu Xiong made his move. Rushing forward, he chopped towards the two sentries.

”Heavenly Deity's Star Slash!” he cried.

There was an enormous flash of light striking down towards the wolves.

”AOOONNHHH!!!” they cried in pain.

The two wolves whimpered and wailed in pain. Gashes spread across their bodies and they slumped to the floor, dead. Meanwhile, Fang looked at the crazy cultivator with an odd expression in his eyes. Liu Xiong simply laughed madly and proceeded to entire the cave. Screams of pain and misery could be heard echoing through the cave. Eventually, the ”hero” emerged from the cave looking spotlessly clean.

”Ahhhhh....now I can finally breakthrough to the next level,” he spoke.

Fang stared at the mad cultivator. Shaking his head in disbelief, he rubbed his eyes to rule out the possibility of this strange scene being an illusion. The man quickly sat down and began to circulate Qi.

Having seen enough, Fang exited the bushes and coughed dryly. He was certain. This man... had a system!

The cultivator, startled, looked at Fang. Frowning he spoke.

”Hmmm...what do you want villager?” he asked.

”Why did you kill those wolves?” Fang asked.

”Ahhh...I killed them because they annoyed me! Plus they were villains and all...” he replied.

”But...they have a purpose in the ecosystem!” Fang beseeched.