Chapter 138: Impending Storm


    Out of the blue, two figures appeared in the middle of an empty field.


    "Gah, fuck!" Omen yelled, staring at his arms which had been sliced off.


    "What the hell did you do that for!?" Omen yelled at the figure in front of him. The figure calmly sheathed his de as he approached Omen.


    "Don''t y dumb with me. You nearly killed one of them, Naoko." Naomi stated, cing his hand on the handle of his weapon.


    "Pff, you really think I was going to kill them? I was merely trying to get Nero to act up. While I did that, I even obtained a new strength." Omen answered, his arms regenerating as his new de appeared in his hands.


    "Who knows maybe if I did kill them, I could have absorbed their powers and probably could''ve reached your level of power. Am I right? Brother-inw."


    Naomi didn''t answer, causing Omen to snicker.


    "One day, Naomi, I''ll kill you. And it''ll be the most satisfying thing I will ever feel. For now, enjoy your life while you can. If no one dares to kill you, then I will be the first one to kill you."


    Omen began to walk away. Naomi turned and asked where he was going.


    "Hmm? Where else? To see the Warlock Hero''s Requiem and the death of Myran, the prince of Cocytus."


    ***


    In the night far into a wastnd, three figures dressed in desert clothing were swaying through a powerful sandstorm. The figure in front lifted his arm and a barrier was created.


    "Whew, well that was pretty intense," Joseph said, taking off his hood.


    The two figures behind him also took their hoods off, they were Tadashi and Fujita.


    Joseph turned to check if they were still with him and once he confirmed that, he snapped his fingers, creating a miniature portal. Out of that portal came out a few logs and some tents.


    "Let''s set up camp here. We won''t be attacked as long as I have my Rejecting Barrier activated. We might arrive a littlete, but looking at this sandstorm, I''m guessing the enemy is also having a rough time."


    The two stared at him and nodded. Joseph noticed from the corner of his eye that Fujita hesitated before nodding. He was shifting ufortably which raised suspicion but Joseph decided he was just paranoid and afraid.


    ''Can''t me him. He saw the others die so it''s natural to feel afraid. Though I''m getting a feeling that he''s not right in the head.''


    Ever since Fujita came back, Joseph noticed his behaviors and habits had shifted quite distinctively. Normally he was quite boisterous and loved to brag about being a hero but now he was quiet and spoke in a deadpan voice.


    Joseph walked up to him and ced his hand on his shoulder, causing Fujita to flinch.


    "Calm down. I think you should rest."


    Fujita red at Joseph as if he saw a ghost while Joseph waited for his answer. He heard him gulp before he spoke.


    "Y-yeah I guess I''ll go and sleep."


    Joseph watched as Fujita entered his tent. Making sure that Fujita had fallen asleep, he then sat at the campfire where Tadashi cooking up some soup.


    As the fire crackled, Tadashi sighed and crossed his arms, biting his lips in concern.


    "What''s wrong?" Joseph asked him and Tadashi took in a deep breath.


    "I just I just don''t think we can do this. The Frost Seige did did the Inept Hero really do such a thing?"


    ''Ah, so it''s that.''


    The Frost Seige was very impactful and marked a new significance in history. There was never a moment in the past where a hero has ughtered another hero except for the traitors. To be specific, there has never been a hero that has killed more than one hero. The past demon kings have achieved such a thing and dangerous high-leveled monsters have killed some too.


    This event had made some more terrified of the Inept Hero''s presence and that even included the other kingdoms as well. Joseph, however, was unphased, for obvious reasons.


    ''Maybe he took it a little too far but at least he spared three of them. Can''t me him though. Losing a loved one is a harsh thing to go through.''


    Believe it or not, Joseph had watched the entire thing unfold from afar. At that time, he had been mastering the use of the Mystic Eyes of Interspace.


    Joseph could''ve interfered and saved the heroes from Nero like he did the first time they met, but he decided that he would stay far away as possible.


    He had reasons. Those reasons were difficult to understand, however. Though for one thing, it was clear, he wanted to help him. He allowed him to kill the heroes to get stronger which he did. However, even though he got stronger, it wasn''t enough.


    ''He''s still weak. If he encountered one of the Enigmas now, he''d die for sure.''


    Joseph hadpared Nero''s growth to his own. He knew that the powers he gained were because of his passive skill, Transcend. The other heroes had a simr skill but were not as powerful as his, including Nero''s. If Nero had Transcend, he would no doubt be more powerful than Joseph, and Joseph himself knew that. He''s even thought of what would happen if the two had switched ces.


    ''If our positions were switched, Nero would drown in the immense power granted to him and I would be swallowed by the darkness that he is currently possessing.''


    Joseph was smart. Even though he was stronger than him, he knew if he were to fight Nero at his current level, he would not survive unscathed. He was formidable in his own right.


    "Oh, the soup is done."


    When the two had finished their soup, Tadashi went into his tent while Joseph stayed out in the open in front of the campfire.


    "Joseph, are you not gonna rest as well?" Tadashi queried, pointing to Joseph''s tent.


    "Nah, I''ll be on watch. You never know, they could attack anytime. I also have to manage the barrier in case anything manages to break it, that is if they can."


    "But you haven''t slept in days Joseph. You need to sle-"


    "I don''t need to. You, however, must. I can handle this. Protecting you two is my job."


    Tadashi hesitantly trusted Joseph''s words and he went to sleep, knowing Joseph would be able to protect them.


