Nodding, Kaius rose to his feet, pulling his blade from the dirt it was embedded in. He looked to his friends, each of them staring at Old Yon with disgust and barely veiled hatred in their eyes.
"Anyone else have any more questions?" he asked.
"No," Ianmus said, while Kenva merely shook her head.
Steeling himself, Kaius took a step closer to Old Yon. He half expected the man to beg, to come up with some way to extend his life.
The crime lord only sneered, staring him dead in the eyes.
"Come on then, do it if you've got the guts. I haven't got all—"
Kaius thrust.
A Father's Gift slid clean through Old Yon's forehead as bone parted like water. The corpse stiffened, before going slack as he ripped his blade to the side.
**Ding! Level 257 Human — Puppeteer of the Violet (Tier II) slain — Experience Gained! Increased Experience for slaying a foe of Significant Strength!**
**Ding! Runeblade Hellion has reached class level 204!**
+6 Int; +5 Con, Str, Wil; +2 Vit, Dex; +1 Free — from Class & Racial Traits!
Kaius flicked his blade to clear the blood from its edge. Brain sloughed to the grass with his movement.
He felt nothing.
What was one more body after so many others? Every single one that had fallen before them had signed their own death warrants. They wouldn't feel guilt for what amounted to little more than overly-strong bandits hoping to prey on those weaker than them.
"A clean death — it's more than he deserved," Porkchop said with a sniff, turning away from the body.
"At least it's over," Ianmus said.
Kaius nodded. He was bloody exhausted. There was more they had to do. A return to Deadacre, which would undoubtedly involve many a long conversation. If they were lucky, they might finally get a real rest. A chance to process the chaotic rush that had been life ever since they'd been captured.
"Come on, let's move the body — easier to lump them in the same pit." he said.
Grabbing the remaining leg of the corpse, Kaius dragged it back the way they had come, while Ianmus stowed the stray limbs in his ring.
By the bloody gods, what he would give to be sitting in the common room of the Dusty Stables with a pint right now.
A minute later, he dropped the leg — leaving the body next to the ruined remnant of what had once been an archer. There was a crater nearby — one of the larger ones left in the wake of his Starfall. A good enough spot to bury the remains.
"Kaius?" Kenva said.
Looking over, Kaius saw the ranger staring off into the distance, focused frown on her face. Her head was tilted, as if she couldn't quite catch whatever it was she'd seen — or maybe heard. Yet the way she held her bow sent a jolt of warning down his spine.
He drew his blade, crystal glistening in the sunlight.
"What is it?" Ianmus asked, mana spooling out from him to coalesce at the tip of his staff.
"Company, though I'm not sure who," Kenva replied, slowly stringing an arrow.
"Well, we best be ready to give them a warm welcome." Kaius replied, steeling himself as he drew his blade. Perhaps Old Yon had been wrong — mayhap Cronte and Torrin weren't the cowards the criminal had thought they were, after all.
Porkchop stomped his way forward, his body growing; his metallic armour snapped into existence around him. Kaius followed, and they interposed themselves between the approaching threat and their back line.
It seemed like nothing would ever end easy for them.