CHAPTER 103: A JOB WELL-DONE!

Chapter 103

Vynn, too, was currently faced against one of the men who, like the rest, wielded a sword. Both of them were Veiless because Zen’s Veil was active, disrupting everyone else’s Veils.

"Yo... you are so young. I don’t want to fight you," the man said, watching Vynn grin from ear to ear as he bounced on his feet.

"But too bad, I want to clobber you," Vynn chuckled and exploded forward, unsheathing his sword in mid dash.

"Kids nowadays do not just want to learn," the man sighed as Vynn reached his position. The man swung his sword from below with so much speed the air seemed to twist.

’Huh? Is he really Veiless? If so, how can he move this fast?’ the man thought, leaning back and narrowly avoiding the blade as it sliced with a whoosh.

’Shit! That was fast. Crazy fast,’ he thought, heart thumping wildly.

"Come on, why are you running away? Fight back, grandpa," Vynn cackled as he leaped forward again.

’G... G... Grandpa? Me? A grandpa? How rude!’ the man roared internally, a vein bulging across his temple as he snapped his head up to meet Vynn’s crashing sword.

He blocked at the last second. Their blades met with a clang so loud a few nearby shoppers flinched. The man’s feet stayed planted while Vynn’s momentum scraped the earth.

Tensing in anger, the man shot his foot forward in a hard step, but to Vynn it moved like molasses. Vynn flipped through the air and landed a metre away, grin still intact.

’Kek! Even without my Veil, I’m still plenty fast. People don’t know this but the day I awakened my Veil my body was already modified, tailored to suit it. I can move faster than a normal human.

Coupled with my Veil, you can call me Flash. Despite being the youngest Reaver in the lower ranks, I’m part of the strongest crew. And it gives me so much joyyyyyy!’ Vynn thought, pride stretching his smile wide.

"What happened? Why are you so slow, uncle?" Vynn taunted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"First grandpa and now uncle? I will kill you! I will freaking screw you!" the man roared and sprinted forward with renewed fury.

"Yawn," Vynn mocked, watching the slow man charge.

BAM!

The man leapt at Vynn, sword raised high as he aimed to smash it down on the young Reaver’s head.

"Too slow," Vynn said as he prepared to dodge, but before he could move, a heavy kick slammed into his side and hurled him a few metres back in pain. He hit the ground, the wind knocked out of him for a second, tasting dust and adrenaline.

The man would not relent. He dashed forward with terrifying speed, then in a blink thrust his sword like a spear straight for Vynn’s chest.

’Shit! That kick was solid and now I can’t dodge, even with how fast I am,’ Vynn thought, scrambling to find an opening.

"Yo Vynn! You are clear and good to go," Zen called out, voice slicing through the chaos. He leaped into the air to avoid a thrust to his own neck, then landed with a brutal axe kick on the attacking man’s shoulder. The man’s legs buckled; he slammed to the ground hard.

Vynn rolled, scrambled up, and felt a rush of relief and smugness wash over him.

’I’m in the clear? Kek! Oh, he is so screwed,’ Vynn chuckled inwardly, adrenaline kicking his grin back into place as he got ready to rejoin the fight.

Crackle!

Sizzle!

Lightning began to dance around Vynn’s feet and, like a thunderclap, he blasted away, avoiding the man’s thrust and causing the attacker to stumble forward.

Before the man could regain his footing, Vynn was suddenly in front of him. Without hesitation he leaped up and smashed his knee into the man’s face with everything he had.

Bang!

A sickening crack filled the air as the man’s body flew backwards, blood spitting from his mouth and his eyes rolling up. He sailed through the air and then...

CRACK!

—he slammed into the shop they had just stepped out from, punching a huge hole in the wall. The body slid across broken wood and shattered glass into the dim interior.

"Holy hell! My shop! Again!" the shopkeeper screamed, storming out, fury etched across his face.

"A job well done," Vynn said casually, wiping his hands as if he had only taken out trash.

"Good job, everyone," Zen added, strolling over while dragging the two men who had attacked him across the ground by their hair. The unconscious thugs left streaks of dust as they skidded.

"No! Bad job, everyone!" the shopkeeper shrieked, flailing his arms.

"Yo! This bow and arrow is nuts, man. I only used the red arrow and the effect was clean. Not sure what the black arrow does though," Aria gushed, cradling her bow protectively like it was a precious thing.

"Everyone! Will you just keep quiet and come help me fix my shop?" the shopkeeper shouted, voice cracking with stress.

"So what do we do with these bastards?" Zen asked, dumping the unconscious attackers in front of Jace.

"They won’t answer our questions easily. They think we’re kids, so they’re tight-lipped," Jace said, rubbing his chin. "I’m not great at extorting answers from criminals. We need backup. Call the adults."

"But aren’t Lyra and Tom sleeping? They were exhausted," Vynn said. Everyone facepalmed in unison.

"That’s true, but we have no choice. This is the mission. We call them," Jace replied.

"How do we call them? We can’t sprint back to the inn. It’s like thirty minutes away," Zen said, eyeing the ruined storefront.

"Then we call them here." Jace slipped his hand into his pocket and produced a small round device with a yellow casing and a tiny touchscreen. He tapped it a few times. It buzzed once and went silent.

"What’s that?" Zen asked, eyebrow raised.

"A communicator. Didn’t you get one from Tom or Lyra?" Jace asked, looking at his clanmates.

"Nope," the three answered at the same time.

"Oh well," Jace shrugged casually. "Maybe they forgot."

"So how long will they take?" Vynn asked.

"I don’t know exactly, but Lyra should get the signal and be on her way," Jace said, glancing down at the little screen. A map icon pulsed once, then faded.

"Guys," the shopkeeper called out again. Everyone turned. He stood with his head bowed, arms folded across his destroyed chest. "Aren’t you all forgetting something?"

"Huh? I don’t think so. We got our weapons. Go back into your little shop," Zen waved dismissively.

"Exactly! My damn shop is destroyed because of you all!" the shopkeeper roared into the air angrily.