    Once Tadashi had fallen asleep, Joseph started to look around.


    His vision was clouded by the sandstorm but through more concentration, he was able to pierce through the screen that the sandstorm was creating which blocked his vision.


    "Now then, where will you attack first?"


    He''s been paranoid for a while and he knew it was inevitable that they were going to be attacked. However, he knew he would have to give up eventually. He knew his weaknesses. He may be powerful, but he''s been training non-stop before he and the other two entered the desert. His reason for training was simple, so he didn''t get rusty.


    In other words, he was quickly running out of stamina and he''s missed about 5 days'' worth of sleep. He may be a Warlock, but he was still human and humans could onlyst so long without sleep.


    He had noticeable bags under his eyes and Tadashi has been trying to get Joseph to switch with him so he could sleep, but Joseph refused his offer, saying it was his job to protect them.


    Three hours in, Joseph''s vision started to blur and his body was losing strength. He pinched himself in order to wake himself up but even pain couldn''t get him to stay up.


    "Shit I can''t sleep now. I need to to-"


    Joseph''s body did not listen to the words that came out of his mouth and soon enough, he passed out. And that was the biggest mistake he evermitted.


    ***


    "Joseph Joseph Joseph, wake up!"


    Joseph woke up, startled by Tadashi''s voice. When he woke up, the ground was shaking and distant explosions could be heard.


    ''Crap, I fell asleep! Did the battle already start?''


    He got up and deactivated his Rejecting Barrier. He and Tadashi ran to the top of a dune and activated his Mystic Eyes of Interspace.


    He saw humans shing with an army of ice elves and other demonic creatures. The battle had started a while ago but the noise and themotion that the battle was only starting. If this continued, like the Frost Seige, the same results would ur; fatal damage, massive loss of soldiers, etc.


    "We gotta go help them!" Tadashi dered and Joseph nodded.


    "Get Fujita, we''re going right no-"


    But before Joseph managed to finish his sentence, Fujita sank a de through his spleen. Joseph looked over his shoulder, shocked at the sudden ambush.


    "Fujita?"


    "You let your guard down, hero."


    His voice was different. It sounded bloodcurdling and full of malice. Joseph quickly scanned Fujita and immediately understood what was wrong with thetter.


    "Fujita you''re dead."


    Though Fujita was right in front of him, he was already dead. His skin had be a very pale color and his eyes were dull.


    Joseph swiftly performed a downward punch, knocking Fujita to the ground. Before Fujita''s corpse got up, Joseph put an end to him with a powerful palm strike.


    "Damn it. I''m sorry, Fujita."


    As Joseph pulled his stained hand away, a figure standing only a few meters away from them started pping.


    "How sad he was so traumatized that he just didn''t have the will to live anymore."


    Joseph and Tadashi lifted their heads up at the figure. He was a tall figure, about the same height as Joseph. He had long silver hair, light blue skin that ice elves would have, and piercing blue eyes which gave off a cold gleam.


    "What did you do to him?" Joseph inquired, gathering mana into his hands.


    "Oh, if only you hadn''t slept then you would''ve noticed. He was mentally ill and you knew that, but you didn''t do anything about it."


    "I''m not a psychiatrist, and besides, it''s not like he was gonna help. He was on the verge of betraying us, that''s why he let you take control of his body."


    "Oh, a perceptive one, huh?"


    Joseph and the ice elf exchanged res. Tadashi who stood by Joseph''s side took a step forward but Joseph stopped him.


    "Joseph?"


    "Stay back, I got this."


    "Why can''t I fight huh? Is it because I''m weak? Well look, I''ve grown stronger, I can take him on!"


    "I know that, but he''s too much for you to handle."


    "You always say that!"


    Joseph turned and stared daggers at Tadashi, causing him to flinch.


    "If I say stay back, you stay the fuck back. I''m not saying this again."


    Tadashi was left speechless and Joseph walked forward. Tadashi knew Joseph as a nice and polite guy, but he''s never used suchnguage against him.


    "Will you let me help you at least!?" Tadashi pleaded but Joseph turned and gave him the same re.


    "You want to help? Go help the ones fighting the army right now."


    "Oh, I believe that won''t be necessary." The ice elf said. Joseph turned around with a puzzled expression but when he saw a red beam course from his hand, he quickly turned.


    "Tadashi!"


    But it was toote. Tadashi, his closest friend, had been hit. In a matter of seconds, there was a gaping hole in his chest. Tadashi fell and Joseph quickly rushed to his side.


    "God damn it! Stay with me, Tadashi!"


    "I...it''s alright. I understand why you''d yell at me. You just don''t want me to get hurt, right?"


    Joseph didn''t answer but nodded.


    "Well... it''s my fault I got hit. I should''ve just listened to you... I''m sorry."


    "Don''t bother. I''m the one at fault here. If only I hadn''t dropped my guard."


    "Don''t apologize. Just promise me one thing."


    Tadashi took Joseph''s hand, puking blood. He was near his death but he still had the energy and will to say one more thing.


    "Kill... that son of a... bitch..."


    ...


    Tadashi''s hand slipped and his heart had stopped. Joseph sighed and closed Tadashi''s eye before turning around towards the ice elf.


    "How sad... well, whatever. Now that your moral support is gone, why don''t we get this started?"


    Joseph looked at him nkly before smiling.


    "Your funeral."


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